Thursday, May 3, 2012

BANK of AMERICA - FUCKING OVER THE ELDERLY, HANDICAPPED, BLACKS, AND EVERY CUSTOMER THEY TOUCH


Banks can cover overdraft with government funds


Wednesday, June 3, 2009

The state Supreme Court has refused to reinstate a $1.3 billion jury verdict for more than a million elderly and disabled Bank of America customers and ruled that banks can take money from their patrons' Social Security deposits and other government benefits to pay for bounced checks.

The unanimous decision Monday upheld a policy that virtually all banks follow, covering overdrafts and bad-check fees of up to $32 per transaction by tapping into a customer's newly deposited funds from any source.

When the case went to trial in 2004, Bank of America had nearly 1.1 million accounts in which government agencies directly deposited $800 million a month in Social Security and other benefits, mostly for age and disability. The ruling allows the bank to dip into those deposits, like any other incoming funds, when the customer writes a check for more than the previous account balance.

Lawyers for the customers in a statewide class-action suit argued that California law prohibits banks from deducting Social Security payments or other public benefits that are typically the customer's chief source of income. The federal government sided with the banks.

"This decision is the latest example of sacrificing the poor who subsist on life support to the altar of greed," said the plaintiffs' lawyer, James Sturdevant. It's now up to Congress and state legislatures, he said, "to stop these predatory practices."

Bank of America said the ruling shows that it and other banks have been acting legally. Bank officials had testified that prohibiting deductions of government benefits would force them to cut back on overdraft protections and take other steps to prevent bounced checks, such as increasing holds on deposits and restricting the use of ATMs.

"Banks would have had to categorically deny overdraft operations and privileges to anyone who received government benefits," Leland Chan, general counsel of the California Bankers Association, said Monday. "The aged and handicapped would not have access to this service," referring to overdraft protection.

The court raised similar concerns. A bank that could not deduct overdraft costs from new deposits might have to bounce a customer's rent check or utility payment, said Justice Carlos Moreno, a practice that could also hurt the customer's credit rating.

The suit was based on the court's 1974 ruling that state law barred banks from taking money from government benefits in a customer's account to cover funds that the customer owed to an outside creditor, such as a credit card company.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Anne Bouliane ruled in 2004 that the same principle prohibited a bank from using newly deposited government benefits to cover its own charges. Bouliane and a jury then awarded $1,000 to each Bank of America customer with such an account - more than $1 billion overall - and another $300 million for reimbursement of improper charges and emotional distress.

A state appeals court overturned the verdict in 2007 and was upheld Monday by the state's high court. The court said its 1994 ruling applied only to outside creditors and not to deductions from deposits in the same account that the customer has overdrawn.

That conclusion is reinforced, the court said, by a 1975 state law that limited the amount a bank could deduct from any customer's account to pay off a debt, but excluded bank service fees from the definition of "debt."


CRAIGSLIST One Man's PLATFORM For HATE CRIMES - The Stalking of America by Calfiornia Lawyer RICHARD HILARY GIBSON




AFTER RICHARD HILARY GIBSON DELETED A POSTS ON CRAIGSLIST LOS ANGELES POLITICS FORUM, HE WAS EXPOSED FOR HIS FLAGGING.

GIBSON IMMEDIATELY DELETED THAT POST.

WHILE GIBSON’S RACIST RANTINGS, HATE CRIMES, AND CRIMINAL STALKING ALWAYS REMAIN UP UNTIL THEY EXPIRE, GIBSON OVERRIDES FLAGGING AND DELETES ALL POSTS THAT EXPOSE HIS TOTAL CONTROL OF CRAIGSLIST POLITICS AND RANTS FORUMS AROUND THE COUNTRY.



CRAIGSLIST IS GIBSON’S PLATFORM FOR RACISM, HATE CRIMES AND THE PSYCHOTIC STALKING OF CL POSTERS.







