ODD and Proud
Recently Bruce Thornton riffed on a WSJ piece about the “Dontells,” people who don’t want to be told what to do. These people have been labeled as suffering from “Oppositional Defiant Disorder,” or “ODD.” (I’m sure that acronym is not a mere coincidence.).
This is officially recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5. It’s supposedly treatable but incurable.
This smacks of Soviet psychiatry, which labeled those who opposed the regime as mentally ill. (Putin has resurrected this heinous practice. But hey, so has Germany which is forcing an 85 year old Holocaust survivor to be institutionalized for refusing to be “vaccinated” against COVID.)
Can’t wait until hooliganism is an officially recognized DSM condition.
The reason that ODD is running rampant is that THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT, CORPORATIONS AND MEDIA TELLING PEOPLE WHAT TO DO. About everything. Such a mystery, right?
And the fact that people being pushed by the pushy are pushing back is precisely why the pushy in government, corporations, academia, and the media are so intent on diagnosing them as mentally ill. (Of course, someone born with a Y chromosome who wants to ignore that fact and cut off his junk is the epitome of mental health and you are a hater–and probably mentally ill yourself–for harboring any doubts about this!)
I am not a religious person, but one theme in the New Testament that resonates deeply with me is Jesus’s imprecations against the Pharisees and teachers of the law. He was obviously suffering from ODD. Which is precisely why the Pharisees were hell-bent on killing him.
This resonates because we live in an increasingly pharisaical world, with priestly classes claiming a monopoly on authority and truth condemning, persecuting, and often prosecuting those who dissent. Cancel culture is just one manifestation of rampant pharisaicalism.
More prosaically, they are just so many Cartmans, demanding that you respect their authoritay and delivering a beat down if you resist.
The disgusting display of Davos is perhaps the most prominent congregation of modern day Pharisees. A self-anointed group of global control freaks who just know better, and who condemn those who reject their superiority–and their commands–as heretics and blasphemers. Except they use slightly different terminology, like extremists and purveyors of misinformation and disinformation.
The most outré Davos Pharisees were of course European, and many of their most bitter condemnations were directed at benighted Americans (e.g., the Euro who said that Americans were going to have to dispense with free speech and pass hate speech laws–how dare the hoi polloi be able to say mean things about us! Oh, you have no idea how much I hate you, woman. Or maybe you do, which is why you insist on such baleful laws.)
Unfortunately, there were many, many Euro-adjacent Americans there (John Kerry being the most egregious, with Al Gore giving him stiff competition in that regard), and the pharisaical class is firmly in command in American government (at all levels), corporations, academia, and media.
If you watch even a few minutes of what transpired at Davos, I am sure that you agree with me that nuking the place in mid-January would make the world a far, far better place.
The fact that the United States is the target of Europharisees is hardly surprising, given that the very reason that millions came to America in the first place was to escape the suffocating oppressions of the “elites”–royalty, nobility, and the established church. There was an obvious sorting process. The non-conformists were the most likely to leave. (Small example: I recall a study showing that Scandinavian emigrants to America were more likely to have unusual names.) Thus, Europe became more conformist, and American more heavily populated by those who bridled at authority.
Over the years, the United States has become more Europeanized, but Europe has not become more American. There has been convergence, but most of the movement has occurred in the United States, especially with the growing dominance of progressivism in government, media, academia, and corporations.
Progressives are Pharisees without God. And like the Pharisees of old they cannot brook dissent, and strive to use authority–including the authority of the state–to crush it. In doing, they label dissenters as possessed by demons or the Devil, only now their condemnations are tarted up in pseudo-scientific psychiatric jargon.
As for me, I’m ODD (by the psycho-Pharisees’ definition), and I’m proud. It manifests itself in small things (e.g., musical taste for punk and outlaw country) and large things (politics). I despise the modern Pharisees and rebel against them. I’m no Jesus, for sure, but I fervently embrace that part of his message.
Aside. In a Twitter scrape some years ago, I mocked the eminently mockable Pharisee wannabe and all around insufferable douchebag Tom Nichols. He responding by saying that I was “odd.” I guess he was right! Thanks for the compliment, Tom!
