Hidden in Plain Sight: Psychopaths

When Do Dangerous Traits Become Leadership Skills? 

An Evaluation of the Psychopath 

6 min read

When you hear the word 'psychopath,' you probably picture Jack The Ripper, Ted Bundy or Anthony Hopkins doing his famous fava beans scene. But what if I told you that psychopathy doesn’t always fit that image? In fact, high-functioning psychopaths are all around us—teaching in classrooms, running companies, leading congregations, and even playing heroes on screen or being heroes on the battlefield. 

More often than not these individuals exhibit traits like charm, fearlessness, and emotional detachment, which make them uniquely suited for leadership. When people with psychopathic traits are diagnosed it's usually with antisocial personality disorder because it covers sociopathic and psychopathic behaviours. But still, the question is, why do we trust them so easily?

The Charm of High-Functioning Psychopaths

Psychopathy exists on a spectrum. At one end, you’ve got violent offenders. At the other, you’ve got individuals who can navigate society without breaking the law while seeming to maintain strong emotional intelligence or insight. They know themselves.

According to psychologist Robert Hare (1991), psychopathy is characterized by traits like superficial charm, manipulativeness, and a lack of empathy. These traits sound sinister, but in the right context, they can look a lot like admirable qualities.

Take the business world. Studies show that 4-12% of CEOs exhibit psychopathic traits, compared to just 1% of the general population (Boddy, 2011). Why? Because the same traits that make psychopaths dangerous—boldness, risk-taking, and the ability to stay calm under pressure—are exactly what corporate boards look for in a leader.

Think about it, who better to make tough decisions or navigate high-stakes environments than someone who doesn’t feel the weight of emotional consequences? This is where the chips fall in society.

Psychopaths in the Classroom, Church, and Boardroom

It’s not just CEOs who benefit from such psychopathologies. You’ll find these individuals attracted to education, religion, law enforcement, and even entertainment like everyone else:

1. Education

Senior teaching staff, particularly in competitive institutions, often operate in environments that reward ambition and control. A study by Gliebe and Moss (2019) found that manipulative and assertive behaviors are easily mistaken for leadership in academia. These traits help some rise to the top—but they also create toxic power dynamics.

2. Clergy

Religious leaders wield immense trust and influence, which can be exploited by individuals with psychopathic tendencies. The Catholic Church abuse scandals revealed how some clergy members used their positions to manipulate and exploit others (Doyle, 2018). A façade of morality can mask a darker reality. 

However, it must be said that paedophilia and psychopathy are totally different things; paedophilia is a sexual attraction to children of a certain age. Realistically, we know overlaps exist, such as the paedophilic murderers of innocent children like Ian Huntley. 

3. Law Enforcement and Military

Professions like policing and the military attract people with sought after fearlessness type traits and an ability to detach. While these qualities are essential in high-pressure scenarios, studies show that law enforcement professionals are twice as likely to exhibit psychopathic traits compared to the general population (Krakowski, 2019).

4. Celebrity Culture

Actors, musicians, and influencers thrive on attention. Psychopathic traits like charm and narcissism blend right in with the kind of industries where charisma is currency. Hollywood scandals, from the 'casting couch' to PR cover-ups, are rife with examples of power being abused by those who can effortlessly manipulate public perception (Glenn & Raine, 2014).

Why Do We Trust Them?

So, why do we fall for psychopathic people? The answer lies in human psychology. Studies show that we’re wired to trust confidence and charisma (Hogan & Kaiser, 2005). High-functioning psychopaths excel at projecting these traits, making them appear capable—even when their actions say otherwise.

As Jon Ronson explores in The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry (2011), our society regularly confuses psychopathic traits for ambition, resilience, or leadership. 

Ronson interviews psychologists and explores case studies, revealing how traits like charm and fearlessness make these individuals seem like natural leaders—despite their darker tendencies. The following years after Ronson's book was released in the UK, terrestrial television produced shows on the same subject with online psychopath tests for the public to take. The psychopathic character could suddenly make a great protagonist in fiction once more.

Stanley Milgram’s famous obedience experiment (1963) uncovered something more frightening than the anti social personality. Participants in his experiment were instructed by a figure of authority (a researcher in a lab coat) to turn a handle to administer painful electric shocks to another person (an actor pretending to be in distress) which was set up to gradually increase throughout the experiment.

Despite clear displays of the human suffering (screaming, yelling, pleading) most participants continued to comply with the cruel instruction of the authority figure, shocking the person to perceived dangerous levels. This showed an inherent tendency of regular people to trust and obey authority figures, even when doing so to hurt people! 

So, who was being sadistic here, there authority or the ones who applied the electric shocks? What does that say about regular people?

The Double-Edged Sword of Psychopathy

Not all psychopathic traits are bad. In fact, some can be assets. Bravery and focus under pressure can save lives in the military. Charisma can inspire action in business or politics. But when left unchecked, these traits can turn toxic. The key is awareness. By understanding how psychopathy manifests in trusted roles, we can better evaluate leaders and hold them accountable. After all, the line between a trusted leader and a manipulative exploiter can be dangerously thin. 

