Reverse Psychosis

A few months ago, a new feature, “Schott’s Vocabulary”, appeared as daily insertion on the Op-Ed page of the NYT. You can also access it directly on the web , here: http://www.benschott.com/.

As a “word guy”, I have been getting a lot of enjoyment from this effort on a daily basis. The column works well as social commentary, cultural analysis and very often provides a balanced view of the contrasts in contemporary international behavior. In short, if you can be honest enough with yourself, what Mr. Schott offers can help you see yourself much more clearly, against the backdrop of today’s larger humanitarian canvass( which is increasingly convoluted ,or a “convass”?).

Today’s entry is especially revealing , given the ongoing, cyclical and embarrassing debacle on Wall St., the current discussions about potential bonuses at Goldman Sachs and the state of bailouts for failing giants like General Motors:
http://schott.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/22/poorgeoisie/?emc=eta1.

The “Poorgeoisie” seem to be out latest segment of self-delusionary, narcissistic and neurotic ne’er do wells, fooling only themselves. I first began thinking of these folks as using “reverse psychology”, practicing a mode of appearance designed to deceive the rest of the American public about their imagined “plight”, but then I settled on the word “psychosis” instead: they are practicing on themselves. These titans/giants/worker bees of the our financial system are, frighteningly and given the reins they hold, acting in a fashion which might be best described as mentally ill. They might be thought of as dangerous. They are perhaps psychotic. Thinking inversely.

Spending untold amounts of money in order to appear “poor” and/or “downtrodden” is apparently Wall St.’s version of credit card splurge: ignore reality, re-package absurdity and live in a personal never-never land that avoids the ugliness which constitutes what has become the essence of daily life for most Americans. If you sing, ”Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries” loud enough, while wearing $300.00,pre-frayed jeans, as you exit your sadly two year-old Porsche, perhaps no one will suspect you had caviar for breakfast, on the rooftop patio of your $2M Manhattan condo. Life for them is still a “cabaret,my friends”. Is it any wonder that, given this sort of disparity in the perception of “real life”, we are having trouble getting back on our feet? Or even finding out feet?

I tried to get an appointment to see my therapist about this, but he was booked. He is getting new patches sewn onto the elbows of his linen shirts and getting his Gucci loafers pre-scuffed.