Like most of the United States, all of us at Lovefraud were horrified by the sordid story of child sexual abuse that emerged from Penn State University last week. Unlike most of the United States, we probably weren't surprised. That's because all of us at Lovefraud have learned a very difficult lesson that millions of other people have not learned. This is the lesson: Evil exists. For most of us, however, there was a time before the lesson. At that time we didn't know evil existed—let alone what it looked like or what to do about it. So at that time, we were vulnerable to the sociopaths. The sociopaths came into our lives, showering us with affection and maybe gifts, asking about o …
The manipulative man interview
Lovefraud's friend Ann at WomenExplode.com recently posted an interview with a 49-year-old man who had never been married. The man engaged in serious impression management. But, since Ann had known him for 10 years, she knew when his words were BS—and pointed them out in her story. It's hysterical. Read Interview with a never-married 49-year-old man on WomenExplode.com. …
Stress is contagious
New research finds that stress in the workplace can spread from person to person. Read Work stress as contagious as a cold, says study, on HuffingtonPost.com. Story suggested by a Lovefraud reader. …
Former Penn State football coach charged with sexually assaulting boys
Pennsylvania State University, home of the storied Nittany Lions football team and its legendary coach, Joe Paterno, was rocked by allegations that one of Paterno's former assistants, Jerry Sandusky, was charged with sexually assaulting eight young, disadvantaged boys. The point of the article I posted earlier today, about former Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Fumo, was abuse of power. This sex abuse scandal is a variation of the same theme. Sandusky's inappropriate behavior went on for years, probably because no one wanted to challenge a football dynasty. According to the grand jury report: • In 1998, Sandusky brought an 11-year-old boy into a Penn State locker room shower …
Former Penn State football coach charged with sexually assaulting boysRead More
A powerful sociopath taken down, and why we need to understand him
It's been awhile since I wrote about Vince Fumo, former Pennsylvania State Senator, representing Philadelphia, and now a resident of the federal prison camp in Ashland, Kentucky. In 2009, he was convicted of 137 counts of fraud, conspiracy, tax offenses and obstruction of justice. His crimes cost taxpayers and nonprofit organizations $4 million. Yet he received a sentence of only 55 months, which many, including me, considered to be a mere slap on the wrist. Federal prosecutors were so outraged at the leniency of Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter's sentence that they actually appealed it. The feds won. The appellate court found that Buckwalter had erred, and on Wednesday, Fumo will be in court …
A powerful sociopath taken down, and why we need to understand himRead More
Identifying speech patterns of psychopaths
Researchers used a computer analysis to compare the language of psychopathic and nonpsychopathic murderers. They discovered distinct differences. Read Psychopaths' words expose predatory mind on Futurity.org. Link supplied by a Lovefraud reader. …
Finding my strength because of the psychopath
It seems odd, Sarah Strudwick writes, but she has to give the psychopath credit for forcing her to find her own strength. And, Sarah has found a song that captures exactly what happened. Read Say thank you to the psychopath, on WakingYouUp.wordpress.com. …
The pastor and the Ponzi scheme
Pastor Michael Wilkerson of the New Millennium Life Restoration Fellowship in Spring City, Pennsylvania, preached the “prosperity gospel.” The basic idea is this: God wants his followers to be prosperous, and they can find the road to wealth in faith, positive thinking and contributions to the church. This is what Wilkerson preached, and he followed up by inviting congregants to invest in his company, which was acquiring suburban mortgages. Last month, however, federal prosecutors accused Wilkerson and two others of conspiring in a $6.3 million mortgage fraud. The congregants have lost everything. The whole story appeared in yesterday's Philadelphia Inquirer. What I found really int …
Instead of protecting children, abusing them
Lovefraud readers have forwarded a rash of sordid stories about adults in positions of trust over children who turned out to be molesters and child porn addicts. They should all be prosecuted, along with those who covered up their actions. Records show Boy Scouts failed to report abuser, on USAToday.com. Stacy Schuler, Ex-Ohio teacher, convicted of having sex with 5 students, on HuffingtonPost.com. How child-porn case led to Hershey School, on Philly.com. Roman Catholic church's paedophile investigator jailed for possessing thousands of child porn images, on DailyMail.co.uk. And then there is a child beater and a serial killer: Judge so furious at abusive mother who left …
Statistics show world is becoming less violent
Maybe there is hope after all. Three new books reveal dramatic reductions in war deaths, family violence, racism, murder and other violence. Read World becoming less violent: Despite global conflict, statistics show violence in steady decline, on HuffingtonPost.com. …