If we take the case of the child nurse, Lucy Letby, for example, who was found guilty for killing infants. We can see how arduous it was to reach a guilty verdict: however many flaws were uncovered in the trial and the medical evidence was questionable by a body of highly educated medics. Lucy Letby's psychiatric assessments showed she was not ASPD or psychopathic, but stressed from her dire circumstances.

Final Thoughts

Anyone, regardless of being deemed a psychopath or not can do terrible things. We know high-functioning psychopaths aren’t always the villains we imagine. In many cases, people high on the psychopathic spectrum are people we admire most — authority figures like our bosses, celebrities, teachers and pastors. 

But their success can come at a cost of having less empathy as opposed to raw cognitive intelligence. Understanding the roles psychopathy play in leadership can help us ask the right questions: Are these people in high places leading us, or manipulating us? Are we trusting them for the right reasons? So, the next time you admire a bold political leader, ask questions, are you seeing resilience or manipulation? 

Are your religious figures showing leadership or is it narcissism? Is everyone in your local authority showing guidance when you seek help or is there dominance? Do any people in your life enjoy the suffering of others?

References

Babiak, P, and Hare, R.D, (2006) Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work. New York: HarperCollins.

Boddy, C.R, (2011) Corporate Psychopaths: Organisational Destroyers. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Doyle, T.P, (2018) Clergy Sexual Abuse Scandals and the Culture of Denial. Jefferson: McFarland & Company.

Glenn, A.L, and Raine, A, (2014) Psychopathy and Instrumental Aggression. In: K.A. Kiehl and W.P. Sinnott-Armstrong, eds. Handbook on Psychopathy and Law. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.145-161.

Gliebe, S, and Moss, K, (2019) Toxic Leadership in Academia. The Journal of Leadership Education, 18(2), pp.1-9.

Hare, R.D, (1991) The Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). 2nd ed. Toronto: Multi-Health Systems.

Hogan, R, and Kaiser, R.B, (2005) What We Know About Leadership. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), pp.169-180.

Krakowski, M, (2019) Psychopathy and Law Enforcement. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 30(3), pp.383-398.

Milgram, S, (1963) Behavioral Study of Obedience. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67(4), pp.371-378.

Ronson, J, (2011) The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry. London: Picador.

Evaluating UK Politics is Funny

An Amateur Cartoonist's Take on Our Wonderfully Weird World... 

2 min read

The Beautiful Chaos of Modern Identity

Politics these days feels like watching an creative improv show, where everyone's shit at it and up the rules as they go along. I mean, honestly? Sometimes that's kind of fascinating.

Take the whole identity conversation we've been having in the western world in recent years. We've gone from 'you are what you are' to 'you are what you feel you are' to 'actually, maybe we're all just souls having a human experience?' It's like spiritualist social media, Reddit philosophy and pro mental wellness colliding: 'Your ancestors say don't forget to eat good mood food, it improves wellbeing making it a functional material remedy!' 

I overheard a local political community enthusiast talking about people's right to identify however they want. On TV last month, a news report said someone wanted to identify as a llama! Now, I'm not entirely sure that's practical for tax purposes, is it? Either way, there's something wonderfully human about our endless creativity; we are literally always reinventing ourselves! The only constant is change.

The Economics of Feeling Good

Then there's the de-growth movement, which basically says 'Hey, maybe we don't need to make everything bigger and better all the time.' It's like the economic equivalent of declutter your home show - does this GDP spark joy? I used to get wound up by this, but I am much better now. 

I understand why traditionalists fear progression and new ideas. What's tried and tested is valid. Sometimes it does feel like we're on a treadmill that keeps speeding up, and I'm quite the portly gentleman it's not my exercise! But then again, I really do like my smartphone and the fact that we can cure diseases that would have killed our grandparents, if they weren't already dead. Yes, growth offers us promises too. Maybe the trick isn't stopping growth, but growing in smarter directions? 

My Own Ridiculous Philosophy Experiment

Speaking of ridiculous directions, I had this thought experiment: What if we all just stopped using "I" and "you" and called everyone "XP" instead? Like, "XP thinks this is a good idea, what does XP think?" 

It would either be wonderfully zen or drive us all completely bonkers within a week. Probably both.

The Pronoun Adventure

The whole pronoun thing is genuinely interesting from purely a linguistic perspective. That really is before we dive into it. Language is always evolving - it always has, always will. 'You' used to be formal (like 'tu' vs 'vous' in French), and now it's just... you. 

Some of the newer identity categories do make me scowl at the ceiling as I scratch my gruff chin. I'm not totally savvy about what legal recognition looks like in practice for a degree educated unicorn who drives a ford puma. Would there be special parking spaces? Tax breaks? It should work out our legal system assumes everyone fits into a neat little box.

