Psychopaths in the forest

[EditorOne]

My wife and I ran into a psychopath last week. He got bent out of shape because my dogs were running loose in state game lands. Not only is it legal for dogs to run loose in state game lands, his dogs were also running loose. Nevertheless, I was an asswipe, an asshole, etc., even though he was the one carrying an armload of illegally cut greenery (no cutting on state game lands although really, who cares if it's greenery for Christmas?) I told him three times he and his dogs were in no danger from my dogs (essentially three big seven-year-old puppies), he didn't care, accused me of turning them loose even though I saw him (untrue). He threatened to kill me four times, threatened to kill the dogs three times, and actually took a step toward me as if he were going to do something when I flatly and calmly told him he wasn't going to do any of those things. The look on his face when he finally figured out the probable reason why I was confidently capable of serenely indifferent sang froid in the face of his out-of-control histrionics was worth a million bucks.
I have never been more comfortable as an INTP. :-) Even my IN T/F P/J wife didn't get excited, just grabbed one dog and looked at the guy like he was something that slithers. I expected her to say "bad form, bad form" at any moment.
Just a footnote to remind you that even though you might be an INTP, "Never give a inch." Sometimes inscrutability works in your favor.
It's also a footnote to all those who think America is getting crazier. You may be right.

 

[loveofreason]

I notice you titled this 'psychopaths'

Can we assume the identity of the other? :smiley_emoticons_mr

 

[Cavallier]

I imagine some crazy shouting at you and you just standing there shaking your head. I can relate to this.

 

[EditorOne]

I notice you titled this 'psychopaths'

Can we assume the identity of the other? :smiley_emoticons_mr

Nope. I just assume that if there's one, there's got to be another one somewhere. :-) I was on my best behavior.

 

[loveofreason]

Then I volunteer to be crazy and sylvan.





And get your feral dogs outta my trees!!!!

 

[NoID10ts]

I like the forest!


Seriously, I don't know how I would have reacted in that situation. People who are willing to get in another persons face over something so trivial just leave me dumbfounded.

 

[warryer]

There must be something in the mix of dogs, crazies and woods...

One time for high school gym class we were at our local park doing a few week long course over orienteering. This was freshman year so me and my two friend were 14 at the time. Anyhow, this guy (30s - 40s) was jogging on a path in the woods with his two loose dogs. As he passes by, my friend jokingly says "ah your dog bit me." (No conviction in his voice mind you). The guy stops dead in his tracks and pushes my friend backwards down a hill and runs away.
<= the look on my face.

As a side not Editor, gotta love when you get the mental drop on somebody. Happens every now and again in poker for me.

 

[Melllvar]

Perhaps the presence of dogs provokes some sort of primitive, psychopathic rage in the average individual. I had to quit walking my dog down more commonly traversed roads because of the people who would yell things at me for no particular reason. I even had two people turn their cars around and start following me. No clue what we may have done to provoke such a thing. We certainly weren't causing any trouble, or doing anything differently than the average ape-canine pair does when out for a stroll/poop. So I keep to the obscure side roads now.

The look on his face when he finally figured out the probable reason why I was confidently capable of serenely indifferent sang froid in the face of his out-of-control histrionics was worth a million bucks.

Let me guess, you own a gun?

 

[LPolaright]

He is not a psychopath, if he would have been, the dogs were probably highly abused and/or they belong to someone else. A psychopath wouldn't of threatened to kill you, and if they did, they wouldn't have a care for the fact you have a gun... They would have probably caught you off-guard and that's even if they are willing enough to get into jail. Every psychopath learns this logic: jail = bad, no freedom. criminal activity = jail = bad, no freedom. Psychopaths are in control of themselves at all times, they are not clouded by feelings because they have none. When you say threatened I get the sense he was violent and out of control - which is not true for psychopaths because usually, they are violent and out of control secretly. Also, because psychopaths don't have emotions they wouldn't have had a facial expression describing a "feeling".

I criticize your use of the word Psychopath, although there is a possibility he was a low functioning one - but it still doesn't explain the dogs or the fact they even cared that your dogs are out in the field.

 

[Claverhouse]

He Never Would Be Missed

I often envy America's right to use serious weaponry ( or any weaponry ).


Combined with my growing conviction that it doesn't matter in the least what happens to people who are pests --- srsly ---, you would have been justified in blowing him away a la Arnie or Clint mode...






Claverhouse

 

[EyeSeeCold]

The thread's title is an excellent name for a band/movie/song/book.