Deleted
lax politics
2012-05-03 10:20
2994031643



los angeles craigslist > westside-southbay > community > politics

100% of these posts by the CL STALKER HATE CRIMES POSTER (ca lawyer richard hilary gibson)



Date: 2012-05-03, 10:20AM PDT
Reply to:
your anonymous craigslist address will appear here





all other posts he deletes, and then commences a pattern of criminal harassment.

·         Location: ca lawyer richard hilary gibson

·         it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 2994031643



*

Deleted
lax politics
2012-05-03 03:55
2993417160



*

HERE GIBSON HARASSES A POSTER ON CL EUGENE OREGON BACK IN 2008





Gibson’s postingin Eugene Oregon:


Of course you are rolling on the floor..YOU'RE CRIPPLED! HA! You know and we know..you are the impotent one..you're crippled! LOL!While I was out I ....parked in a handicapped space, scratched the fuck out of this cripples car AND stole a handicapped card from some other useless cripples car. "Thank you" to the cripple for leaving your window open just enough. Hey, I can reproduce these...You are inspiring me...I am going to hand these out for free..to anybody that wants them. Well, and sell a few to folks that aren't my friends. CHECK E-BAY SOON! You are about to see A LOT more of these around Eugene. If I hit E-Bay..everywhere! Oh yeah. Thank you.

Oh, I posted a BUNCH of cripple jokes on some kids sites, and will continue to spread fear and dislike of cripples. They are fucking useless anyway.

You are a perfect example of why people like you used to be and still should be put away in institutions. Of course you are yawning..you are half a person..life itself is tough for you. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Maybe you can tell us a bit about your personal hygiene? Cripples are always dirty. They can't properly clean themselves. Did you ever notice cripples are usually disgusting fatties? Why is that? Do they NEED to eat all day long in front of their computers? Why is it THEY have no respect for their bodies..Oh yeah, their bodies have let them down. How do you wipe your ass? Who helps you?

Gee. I wonder how many cats you have? Does your APARTMENT smell like cat piss, n the shit you can't effectively wipe off your ass? Typical lazy cripple.

Remember; If it weren't for the handicapped, we'd NEVER get parking spaces!

Still here half person. You know you are, That's why you are so angry. HAHAHAHAHA If I was this Dick guy..why wouldn't I be flagging your garbage? You're just a loser that needs attention. LIKE THE REST OF SOCIETY-I AM THROUGH WITH YOUR USELESS ASS. *YAWN* No more attention, loser.



Gibson’s victim’s post:

Re: Cripple Hater



Reply to: pers-814583314@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-08-26, 6:05PM PDT


First, I'd like to thank you for your kind words. I very much appreciate that. Again thank you.

To be clear his name is Richard Hillary Gibson and he's a very sick screwed up guy who's addicted to speed.

And, yes, I'm the person that he's been attacking and, yes, I'm physically disabled but, as you can see by my post, not mentally disabled at all. lol

Not to worry though because he'll soon be dealt with.

I've already begun the process of assembling a legal team to construct a case and bring him to task for his violations not only against me but against literally hundred of other people he has been attacking for the last four years.

Many of his posts have been sent to the Jewish Anti Defamation League, The National Organization For Women, The NAACP, among other groups so he'll soon find himself not only dealing with me but with all those other groups as well. And, yes, they will be dealing with him.

Again thanks for your kind words and thoughtful post. I really do appreciate it.

Have yourself a wonderful day!



RE: I'll give anyone who kills Childers $100,000, cash.'


 te: 2008-09-19, 5:42PM PDTBWHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHA!!! The FBI eh? Ohhhhhh! I'm so scared Childers! Do you think they'll come down to my house and bust my door down to defend you? You used to threaten me with police action several years ago and guess what douche bag? Nothing ever happened!!! LOL!!! Nonetheless, here we go again!!!! Childers continues to believe that the police are with him and that they could give two shits about threats made on his life! I'm sure the cops would love to see Childers go down too and would make me a hero if it were to happen! They'd bust down my door to give me a frickin' medal! LOL! Childers, go away, things were better when you were gone. Leave us alone you fucking loser. Death to Childers! Death to the woman beater! Death to the child molester! Save Helen Wong, kill Childers!!!! I'll give anyone who kills Childers $100,000, cash. Just bring his head to me in a glass jar so I can keep it around to smile at. If I see you, you're a dead man.