Finding the Middle Ground

Here's the thing - I'm probably what you'd call a social libertarian. In my mind people should be free to live their lives however makes them happy, as long as they're not hurting anyone else. I've lost track on these issues before, fallen into being the angry political prick. God help me. Want to identify as a dragon? Go for it. Want to use unusual pronouns? Sure, I'll do my best to remember them, just don't get upset with me if I drop the ball. 

But I also think we need to be practical. Society needs some shared frameworks to function. Admittedly, we need to be able to disagree without assuming the worst about each other. It's easily done! You tosser. 

The Real Challenge

The trickiest part isn't the policies or the pronouns - it's keeping a sense of humour about it all. Politics has turned so much more serious, so angry, so high-stakes! But maybe that's exactly when we need to step back and remember that we're all just humans trying to figure stuff out? 

We're living through a murky quagmire, an age to make the future cringe. The old certainties are dissolving and new ones aren't quite there yet. That's uncomfortable living, especially if you agree with people across the political spectrum, but can't ever seem to settle on anything grounded. Ignoring that, it is also sort of exciting. We get to participate in shaping what comes next no matter how politically inept we might be. 

My Conclusion... 

From now on I think I'm going to assume that most people, even when they're saying things that sound completely bonkers to me, are genuinely hoping to make the world better. That deserves respectful disagree at best, no demonizing. 

From now on, I will try to laugh at the stupid shit without laughing at people. Wish me luck.

The Great Information Experiment

Censorship Is ****

5 Min Read

Calling Out Deceptive 'Fake News' to Contrast Your Own Idea of Truth

Once upon a time, the internet was going to make information free! We could all have access to everything, and the best ideas would get nudged up to the top. It was going to be beautiful until people began to conspire. 

Instead, we got. . . well, this bollocks. A world where screaming 'fake news' became a political tactic! Now almost every major event comes with a hundred and eighty different versions of what actually happened. Nowadays it's controversial to say, 'do your own research' because if you do, you'll be seen as another of those 'crazy conspiracy theorists'. 

The Irony Fest

Here's what's genuinely fascinating: those who spent years telling us to 'not trust authority' now expect us to entrust them with what information we're allowed. Meanwhile, the people who used to be the authority frantically want us to believe they're the rebels.

It's like cringing at a wacky game of musical chairs, except the music is 'Welcome to the Monkey House!' I can just see the presidents, prime ministers, business tycoons all dancing around the last seat signposted '100% Prime Truth,' — it's asking for trouble. 

The whole thing kicked off properly after Brexit and Trump's 'fake news' catchphrase. Since then, we've had a parade of fancy conferences with celebrities, former presidents, and senators all evangelizing about social media conspiracy theories. They all try to sell us this half-baked notion that we need the internet controlled for our own good. They call it 'protecting democracy' - but nothing says freedom like censorship, right? 

The Pattern Recognition Game

Let's be honest - misinformation isn't new. People have been spinning stories since the alphabet was first scratched on wet clay. Power and authority continue to strut around town with the same swagger because they hold on to the narrative. Then the internet appeared. 

What's new is the scale and speed. A rumor that used to take weeks to travel from village to village now circles the globe in minutes! 

But here's where it gets interesting: some of yesterday's 'conspiracy theories' turned out to be front-page news. The lab leak theory, government surveillance programs, corporate influence on research - these all followed the same pattern from 'fringe theory' to 'legitimate concern' to 'well, actually...'

Maybe if we stopped calling-out 'conspiracy theory' for simply doubting the official story, things might improve? It's quite simple when you think about it.

Who's Watching the Watchers?

This is where things get properly complicated. If we need someone to filter information for us, who chooses the filters? If we need fact-checkers, who fact-checks the fact-checkers? 

The media moguls are in on this too, weaving their news stories tighter than a Hollywood plastic surgeon's booking schedule. Then we have the humble PR company, whose doors are banged by the likes of Harvey Weinstein and other tarnished people who want their reputations polished. Who will decide what's true? Spoiler alert: not you!

The Trust Deficit and Control Games

The real problem isn't that people believe weird things - people have always believed weird things. The problem is that trust in institutions has plummeted, and the more control the powerful try to take for themselves, the more they erode the very democracy they claim to defend! Stupid, isn't it? 

When we lose trust in the mainstream media, we will obviously go looking elsewhere. When we don't trust government statements, some of us will start asking uncomfortable questions. Currently I am at a point of doubting political experts, like others I've also become my own expert.

You can't really blame people like me, can you? How many times have we been told something was absolutely, definitely true, only to find out later it was more complicated and total nonsense?

Look at how the story is controlled in various reports and even historically. After George Floyd's death, we saw massive global movements, politicians taking knees, crowds chanting - but pretty much everyone got called racist at some point, including our own royalty and country. So who really controlled that one?

The Goldilocks Problem

So we're stuck in this weird middle ground. Too much control, and you get authoritarianism. Too little, and you get chaos. We need something that's 'just right' - but who decides what that looks like?

