Adapted from “Game Over” a narrators perspective
Once you identify a bullshitter you realize his tricks are paper thin. It’s spotting them in the first place that is difficult. But after that you quickly get used to them saying just enough and letting you fill in the details – those times they’re not taking the details of your story and wrapping themselves in a cloak of them.
Sadly individuals like Sylvanna were prime picking for those two tricks. So many people relate to her she’s never put on guard by shared experiences. And while she appears well spoken at times – she swears she still is not. Because sometimes she can’t get her full idea across but has been blessed by friends who did know what she was trying to say. So she understands others might struggle too.
The red flags for her are how self serving they are in the hands of con artists like Toad and Peaches. “I’m sorry for what I said.” Isn’t actually an apology from someone who thinks those words are precious baubles.
For which part, you dickhead?
“There are some discrepancies on these forms”
Gets the reply:
“Oh, what are they?”
The instinct is to help. In the mouth of the innocent is is confusion, in the words of a worm? Laziness. Many mental illnesses and learning disabilities have their symptoms labeled by such. Let’s be clear. That’s horseshit. But it should also be clear by now, lazy people also do exist. So far the Diagnostic Manual does not include habitual deceit on Toads level of con artist. Though you’ll find lying is still in there.
Sylvanna maintains some lies are unintentionally entertaining in retrospect.
She was given a Katana by Toad “It’s real.”
*Cough* Snicker
It’s pretty clear he didn’t realize Sylvanna was aware of three things:
- Good fucking luck affording a real one
- Where the hell did you, of all people, find it? Who made it?
- You can tell the difference by how it’s weighted.
Let’s add d) She had held a real one before. I tried getting an explanation of the feel but her answer was “If it doesn’t kiss the energy in your wrists it is not authentic.” As she has no idea how else to express it, and I have no idea what she means I gave up. Apparently it makes sense if you are passed one already unsheathed. In her circles drawing another’s was considered rude, but Sylvanna doesn’t actually know if that was more widespread. I’m not doing a global hunt just to find out, so I’m not going into why either. But easily said, I don’t think Toad knew how much she respected a well crafted sword of any origin.
When Sylvanna was still known as “jail-bait” she spent a whole weekend at a convention with a friendly weapon-smith all too glad for the company, and to keep others at bay. Thus her first lesson in how to handle a blade came from the one who made it. It was a different kind but he taught her what to look for. She has been lucky for an unlucky person.
The plastic on the fake Katana is a bit of a dead giveaway too!
At least the box is the right height for your staff.
She never told Toad any of that, but she soon learnt you could also tell the Katana was fake because he specifically mentioned it wasn’t. Which is also why I’m pretty certain anything private she listed as off limits was no doubt looked at.
I just want you to all imagine the confusion and doubt from sneaking around her back to find a maple wood penis. I almost wish it was deliberate. Had I thought of it I would have started planting condoms. So I suggest you do if you’re concerned your partner is a snoop – leave flavored ones. Sex – The active kind – and sexuality aside; you’d find out if they’ve been looked at. Racy knickers might work too.
Bonus if they try to turn it into accusations you are the one who can’t be trusted. Tell them a god suggested it. Merely for the humor value. Mine, yours, ours. You are more than welcome to say they’re for Bran. Finally! A giggle-fit from Sylvanna. I don’t know about you, but I feel better.
Con artists have three other huge tell tale signs most easily seen with the themes:
“Treat me as I deserve! I am a pretty (petty) swan!”
Self- Entitlement
“I crafted this! It’s flawless. It gets me what I want. How dare you question it!”
Inability to change
“I am special. I’m never wrong. If you think I’m behaving badly the fault lies with you!”
Blame shifted to others for refusing to fall for his horseshit.
Meanwhile victims frequently, not always, hide his emotional response. Because they tend to have one or both thoughts akin to:
“I feel so stupid.”
“Admitting to being a victim makes me feel weak.”
Sylvanna had both beneath her skin for a long time, and spent years plucking up the courage to let me say she felt that way – right up to the point of writing the book. But someone had to let everyone else know. It’s okay to feel that way. Because everyone who went through something like this does. We know:
- Male-bodied victims are looked down on if they admit to any abuse. Gender frequently aside.
- Victims of all genders and sexes frequently look down on themselves for it, which brings us to:
- Something happens when you first open your eyes to the abuse, no matter where on the spectrum you are. You experience shame you do not deserve.
“I felt so foolish, degraded, and powerless. I wanted to hide what I could now see. I did not want admit to myself someone else had managed to take control of me – of any part. Even if it was not entirely.”
Gaslighting relies on the fear of the gaze in the mirror.[1]
Let’s cut the crap with an admission women aren’t supposed to make so a god is doing it instead. Sylvanna is extremely intelligent. Enough to be very confident of it in private. But not in a way that fits in anywhere useful other than making fun of society. Though I maintain that might be the best place for a long-term thinker.
She doesn’t seem to notice much when you’re around her at first – because, as mentioned, she’s observing too much to process all at once.
Plus what she does notice she frequently doesn’t comment on – either because it doesn’t occur to her, she considers it obvious when it isn’t. Or no one understands her questions when she does say something.
“Who is really is the leader of User interface design outside the project manager?” The answer from the intelligent but dimwitted, is an aggressive “You don’t get it.. That is the leader.”