*

RICHARDhilaryGIBSON.blogspot

THE CRAIGS LIST SECRET… on man removes 98% of the post using a flagging override

Today Gibson is removing posts all over the country and threatening people.

He is a mentally ill man that is desperate for help. Please contact the CA STATE BAR Lawyer’s Assistance Program and request the help this sick man obtain help. lap(AT)calbar.ca.gov

His emails: rick@Gibson-law


msnurse805@yahoo (one of his many alias

for more contact, head to CA STATE BAR web. Give him a few calls if you find his conduct disturbing.

PROFILE OF A SOCIOPATH FLAGGER…. RICHARD HILARY GIBSON’S MENTAL DISORDER BLOG

The below pertains to the CL FLAGGER TROLL. It is only the OPINION of a group of people that have been harassed and had their CL postings removed for the last four years by this individual. It is based on copies of thousands of Gibson’s posts, many of which have included obscene, explicit, and racist pornography.

This individual has removed thousands of posts on Craigs List all over the country.

Richard Gibson seemingly spends most his waking hours on CRAIGS LIST where he harasses, threatens, stalks, and in violation of the CL Terms of Use (TOU), overrides flagging and removes all posts he doesn’t agree with and all posts that expose his violations.

Even though Gibson violates CL TOU, he uses the same system to daily over-post lawyer ads in Los Angeles-Services-Legal.

Gibson stalks CL on both politics and rants raves at cities all over the country. His posts, littered with insults directed to the posts he has illegally removed, frequently also contain explicit pornography, racist or sacrilegious comments or pictures.

It has been reported that he stalks CL barter and men seeking men where he posts insults and then removes the post he directed his insults to (see Gibson’s post from barter below)

Gibson has stalked Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle, Eugene-Oregon, Seattle, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, Chicago, New York City, Boston, and Miami, Washington, D.C., Austin and numerous other smaller municipalities.

Typically besides stalking Los Angeles daily, Gibson picks one or more other cities where he floods the boards with insults and disparaging remarks directed to other posters.

In Los Angeles, at the end of the day, there will typically be less than a dozen posts left and 50% to 90% of these will be Gibson’s. Most of these will RE: (reference the post he removed).  All other posts he has removed illegally.

In Los Angeles, and other cities, Gibson will remove ALL POSTS on illegal immigration. While Gibson has claimed repeatedly that he is fully within his “rights” to unilaterally remove posts on illegal immigration, as such posts are “racist” and therefore violates TOU, he himself, displays his sociopath tendencies by referring to illegals as “greasers”. Most racist posts we have observed on CL are undoubtedly by Gibson.

Gibson post of  09-26-06:

I see another one of your posts just disappeared. I

flagged it as "spam". Are you gonna sue me now? ha ha

ha ha ha ha ha HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!..................................

I showed them!

………………..

Date: 2006‑09‑26, 3:47PM PDT

All you have to do is sign up to CraigsList with several e‑mails ‑ pretending you're a number of people, and then you can flag all you want. I don't think that CL thought about that! HaHaHa!

Anti‑immigrant guy‑I flagged TWO of your posts away

Reply to: comm‑207455240@craigslist.org

………………

Gibson’s post of 09-14-06

Date: 2006‑09‑14, 6:05PM PDT

Ha ha!! I just got"last flag" on TWO of your posts, and made them go bye‑bye. I love the feeling of clicking the "flag" button, then clicking "refresh" and seeing YOUR stupid "one‑man‑flagger‑is getting‑my‑posts" garbage disappear.

I am laughing at you AND your dumb theory.

……………………….

Gibson’s post of 01-10-07 referencing some of his many alias. A characteristic of a sociopath is such a use of alias.

Date: 2007‑01‑10, 8:21AM PST

I know it's from here because, in addition to my e‑mail address, "Gibsons" e‑mail is also listed, as well as "intelligent america's". If either of those folks are reading this, then you got the harrassing spam, too. The anti‑Gibson freak has addressed us all before‑he thinks we are one person! I did mock the resident maniac here because he seems to think that I am capable of "multiflagging".

