MOPS (Mendacious Obsfucating Pedant Syndrome)

From: polar bear <bear@pole.com>
Date: Sat, Jul 19, 2003

SYMPTOMS:

Mendacious
----------
Patient constructs a false identity, often for artistic or religious
purposes. Over time, said identity "merges" with the original persona
to the extent they become inseparable in the patients' mind. This
pathology is masked by the patients' conviction that he must, at all
times, remain "in character" to achieve his intended effect. Patient
is thus aware of the fraud, yet unable to arrest the impulse.

Obsfucating
----------
This presents as concealment of the obvious in layers of unnecessary
complexity. In the malignant form, it manifests as vapid erudition in
search of an audience. If, and where such audience is found, depends
mainly on the pedantic aspect of the syndrome.

Pedant
------
By invoking special knowledge, displaying credentials, or asserting
authority in a given area, the MOPS sufferer attempts to construct an
audience for his mendacious obsfucations. This audience may exist in
cult/guru form, as a stilted intellectual circle, or merely in the
patients' own mind. The relative coherence of the patients'
"message" will, to a degree, define his audience. In the delusional
form, however, this audience is almost always imaginary.

TREATMENT

There is, at present, no cure for MOPS. Symptoms may be supressed
via electroshock therapy in an out-patient setting, however, remission
is temporary and the disease manifests again in fairly short order.
In severe cases, institutionalization and/or lobotomy are indicated.

Dr. Laika Vole - MD, MDA, GMC, AT&SF, RPG
Head Sturgeon,
Stangingrad Academy of Remedial Subversion (SARS)
-----------------------------------------------

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From: "nikolai kingsley" <nikolai@broadway.net.au>

> pathology is masked by the patients' conviction that he must, at all
> times, remain "in character" to achieve his intended effect. Patient
> is thus aware of the fraud, yet unable to arrest the impulse.

i'm surprised you need to mention this. i'm sure most people do it
routinely.

nikolai
---
you know, like pretending to be an intellectual
and posting quotes from Rimbaud.

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

From: subspecies23@aol.comyourmom (SubSpecies23)

<< you know, like pretending to be an intellectual
and posting quotes from Rimbaud. >>

Or pretending to be "Bob" and posting quotes from McLuhan.

--
Beware! The Paranoids are watching you!

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

From: Reb Ubiq <shaliach@33.ufp.net>

Trans'ed nikolai kingsley:
: i'm surprised you need to mention this. i'm sure most people do it
: routinely.

And for more than MOPS. Our entire sense of spatiotemporal orientation is
based on staying "in character," or at least within three or four
well-established ones. More if we're creative and ballsy enough. The
"patient is thus aware of the fraud, yet unable to arrest the impulse" part
applies to all of us, though I think the point our previous poster made
refers to those who don't yet realize they're in charge of the fraud. The
Kerl, as do/have many other species extant and extinct, believe that we all
have many voices inside us and that our task as sentient beings is to let
them each have their own say. "L'kol z'man -- to everything a season"
(Kohelet 3:1).

So yes, I agree with you. May the day soon come when all machloketim are
resolved with equal joy, and all comments with equal superfluity. Bimheirah
yameinu.

Reb Ubiq, A.K. ::: Shaliach, Chabad of Starbase 33
"Come for the davening, stay for the Rigellian chazzerai"
Deck 27, Section 8/90-minute minyanim/Clone Moshiach Now!

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

From: polar bear <bear@pole.com>

Reb Ubiq <shaliach@33.ufp.net> wrote:

snip

> So yes, I agree with you. May the day soon come when all machloketim are
> resolved with equal joy, and all comments with equal superfluity. Bimheirah
> yameinu.
>
And a Huckleberry Hound Dog Howdy to you too!

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Original file name: MOPS (Mendacious Obs#1AD242.txt - converted on Saturday, 25 September 2004, 02:05