Some people welcome the best tech companies to moderate the major social apps more aggressively. Others will fend those companies off. It's the same with government oversight. I prefer a smaller government and more economic growth and freedom. 

Final Thought

Here's the same old cliché advice - we need to doubt the news sources and social commentators who so gracefully impart wisdom upon us. They'll sit on your forehead and tell you that you're wearing a Norman helmet.

The world seems simple, because those who explain it to us are trying to make it simple. However, those at the top are quite complicated. It really is an age of critical thinking.

What do you think? Are we heading toward a more informed society, or are we just getting better at disagreeing with each other?

VSBattle Starwars vs Joe Rogan

A Combat Blog Post based on the VSBattle Tiering System.

Joe Rogan vs. Doctor Cornelius Evazan & Ponda Baba: Fight Breakdown

8 min read

The VSBattle Tier System catalogues characters from all areas of fact and fiction from everyday people to beings considered to be god level, as well as cartoon, stop motion to puppet based characters like Popeye or the recent Youtube kids horror characters, for example. The stats and data enable people to eestablish the most powerful and the highest ranked fighters. Click here to read about transitional characters and how fictional  archetypes mirror and even shape us as people.

The Setting: 

The fight takes place in Keanes Saloon in Red Dead Redemption 2, quickly losing custom save for the several shady patrons necking liquor as they watched a bug guy and an angry pigman at the bar. There was no chatter in the air, no mirth, just uneasy fingers on triggers. Out of the blue, another stranger strolled in. Dressed like a man from the wrong time, with more ink on him than a squid, as bald as a cue ball and as muscular as an ox—Joe Rogan.

_________________________

Character Profiles and Tiers:

Joe Rogan (Human)

Tier: 10-A (Peak human)

Powers and Abilities:

Martial Arts Mastery: Joe Rogan is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Taekwondo. He is skilled at precise powerful strikes and manipulating opponents using joint locks, throws, and chokeholds.

Strength: Rogan is stronger than most regular humans because he does gym workouts and has regularly conditioned himself over recent decades in combat sport.

Durability: While not invulnerable, Rogan’s extensive fight experience allows him to take punches and recover well.

Speed: Joe's reflexes are exceptional for a human. Evading attacks from fast opponents is central to his discipline. 

_________________________

Doctor Cornelius Evazan (Human, but a seasoned criminal and thug) 

Tier: 10-B (Average human)

Powers and Abilities:

Experienced in the use of blasters. 

Combat Experience: Cornelius Evazan is underhanded, quick to take advantage of any situation.

Pain Tolerance: A hardened criminal, Evazan is capable of enduring pain and continuing to fight.

_________________________

Ponda Baba (Aqualish, muscular and enhanced by cybernetic arm after an altercation with a Jedi) 

Tier: 9-C (Peak level enhanced hominid)

Powers and Abilities:

Stronger than a human: Ponda Baba's species and his  upgraded arm make him a formidable opponent, capable of overpowering regular humans.

Enhanced Durability: His Aqualish physiology and robotic enhancements grant him a higher tolerance for damage.

Combat Experience: While he’s not a trained martial artist, his natural strength and aggression make him dangerous.

Resistance to Pain: Due to his alien physiology, Ponda Baba is more resistant to injury than a typical human.

_________________________

The Fight:

The scene is set. Joe Rogan enters the wooden saloon, his frantic eyes scanning the room in disbelief. He immediately spotted Doctor Cornelius Evazan, a notorious disfigured criminal, sat at the bar next to his companion, the black eyed and green skinned Ponda Baba. Both were swaggering boisterously as onlookers remained silent. 

Joe stood there, wide-eyed and slapping his head repeatedly, as the absurdity of his situation sank in. ‘No way, man. . . this isn't real,’ he muttered to himself, his busy mind desperate to process the chaotic mix of Red Dead Redemption and the unmistakable presence of Ponda Baba in that iconic orange pilot jacket he wore in Mos Eisley. The Aqualish rose to his feet — a strangely imposing childhood action figure alive in the flesh. 'Star Wars characters?' He asked himself smiling with bewilderment. His logical mind, wondered if some part of his tripped out mind had leaked into his video games console. But before he could even begin to form an answer, a voice cut through the confusion.

‘Star Wars, what?’ sneered the grotesque man, who sat beside Ponda Baba. It was Dr. Cornelius Evazan, the infamous snouted accomplice, but Joe couldn't remember the guy's name. He studied him as the swine-like man peered over his shoulder at him. ‘I’m more than just a character, friend! We’re wanted in twelve systems. You’d be wise to calm yourself!’

'Now boys,' asserted a barman, his unkempt antique facial growth wildly reached out in every direction. 'We don't want any trouble.' 

