M.E Thomas’ book, Confessions of a sociopath exposes
readers to a world of a consciously deviant mind. It was a good read. I got
interested in the book after reading Faith
by Peter James and Intensity by Dean
Koontz. Ross and Vess, the consecutive characters intrigue. I am curious to
know why people act the way they crazilly do.
However, I will not have to do
paragraphs to come to my one-sentence premise that ‘the book is but a woman’s
wailing.’ It should not be taken seriously as Boston Globe writes at the blurb.
I call it a woman’s thing not because I am a chauvinist but because a man would
not find words worth 302 pages all talking about ‘I and how I think I ruin(ed)
people.’ This will also apply as a woman characteristic if the writer hides in
a woman’s mask.
Early in the book, like any other
reader I have had this problem of identifying with the character. I have seen
myself through her eyes and even thought of self as a sociopath- and some of my
friends too. But facts could not add up to satisfy my curiosity. I am
empathetic and wish everyone the best- though accompanied with jealousy
sometimes. I have been a strict boy taking responsibilities as a prefect and student
leader in campus. Some of my friends think I am tough. Like Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart, I am weak inside. I am an over thinker to my irrational acts, adore solitude and greatly
volunteer. This does not mean I have no crazy thoughts.
The writer in my view has circularly
capitalized on her deviant ways to bring about the book and that is why her
life can be summed up in the few pages. She has openly failed to recognize her downfalls- in humanity and personality. Once she said she fell sick and it
really dehumanized her. She was not humble and fearful as a sick person should be. The book
elevates her that you would think she suffered from a cold.
We are all endowed with good and
bad qualities. The qualities we are likely to explore will in the end define
us. For us to have an ideal society, everyone should aim to be good. This will
see some struggle with excuses as sociopath and psychopath. To celebrate a
deviant, as Thomas does is to be contended with a weakness simply because it is
‘fruitful'. A youth thinks this way.
If I knew that my friend is a
sociopath, I will set clear boundaries and be very conscious with his
activities. People can only be innocently devoured if they lack the inner
instinct that some people are not what they pretend to be. In our interactions however
my purpose will be to gather more information about the deviance so as to know
how risky the environment of the person is. A child of this case will have to undergo a rough childhood incase it doesn't hide its fangs till mature. I am a social worker.
It is good you are a lawyer hence
an awesome opportunity to merge your identity. If a friend comes into my life
and all I can do is to find means of how to exploit that person, what the hell
am I? If you purpose bad in your heart, bad will come to you. You may have
enjoyed your life so far (half) doing to others what you know they don’t like.
What if the next of the years it comes to you ten-fold (It does not take
religion to know that to every action there is a reaction)? I would feel sorry
for you. Let us stop thinking that we can dictate ourselves- find pleasure in
exploiting other things; not humans.
I am not against the hope that
the future may see people like Thomas stand before us and mock our souls. Politicians
and business people have long worn that mask. Homo sexuality is encroaching
Africa and a ‘moral’ world is growing into a non-accommodating society. People
are exploiting others on their way up the social ladder. Things are (have)
changing. I am also thinking of how I will escape my quarter-life crisis and
sociopathy may be an advantage. If so I can employ the tactics and achieve, why
should I be a church mouse come middle life? Sociopath, like other
contradictory traits, I believe, is a result of nurture.
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| picture source: ravepad.com |
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