I think we all know the maniac that signed us up for it. I am interested in maybe pursuing this with law enforcement, or maybe in a civil court. I know it's illegal to harrass people online. What do you think?

………………………

Reply to: rick@gibson‑law.com

Date: 2006‑10‑12, 5:10PM PDT

I just got a post IN ALL CAPS saying that I am a liar, that I have flagged many of his posts.

How do you know who flags you? I have flagged no one, except the person who has posted my personal information over and over. Are you that person? If so, you are breaking the rules and should expect to be flagged off the system.

And why don't you use your name and e‑mail address? I am out in the open, thanks to you guys. You are hiding. Who looks like the liar?

………………..

A POSTER OBJECTS TO GIBSON’S FLAGGING OVERRIDE:

Date: 2006‑10‑14, 5:27PM PDT

Stop multi flagging him. You multi flagged me the other day for no reason. I posted an article about 50 illegal aliens found in a house. I made no rude comments or anything. Five minutes after I posted it, it had already been flagged and removed. As long as you do things like that people will hate you.

Gibson’s post in CRAIGS/BARTER

Computer Service/ Trade for Idiocy Certificate ‑ $5

Date: 2006‑10‑16, 7:00PM PDT

How the hell can you work on computers when you can't even spell, dickwad? I'm sure you put lots of care and accuracy into your work, Dickie.

this is in or around WadVille

…………………………..

Gibson’s victim responds:

Computer Service Trade for ???? ‑ $700

Reply to: sale‑221613397@craigslist.org

Date: 2006‑10‑16, 6:19PM PDT

Thank you for flaggin my ad for no reason ... I am honestly looking to trade:

Do you need computer service of some kind? Do you Think you may have something in trade in value estimated between $250 ‑ $500+ or want to trade half cash and hald trade on good or services?

………………..

These words of littered Gibson’s post (hundreds on file) for four years:


“crazy” , “insane”, “lunacy”, “lunatic”, “moron”, “nutcase” “nutjob”, “schizo”, “maniac” and “take your meds” appear in most.

Many of Gibson’s post are highly racist, including Gibson’s posts with explicit pornography with the name of presidential candidate Barack Obama. Other patterns of abuse have included flooding a CL site with anti-Semitic comments or images, anti-Christian comments or images, including a cartoon image urinating on “God” (Gibson is an avowed atheist), obscene pornography, such as pictures of men urinating in each other’s faces, ( Gibson appears to be a closet homosexual), and prostitutes.  Despite apparently being gay, Gibson he refers to gays as “fudgpackers” in some of his posts.

When Gibson is exposed he will flood that board with denials, using his many alias, post comments to himself denying that flagging exist, and then sadly post replies to his own posts. For this purpose he uses many alias.

One of his email addresses, and also one he emails threats to people has been i.flagged.your.post@gmail.

Although Gibson hides behind numerous alias, characteristic of a sociopath, he also presumes being an attorney is highly threatening to people and has posted on CL countless times using his professional letterhead and email address of rick@gibson-law.com, and info@gibson-law.com  (on file). He also sends direct emails to people he has abused on his professional letterhead.

A patter of Gibson’s abuse has been threatening people, particularly when exposed, which suggest that Gibson is fully aware of his misconduct and violation of CL TOU, but has no compuction to stop. One person that exposed Gibson received a direct email threatening to “sue you into bankruptcy” if he were exposed (on file).

Other threats of violence tend to come from one of Gibson’s alias, and include threats of violence or challenges to violent acts. All characteristic the sociopath. They may come from Gibson, the “Mexican activist actor artist”, or Gibson the sailor, or Gibson the marine, or Gibson the illiterate Mexican. One alias alleged to be used by Gibson is miguelguido@13yahoo.com

Frequently while Gibson is flooding a board with disavowals of his conduct, even when post after post “disappears”, he will be on another CL site harassing, insulting, threatening and FLAGGING OFF POSTS ILLEGALLY.

