Do you know any sociopaths?

[bookbunny]

Do you know any sociopaths? Have you known any before? I'm on the waiting list at my library for The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout and I'm really excited to get my hands on the book because it seems so interesting. I'd also love to hear from others who have actually interacted with sociopaths.

If you have encountered a sociopath before, what was your experience like? What was your relationship with him/her like? Would you handle things differently now? Please share as much as you are comfortable sharing. Thanks!

[BookLover]

My ex is a sociopath, hence the reason he is my ex. He put on a good front like most sociopaths. It came down after time. Having been with one, I have learned a lot of signs and red flags from it.

I loved that book! I had to buy it. It is very informative. I've also used in some of my classes.

[wildfloweragain]

Yes. I'm a teacher. No that was not meant to be a joke. But because of my job I meet a lot of people and also am privy to diagnoses.

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[ChillyMcFreeze]

My dad worked closely with a guy who was an admitted sociopath. The guy has been dead for a decade and my dad still refers to him as "The Sonofabitch." I was really young when I spent time around him, but I remember that he had no concept of how to speak to people. He was a college professor, and he was required to have his office door open at all times when students met with him (back in the 90s before such things were standard). Every student he ever met with came out in tears or enraged.

He had an affinity for cats, probably to make up for his complete lack of human connection. He treated the department secretary like dirt, but he left his house to her when he died with the stipulation that she could only live in it until the cats died. They only lived for about 6 years, so this poor woman with three children to feed was kicked out and ended up on welfare. He had to know that would happen, so it was almost a backhanded way of making sure his cats were taken care of while still ensuring he got a final "fuck you" to the people in his life. (Why the woman didn't just keep replacing cats until the executor wised up is beyond me. Maybe she's more honest than I would be.)

Enjoy your book! I'll have to add it to my list. It's a fascinating topic.