Epistemic Ingemination

:: Art, Science, Politics, Humor, Geekery: Randy Kirchhof's Weblog

NOTE: this blog is no longer active as of 12/07. New one: http://blog.kirchhof.com

Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur.

Home Page MySpace Page Shelfari Page Tips, Rants, etc: E-mail Randy

Sun, 01 Aug 2004

In happy developments today, the Bush/Cheney campaign has reached new lows of Orwellian intrigue. First, in New Mexico they insist that you must sign a Loyalty Oath to the president before you can see the Vice President of the United States speak.

Then, on to Arizona, they insist upon knowing the race of a newpaper photographer before offering credentials.

This is going over the top. Let's take a look at the DSM-IV entry on Paranoid Personality Disorder:

A pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:

(1) suspects, without sufficient basis, that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him or her

(2) is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or associates

(3) is reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted fear that the information will be used maliciously against him or her

(4) reads hidden demeaning or threatening meanings into benign remarks or events

(5) persistently bears grudges, i.e., is unforgiving of insults, injuries, or slights

(6) perceives attacks on his or her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily or to counterattack

(7) has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding fidelity of spouse or sexual partner

Weeeell, I don't know about the fealty of his wife, but six out of seven (when four are required) seem to me to be a sign of, er, concern.

Posted at 10:17 by Randy Kirchhof [Permalink] [Reload all] [E-mail]