From the thoughtful. “There are so many departments involved it more evolves than any one group have the reigns.”
Being in charge doesn’t make you a leader. Fuckwit
Well the ignorance of that just explains why we have such a clear and memorable incident.
While a very old issue, the misunderstanding doesn’t usually matter enough to Sylvanna and thus they are difficult to remember. Except word bounced through two people to her father – across the Atlantic and back again – and he thought it a particularly interesting question and mentioned it to the Mum. Sylvanna wasn’t expecting her mother (Now fourth hand) to comment on computer usability. Which is how Sylvanna learnt of the academic trail. One should be careful on strangers they shit on, you never know what will trickle back. But at least we have an example.[2]
Asking questions is a frustrating process that has made some of the brightest individuals intrigued, and some of the least-intelligent-smart people unable to admit they don’t understand her.
You know, it’s okay not to understand someone so long as you’re not a dick about it. Some people are just that different. You are not born knowing all the thinking patterns of other people, and unless you’re like Sylvanna and explored nearly everything, you usually don’t have a chance to learn.
Which brings us to Sylvanna’s entire attitude towards intellect. She views an iceberg of quotients to be a poor perspective, and instead prefers the idea of a mountain range. And while she could climb to the top of a mountain and lurk; she prefers to take her aptitude for psychology in trek into trek of other peoples perspectives.
Which is also where she does what very few people can come close to achieving… admitting others are better at what they naturally do best. You would think it not hard. But be ready to put your prejudice in check. The example might make you think twice – at least. Because a lot of people underestimate what it requires to actually keep the peace.
Personally I was going to use a different example but lost a bet to St. Michael the Archangel, and he’s been watching over Sylvanna longer.
Sylvanna could guess police work took understanding of multiple sciences but couldn’t even get to the mountain chain that is involved. Nope, the lifelong smartypants just couldn’t do it. She doesn’t have the training nor as much capacity for that style of thinking. But she finally got on the path to take a look at what that’s like. Then she found a book on it.
Every police officer has to take a battery of tests on basic maths, science, language skills, and score above average on reasoning and memory skills. They must pass physical tests. They must clear a thorough background check including a credit report. They must have an excellent track record of good judgment and pass questions on cheating, lying and stealing – some required to take a polygraph! Does that sound like “cops are stupid?” No it doesn’t.[3]
A lot of people who consider themselves particularly clever would still make terrible police officers And such individuals do not offer recognition for a talent in law enforcement. But to have that combination of abilities is just as significant as abstract thought (or some such).
This is why the term dimwit is focused on in the book. To emphasize it is about lack of thinking, not capability. Because aptitude isn’t always something that can accurately be measured. And if it can, it might not be in a way compatible to others with the the same gifts.
One thing Sylvanna has noticed overall? Truly intelligent people tend to be curious not closed-minded. Who is she to judge? What a very good question – that you have to answer for yourselves. Is it, or is it not, obvious?
Frankly there’s just too much going on in her head to ever explain everything she’s thinking about – and trying to make it linear tends to get thoughts to collide. Which is why she became a writer. She wanted to show what the world looks like to her. Because spoken word would never be enough.
You know what’s important about all this?
- It doesn’t make her lessor or greater it makes her more observant of different details.
- There are times she fails – even at things she’s good at. Like everyone else. Anyone who can’t admit they fail has already revealed they do!
- And she still felt stupid.
It’s okay to be super-duper great at what you do – and that’s top work at a top research facility, and not always on point intellectually or even in the right fucking mood to think.
Not that it matters to this because:
Falling for lies is not a sign you lack intelligence or are too trusting.
Some people are, just really, that good at lying.
As clever with fibs as others are at unraveling the workings of the world.
Sylvanna saw a bright soul in Toad and fell in love with what turned out to be no more than a facade. So she also doubted her spiritual vision. But again, some con artists are very good. And Sylvanna had been tricked before.
She easily sees what’s right about a person. But has a harder time spotting when justice and kindness are only taken on as an image, and at the root there is nothing of either of those qualities in the individual. They often perform deeds helping them project the illusion. But it is for love of attention not the love of mankind.
It’s true, Sylvanna is particularly fond of humans. But as a result she is less likely to see the evil in another. Those with kind hearts, strong will, and passion for the care of others make prime targets. It’s not your fault if someone is better at lying than you are at determining the truth. It’s human nature to work together or mankind would never have gotten this far. That some abuse the very instinct of cooperation makes them the aberration. Not you.
[1] This is one reason why Trump supporters can be blind. Who wants to admit to being duped?
[2] Incidentally that semi-famous individual’s name has been forgotten – all that remains is a link and where to find out if she could be arsed. And she can’t.
[3] Please note, as just mentioning the police has consequences. Abolishing them leaves people like Sylvanna without protection. It’s just not a good idea. Same with judging equipment involved as they match to crimes. An all terrain vehicle may seem excessive – unless you know that area is aggressive about human trafficking and the roads are too shitty to risk being stopped by a flat! That is however, entirely separate from racial conflict – which is a more complex issue that is too important to relegate to a footnote. Doing without police isn’t going to help, but neither will the status quo when it comes to problematic precincts.
Sylvanna Devlin 
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