Here is what I think explains all of them: "I got mine."
I understand that this mindset exists and I understand how it works in the world. I don't understand it as a way of being.
Other people are not human and deserve what they get. The society they're creating will benefit them (they believe; it always has so far) and that's all that matters.
It makes sense: if you don't think other people have weight in the world, you won't believe they can hurt you. I just really expected self-centeredness to kick in harder for self-preservation. I wouldn't have expected the strong drive for personal advantage to go along so closely with the room-reading skills of plankton. [edit] I did once know a narcissist who was supposed to be a Machiavellian spellbinder of people and the first time we met approached me with an extremely obvious territorial display, so I guess it happens. I still thought some consciousness of historical precedent would get through.
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I understand that this mindset exists and I understand how it works in the world. I don't understand it as a way of being.
Other people are not human and deserve what they get. The society they're creating will benefit them (they believe; it always has so far) and that's all that matters.
It makes sense: if you don't think other people have weight in the world, you won't believe they can hurt you. I just really expected self-centeredness to kick in harder for self-preservation. I wouldn't have expected the strong drive for personal advantage to go along so closely with the room-reading skills of plankton. [edit] I did once know a narcissist who was supposed to be a Machiavellian spellbinder of people and the first time we met approached me with an extremely obvious territorial display, so I guess it happens. I still thought some consciousness of historical precedent would get through.