Dear Speed Seduction(R) Students,
Unless you’ve been living in a cave you now know that George Sodini, in a vile act of domestic terrorism, gunned down and murdered 4 innocent victims, and wounded many others in an act of homidical rage.
I’ve gotten some calls from the media asking my opinion about this story.
I hope the headline of this blog post makes it clear.
I also hope that the media does not paint all men who want to improve their social skills with women with the bloody brush of the late Mr. Sodini.
The vast, vast majority of men who are seeking to improve their success with women(however they define that term) are good guys who have found that the myths taught by society for what it takes to have choice and selection with women, just don’t work in reality. They are looking for alternatives to bullying, begging, buying, BS and booze, and they are entitled to find them.
But nothing justifies cowardly acts of mass murder perpetuated on unarmed and helpless victims.
In closing, let me tell you what I told a Pittsburg based reporter who just finished interviewing me by phone.
This guy was clearly deeply disturbed. This went far beyond a lack of skill or success with women. If you watch his videos you will see that he expresses no emotional affect at all. He’s completely flat, emotionally.
My guess is that in addition to having no social skills and being very isolated, he probably had some problem in reading the emotions of others that was brain based-the part of his brain responsible for mirroring and getting others emotional responses to him just wasn’t properly working.
From time to time at my events I have taken people aside, refunded their money, and told them I cannot help them and that they require professional psychological help. Occassionally I talk to guys on the phone who I sense are in this category and I tell them the same thing: they need professional help.
My understanding is that this guy actually is on video as a student at a seminar taught by an idiot I sued back in the late 90’s. That guy should have recognized Sodini’s disturbance and sent him packing with a suggestion to seek professional help.
Just my 2 cents.
My heart goes out to the families of the victims gunned down by this sick bastard. My nieces are of the same age and could have been in those classes.
George Sodini, burn in hell.
Piece and peace,
RJ
The disorder you're referring to is Asperger syndrome. I know a woman who's suffering from this, she had to learn to consciously read the body language of other people and intentionally recreate her own. Took her the first 30 years of her life. If you guys think you're thwarted because you dont have the skills or practice of socializing, think about someone who is denied of the ability to do that. You're lucky.
The news must be much harder on his surviving relatives … not to mention he was clearly and foolishly talking about “emotional oppression”, not emotional control. God forbid he actually tried to work on the contents of his mind instead of ignoring them another day, week, and eventually another year….
Hey, Jeff.
Thank you for your post. As a teacher of middle and high school students, Asperger's syndrome/Asperger spectrum is something I've seen rather frequently in my 15 year career, mostly with boys. With the proper treatment and social skills training, people with Asperger's can become productive members of society. This very well could have been Mr. Sodini's issue, which can lead to depression, isolation, etc. Certainly not an excuse for what Mr. Sodini did, but perhaps could explain some things. Of course, it doesn't explain the misogyny, or the hints of racism.
Furthermore, I also questioned why Mr. Sodini did not raise a proverbial red flag for Steele. I suppose if one's work is all about the benjamins, acting with integrity and being straight up with a person is not going to occur.
Marcy,
From time to time I've seen Asperger guys in my seminars. They really can't read or mirror the emotions of others.
After 20 years of teaching you learn to spot these things.
I think Sodini also had paranoid ideation, grandiose fantasies of persecution, and a complete lack of insight into how his behavior affected others.
Steele says, “Nice guy must die”.
I guess Sodini took him at his word.
As far as racism; Steele's Usenet postings, back when he and I were locked in battle, betray virulent anti-semitism and racist ideation. He referred to me many times as a “kike” and used the “n word' with abandon. So maybe Sodini picked it up from his idol, RDS.
Thank you for your comment to my comment, Ross.
Steele sounds like a winner, making a fabulous contribution to human progress. Can someone please shut him down? Please?