What do you think of when someone uses the word sociopath, or its synonym psychopath? I know what I used to think of: Some serial killer with a butcher knife chasing co-eds through a big house, hospital or dorm. I thought of John Wayne Gacy or Ted Bundy. I though that these people came with some telltale sign that screamed at me if I only stopped to look.
I know that in reading about the victims and people that knew such monsters they often claimed that these people were so nice and charming and kind....in Kansas the BTK Killer was a dog catcher and prominent member of his church, and Gacy was a childrens party clown....
This veneer of kindness and humanity really is a bit sugary sweet in retrospect. They are a little to perfect and a little too nice. And besides, before they started killing people what did they do? Who were they? At some point they were functioning and normal...
Sadly, the words "sociopath" and "psychopath" have been so watered down that we really haven't a word that effectively describes or warns people. A young woman dumped by a callous boyfriend describes him as a psychopath because he dumped his beer on her in a fit of anger. An angry ex-husband is convinced the mother of his children is sociopath because she takes him to court at every turn....They may very well be sociopaths but the usage of those words far exceeeds the number of people that live without a shred of conscience.
And that is what these words sociopath and psychopath really mean: People with no conscience...
Imagine who you would be if you cared not a bit about what others said, thought, felt or did. On first thought, it would be freeing, fun and your confidence would soar. If you didn't care what others thought of you, you could approach the most attractive people, and the most successful businessmen. You could say what you wanted and would have no concept of fear. It would be liberating...
But.....it would also mean not caring about hurting others. Not seeing them as anything really. That is how these people see you. That is how my psychopath saw me. That's how he still sees me.
In fact, I am risking my health and safety in beginning this blog...but he is feeding on the underbelly of Sacramento and her disaffected and alientated gay population of men already beat up from life...
I can't stop him directly, he is wealthy, connected, viscious and cruel...all with a charming smile and wrapped in a package that, thanks to stereotypes about age, ethnicity, and station protect him long enough to truly hurt innocent people...
As this blog expands and improves, it is my intention of educating and informing as many people but especially those in the Sacramento region about the dangers of this type of person. Interspersed throughout the blog will be links, experpts and commentary related to sociopaths and their victims.