Covering his open mouth, Rogan spoke to himself, unable to shake his disbelief, 'what the fuck? Alec Guiness diced this motherfucker!' The podcaster felt his brain overfiring and secretly vowed never to touch DMT ever again. Hands on his forehead and circle eyed, Joe secretly hoped to wake up back in his own real-life Kansas. 

Ponda Baba made a deep gutteral sound like a walrus, as though he was supporting the threat. The celebrity took a step back, tattooed hands raised defensively, while playing along with whatever was happening. Maybe he had woken up on a new Mandalorean film set, he thought. 

Evazan’s ugly grin only widened before firing a blast of laser fire from his pistol, killing the barman instantly. Two authentic looking cowboy's ran away. Rogan realised he had zoned out, unsure whether to run away or not. The saloon was clearly about to erupt into a shootout. Bang! Wood splintered, people died, screamed out in pain. Ponda Baba and Dr. Evazan murdered innocent patrons without hesitation.

Joe Rogan regretted the hero role he had thrust himself into as he charged headlong at Dr. Cornelius Evazan. He had to save whoever he could! A glint of genuine malice behind that afflicted porky countenance. 'You're in the wrong place,' he sneered, taking aim with his smoking blaster. His companion, Ponda Baba, moved into Rogans periphery, clearly eager to watch him die.

Round 1: Opening Shots

Joe Rogan hurled a stool at Evazan and then booted him in-between the legs lifting him up to to crash down, the thug, curled up automatically fired his blaster as a result. The shot accidentally scraped Joe's right shoulder but, he was fast enough to roll with it somewhat. He moved swiftly, disarming the folded up, whimpering doctor, before aiming the weapon at Ponda Baba’s head. 'C' mon drop your weapon, dude!' 

Ponda Baba, vociferous and basal grunts suggested something unfriendly. The green alien furiously charged at Rogan hastily, hoping to take his weapon, but failed. Instead he swung a heavy punch aimed at Rogan’s head. Joe fired Evazan' s blaster nonetheless. It caught the orange arm of the aliens coat. Joe Rogan didn't want to kill anyone, but Ponda Baba would not relent — his arm was made of metal and clearly bionic! He would not have felt a thing. 

The bug headed alien made another haymaker swing at the podcaster, Joe blocked, but his left arm almost snapped sending the blaster smashing into bottles of alcohol behind the bar. The comic cried out in anger and pain but opted to retaliate quickly with a Muay Thai clinch to grab Baba’s neck. His deadened arm faltered thought he successfully planted a hard knee central onto Ponda Baba's hard tusks. The hit connected with an audible crack. Dazed, Ponda slowly collapsed to his knees. Joe staggered back. 

Round 2: Close Combat

Evazan motioned closer to grab the celebrity, but he quickly evaded him. Rogan, sweating and determined rushed into striking distance, instead of punching, he grabbed Evazan’s hand and twisted it with a fluid motion. The Doctor fell to the wooden floor with anger, to which Rogan responded like an anaconda, coiling himself around his prey, snapping bone and crunching joints. It was his golden opportunity to practice his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at full capacity. 

Bending limbs the wrong way seemed wrong; all that crunching, cracking, snapping was cruel and the criminals pleas for mercy re-enforced it. Suddenly, a powerful clean kick thudded into Rogans chest. It sent him sliding across the whisky scented floor, tainted with chewing tobacco. The pain was insufferable, cardiac, danderous. 

Ponda Baba's tusks still hurt and his anger had increased to rage. His voice boomed. It was unclear whether he was focused on saving his friend or killing his new enemy. However, Baba began to ground and pound the bald comedian who quarded his face and skull with his beefy tattooed forearms. The green bug-eyed walrus lifted the muscular entertainer by his throat using his robotic arm. Joe Rogan was suspended off the ground like a child. The only thing he could do was furiously kick his legs to force himself free. So he tried his best. 

As soon as Rogan felt his feet touch down in front of the Aqualish, he side kicked his opponents left knee, tilting his stance just enough to take his neck for a merciless rear choke.

Round 3: Turning the Tide

Rogan now knew that it wasn't just about raw power, but using his techniques to survive. He was a grappler, and he knew how to handle larger opponents. He was putting a nasty squeeze on Ponda Baba, then he used his Jiu-Jitsu to force Baba to the ground. However, the entertainer was hurt, and the alien was taking longer that any human to go to sleep.

Evazan recovered from his earlier torturous beating and climbed to his feet. He wanted blood and produced his concealed blaster. Damaged bones and joints kill accuracy, he had to focus on his shaking hand and trigger finger to stop them shaking. Rogan heard that iconic Star Wars blaster noise just as the unprecedented heat of a laser pierced his side, like a red hot metal rod stabbing through his lower abdomen! In agony, he rolled behind his unconscious tusk faced opponent, letting his body serve as a shield. A second shot burnt into Ponda Baba's chest ensuring a permanence to his stillness. 

