What is "charisma"?
- Thread starter tiptoethrutheminefield
- Start date
Smilla
Ordinary Human
tiptoethrutheminefield
Patron with Honors
Smilla
Ordinary Human
Well he is very... good-looking, interesting and ... mmm... ohThe desire to f***Gabriel Byrne?
See how circular this thread is? :laundry:
Last edited:
Winston Smith
Flunked Scientology
I've kind of avoided this thread because 'charisma' makes me a little nauseous.
On both sides.
For me, 'charisma' is a social trigger between those able to radiate an aura of absolute confidence and the kind of people who throw themselves at the feet of such.
A little disgusting on both levels, although, most people with charisma don't bother me because I'm not on their menu and their victims aren't people I hang around with.
Zinj
On both sides.
For me, 'charisma' is a social trigger between those able to radiate an aura of absolute confidence and the kind of people who throw themselves at the feet of such.
A little disgusting on both levels, although, most people with charisma don't bother me because I'm not on their menu and their victims aren't people I hang around with.
Zinj
tiptoethrutheminefield
Patron with Honors
Yes, we're disgusting.
tiptoethrutheminefield
Patron with Honors
I really piss you off, don't I Zinj?
I meant, we're "discussing." But apparently to Zinj, discussing and disgusting are the same if you're discussing something that makes him/her uncomfortable.
Maybe charisma frightened you when you were an infant?
I meant, we're "discussing." But apparently to Zinj, discussing and disgusting are the same if you're discussing something that makes him/her uncomfortable.
Maybe charisma frightened you when you were an infant?
paradox
ab intra silentio vera
Mick Wenlock
Admin Emeritus (retired)
charisma is defined as what Marty doesn't have.
HelluvaHoax!
Platinum Meritorious Sponsor with bells on
Charisma seems to be an alchemical mix comprised of approximately...
80% Certainty
10% Force
5% Creative Flair
5% Mojo
10% Force
5% Creative Flair
5% Mojo
Kookaburra
Gold Meritorious Patron
Most people agree that L.Ron Hubbard had some sort of charisma. Usually cult leaders are described as charismatic. Many celebrities are said to have charisma as well. What is it?
I think charisma is to sociopathic individuals what the ability to change color is to chameleons or the fly-attracting rotten smell is to the Venus Flytrap.
I think some people (subconsciously or consciously) believe they are too weak to compete in life in a normal way, so they develop this quality, this combination of words and nonverbal cues that we call "charisma." They use this aura to control normal people by signaling a combination of power and neediness that triggers certain responses from others, especially from vulnerable others.
When I think of celebrities who are said to have charisma, I think of people whose behavior is less than prosocial. And upon examination they strike me as phoney and full of tricks. For example, Tom Cruise is said to have a ton of charisma, but since I've developed a healthy skepticism about him, I notice his behavior in movies is kind of like my dog when she wants my sandwich--a lot of posturing, eye-action, intensity, combination of "I'm so cute" and "I want it NOW!"
I think charm is different from charisma. An actor like Gabriel Byrne has charm. He is quiet, not obviously drawing anyone in to him, but over the course of a movie one is interested in what he does and says. Or maybe I'm just in lust with him!
Does anyone else think charisma is just manipulation?
I've know untrustworthy individuals who were not charismatic. I've known charming people who were both trustworthy and outstanding leaders, yet who were not charismatic. But every genuinely charismatic person I have ever met was absolutely untrustworthy, without a single exception. As a result I consider as suspect any individual who is reputed to be charismatic. It is prima facie evidence that something is likely to be amiss.
Mark A. Baker
Good observations, both of you.
In my observation, I see charisma as some sort of slick cover hiding something evil. It is not the same as charm, although many people mistake it for charm. It is this sort of hypnotic aura that a person projects and appears to be exceptionally likeable and desirable. Many people befriend these people, or follow them if they are in a leadership position. But if you get close to a charismatic person, or watch them for long enough, a very different personality begins to show.