Below is a post by Richard H Gibson found in Eugene, Oregon disparaging a handicapped poster.  The post comments on a post referecing Gibson in Philladelphia. (the post references E-Bay, where Gibson’s email address is rickebay2006@yahoo.com

In copies of Gibson’s post we have on file will be found the following words used repeatedly:

“RACIST SCUMBAG”, “COP HATER!”, “LIBERAL ASSWIPE”, “DOUCHEBAG”, “JACKASS”, “DICKWAD”, “BOZO” “LOSER!” “COWARD”, “NUT JOB”


Countless of Gibson’s posting also use the coda of HaHaHaHaHaHa….. or ….LOLOLOLOL

Eugene Oregon Rants and Raves


Feel free to post to all of us at:
http://eugene.craigslist.org/rnr/


We love LA, not really, hehe

Do you know of this crazy poster?

"Richard Hillary Gibson, a psychotic disbarred lawyer speed freak from Los Angeles. You can read all about him here but do it quickly before he flags this post. http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/pol/799186882.html" Below is one of many typical posts from him:

--------------------------


Of course you are rolling on the floor..YOU'RE CRIPPLED! HA! You know and we know..you are the impotent one..you're crippled! LOL!While I was out I ....parked in a handicapped space, scratched the fuck out of this cripples car AND stole a handicapped card from some other useless cripples car. "Thank you" to the cripple for leaving your window open just enough. Hey, I can reproduce these...You are inspiring me...I am going to hand these out for free..to anybody that wants them. Well, and sell a few to folks that aren't my friends. CHECK E-BAY SOON! You are about to see A LOT more of these around Eugene. If I hit E-Bay..everywhere! Oh yeah. Thank you.


Oh, I posted a BUNCH of cripple jokes on some kids sites, and will continue to spread fear and dislike of cripples. They are fucking useless anyway.


You are a perfect example of why people like you used to be and still should be put away in institutions. Of course you are yawning..you are half a person..life itself is tough for you. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!


Maybe you can tell us a bit about your personal hygiene? Cripples are always dirty. They can't properly clean themselves. Did you ever notice cripples are usually disgusting fatties? Why is that? Do they NEED to eat all day long in front of their computers? Why is it THEY have no respect for their bodies..Oh yeah, their bodies have let them down. How do you wipe your ass? Who helps you?


Gee. I wonder how many cats you have? Does your APARTMENT smell like cat piss, n the shit you can't effectively wipe off your ass? Typical lazy cripple.


Remember; If it weren't for the handicapped, we'd NEVER get parking spaces!


Still here half person. You know you are, That's why you are so angry. HAHAHAHAHA If I was this Dick guy..why wouldn't I be flagging your garbage? You're just a loser that needs attention. LIKE THE REST OF SOCIETY-I AM THROUGH WITH YOUR USELESS ASS. *YAWN* No more attention, loser.

………………….
Another post by Gibson in Oregon 08-25-08:

Many of Gibson’s post comment on drug use as well as the fact that he is actively removing posts/flagging.


“I pop onto R&R for a minute and see this post about Dick Gibson”


Youeass Ismine? NO-Myass Isfine! (His mom's basement)

_______________________________________


Reply to: pers-812218807@craigslist.org [?]


Date: 2008-08-25, 10:31AM PDT

BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Some little twat keeps e-mailng me saying he knows who I am with the tag- Yourass Ismine(hahahahahahaha) . Today I got one saying he knows my name is Dick Gibson. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Who the fuck is Dick Gibson? Then again, who the hell cares? I pop onto R&R for a minute and see this post about Dick Gibson. Great detective work! Ya read one article and suddenly you know everything. Typical. Man, I can't wait until school starts so theses punks will at least be out of our hair. On more time little man...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Come get some little boy. What are you going to do?? Keep e-mailing me? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I'm not who you think I am. I think you will be surprised. I'm not Dick. But more importantly, I'm not scared. I am going to laugh at this one ALL DAY. Gotta show this to my friends! lol! By the way..my ass? IS fine! So is my glass! I'm going to go blow some awesome glass right now and make around four hundo in a few hours. See Ya..Wouldn't want to be ya!


