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In reply to the discussion: Small example of lovely conversation I had this a.m. with a Libertarian nutjob [View all]Populist_Prole
(5,364 posts)He ended up doing fairly well for himself and retired comfortably. Materialistic. He seems to think now that he's "made it" that the whole world wants to take what's his. Endlessly watching Fox news and listening to Rush Limbaugh, as well has associating only with other wealthy conservative people has more or less brainwashed him into a super hard-right winger. There's another factor: He was in sales all his life and very heavily read in motivational self-help material. So every conversation is like a "pitch". He thinks his ability to persuade is so absolute, that if one disagrees with him, it's just out of spite. I'm not kidding. He just cannot deal with it if he can't talk you into something.
He was always like this but dealing with the world in his working life kept it in check. Now that he's in a sort of protected bubble, he's absolutely insufferable. Others have noticed this as well. He doesn't care and scoffs at what others think. His friends are rich and politically conservative, but none have his viciousness or stridency.
I feel really bad it's worked out this way, since he's otherwise healthy and has every reason to enjoy life but chooses to be bitter just because politics dominate his every thought.