by What is the benefit in finding public ecstasy in suffering?
I’m sure you know the personality type.
They choose stasis over action and a wallowing misery over tempting joy.
What is the rationale in this philosophy of living where pity is sought from strangers and any chance at private glee is quickly ignored to perpetuate the public gloom?
They’re schmos. That’s what we call them. They want attention using negative energy. They wear you down.
Right, that’s them, Karvain! What do they get out of creating the negative space?
Who cares? They dig a hole and want to live in it. Just leave me out of it.
I care, Karvain, because those holes are growing and people are falling captive in them trying to get rid of the gloom and doom!
Do we cover them in dirt to finish them off or do we build bridges over their holes?
Ah the “Poor me” control drama – it is all done to get attention and energy – according to James Redfield (Celestine Prophecy).
Simple summary can be found here
http://www.meaningoflife.i12.com/dramas.htm
On a personal level I tend to have a three strike rule – I listen and give advice if asked – if they ignore my advice three times or make excuses as to why my advice cannot be followed – I then ignore them – or do the oh dear what a shame etc and then walk away.
However when it becomes a group problem rather than an individual issue I think it is harder to deal with the dynamics.
People have always suffered – be it illness, discrimination, bigotry, social deprivation or circumstance. It is how we deal with it that makes the difference.
The first question has to be what are you/they doing about it to help themselves – I am not sure anyone can help anyone else unless that person is willing to help themselves – if they are happy wallowing in their pit there is not a lot we can do about it.
Nicola!
I love that link, thanks! It’s amazing how those conversation predictors are just like a script. They say that, we say this, they get that. Funny how those communication cues work.
I like your three strikes rule but I think I have a one strike rule. If you specifically come to me and ask for my help and I go beyond ordinary friendship or association to help you and then you reject my help entirely for no good reason other than you prefer to suffer and you enjoy the faux attention it brings you, then I say, “Fine, unto yourself” and I disconnect.
I don’t mind donating time, but I don’t like wasting time and I don’t like being taken advantage of emotionally when it comes down to the needs of human living.
Sometimes I wish I could use the one strike rule – however part of my job is to help and assist people who have problems – hence the extra mile – and my so far “good reputation”.
Right, Nicola — jobs are different. I was speaking from non-business relationships. When it comes to a livelihood we are required to always do our best.
The trouble I have is that for me they overlap a great deal and it is a small pond that I inhabit.
That’s a good point! You’re lucky you have a way of combining pleasure and business for profit! 😉
They’re all attention seekers, but I’ve found them in two (2) sub varieties:
1 – Pure attention hounds – “oh pity me”, “look at me!” or otherwise just self gratification through normally poorly conceived performance art LOL!
2 – Agendaists (yep, new word) seeking, through displaying their suffering, to achieve some political or social end – think hunger strikes, public immolations, etc…
jonolan —
Those are excellent sub-varieties!
At the university level, students popular the first instance and the second is almost always defined by university support staff who are unionized, redlined and not interested in working.
Hi David,
Being caught by this “misery trap” is actually a vicious circle.
Truck load of sympathy actually paralyze people; no one could learn swimming/cycling/anything under the Sun if they are overwhelmed by sympathy.
There has to be a balance – or else everybody will burn out.
Hi Nicola,
Brilliant link!
The most difficult thing in the world is to ask one’s own self about his/her own weakness and question it.
Acknowledging is the first step, and taking the first step is equal to winning half the battle.
You’re right about suffering being a trap. People can find pleasure in the negative attention and with that eternal seeking, they tug the rest of us down to fulfill their basic needs.