I guess my ODDness manifested itself in my adolescence, definitely before 10th birthday. On my stubborn refusal to submit to activities like embroidery my poor grandma exclaimed” you’re not a girl! you’re a contrary-boy!”
Comment by Tatyana — January 21, 2023 @ 12:33 pm
@Tatyana-The DSM identifies ODD as a incurable childhood condition 😉 Yes, it is something that manifests itself early. You’re a conformist, or you’re not, and pretty much from birth. But I consider it a virtue, not a vice.
Perhaps not surprisingly, you actually came to mind when I was writing the post. Fact.
Comment by cpirrong — January 21, 2023 @ 1:38 pm
“The truth will set you free”- Jesus
(But they are likely gonna crucify you)
Comment by Lisbeth selby — January 21, 2023 @ 2:17 pm
According to the American Psychological Association (pdf), if you have a Y-gene you’re automatically and by birth a violence-prone misogynist.
You know how the question, “What is a woman?” brings crinkled brows of puzzlement to so many progressives? Not so with ‘What is a man?’ Men are known as “those who perpetrate sexual violence against women and as those who must be taught to not rape.”
As one subject to the academic descent into systemic sexism, Craig, you might like my latest: “Falsification of the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire: No Evidence of Systemic Sexual Harassment in Academic STEM” — free access at the link in my name.
Comment by Pat Frank — January 21, 2023 @ 2:18 pm
@Lisbeth. Been there, done that (cf. New York Times, 27 December 2013.
Comment by cpirrong — January 21, 2023 @ 2:29 pm
Flattered – and dismayed: what, it’s that obvious?!
Although I am, really, truly, an agreeably and tolerant person – who has been working in extreme woke (and escalating into insane) environment since 1993. Is there any wonder I’m losing my temper every once in a while?
Comment by Tatyana — January 21, 2023 @ 5:36 pm
There are still some people around who think that Davos is a conference of extra terrestrial lizards intent on destroying the freedoms of gun toting ODDs.
But most of the media commentary in Europe is about the price of whores, who descend on this gab fest like flies on manure.
As one banker (who flew in on a private jet, like all the others) remarked: this is where I can meet my clients without taking multiple jet journeys.
Comment by philip — January 21, 2023 @ 7:55 pm
…and there’s [faux] wonderment from some at the increasing social & political polarity in the U.S.?
Because the progressives have no self-limiting discipline, they continue to poke and probe the limits of toleration for these broadening and increasingly (yes, I’ll use the word) oppressive intrusions into our erstwhile individual rights and choices. In recent decades, it started with light bulbs and toilet tanks and has “progressed” to coerced approval for trans-[whatever], and sexual deviancy indoctrination imposed on early elementary school students.
Every extension of “progressive” intrusions peels off another relative few at the margins of social and political acceptance, who say, “WTAF? Now you’ve gone too far!” …that’s what has grown our social & political polarity. One can only wonder where they will “go” next, and when the “tipping point” will be met.
Comment by ColoComment — January 22, 2023 @ 10:49 am
Sorry for the additional comment, but as I left here & opened Althouse, this was at the top of her blog. Note that it’s from NYT, not known for its criticisms of progressive activities.
https://althouse.blogspot.com/2023/01/its-politically-weird-to-be-very.html
Comment by ColoComment — January 22, 2023 @ 10:55 am
@Tatyana-No reason to be dismayed, or weirded out :P. I certainly did not think of you as being intemperate. It was basically just a random thought that crossed my mind when writing: “I wonder what Tatyana will think of this?” I have no idea where that thought came from, except perhaps that I appreciate your comments and that felt that it might be a subject that you would have opinions on. Cheers.
Comment by cpirrong — January 22, 2023 @ 11:24 am
Hahaha
The headmaster (principal in one of the last State grammar – that is selective – schools in England) was a former Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. A disciplinarian, he wielded a cane rather than the cat ‘o nine tails and enforced a rigid rule on hair length for boys and skirt lengths for girls. It was back in the miniskirt days!
I well remember the day when he came up to me in a foul temper (I had reduced the French teacher to tears) and informed me that my problem was (and is) that I am a “rugged individualist”.
This was a compliment I have long treasured because besides being rugged I am also incorrigible.