At a serious disadvantage, Joe Rogan knew he had to focus on Evazan again. He was leaning on the bar. Shocked at the fatal wound he inflicted on his Aquilish partner in crime. Joe knew he had to close the distance, execute some monstrous pain to put the ugly son of a bitch down! But reality was unkind, Joe could not walk without pain. He slithered silently behind the bar next to the dead bartender, planning on outflanking the last crook. Foraging frantically under the bar counter for something to weaponise, right side down in splintered wood, strong spirits, broken glass, Joe Rogan knew this was possibly the final moments of his life. 

Dr. Evazan was making noise, moving slowly, struggling to maintain his footing, but getting nearer. 'I warned you,' he bellowed. He leant on the bar to support himself as he slid around, while pointing his blaster down at the  hairless muscle man who killed his best friend. The tough guy was very hurt now and Evazan enjoyed watching him slowly squirm up, wriggling onto his knees, tired, beaten. He lifted his face, and his expression conveyed something, 'I know who you are!' 

'Go on,' said Dr. Evazan, an air of curious pride. 'C'mon!!' 

'Even here in this out of time pocket universe they know you!' said Rogan, before pointing toward the saloon doors with his eyes. 'Even that asshole knows you!' 

As Dr Cornilius Evazan looked towards the empty saloon door, realising that he had been played. In that very millisecond of his functioning eye turned away, Joe Rogan aimed the blaster that was sent hurtling behind the bar moments ago. Before he fired the weapon, just for a finite moment Dr. Evazan cringed expectantly. The celebrity repeatedly fired making sure he was done. 

Conclusion:

Joe Rogan stands victorious. Why? Both Ponda Baba and Doctor Evazan were found dead on the floor of Keanes Saloon in Red Dead Redemption. It was the years of disciplined striking combat experience, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and quick thinking that led Joe Rogan to victory, despite the odds being stacked against him. His training was just enough to manage his two assailants methodically. These villains relied on their blasters and thuggery more than their own martial prowess or intellect. 

Tiers Breakdown (VSBattle Tiering System):

Joe Rogan: 10-A (Peak Human level, enhanced through martial arts mastery)

Doctor Cornelius Evazan: 10-B (Average Human, skilled in blaster combat)

Ponda Baba: 9-C (Peak Walrus faced Aqualish with a robotic arm)

The Uncomfortable Truth About Identity Formation

How Has Gender Identity Naturally Altered Over Time? 

6 to 8 min read

Views on Gender and Sex... 

In the eighties, some psychologists described men as experiencing 'autogynephilia' if they were sexually aroused at the idea of being a woman. If sexual cross-gender fantasy can entice male to female transition it may reveal one psycho-sexual example for what we call gender identity. This theory differs to what the World Health Organisation advised (WHO), along with people like Judith Butler, who insist gender is a social construct based on shared beliefs. For me, such ideas are poppycock, given for starters, how beliefs can be altered! Human biology causes gender. I might be wrong, blinded by my own biases, so let's explore... 

How is Gender Constructed? 

We are unique sheep and truthfully, I think men transition for various reasons. Masculine and feminine traits arise like bio-determinants. Therein exists part of a dichotomy; a bottom-up emergence of gender, rooted in biology, versus the top-down imposition of gender which is developed by ideology. From a spiritual perspective, if you have the soul of a female, but you exist inside the body of a male, does your inner ghost or essence have a vagina and breasts? If not, how do you recognise your soul is female? 

Innate beliefs and urges to be the opposite sex can be deep-seated impulses that drive our behavior. Yet, there is always more to the story! Consider, for instance, this 2020 study identifying significant links between neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and gender diversity. Society is an expression of our collective biology, it operates way above the underpinnings of our molecular bedrock. 

The Game of Branding Ourselves

Centuries of scientific and medical data collected and analysed has established norms: the majority of us identify as binary gender because that is the default socialised state of affairs. However, we could imagine a contrarian society challenging our conception of gender like we see forming today. Gender identity classifications impact on how humanity might express itself, while also confusing gender pay gap, statistics for example. Be that as it is, a redefined concept of something is not the thing in itself; gender might be a top down regulation one day, but in reality it has always been a bottom up expression of humanity and tensions seem to exist somewhere in between. 

Being Particular... 

Clothing primarily served as a necessity to cover and warm a person. Eventually, it become a legal requirement to cover nakedness. Attire was designed to fit male and female shapes before any gender definition was considered. Of course, over time, with trends in fashion and style coming and going, male and female clothing did propagate attraction, attributing gendered qualities from our sex and shape. 

Do We Become What We Say We Are? 

When our words that describe the way we feel get logged as symptoms by doctors, it helps to form new medical diagnoses over time. After Gender Identity Disorder was introduced, it was changed to Gender Dysphoria to remove the connotations of mental illness which did not fit the desired outcome. Why psychiatry failed to re-name Personality Disorder is mind boggling. Nothing could be more invalidating to a person than that label, don't you reckon? 

Pushing For Illogical Change... 