GIBSON POST OF 12-29-2006 REFERENCING HIS FLAGGING AND DRUG ABUSE:

hey ,Spells Angles,no flagging today? Someone hurt,or ass chewing?


Reply to: see below Date: 2006-12-29, 11:24AM PST


What did Craig do? Chew your big asses again? Or did one of you hit the street drains,again? I miss the flaggging,show some luv,do the meth,then flag,a little. Iv got to go,but Iam expecting for you 4 to find,at least,90% of my poost and flag your big rumps off,until I return.And thrown in some of the threatening words you try on women and children,too. God I luv this country !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Haha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


GIBSON’S POST OF 12-27-2006

Hahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!!!!

Reply to: see below Date: 2006-12-27, 10:43PM PST


God I luv this country !!!! God gave me you twerps to harrass and good weather to do it in. How Iam I doing,twerps ? If you like it,flag it,then Ill know you like it.


Location: flag it,so I know U like it It's NOT ok to contact this poster with



INFO ON UNDERSTANDING A SOICOPATH FLAGGER



  • Diagnostic criteria (DSM-IV-TR)
    The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a widely used manual for diagnosing mental and behavioral disorders, defines antisocial personality disorder as a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:

    failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
    deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
    impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
    irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
    reckless disregard for safety of self or others
    consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain steady work or honor financial obligations
    lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
    The manual lists the following additional necessary criteria:

    The individual is at least age 18 years.
    There is evidence of conduct disorder with onset before age 15 years.
    The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of Schizophrenia or a Manic Episode.
    [edit]
    Mnemonic
    A mnemonic that can be used to remember the criteria for antisocial personality disorder is CORRUPT[1][2]:

    C - cannot follow law
    O - obligations ignored
    R - remorselessness
    R - recklessness
    U - underhandedness
    P - planning deficit
    T - temper
    [edit]
    Criticism of the DSM-IV criteria
    The DSM-IV confound: some argue that an important distinction has been lost by including sociopathy/psychopathy together under APD. As Hare et al write in their abstract, "The Axis II Work Group of the Task Force on DSM-IV has expressed concern that antisocial personality disorder (APD) criteria are too long and cumbersome and that they focus on antisocial behaviors rather than personality traits central to traditional conceptions", concluding, "... conceptual and empirical arguments exist for evaluating alternative approaches to the assessment of psychopathy ... our hope is that the information presented here will stimulate further research on the comparative validity of diagnostic criteria for psychopathy; although too late to influence DSM-IV." [1]

………

Protect yourself from sociopaths
Learn to recognize the traits—then stay away

Dr. Robert Hare's Symptoms of Psychopaths



Interpersonal traits




Antisocial lifestyle


> top

Glib and superficial

Psychopaths are often witty and articulate. They can be amusing and entertaining conversationalists, ready with a quick and clever comeback, and can tell unlikely but convincing stories that cast themselves in a good light. They can be very effective in presenting themselves well and are often very likable and charming.

Typically, psychopaths attempt to appear experts in sociology, psychiatry, medicine, psychology, philosophy, poetry, literature, art or law. A signpost to this trait is often a smooth lack of concern at being found out that they are not.

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Egocentric and grandiose

Psychopaths have a narcissistic and grossly inflated view of their self-worth and importance, a truly astounding egocentricity and sense of entitlement. They see themselves as the center of the universe, as superior beings who are justified in living according to their own rules.

Psychopaths are seldom embarrassed about their legal, financial or personal problems. Rather, they see them as temporary setbacks, the results of bad luck, unfaithful friends or an unfair and incompetent system.

Psychopaths feel that their abilities will enable them to become anything they want to be. Given the right circumstances—opportunity, luck, willing victims—their grandiosity can pay off spectacularly. For example, the psychopathic entrepreneur "thinks big," but it's usually with someone else's money.

