Remote Diagnosis Disorder (Blog)

[Steve Pavlina]

Originally Posted by geekchic9

I think that's part of the joke.

Naturally.

I always enjoy being part of the punchline.

[moonlite]

Originally Posted by Apollia

Coincidentally, Steve actually does have Sagittarius rising. Steve's astrological chart Did you know?

Best wishes,
Apollia

No, I had no idea So this guess was right I didn't read everything on this site.

[Steve Pavlina]

Originally Posted by moonlite

No, I had no idea So this guess was right I didn't read everything on this site.

If you'd read everything on the site, especially here in the forums, that would indicate some major OCD.

[AO1]

What is this mirror exercise ? I have a large mirror on my left and will give the exercise a shot in hopes of revealing my true purpose (Yes I've tried 'find your purpose in 20 minutes, but nothing yet)!

[hithere]

First, there are the philosophers. They tend to write long replies consisting of logical chains with subtle fallacies that add up to a ridiculous conclusion.

Next, there are the doctors. They offer advice based on their own knowledge and experience, e.g. Steve.

Third, there are the normal people. they say what they think, provide no justification, and end up ignored e.g. myself.

And finally, there are the scientists. Dan Linehan is a scientist.

[Jonathan Browne]

And then there's the labelers, who must label the posters in the thread according to professions and/or occupations based on their posts.

Do you think we'll get some lawyers in this thread too? You know what's really missing from the steve pavlia forums? N00bs. It would be more interesting to have a little more "I rly like boobs wat u guys think about boobs. pamela andesonz TITS teh greatest. K bye guys"

[Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Browne

And then there's the labelers, who must label the posters in the thread according to professions and/or occupations based on their posts.

Do you think we'll get some lawyers in this thread too? You know what's really missing from the steve pavlia forums? N00bs. It would be more interesting to have a little more "I rly like boobs wat u guys think about boobs. pamela andesonz TITS teh greatest. K bye guys"

Titties rock. I love boobz. Pamela Andersons aint all that tho, Jordans boobies are fab! Sorry if I sound like a N00b but I am. I don't rli get personal development. Is it like when you get plastik surgery n stuff? I'm confused. Thanks guys, you guys are the bestest ever!

That was preetty convincing I think

[ludlow]

I know Steve and others have made jokes in this thread about the irony of diagnosing people over the internet with a tendency to diagnose people over the internet... but it really goes to the heart of what's wrong with this blogpost and with Steve's responses to moonlite in this thread, I think.

Steve's writing is, obviously and by definition, some kind of a window on his personality. (If it were not, there would be absolutely no point in this website, whereas in fact it's a fascinating and brilliant website.)

Moonlite, using the only information about Steve to which s/he has access, makes some speculative statements that s/he openly acknowledges are only hypotheses. Maybe you want to argue that therapists shouldn't go around doing this from an ethical standpoint, but there's no point pretending that the process is somehow nonsensical or absurd: after all, making hypotheses based on imperfect information is what we do every moment of our lives.

But Steve seems unable or unwilling to accept that moonlite's speculations could be anything other than projections about moonlite him- or herself. And thus we enter the silly vicious circle of supercilious diagnosis and counter-diagnosis ("I think the fact that you're saying that just shows that you've got a problem", "Well, I think the fact that you're saying that just shows that it's you with the problem," and so on ad infinitum.)

The difference between Steve and moonlite, though, is that moonlite clearly and explicitly accepts that OF COURSE s/he has her own issues too - everybody does! So of course moonlite's speculations about Steve do reveal something about moonlite. But they may also be worthwhile and interesting speculations about Steve. They may even contain insights about Steve of which Steve was not aware! Equally, they may not. But to dismiss them as obviously and solely reflections of moonlite's own problems is to indulge in a rhetorical game, not to take them seriously.

Steve: Moonlite speculates that you might have a specific disorder. You reply that in posting that speculation, Moonlite is obviously making an appeal for help with his/her own problems. Do you not see that you are doing the same thing as Moonlite?

Steve wrote:

Since you and I have never met, our relationship (as you perceive it) exists entirely in your mind. Consequently, who's mind are you actually diagnosing? The most valid answer is that you're diagnosing the contents of your own mind. That's the only mind you have direct access to.

Why does this not apply to you, too, thereby invalidating your speculations about what's going on in Moonlite's mind, too?

I'd genuinely like to know.

[bunnyman]

Originally Posted by ludlow

Why does this not apply to you, too, thereby invalidating your speculations about what's going on in Moonlite's mind, too?