An Italian university lecturer I know was reprimanded for using the word 'mother' instead of ' birthing person' when teaching her students. Gender-based political correctness is autocratic and often unwelcome. English, her second language, did not include pronouns like: ze/hir/hirs and xe/xem/xyr—which are non-medical, non-traditional and un-academic. 

In the future, we will see growing complaints of new gender based problems in our health statistics. New and exciting identities will be constructed in LGBTQ+ circles and promoted across social media—this could become mainstream. 

Are On-line Horror Characters For Kids Smart?

YouTube Kiddy Horror Characters: Nostalgia and Childhood Gone Wrong? 

5 min read

Let’s get something straight: there’s a fine line between horror and whatever these indie characters are doing online. All the kids in our extended family circle try to sneak them on the telly through YouTube while we aren't watching; we're under instruction to switch it over to baby shark! Personally, it's not just because they’re brain rot or possibly copyright theft, but because they fail to land the one thing horror should do—frighten people properly! 

1. Sonic The Hedgehog: Not a Horror Icon, Stop It For The Love Of God! 

Look, really, Sonic is the blue speedster we grew up with in the 90s, but yeah, I get it—re-inventing him as a corrupted nightmare was too tempting. But here’s the thing: Sonic was never meant to be some bloodshot-eyed cartoon monster. His charm came from his speedy playability on a megadrive or a master system, not whatever this is!

It's not really too much different to some laptop wizard remodelling the video game character Rayman into a noncy cannibalistic news reporter. Would this evil iteration of Sonic beat Batman in a VSBattle? Just don't fall into this desperate barrel scraping bottom feeding! These thing's are just a tad silly, held together by the gloopy hands of YouTube pedagogical manipulation. 

2. Huggy Wuggy: Cute? Yes. Terrifying? Well. . . No, It's Cute??

You can’t just slap creepy eyes on a lanky soft toy and call it horror. Listen to this in your head as you read it: 'Huggy Wuggy from Poppy Playtime'. Yep, Huggy Wuggy from Poppy Playtime was supposed to be a scary ass toy, a bit like Chucky (who did it properly) —but it falls into the same trap as Sonic doesn't it? Can this guy take out Jack the Ripper? Oh please, who was Jack anyway? You shouldn't take these characters out of context, should we? Surely? Either way, what's more concerning is the adult fan of this stuff. Individuals who'll invest time and effort to edit or even create dark versions of the original poppy playtime; it ends up on YouTube for kids to watch. 

We can see the clear kid-like simplicity with Huggy Wuggy, which doesn’t seem to belong in horror, which should an adult thing. If I was a kid and wanted real horror, I would have searched for Resident Evil online instead, or secretly played my old man's Alan Wake 2. Don't be fooled, because, some of these YouTubers are making disturbing content you wouldn't want in your kids head! Years ago, we watched erotic porn cartoons as kids called Felix the Cat, much like this stuff, it went under our parent's radar as we watched it crying with laughter. 

If one of our group as kids proposed, 'Shall we watch some horror about plush stuffed toys with sharp teeth?'  We would have dropped it. Why? We snuck in real horror films like Freddy vs Jason, not that animatronic bear... actually forget that! However, if I realised this stuff was more sinister than it really looked, it might have tempted me as a kid. 

3. Siren Head and Slenderman!

Sirenhead and Slenderman were supposed to be creepy internet urban legends. I can get the slender man. Sirenhead looks very unusual for starters, and makes no sense, unlike Vladek Spiegelman from Maus who is an actual mouse with significant context well worth reading! However, at the end of the day, Slenderman and the Siren dude both feel like they belong in an indie horror meme. Absolutely, the Slenderman had some kind of depth, a bit creepy and there's lore going on, admittedly, he has raised my eyebrow in the past, but in comparison to proper horrors like Get Out, Hereditary or The Conjuring, they are a tad juvenile. 

Maybe someone can put Slenderman on Naked Attraction?  It's another crossover idea, that weird collision of childish horror and questionable adult pretensions might workout one day, don't you agree? I had to turn off Sirenhead as he was maniacally squelching soldiers into mincemeat underfoot. We searched for child controls as well as some kind of YouTube filter, but no joy. Nope. 

Why These Indie OCs Miss the Point! 

Horror is supposed to evoke fear in the mind of adults, we shouldn't bring sinister ideas to kids. We should be their prime source of fear. Discipline. Either way, these kiddy YouTube horror videos make you cringe: adult-interloper horrors are switched off in our house for a reason. 

Season 13 'From' 

What do you think? 

Are such kiddy horrors really brain rot? Am I just being a dinosaur about this new wave of 'horror' emerging from the bowels of social media? Share your thoughts in the comments. Are these compelling characters or are they hijacked? 

Is Society an Internet Construct?

A First-Hand Reflection of the Internet: From Napster to Neo-Pronouns

5 min read

The Wild West of the Web

Remember how crazy we thought we were online by downloading dodgy music at 56k? Now we're debating what a woman is. How did we get here?

