This debate actually got bogged down, but in the real world we
simply have different kinds of thinkers.

People like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are brilliant thinkers,
systemic thinkers as distinct from empathic thinkers.
Yup, they have a low tolerance for nonsense, but that is why
they achieve what they do. So what if they are difficult? They
also have a vision which few have.

The BBC explains the difference. Systemic thinkers are more
commonly male, empathic thinkers most likely female.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sex/articles/empathising_systemising.shtml

.

Dear Yabby,

We do have different kinds of thinkers in the world. I particularly like the words of wisdom on self mastery by the Buddhist
philosopher, Daisaku Ikeda:

"A person of integrity seeks self mastery. It isn't how you compare to others that's important - but rather how you compare to who you
were yesterday. If you've advanced even one step, then you've
achieved something great."

cont'd ...

Dear Yabby,

You could be right about the difference between women and men.
When a woman goes through a mid-life crisis - she goes through
a variety of complicated emotions. Whereas a mid-life crisis in
a man provokes a uniform reaction. He buys aviator glasses,
a nifty french cap, leather gloves and goes shopping for a
(cough) ... porsche. ;-)

First of all I would like to thank everyone who has made a post on my little discussion thread. The contributions have been illuminating to say the least.

We live in an age where appearance matters more than substance, people are made celebrities for little more than being in the right place at the right time - certainly not for any deeper contribution to human enlightenment. This is sounding more preachy than I intended, apologies.

I started this thread to inform, because often people feel they are alone in their experiences with the behaviour of others and believe it is themselves who are at fault. The narcissist relies on this response. And will feed those feelings of self doubt.

Therefore, I would like to conclude with a few Australian based links for anyone who is interested in understanding this minority of people:

http://www.drjohnclarke.com/

http://www.bullyingnoway.com.au/

http://www.unisa.edu.au/news/2010/291010.asp

http://www.davidicke.com/headlines/40988-dealing-with-a-narcissist-emotional-vampires-and-a-lack-of-empathy

and

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1519206/are-you-a-narcissist

http://bob.bofh.org/~robm/misc/psycho.html

Dear Ammonite,

Thank You for this discussion topic.
I've learned much from it. The topic
was a difficult and an emotive one
threre's no doubt about that.
However this is a forum of social and
political debate and its topics like
these that raise the bar and result in
attracting such a wide mix of responses.

Well done, and I look forward to your next one.
See you on another thread.

Awwww... shame.

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

A quick wave to Col...

>>Houelle and a few others have seen pictures of my wife and www.sassable even put her on their home page for a couple months<<

I think I may have found one of them...

http://www.sassable.com/ear-candling-does-it-work