I think LRH was a charismatic person. Something in him prompted me to have absolute faith and trust in him. I suppose it was partially that everyone around me had the same viewpoint, but there was something more. Looking at it now, I was looking at something else other than what was there. I was seeing an image that he was projecting, not the real person. What I have learned about this man since I got on the internet a few years ago is an absolute contradiction to the image I had of him.
SchwimmelPuckel
Genuine Meatball
Heh.. Difficult word.. Charisma.. Here in Denmark we've got a politician being critisized for not having it.. So that voters won't vote for her.. hmm..
uniquemand
Unbeliever
IMO, charisma is projected images of yourself that are attractive to others. Confidence in those images makes them more solid, makes people less likely to doubt you, unless they have wisdom. And yes, it does all come down to D&D attributes.
SchwimmelPuckel
Genuine Meatball
uniquemand
Unbeliever
Yes, dungeons and dragons. Charisma, Wisdom, Intelligence. The mental traits.
paradox
ab intra silentio vera
There is also the more commonly practiced (or rehearsed and scripted, if you will) side of charisma in terms of theatrics; http://cbae.nmsu.edu/~dboje/teaching/338/charisma.htm
I'm reminded of this over-the-top 2010 'zone convention talk by "the magic thetan" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7crInV-bOM
I'm reminded of this over-the-top 2010 'zone convention talk by "the magic thetan" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7crInV-bOM
Free Being Me
Crusader
Most people agree that L.Ron Hubbard had some sort of charisma. Usually cult leaders are described as charismatic. Many celebrities are said to have charisma as well. What is it?
I think charisma is to sociopathic individuals what the ability to change color is to chameleons or the fly-attracting rotten smell is to the Venus Flytrap.
I think some people (subconsciously or consciously) believe they are too weak to compete in life in a normal way, so they develop this quality, this combination of words and nonverbal cues that we call "charisma." They use this aura to control normal people by signaling a combination of power and neediness that triggers certain responses from others, especially from vulnerable others.
When I think of celebrities who are said to have charisma, I think of people whose behavior is less than prosocial. And upon examination they strike me as phoney and full of tricks. For example, Tom Cruise is said to have a ton of charisma, but since I've developed a healthy skepticism about him, I notice his behavior in movies is kind of like my dog when she wants my sandwich--a lot of posturing, eye-action, intensity, combination of "I'm so cute" and "I want it NOW!"
I think charm is different from charisma. An actor like Gabriel Byrne has charm. He is quiet, not obviously drawing anyone in to him, but over the course of a movie one is interested in what he does and says. Or maybe I'm just in lust with him!
Does anyone else think charisma is just manipulation?
I had the distinct displeasure of growing up with a person who definitely used charisma to hide his negative sociopathic personality. There was no joy or laughter in this person. No joking or comradeship.
The only time I would see interest of another was when a business transaction would occur. This was an act, purely to make a sale. The smiling, semi-warm smile was feigned.
The rest of the time he was a robot. No twinkle in his eyes, no animation or willingness to talk. It was like watching an appliance switch being flipped or pushed. When he wanted something the switch was flipped. When it was over, the charisma was shut off as fast as an electrical current.
As a young child, I would watch this behavior, it made me shudder inside but much the same way a person might watch a train wreck, I had to continue looking.
I was very, very scared of this person, as was my mother. I never forgave her for not leaving, taking me with her to a safer life.
How do I know that charisma was being used as a facade? Because he used A LOT of effort to hide the abuses, explain them away, to avoid being caught, all the while keeping me and my mother there. And when done, the cold automaton behavior returned, dead, uncaring until the next round of convincing was needed.
This isn't some story for amusement, I lived it and it was terrible and terrifying. I won't go into further detail as this is the web and this is to personal for greater detail. To bad I hadn't connected Hubtard with his 'charisma' to see what was really going on. I could have saved myself from a con artist.
