Some people are just clueless, and that includes the entire Philadelphia Eagles football team.
It was bad enough that Eagles management signed Michael Vick to the team after he got out of prison for running a dog fighting ring. As I posted on August 24, 2009, in Can Michael Vick change his behavior?, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), sent a letter to the NFL stating that Vick fit the profile of antisocial personality disorder, aka a sociopath.
I mean, the guy rewarded the animals that lost by personally electrocuting, hanging or drowning them—shoving their heads into five-gallon buckets of water.
So now, after sitting on the bench for most of the season, the Eagles players say Vick should win the Ed Block Courage Award. According to the foundation that presents it, “the Ed Block Courage Awards honors those National Football League players who exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. Recipients are selected by their teammates for team effort, as well as individual performance.”
Many people, including the American Kennel Club, are outraged. On January 22, 2010, the club sent a letter to Jeff Lurie, owner of the Philadelphia Eagles. It stated:
On behalf of the American Kennel Club, our 5,000 clubs nationwide, and the millions of responsible dog owners we represent, we are writing to ask you to withdraw Michael Vick as the Philadelphia Eagles’ recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.
We understand that his teammates selected Mr. Vick for this honor, but in doing so they are demonstrating a lack of understanding about the nature of both animal and child abuse, and are trivializing Mr. Vick’s heinous actions. Michael Vick horrified the world, and especially those of us who devote our lives to promoting the health and welfare of dogs, with his engagement in dog fighting. In addition to the bloody fighting contests, reports indicate that many dogs were electrocuted, drowned or hung for underperformance.
A man who has been convicted of these atrocities should not be held up as a role model of sportsmanship and courage. Further, Ed Block, the award’s namesake, dedicated his life to ending the vicious cycle of pain and despair suffered by children at the hands of their abusers. It is unconscionable that a man who tortured and abused helpless animals be honored by an organization dedicated to ending abuse.
Vick says he deserves it
So what does Michael Vick have to say about winning the award? According to NFL.com:
“I’ve overcome a lot, more than probably one single individual can handle or bear,” Vick said. “You ask certain people to walk through my shoes, they probably couldn’t do. Probably 95 percent of the people in this world because nobody had to endure what I’ve been through, situations I’ve been put in, situations I put myself in and decisions I have made, whether they have been good or bad.
“There’s always consequences behind certain things and repercussions behind them, too. And then you have to wake up every day and face the world, whether they perceive you in the right perspective, it’s a totally different outlook on you. You have to be strong, believe in yourself, be optimistic. That’s what I’ve been able to do. That’s what I display.”
The guys on ESPN’s Mike & Mike in the Morning talk radio show were incredulous. They talked about the men selected by other football teams. One football player been shot 14 times in a drive-by shooting, was paralyzed and lost a leg. Another player created a foundation to support at-risk youths. Another was well-known for his community service.
“Here’s the bottom line: Did Michael Vick exemplify courage?” one of the Mikes asked. “I gotta say the answer is no!”
The video clip is entertaining. See it at Mike and Mike: Vick Courageous?
An online petition against awarding Michael Vick the Ed Block Courage Award is available on Change.org.
Michael Vick on TV
And just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does—Michael Vick has his own reality TV show on BET.
The Michael Vick Project premieres next week, on February 2, 2010. Here’s what BET.com has to say about it:
In this eight-part series, produced by DuBose Entertainment, MV7 Productions and Category 5 Entertainment, cameras will not only capture the NFL star’s return to football after a two-year prison term stemming from his association with a dog fighting ring, but they will also focus on much of his life prior to that turning point. Viewers will be given an unfiltered and personal experience of Vick as he restores his past and starts fresh for the future — not only for himself, but for his family and fiancée, Kijafa.
“It’s our hope that this documentary series will serve as means towards Michael Vick’s search for his personal truth, what led to the choices he made that ultimately changed his life and also, enlighten viewers that every decision you make in life matters. We hope his story will be one in which years from now, people particularly young men, will view and learn valuable lessons from, James DuBose, CEO, Dubose Entertainment. “Mike’s life may be unique, but his story is one that could be told ten times over by young men who find themselves faced with trials and tribulations. His truth has come by way of bad choices. His triumph will come by way of his commitment to change.”