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Lack of remorse or guilt

Psychopaths show a stunning lack of concern for the devastating effects their actions have on others. Often they are completely forthright about the matter, calmly stating that they have no sense of guilt, are not sorry for the pain and destruction they have caused, and that there is no reason for them to be concerned.

Psychopaths' lack of remorse or guilt is associated with a remarkable ability to rationalize their behavior and to shrug off personal responsibility for actions that cause shock and disappointment to family, friends, associates and others who have played by the rules. Usually they have handy excuses for their behavior, and in some cases they deny that it happened at all.

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Lack of empathy

The feelings of other people are of no concern to psychopaths. Psychopaths view people as little more than objects to be used for their own gratification. The weak and the vulnerable—whom they mock, rather than pity—are favorite targets.

Psychopaths display a general lack of empathy. They are indifferent to the rights and suffering of family members and strangers alike. If they do maintain ties with their spouses or children it is only because they see their family members as possessions, much like their stereos or automobiles.

Because of their inability to appreciate the feelings of others, some psychopaths are capable of behavior that normal people find not only horrific but baffling. For example, they can torture and mutilate their victims with about the same sense of concern that we feel when we carve a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.

However, except in movies and books, very few psychopaths commit crimes of this sort. Their callousness typically emerges in less dramatic, though still devastating, ways: parasitically bleeding other people of their possessions, savings and dignity; aggressively doing and taking what they want; shamefully neglecting the physical and emotional welfare of their families; engaging in an unending series of casual, impersonal and trivial sexual relationships; and so forth.

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Deceitful and manipulative

Lying, deceiving and manipulation are natural talents for psychopaths. Given their glibness and the facility with which they lie, it is not surprising that psychopaths successfully cheat, bilk, defraud, con and manipulate people and have not the slightest compunction about doing so. They are often forthright in describing themselves as con men, hustlers or fraud artists. Their statements often reveal their belief that the world is made up of "givers and takers," predators and prey, and that it would be very foolish not to exploit the weaknesses of others.

Some of their operations are elaborate and well thought out, whereas others are quite simple: stringing along several women at the same time, or convincing family members and friends that money is needed "to bail me out of a jam." Whatever the scheme, it is carried off in a cool, self-assured, brazen manner.

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Shallow emotions

Psychopaths seem to suffer a kind of emotional poverty that limits the range and depth of their feelings. While at times they appear cold and unemotional, they are prone to dramatic, shallow and short-lived displays of feeling. Careful observers are left with the impression that they are play-acting and that little is going on below the surface.

Laboratory experiments using biomedical recorders have shown that psychopaths lack the physiological responses normally associated with fear. The significance of this finding is that, for most people, the fear produced by threats of pain or punishment is an unpleasant emotion and a powerful motivator of behavior. Not so with psychopaths; they merrily plunge on, perhaps knowing what might happen but not really caring.

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Impulsive

Psychopaths are unlikely to spend much time weighing the pros and cons of a course of action or considering the possible consequences. "I did it because I felt like it," is a common response.

More than displays of temper, impulsive acts often result from an aim that plays a central role in most of the psychopath's behavior: to achieve immediate satisfaction, pleasure or relief. So, family members, employers and co-workers typically find themselves standing around asking themselves what happened—jobs are quit, relationships broken off, plans changed, houses ransacked, people hurt, often for what appears to be little more than a whim.

Psychopaths tend to live day-to-day and to change their plans frequently. They give little serious thought to the future and worry about it even less.

> top

Poor behavior controls

In psychopaths, inhibitory controls are weak, and the slightest provocation is sufficient to overcome them. As a result, psychopaths are short-tempered or hot-headed and tend to respond to frustration, failure, discipline and criticism with sudden violence, threats and verbal abuse. They take offense easily and become angry and aggressive over trivialities, and often in a context that appears inappropriate to others. But their outbursts, extreme as they may be, are generally short-lived, and they quickly resume acting as if nothing out of the ordinary has happened.

Although psychopaths have a "hair trigger" and readily initiate aggressive displays, their ensuing behavior is not out of control. On the contrary, when psychopaths "blow their stack" it is as if they are having a temper tantrum; they know exactly what they are doing. Their aggressive displays are "cold;" they lack the intense emotional arousal experienced by others when they lose their temper.

