Narcissistic Personality Disorder

[trotsky]

Often found in religious leaders, it's certainly not restricted to them. Atheists can have NPD too. A good article summing up some of the telltale signs can be found here:

http://outofthefog.website/personality-disorders-1/2015/12/6/narcissistic-personality-disorder-npd

Denial - Believing or imagining that some painful or traumatic circumstance, event or memory does not exist or did not happen.

False Accusations - Patterns of unwarranted or exaggerated criticism directed towards someone else.

Gaslighting - The practice of brainwashing or convincing a mentally healthy individual that they are going insane or that their understanding of reality is mistaken or false. The term “Gaslighting” is based on the 1944 MGM movie “Gaslight”.

Pathological Lying - Persistent deception by an individual to serve their own interests and needs with little or no regard to the needs and concerns of others. A pathological liar is a person who habitually lies to serve their own needs.

Be on the lookout for narcissists - they're toxic. Engage at your own risk.

[Promethean]

1. By that definition of gaslighting, specifically the 2nd part

Telling someone you believe their religion is complete bollocks is gaslighting. Skepticism is analyzing your understanding of reality to find mistaken or false beliefs. This is why the second part of that definition doesn't fit. It includes perfectly healthy behavior. I have also seen this poor definition lead to negative social interactions. I see skeptics getting accused of gaslighting someone that was simply employing the socratic method more and more frequently.

Also your post makes me think of decorative floor coverings. I can't seem to figure out why

[trotsky]

2. That is a good point, it's not very well stated.

I can see how it could be taken that way. But of course actual gaslighting is something like a person getting suspended from DU for multiple hidden posts, and then trying to deny it ever happened, or claiming they had just signed off for a while. To give one example.

Floor coverings and totally-disconnected compact space are strangely associated things.