Amusing aside. The school was in Maggie Thatcher’s constituency. She gave out school prizes one year. I picked Deutscher’s Trotsky for mine which I continue to treasure if only because it bears Maggie’s signature 🙂
Comment by Simple Simon — January 22, 2023 @ 12:14 pm
Hmm…I guess my tongue firmly planted in cheek is not detectable through digital comments, after all.
Cheers!
Comment by Tatyana — January 22, 2023 @ 1:29 pm
Absolutely dead on professor. I’m in the same leaky boat, from looking the wrong way in the 3rd grade class picture to working for myself my entire life, to not really giving a shit what people think. My one request? Let’s not refer to the Davos crowd as “elite” in any way please.
Elite in what sense? In critical thinking? In educational accomplishments from the ideology institutions? They breathe their own air, listen to their own bullshit handed back to them and clearly do not want to listen to anything else. Again I ask, elite in what sense?
Comment by Donald Wolfe — January 22, 2023 @ 1:37 pm
@13 Donald, elite in their own mind. Nowhere else. And they know it’s true, because they all agree.
Comment by Pat Frank — January 22, 2023 @ 1:44 pm
@Donald Wolfe. Thanks. And remember I always use the word “elite” ironically/sarcastically. The biggest condemnation of modern society is its soi disant elite.
Comment by cpirrong — January 22, 2023 @ 5:25 pm
In their book “Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion” authors Thompson and Jenkins call us the “Why Guys.” The book is based on police techniques for better interaction with the public. If a cop says, “Come here,” the Why Guy will ask, “Why?” The cop can escalate, or give a good reason. Authoritarians and disciplinarians hate Why Guys.
Comment by Michael van der Riet — January 23, 2023 @ 5:07 am
BTW, just saw someone on linked-in described herself as “Analyst by training | Contrarian by vocation”
Our people are everywhere!
Comment by Tatyana — January 23, 2023 @ 4:11 pm
In defence of Europe:
The suggestion that we meekly conform to the demands of our governments, media and corporations is patently false. Just look at the French setting fire to Paris over an increase in fuel taxes, much lower levels of polarisation in our media and the EU passing a right-to-repair reform against the wishes of industry among endless, endless other examples. You see us pushing the agenda of climate change and assume that it simply must be the case that it is being forced upon us, as you perceive it to be forced on you, but if you were to come here and speak to people, you would find that most of them want their governments to work on climate change. We are not conforming to their wishes – they are conforming to ours!
Frankly, US politics could do with some Europeanisation: Aside from the UK, most of our political systems are much more competitive than America’s duopoly.
Comment by HibernoFrog — January 24, 2023 @ 3:03 am
@Tatyana–we could form a club, but the ODD tend not to be joiners 🙂
Comment by cpirrong — January 29, 2023 @ 6:23 pm
18@HibernoFrog — European parties are chimerical. Macron is a stooge of the EU/WEF. So are the PMs of most of continental Western Europe.
The European Council makes all the decisions and Donald Tusk is unelected. The EU Parliament is a toothless debating society. European media isn’t polarized because they all follow the same playbook. Western Europe is descended into a bureaucratic tyranny.
Europe managed to kill off the cream of its male population in two enormous wars. Those left behind have lost confidence in their Enlightenment values. Hence the EU, the control ceded to political elites, and their on-going deliberate destruction of national identity. That’s what you’re defending.
Globalists here in the US are doing their best to impose your slave state here. They disdain the Constitution, have no respect for freedom of thought or speech, and are deathly opposed to transparency. They won’t succeed, though it may take a shooting war to rescue the Republic.
Comment by Pat Frank — January 29, 2023 @ 7:04 pm
“Macron is a stooge of the EU”
You contention is that Macron, one of the most powerful leaders in the EU, is a stooge to… himself?
“European Council makes all the decisions”
A: Not actually true, the Council has no legislative power.
B: The council consists of the various elected European heads of state and is therefore one of the more democratic parts of the EU. What more were you expecting?
“Donald Tusk is unelected” Mr. Tusk, to the best of my knowledge, is a private citizen of Poland and not currently involved in politics. So you are correct that he is unelected. You are incorrect that this is relevant.
“The EU Parliament is a toothless debating society.” False. It has veto power and control over the budget.