Retrospectively, the promise of free media offered by 'the web' in the late 90s went above many peoples heads! To surf the net made no bloody sense at all, but it sounded cool! I remember being curious by those bizarre secret agent-like codes starting with 'www' all over the place.

90s nostalgia

I still remember the cardboard cut-out of Carol Vorderman standing in our local library, luring in the unready. This was years before her cheekbones and mammary glands had mysteriously swollen! I.T savvy librarians frustratedly instructed the older generations, as well as any computerphobe who wanted to press a few buttons. 

Digital Identity

Every family had its digital pioneer — people who dived headfirst into the unregulated chaos of peer-to-peer platforms like Napster, LimeWire, and Kazaa. Piracy was poorly regulated then, but yet greatly hindered by that impossible dial up which took forever. 

P2P and Pirate Goldmines

Hours of P2P and Ebaum's world videos burnt into my psyche: I watched the insanity of the world for the first time. One particularly woman filmed herself shit out an entire, fully intact water melon! How? Why? She might've been promoting herself as a Cartell Mule? I had no idea, but still, I wanted to see more. 

A New World

The mainstream UK news, most of our regular broadcasting had always been so robotic, dressed up to the point of absolute fakery! This emerging world wide web put everything on the table, self-inflicted digital amputations, bosh! We all marvelled at one video of a man's failed home castration. They weren't all 'ha-ha!' funny, but eye-opening. The world had to be tested, I had to speak to people from all parts of the globe.

Making Money Out of Nero DVD Burning Software

Computers weren’t just a way of enjoying music, but a gateway to piracy! Dodgy dealers earnt a little pocket money off this digital black market, sharing and trading. A five minute song took long enough to download; waiting for a full on film, well, that was a real labour of love!

The Pixel Peep Show

This advent of porn bloomed into existence and we got used to ignoring the constant feed of naked bodies, the full-on sex acts spewed across your monitor as you ignorantly show your mother your promise of any music she could ever want! 

From VHS Swaps to Dial-Up Downloads: an Awkward Evolution

A million miles away from borrowing an overplayed porn VHS from a work buddy. We didn't watch porn as often as today! Surfing the web back then had fewer restrictions, with no such things as neo-pronouns either!

Some Of The Following Generations Have Issues! 

Here Are Five Ways The Internet Changed Life Forever:

1. Information Democracy: It destroyed traditional gatekeepers of knowledge, taking it from the hands of publishers, broadcasters, and institutions. 

2. Identity Fluidity: We could explore, create, and experiment with identity in ways that are more difficult in physical communities. 

3. Attention-Seeking Economy: Views, likes, clicks have become a hugely valuable commodity. Algorithms are optimized to keep us interested.

4. Death of Privacy: The anonymous internet transitioned became a system that simply harvests our thoughts, preferences and passions as a product product! We are data for marketing and political strategy.

5. Tribal Realignment: The World Wide Web facilitates all manner of supportive communities, but also echo chambers that radicalize and divide.

Confusing Cyber Cluster 

We can see how the internet has facilitated mass clusterings of right wing politics, for example: facebook groups like, we are the 52%, YouTube channels such as GBN News or Matt Goodwin attract like minded people to take action or debate. However, I think something similar happened with other demographics.

From Outsider to Insider: The Role of Uniting People

People with autism and certain mental health conditions, like gender dysphoria, for example, or a personality disorder often feel different or even estranged from other people. Rates of ASD diagnoses have increased. In the 90s and early noughties, anyone confused by their identity or gender could suddenly go online and meet others and share their experiences.

Finding The Tribe: How the Internet Became a Haven for Neurodivergent Voices

That's exactly how todays groups manifested, and subcultural identities like Emo's, Goths and what-have-you developed neo-pronouns on-line. It rapidly became a social construct, and then, a marketable product and finally an inexorable motion! 

From What Soil Did This Flower Grow? 

Before the internet, neo-pronouns — those things everyone has to use to avoid prosecution — never existed. People do try to deal with their identity struggles by latching onto sub-cultural labels and constructs that are being promoted as legit, which in all fairness, isn't necessarily from medical science! 

The Comfort Bubble: How Online Spaces Became Reality-Proof Bunkers

So now we have animal people! Individuals who snipe at anyone who won't agree that a man can give birth. Their echo chambers, powerful processing plant of ideologies of which woke lawmakers continue to rationalise and make money. 

Anti-Woke Sentiment Became a Movement of Its Own

Giving the stamp of approval to these social constructs is simply saying: bio-evolutionary human history is all wrong! Comedian's are like: Yeah, right! We'll just go with whatever you woker's made up from now on! Er no! 

The Future is Change: Something Wicked This Way Comes! 

These pronouns will become archaic, a dinosaur orthodoxy, another monster will rise from the depths of the internet and replace everything! It will be fresh, simplified and practical, maybe retro like something before the world wide web! Share or leave a comment, it'll be nice to know your thoughts!