It's not unusual for psychopaths to inflict serious physical or emotional damage on others, sometimes routinely, and yet refuse to acknowledge that they have a problem controlling their tempers. In most cases, they see their aggressive displays as natural responses to provocation.

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Need for excitement

Psychopaths have an ongoing and excessive need for excitement—they long to live in the fast lane or "on the edge," where the action is. In many cases the action involves breaking the rules.

Some psychopaths use a wide variety of drugs as part of their general search for something new and exciting, and they often move from place to place and job to job searching for a fresh buzz. Many psychopaths describe "doing crime" for excitement or thrills.

The flip side of this yearning for excitement is an inability to tolerate routine or monotony. Psychopaths are easily bored. You are not likely to find them engaged in occupations or activities that are dull, repetitive or that require intense concentration over long periods.

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Lack of responsibility

Obligations and commitments mean nothing to psychopaths. Their good intentions—"I'll never cheat on you again"—are promises written on the wind.

Truly horrendous credit histories, for example, reveal the lightly taken debt, the shrugged-off loan, the empty pledge to contribute to a child's support. The irresponsibility and unreliability of psychopaths extend to every part of their lives. Their performance on the job is erratic, with frequent absences, misuse of company resources, violations of company policy, and general untrustworthiness. They do not honor formal or implied commitments to people, organizations or principles.

Indifference to the welfare of children—their own as well as those of a man or woman they happen to be living with at the time—is a common theme among psychopaths. Psychopaths see children as an inconvenience. Typically, they leave children on their own for extended periods or in the care of unreliable sitters.

Psychopaths are frequently successful in talking their way out of trouble—"I've learned my lesson;" "You have my word that it won't happen again;" "It was simply a big misunderstanding;" "Trust me." They are almost as successful in convincing the criminal justice system of their good intentions and their trustworthiness. Although they frequently manage to obtain probation, a suspended sentence or early release from prison, they simply ignore the conditions imposed by the courts.

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Early behavior problems

Most psychopaths begin to exhibit serious behavioral problems at an early age. These might include persistent lying, cheating, theft, fire setting, truancy, class disruption, substance abuse, vandalism, violence, bullying, running away and precocious sexuality. Because many children exhibit some of these behaviors at one time or another, especially children raised in violent neighborhoods or in disrupted or abusive families, it is important to emphasize that the psychopaths's history of such behaviors is more extensive and serious than that of most others, even when compared with those of siblings and friends raised in similar settings.

Early cruelty to animals is usually a sign of serious emotional or behavioral problems. Cruelty to other children—including siblings—is often part of the young psychopaths's inability to experience the sort of empathy that checks normal people's impulses to inflict pain, even when enraged.

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Adult antisocial behavior

Psychopaths consider the rules and expectations of society inconvenient and unreasonable, impediments to their inclinations and wishes. They make their own rules, both as children and as adults.

Many of the antisocial acts of psychopaths lead to criminal convictions. Even within prison populations psychopaths stand out, largely because their antisocial and illegal activities are more varied and frequent than are those of other criminals.

Not all psychopaths end up in jail. Many of the things they do escape detection or prosecution, or are on the "shady side of the law." For them, antisocial behavior may consist of phony stock promotions, questionable business and professional practices, spouse or child abuse, and so forth. Many others do things that, although not illegal, are unethical, immoral or harmful to others: philandering, cheating on a spouse, financial or emotional neglect of family members, irresponsible use of company resources or funds, to name but a few. The problem with behaviors of this sort is that they are difficult to document and evaluate without the active cooperation of family, friends, acquaintances and business associates.

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The complete picture

Psychopaths are not the only ones who lead socially deviant lifestyles. For example, many criminals have some of the characteristics described above, but because they are capable of feeling guilt, remorse, empathy and strong emotions, they are not considered psychopaths. A diagnosis of psychopathy is made only when there is solid evidence that the individual matches the complete profile—that is, has most of the above symptoms.

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