Here's a thought to blow your mind: I have not met Steve or Moonlite, and my own ideas of their relationship are actually in my mind! If I think they are having a fight, then really I am having a fight with myself. If I think one or both is trying to help the other, then I am trying to help myself. Or if I am confused about what is really going on, then I am confused about myself.

This can go as many levels as you like before your brain explodes: You are having an idea about what my mind is doing, and I am having an idea about what your idea is about my mind, and then you can have another idea about that, and so on.

I have to go meditate on a mountain somewhere until I become one with everything. Or does everything become one with me?

[Jonathan Browne]

Or you could relax, concentrate on your life at hand, try to make a bunch of money, great friends, and good times. lol.

[tintin]

been laughin my a** off readin this

[Andreas]

And while not entirely off-topic, I feel compelled to share a story:

One day a Grand Master walked into Burger King and said,

"Make me one with everything."

[mgmchenry]

I don't know what moonlite's motives are.

My goal is to give Steve an opportunity to grow.


Steve:
You clearly know you're different than most people. You probably realize most people would be incapable of making the choices you have. Surely you credit your differentness for you success and joy in life. It's central to your identity and you seem quite proud of it.

Some of the things you do are radical: Striking out on your own (in software, then in self-help), raw foods, polyphasic sleep. Unusual as those things may be, they seem to be at worst disruptive, but not destructive. In fact, they've paid off enormously.

A therapist normally makes a diagnosis of their *patient* so that a form of treatment can begin. Someone, even a qualified professional, making a diagnosis over the internet is probably misguided because you don't need or want "treatment" for simply being yourself.

Like I said, I don't understand moonlite's motives, but this isn't the first time you've heard this about yourself, or you wouldn't have discovered RDD.

People are going to keep making this observation because your behavior *is* predictable and fits a certain profile.

For a moment, try not to run away from the label and think about it a little deeper. Forget about "Disorder". Call it an archetype. Consider the possibility that you are wired differently than those "normal" people. It's abhorrent to think that your uniqueness is actually a well-defined type, but you might learn something about yourself. You may recognize things about yourself that you weren't aware of before. You may discover something you don't like and be warned against it.

I stress that last point because sometimes features of your archetype become more pronounced as you get older. Perhaps there is something you would want to be conscious of. Maybe something to take advantage of, maybe something to avoid.

Maybe BPD is completely the wrong category for you. But maybe someone qualified can help you figure it out.

And maybe there is some truth there that you'd be otherwise avoiding. I don't doubt you have the courage to look at this head-on and learn something.



Steve's Fans:
We all love Steve, just the way he is. (okay, maybe recently not all of us) But he doesn't need to be defended from diagnosis bullies. He's a big boy and can handle himself.

I don't think there's any reason to attack RDD sufferers for making an observation.

So what if being Steve is partly mental, partly experience, but partly physiological. Let him figure it out.



On another note: Steve, if you ever go back to polyphasic sleep as a polyamorous person, you'll be a poly-poly. It's a goal. The down side is your lovers will be annoyed with your inability to stay in bed.

Also, projection blah blah blah. Yes, I identify with you. That doesn't mean I might not have some insight. I don't want anything from you. Let the defenses down a minute, why don't you?

[mgmchenry]

Originally Posted by bunnyman

This can go as many levels as you like before your brain explodes: You are having an idea about what my mind is doing, and I am having an idea about what your idea is about my mind, and then you can have another idea about that, and so on.

You must be slow on the uptake! You haven't realized you're living in the matrix yet?

[SuavePlaya]

I agree with ludlow. Why does moonlite have all these problems and steve doesn't when he is doing the same thing. When I play basketball and the guy on my team isn't that good does that mean i'am not good when i'am the one scoring all the points? Cmon this stuff has gone to an extreme. If someone provides me nothing about their life and I label them then okay I have that problem. In this case steve provided everything about his life, so how can that be someones imagination making steve's identity. Steve you got some loyal soldiers we can use extra troops in iraq.

[bunnyman]

Originally Posted by mgmchenry

living in the matrix

Whoa.

[Megan]

Nobody wants to own up to a garbage can diagnosis like BPD.

[mgmchenry]

Garbage can? What does that mean? Sorry for my ignorance.

Besides, BPD might not be the right diagnosis. We only know what Steve chooses to share with us. There may be another side we really don't get to see. Maybe his focus on self-therapy may be masking his true symptoms. (not an expert there, but that seems possible.)