Posted on 05/23/2009 5:59:03 PM PDT by FourPeas
Comment: Substitute a big person for the arbitrarily vindictive little boy and this story also gives a general idea of how groups, including families, work when they are dominated by narcissists. But bear in mind that there's a necessary requirement for such a reign of terror to continue: the isolation of a captive audience. One of the ways tyrannical narcissists isolate their captives is by telling them that they must keep secret what goes on inside or face dreadful punishment, because they're so special that no one outside the group is capable of understanding them -- and, of course, the longer members stay inside "Peaksville" the less likely they will be understood by outsiders, so isolated specialness becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. For a real-life example, see the story of the Phelps family. Warning: This is a court record containing the complete text of a book manuscript, Addicted to Hate.
An artistic view of the world as ordered by a six-year-old is presented in the well-known short story, "It's A Good Life," by Jerome Bixby. This story was dramatized for television on "The Twilight Zone" in 1961, screenplay by Rod Serling, and a somewhat different version of the story was used in the film, "Twilight Zone," in 1983. Here's the story used on television:
Anthony Fremont is a six-year-old with extraordinary powers to control the little town where he lives by simply wishing away people and things that anger or bore him. He has isolated the town by banishing electricity and cars. Other than his powerful wishing, Anthony has the mind and imagination of a typical little boy. He amuses himself with his special ability by giving a gopher three heads and then wishing the animal dead when the game becomes boring. The people in Peaksville have to smile all the time, think happy thoughts, and say happy things, because that's what Anthony commands and, if they disobey, he can wish them into a cornfield or change them into grotesque versions of themselves. Anthony dislikes singing and punished Aunt Amy for thoughtlessly singing in his presence. Anthony asks his father why no children come to play with him. Mr. Fremont reminds Anthony that when the Fredericks boy came over, Anthony had wished the other boy away into the cornfield after they'd finished playing. He wishes a dog into the cornfield for barking.
Anthony's parents have invited several people to their house for a surprise birthday party for one of their friends, Dan Hollis. Anthony makes everyone watch what he, like lots of other little boys, wishes to see on television -- dinosaurs fighting. Dan Hollis's wife gives him a record for his birthday, but Anthony won't permit him to play it. Dan grumbles angrily and then begins singing "Happy Birthday." Anthony tries to intimidate Dan by staring at him. Dan suggests that Anthony should be distracted and then killed, but nobody moves to help Dan. Anthony points his finger at Dan and screams "You're a bad man! You're a very bad man!" and turns Dan into a jack-in-the-box and then sends him to the cornfield. Everyone turns away in horror except Anthony's father, who begs Anthony to wish him into the cornfield. Anthony complies. A few minutes later, Anthony wishes for snow, though this will kill half the crops, not to mention those he's banished to the cornfield. The adults smile nervously and tell him that he's a good boy, hoping that Anthony's terrible power won't be turned upon themselves.
Joanna Ashmun's site contains a wealth of information on narcissism. Several years ago, I had need to research this topic and I'm amazed just how much applies to President Obama.
His isn't the casual narcissism that is a driving characteristic of our society, it's a Personality Disorder. I firmly believe that President Obama sees others around him not as living breathing being, but as objects to be used for his own delight. When he looks around him, he doesn't see people, not even in his wife or children, he sees things to be manipulated. Think of a little boy with his Hot Wheels smashing them together, or carefully putting them on a shelf to display, or on a whim, deciding that he'd rather play baseball, shoving them under his bed and forgetting about them.
I think you are right, FourPeas.
This is why they call him a man-boy narcissist. There is another article online that talks about obama and oprah both being narcissists.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/09/obama_oprah_and_the_guru_malig_1.html
Obama, Oprah, and the Guru: Malignant Narcissism
Grandiosity, more than anything else, is what characterizes Obama’s character and campaign. Grandiosity is also, more than anything else, what characterizes narcissism, and Obama’s narcissism has become obvious to many.
Tony Blankley refers to Obama’s posturing as the “height of hubris.” Jeffrey Kuhner writes that Obama “is a self-absorbed narcissist who portrays himself as a political messiah — the anointed one.” David Limbaugh writes of the “unspeakably presumptuous extravaganzas as those [that] feted Mr. Obama at Berlin and Invesco Field.”
We have a boy as President. That’s what we get for running a Maverick.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.