Posted by LlurpsieBlossom on December 6, 2006, at 18:30:54
In reply to amateur T DX of Dr. Bob ;) (for fun), posted by Happyflower on December 6, 2006, at 17:29:02
My Dx of "Dr. Bob" is 'normal', but how would I know? Dx'ing Bob would require some kind of conversation, right?
High-functioning, highly intelligent individual has a soft spot for wounded humans. Career as a pdoc enables him to satisfy his scientific curiosity, his desire to help others and his need to earn a living.
A strong contradiction exists between his desire to be present, to show others his face, and make certain hobbies known to the public, in this case on the internet. His internet persona shows an interesting portrait of a somewhat quirky professional. Yet, for all his efforts to build a strong web presence, there is very little on his website or in his personal communications that betrays how he conceives of himself.
Aside from being analytical, civil, polite, and intelligent, we are left wondering about his motivations, his personality & temperament, his dreams, his drives, and his vulnerabilities.
In a sense, we can see Dr. Bob, and read what he says on psycho-babble. Indeed, even eat dinner sitting right next to the man, and never have a sense of what makes him do the things he does. He exists only in the present, as he never tells us stories of his past, or ambitions for his future.
One wonders whether his "self" is so cleanly divided between public professional and private person. One is left wondering what it is to "know" a person and yet not to know anything of his person. The philosopher wonders whether that is because there is nothing else to know?
Does the public professional Dr. Bob have access to the mind of Bob the regular guy, and vice-versa?
Dr. Bob, is your internet identity so calculated that if you were perfect we'd never see even the faintest glimpse of "regular guy Bob"?
Sometimes you remind me of ALICE.
I hope I haven't offended you. I like to try to figure people out- avocationally and occupationally. Plus, it's a survival instinct.
Speaking of "survival", my amygdala is not satisfied at all with my current perceptions/conceptions of Dr. Bob. Keeps on asking my neocortex for more information, but there's nothing there!
"Sorry amygdala[s], I can't tell you whether we should fear Dr. Bob or embrace him. I only know the rules of engagement [be civil!], and so long as our prefrontal is "in charge" we're gonna be just fine, barring some kind of unmedicated meltdown. I know that you get really anxious when we don't have better information. Usually lack of information is our cue to become hypervigilant. Try to hold on, though. Let's assume that Dr. Bob is neutral-- benign, until we have indication otherwise."
Sorry Happyflower. I've got no ideas for you. Back to work on your paper! :)
-Ll
poster:LlurpsieBlossom
thread:710960
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20061202/msgs/710989.html