• dactylotheca@suppo.fi
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    3 months ago

    Trump is much better equipped psychologically to withstand ferocious criticisms than he is equipped to withstand mockery. Malignant narcissists go to great lengths to hide their fears and display a false or idealized self. Criticism targets the persona. Mockery, by contrast, can tap very deep fears of being exposed as flawed or weak. When the mask is the target, people with Trump’s psychological profile know how to fight back. Mockery, though, can cause them to unravel.

    This seems to be very common with conservatives more generally. Criticizing them does nothing, but turns out that mocking their absolutely fucking bizarre beliefs drives them up the wall

    • geekwithsoul@lemm.ee
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      3 months ago

      Reminds me of Mel Brooks’ reaction to criticism of The Producers from fellow Jews.

      “I didn’t think I was sinful in any way,” he says. “I thought it was making a point: You get up on a soapbox and you argue with a Nazi, you’re going to lose. But if you can ridicule him and make people laugh, then you win. It’s as simple as that.”