Last week at a library branch:

A guy I used to know who works (or worked, he is likely retired now too) for the city at waterworks, was observed and heard by me, discussing me with a library employee.

The library employee turns out to be married to a man who used to talk about me, with others, in the food court at the mall. He was THEN a complete stranger to me and at first, back then, he did not know that it was me he was talking ABOUT, in relation to what was going on with the "est-ee" game boy at Homewood.

Now last week's comments went like this:

"She thought people were talking about her and now they are..."

Both faced me as they did this and I looked right at them.  Did they see me seeing and hearing them THAT time? 

My first question for you two is, "Are you two of the people who are among those talking about me, right at THAT moment, as you made those comments? Yes or no"?

The rest of you please note the "loaded language" of the comment itself.  The word “now” is a linguistic hint. It suggests that “people,” (including these two) were NOT talking about me, back THEN when I “claimed” they were.  Yet, these are the SAME people from then AND NOW. The only thing that has changed is a slight shift in THEIR perception – not MINE. They are not quite in touch with the group reality just yet or the obvious part they have played in it.

Also, the question needs to be asked, “Was this recent commentary just acted out, understood by these two to be seen and heard by ME, from ten feet away? Or do these assessors of me and my reality still consider themselves to be “hidden” in plain sight on this occasion as well and therefore STILL NOT among “the people” who are talking about me NOW, which they now partially admit is in fact, reality?

Now multiply this by thousands of people, all acting out together with NO genuine, direct communication, from ANYONE involved, in any way, on any level, and you BEGIN to get a sense of what it is like to be on the receiving end of this very common brand of groupthink. Unfortunately, of course, it does not stop there.

In order for everyone “normal” to remain “superior” and therefore “hidden,” the reporting of the experience itself by the “subject” gets pathologized right out of existence. Of course that is how all “blame” is avoided isn’t it? That is what the people who always tell us we “can’t blame others” are trying very hard to make sure it is impossible to DO.