 

[EditorOne]

Originally Posted by EditorOne
The look on his face when he finally figured out the probable reason why I was confidently capable of serenely indifferent sang froid in the face of his out-of-control histrionics was worth a million bucks.

"Let me guess, you own a gun?"

I certainly acted like I had one with me.

Not a psychopath? OK, how about "I met a wackadoodle in the woods."

His dogs, by the way, acted cowed, and so did his wife. She came down the trail about five minutes behind him, with one more dog, who also acted cowed. I asked her if she could reason with her husband, since we'd had an unnecessary and very unpleasant experience. "It's not that simple," she muttered. Draw your own conclusions.

I know people get nervous around big, active dogs, and I try to respect that. It's why I go to state game lands rather than public parks. Fewer people, lots of room for the dogs to exhaust themselves.​

 

[5k17]

I know people get nervous around big, active dogs

I get nervous around small, active and big, passive dogs, too.

 

[LPolaright]

Not a psychopath? OK, how about "I met a wackadoodle in the woods."

His dogs, by the way, acted cowed, and so did his wife. She came down the trail about five minutes behind him, with one more dog, who also acted cowed. I asked her if she could reason with her husband, since we'd had an unnecessary and very unpleasant experience. "It's not that simple," she muttered. Draw your own conclusions.

I know people get nervous around big, active dogs, and I try to respect that. It's why I go to state game lands rather than public parks. Fewer people, lots of room for the dogs to exhaust themselves. [/LEFT]

He could be just drunk frustrated hate-the-world wife beater guy.

A psychopath wouldn't hurt a human being without the intention of killing it or the assurance of the fact that that human being won't go to the police, but since psychopaths will not trust anyone (for the fact that the nature of human beings is being deceitful) he probably wouldn't beat his wife (I almost wrote, "it's wife"). Also if he has a wife he probably wants to hide the fact that his a psychopath which doesn't coincide with what you experienced.

I will stand my argument - he is not a psychopath. I find psychopaths more fascinating and less visible to the eye.

But then again, I'm probably biased and that's why I disagree with you. Although I do think I present you with valid logical reasons.

Either way, you should report to the police of a possible abusive relationship (not between you and me though, that'd be rude... I was talking about the wife and that wackadoodle) .

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

At first I was afraid this was about me and was wondering what the hell I ever did to you? But I own cats not dogs so....

Seriously though, good reaction on your part. I think I'm at a point where I would react the same, I hope. I used to.....well I'll leave my petty criminal record out of it

 

[dark]

Re: He Never Would Be Missed

I often envy America's right to use serious weaponry ( or any weaponry ).


Combined with my growing conviction that it doesn't matter in the least what happens to people who are pests --- srsly ---, you would have been justified in blowing him away a la Arnie or Clint mode...

Claverhouse

Wait a sec.... People outside America can't carry weapons? Wow, weapons are mundane useless items and America's are behind.

There is nothing to envy, to many idiots that get to carry them, and guess what, "Oh, I is stupid, I accidently shot my friend in head, O' noes."

 

[NoID10ts]

He could be just drunk frustrated hate-the-world wife beater guy.

A psychopath wouldn't hurt a human being without the intention of killing it or the assurance of the fact that that human being won't go to the police, but since psychopaths will not trust anyone (for the fact that the nature of human beings is being deceitful) he probably wouldn't beat his wife (I almost wrote, "it's wife"). Also if he has a wife he probably wants to hide the fact that his a psychopath which doesn't coincide with what you experienced.

I will stand my argument - he is not a psychopath. I find psychopaths more fascinating and less visible to the eye.

But then again, I'm probably biased and that's why I disagree with you. Although I do think I present you with valid logical reasons.

Either way, you should report to the police of a possible abusive relationship (not between you and me though, that'd be rude... I was talking about the wife and that wackadoodle) .

Perhaps EditorOne was using the term "psychopath" in more of a colloquial sense and wasn't advancing that as his official clinical diagnosis. I don't think the main focus of his story was Psychopathy and who is and isn't truly psychopathic.

Just sayin'.

 

[EditorOne]

"Perhaps EditorOne was using the term "psychopath" in more of a colloquial sense and wasn't advancing that as his official clinical diagnosis. "

Yeah, what Noddy said. I'm a very colloquial kind of guy. My clinical diagnosis would have been "terminal asshole, no recovery possible."

 

[Reverse Transcriptase]

Jeez, awesome story EditorOne. I totally empathize with being comfortable being INTP.

Being INTP is totally about not playing the other guy's game. Do your own thing. Other people use their extroverted/crazy/bullying strengths because it's hard not to be pulled into a combat like that. Keeping calm & reserved is the way to go.