I would disagree that celebrity worship is benign most of the time. I think that it creates a bizarre, mass inferiority complex for anyone who falls for these corporate machinations. It makes those of us who have modest talents and might otherwise enjoy them constantly compare our accomplishments with heights of success and attention that are unattainable for most people. It distracts us from issues that really affect our lives and it destroys talented artists in order to endlessly sell us stuff--magazines, records, T shirts, WTF-ever. It creates a weird, sick desire to put celebrities on pedestals where we resent them and then gloat over their fall. It's just icky. Not good for either the celebrity or the fan. I love music, art, literature, film, etc., but I wish we could just enjoy the work and the talent without swallowing the poison.

Why is the face of the GOP such a flipping flaming asshole?

http://www.lovefraud.com

when his kids were getting into trouble. But I have to agree with the posters who find that this to be a bizarre diatribe. Myself, I think it's weird that women feel like they have to slather themselves with makeup to feel the least bit attractive (it's one thing to simply enjoy doing it - another for it to be part of some kind of mandatory fashion police thingy) or to feel that their breasts are inadequate for simply being what they are. That, to me, is misogyny. But I guess it's institutionalized so it's okay. Or something?? Sorry, I don't get it.

Circumstances compelled me to undertake extensive research into sociopathy, which made me realize that most people don't understand what it is. They think it means serial killer. They think sociopaths are easy to spot. But in fact, sociopathy refers to individuals who feel no empathy, guilty, nor compassion. They are supreme narcissists, feel entitled to absolutely everything they want, and are willing to do anything it takes to get it. Anything. They are often bright and charming, they lie without the least bit of guile, and they are motivated almost entirely by power, status, and dominance.

I've been thinking that our business culture has been ruled by sociopaths for some time now. This is just one more bit of evidence, IMO. According to statistics, the U.S. has a higher rate of sociopathy (which is part genetic, part environmental) than most other nations (especially those that value cooperation). The speculation is that this is due to the fact that we romanticize and reward sociopathic behavior, applying admiring adjectives to them such as "decisive," and "aggressive," believing that they're the "winners" in some kind of social Darwinist struggle. If we don't stop this trend, and if we don't start to recognize sociopaths for what they truly are, they'll continue to lead us down the path of destruction. They really don't care. And most of the time, they end up just fine, leaving a wake behind them a mile wide.

Interesting; seems we posted similar thoughts at pretty much the same time.

I would have to agree.

Yes, in many cases, the term is neither an empty epithet nor a hyperbole. I really do think it behooves us to become better acquainted with the disorder. A lot of very mystifying and puzzling circumstances suddenly started to make sense once I had more information.

To hear about your mother, Patrick. I don't know how you managed to write a column at all, especially such an informative one.

As I was reading your column, the one question that kept occurring to me, as it evidently did to another poster, was why the military hadn't been notified after such a long time with a plane off-course, especially after 9-11. I find that very puzzling and worrisome.

Again, my deep and heartfelt condolences. I lost my mom ten years ago and I still miss her.

Unless we start redistributing the wealth, I really can't imagine how the economy is going to recover. Too much is locked up in too few hands. I mean, seriously - in a consumer economy? What do we/they think drives something like that? If people don't have money to spend - and they don't - in my neck of the woods, unemployment is close to twenty percent - no "trickle up" is possible. I read an article the other day that said the Nordic countries are some of the wealthiest (and healthiest, BTW)) and they have some of the narrowest disparity between rich and poor in the world.

it seems like a spurious controversy. I read and write both novels and memoirs. They each have their plusses and minuses. There are good ones in both categories and mediocre ones in both. Good writing is good writing, IMHO, and worth reading, whatever it is.