Originally posted by: shira
Originally posted by: MoonbeamBut I know something I believe you do not. You will not see in anybody our there, me included, that you do not already feel is true about yourself. It is know as projection
Now wait just a second there: Let's agree that psychological projection is an (unconscious) strategy whereby a person makes him- or herself feel better by seeing in others ("projecting") his or her own unacceptable characteristics, regardless of whether or not that perception is accurate.
In other words: A man dislikes his selfishness. He temporarily negates or reduces that unpleasant feeling by perceiving real or imagined selfishness in others.
Fine. But where do you get from that that a person CANNOT see unacceptable characteristics in others that the person does not already see in themselves?
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Enough with the over-simplifications.
Take what you said earlier if you want to deal with over-simplifications:
"The right hurls vitriol at Obama because they know they can't win on intellectual grounds. Only by stirring up emotions can they keep minds closed. Hatred and fear displace rational thought, and rational thought is the enemy of the Right."
I find this to be a preposterous over-simplification. There are plenty of people on the right who could intellectually bury you. Your inferiority manifests an intellectual arrogance and pride. Not saying you are stupid, only blind. There are also plenty of people on the right with minds more open than yours. Another part of your need to self flatter. Rational thought is everybody's enemy it would seem, because you are no more rational yourself as evidenced here by your exclusivity. There is truth in what you say but you don't include yourself or acknowledge exceptions, I think, because you are projecting and have a need.
As to the points in your last post you have missed the key component that makes projection projection, that projection is not about thoughts but emotions:
s: I see a man filled with bigotry for gays. Does that mean I see myself as a bigot?
M: You can tell a bigot you just can't tell him much. It does not make you a bigot unless you despise his bigotry, if you have some hidden emotional need to change him.
s: I recognize a woman as a liar and swindler. Does that mean I see myself as a liar and swindler?
M: Not unless you feel some need that she should be punished or feel shame.
s: I see a man abusing his dog. Does that mean I see myself as an abuser of animals?
M: No, but if you feel yourself to be that dog and want to bite the abuser, then you are projecting.
s: I see a man driving recklessly. Does that mean I see myself as a reckless driver?
M: If you see him as a doddering idiot because he is going slower than you are, or a madman because he's driving faster, then yes, your own self contempt is involved.
s: I see a woman cheating on her husband. Does that mean I see myself as a cheater?
M: It's all about what you feel.
s: I see you misusing psychological concepts. Does that mean I see myself as misunderstand psychology?
M: You may not see it but you are.
s: Is the most enlightened Sufi master unable to see human failings? Was God or Jesus or any other sentient being you believe to be perfect unable to see human failings?
M: They are truly free from feeling anything other than love. They are undivided from what they see. They do not project......they are mirroring God.
The difficulty with projecting is that we do not know when we do it because we do not know what we feel and the more intellectual we are and the less intuitive and feeling, the truer this is.