“Western Europe is descended into a bureaucratic tyranny” Suggest you look up “tyranny” in a dictionary.
“Those left behind have lost confidence in their Enlightenment values.” You mean the Enlightenment values that you espouse, such as “Don’t trust doctors, they’re trying to sterilise your children with vaccines”?
“the control ceded to political elites”. Fun fact, we vote for our elites.
“on-going deliberate destruction of national identity” Support for the EU remains high among most people, so this is either not happening, or is not a problem.
“your slave state” Yes, those terrible bastards who make sure that companies are regulated to ensure good behaviour, that we have affordable healthcare and who oppose the likes of Orban, who are trying to abolish judicial independence. It’s just AWFUL, you’re right – elections in the US are much better, where you use the Iranian system – you can vote for ANYBODY you like, but only as long as they’re on the list provided by actual, unelected, self-styled elites.
Comment by HibernoFrog — January 30, 2023 @ 10:00 am
@21 HibernoFrog — Macron’s first loyalty is not to France, but to the EU. That makes him an EU stooge.
“European Commission” My mistake. Legislative authority begins with the European Council. The European Commission just rides above it all, ensuring that lower bodies follow its closed door policy decisions.
The EU democratic deficit. Veto power an afterthought and almost entirely unused.
European Council: “various elected European heads of state” Elected as head of state but whose first loyalty is to the EU. You vote for your set of elites who proceed to betray you and your country to the EU. Bait-and-switch isn’t it. Ever so democratic.
“Support for the EU remains high among most people” A source of bemusement.
People choosing bondage. Such people live here, too. The on-going political strife in the US is such people making their power-play. With some necessary effort, they’ll be defeated.
Donald Tusk. Previous occupant. Mr. Selected is now Charles Michel.
“Vaccines” The mRNA drug is not a vaccine, no matter the tendentious and self-serving redefinition by the US CDC.
The ~40% increase in all-cause mortality reported by insurance companies among the age 25-44 since the mRNA roll-out are deaths caused by that drug. A 10% increase in all-cause mortality is a 3-sigma event. A 40% increase is ~12 sigma, about 1 chance in 10^32 of happening spontaneously.
Current statistics are that one in 800 jabbed has an adverse reaction. The net benefit for all is negative.
If you’ve taken the mRNA shot then good luck to you. But evidence is very clear that most physicians have not followed medical ethics in obeying injection mandates — which themselves are illegal and violate the Nuremberg code.
Here’s the major distinction, HF. In the EU your rights are granted by treaty (pdf). It’s in full view in the Preamble of the EU Charter: “[The Union] places the individual at the heart of its activities, by establishing the citizenship of the Union and by creating an area of freedom, security and justice.”
The Union grants. The Union can un-grant as its political expedience requires. Merely by re-defining the meaning of rights and freedom. Speech, for example, is regulated by law in the EU. The Union is sovereign.
The reality is that you have privileges given rights as a misleading label.
The US Constitution begins, “We the People…” The people are sovereign. There is no ambiguity. In the Constitution, they grant certain specified rights to the government, which can be reclaimed. All rights not specifically granted are retained.
The EU upends Enlightenment values. It is an administrative tyranny. It’s running on the democratic momentum of prior times that it no longer espouses. The logic of its structural tyranny will emerge as the the notion of intrinsic rights is increasingly foreign to succeeding generations of rulers. Such trends are historically invariant, and the same is inevitable in the EU.
The primary system in the US means that party candidates are chosen by election of all the members. Hence the necessity for legitimate ballots and honest vote counts. There’s a large grass-roots movement here now to rectify recent clear violations and ensure an honest vote.
You live in a slave state, HF. The logic is there; the walls will eventually close in.
Comment by Pat Frank — January 30, 2023 @ 3:18 pm
@Pat: You utter, utter, tinfoil-hatted drama queen. I see you subscribe to the Trump debate style, which is to throw out so much horseshit that you opponent has no option but to recuse themselves from the conversation for lack of time…
Comment by HibernoFrog — January 31, 2023 @ 3:10 am
@23 HibernoFrog — Thank-you for so gracefully conceding the point.
Comment by Pat Frank — January 31, 2023 @ 7:11 am