Following is one of the strange dialogues I have had.
Whiteman: How are you?
PZ: I’m doing well.
Whiteman: Any particular reason?
PZ: The weather is good, things at work are going well, and I am going to see an interesting film later today.
Whiteman: You are being dishonest.
PZ: Excuse me?
Whiteman: Things are going well, and so you are … happy?
PZ: Yes, why not?
Whiteman: People with your background are not happy when things go well. Yet you claim contentment. This is dishonest.
PZ: It seems to me that you are making some very odd assumptions.
Whiteman: Do not say the word, you. Speak only of yourself.
PZ: It seems to me that some very odd assumptions underlie [the above sentence].
Whiteman: Those are not odd assumptions, they are an accurate description of how things are. You cannot see that, because you are in denial.
PZ: What am I denying?
Whiteman: All others with your background are unhappy when their lives go well. Yet you claim to be happy. You are therefore either lying outright, or you are in denial about the frustration you must feel when things go well, so that you have nothing to complain about.
PZ: But what if that simply isn’t how I react to good news, or to calm? What if I truly enjoy both of these?
Whiteman: Then you have a second problem: arrogance. By saying you do not react in the ways I know all persons with your background do, you are placing yourself above others. You need to learn humility, so you can admit that you do in fact react as the others do.
PZ: Is it not possible that I am merely a little more advanced than you realize? Although I am new to this program, perhaps life has already taught me some of what you teach.
Whiteman: No, that is impossible. If you did not learn it through my methodology, you do not know it. Your questioning nature, furthermore, shows that you have too many intellectual defenses. Your insubordination indicates a desire to control. You are quite clearly a beginner. It must therefore be the case that when things go well, you are unhappy.
Does this sound like a mad tea party? I thought so. Does it sound destructive? And I think so. Non serviam. I am breaking off my yoke and tearing off my bonds.
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
This person sounds vile! (and needs to be reported / or denounced.)
Take a tape-recorder with you next time?
It was 15 years ago! Long story which is coming out in fragments in these pages. What I did at the time about this person was, not go back. I did, in my innocence, continue to see his partner, who plied the same line, although more subtly, and also a discussion group, which did the same. Ultimately I woke up one day and quit, and I reported the partner.
However, with all of that exposure to the ‘logic’, I got massively depressed, which I had not been before, and couldn’t shake it. It was sort of like having been through torture (which is why I call it reeducation), or being in an accident and losing your leg, except that what I lost was sense of self and voice. This has caused me to limp along in an intermittent manner since, and presto, it’s why I have the blog, to gain back a sense of self and voice. The blog really seems to work.
To name what I am rebelling against: the 1980+ cultural message, RENOUNCE YOUR BRILLIANCE and CONFORM!
Anyway, in order to get the rest of this evil grisgris off of me, I think I should stop vituperating in comment threads and start affirming things in posts. That is the concept of the blog: throw out the trash, start speaking from a real place again.
Much love Prof Z! Just checking in. I have moved my blog page to wordpress, come over and visit. You are always welcome.
BTW… I suspect “Whiteman” is off his meds….
Asa
Nice to see you, Asa! And yes, this whiteman was off his meds. I sort of knew it, as I sat there with a puzzled frown thinking, hmm, better not let him under my skin. I only wish I’d realized it yet more clearly, at the time. –Z
“…throw out the trash, start speaking from a real place again.”
Yes!
Always yes!
And again, yes!
That’s a crazy mutha…