No role model
We all know how charming, charismatic and convincing sociopaths can be. They are experts at impression management. Vick must have put on a heck of a performance, and the Eagles players didn’t realize that it was only a performance.
It seems that Vick has stayed out of trouble for at least the length of the football season. And honestly, we know sociopaths don’t change, so if he’s not hurting other people or animals, it’s about all we can expect of him.
But Michael Vick as a role model? That’s just too much.
Hens,
I know the best way for gay men to meet is online. That sucks b/c it is so full of issues and fraud. There has to be a better way. I am NOT selling travel but I do so I know… it is just a suggestion about these all gay cruises or gay events. I lived in LA and gay pride was a party for all so I loved it, but in reality, it was a way for gays to meet. Maybe you could get involved in the travel biz in some small way b/c this industry is FULL of gay men that we all adore and enjoy but for that one intimacy.
Hens,
Katy is right. There just has to be a way, but gay pride is a GOOD way to do it! OMG! We have such fun at gay pride and my son has met MANY new friends there! At our gay pride they pass out pamphlets for social groups and all in our city.
there just has to be something better for you than online. It’s just too dangerous!
(PS, if you’re on chemistry, that’s my spaths fave haunt and he found his new victim there. Other of my friends who have tried it, HATED it, its one of the WORST of dating sites for predators!)
LL
lesson learned: You lived with sociopaths your whole life pretty much! I can’t believe you were with them for that long in a relationship. 29 years all together in romantic relationships with them. I would huggle you, but my eyes are exploding. @.......__@.......
Your sister too?! How did you not turn out sociopathic? Your gene pool is twisted, and your enviroment was filled with them. Just goes to show you that people CAN make it through. My dad ALWAYS says I’ll be just like him soon enough.
It is more peaceful when we get rid of toxic people. Like I said before, it’s like a cloud has lifted. The rooms don’t seem so dark. 😛 My family still loves my dad, though. Maybe they do feed off each other too, like you said your family does. 🙁
Marketing and advertising IS psychology! 😀 I just think I’m not too good at psychology. I always have to have Ox Drover explain things, or read Steve and Donna’s posts to find things out. Even other posters on here know a lot more than me. :/ Although I am one of the youngest here. Like you said, I’m blessed to find this out now. Did you all know about this stuff at age 20? Donna is right, we need to know everything on here while we are young, but I’m still not confident.
My mom went into nursing, by the way! It seems nurses are prime tagets for sociopaths because they care.
Hens: Guess what? My sociopathic dad was on a dating site! He LIED ABOUT EVERYTHING ON HIS PROFILE. I almost puked after reading it. He posted everything he thought women wanted to see, including making lots of money, which he doesn’t have. He didn”t even mention me…
Near:
It’s really good to see young people on the site like you! Donna is trying to educate young people about sociopathy, so it’s encouraging to see young people here and recognizing sociopaths in their bio fam prior to any romantic relationship!
LOL! I know, it’s a bit overwhelming, but many more on this site come from backgrounds full of spaths, narcissists, psychopaths, you name it.
Yep, my gene pool IS twisted. Did i mention my paternal grandmother was full blown spath too? Evil witch she was! Honestly, though Near, I didn’t get out of it without A LOT OF ISSUES! No PD thank GOD, but there are other issues I’ve really struggled with my entire life as a consequence of my environment and growing up in a spath fam. My choices in romantic relationships is an obvious no brainer and a REAL source of pride for me LOL! NOT!
Don’t EVER believe what your dad says. That’s SUCH a projection and often said by a spath, “You’re just like me” or “You’re going to be just like me”. That’s a big fat LIE! Reject that one. It’s out of a spath playbook..
I didn’t know about this stuff at 20, near, although I wish I did. I think psychopathy, while known about at the time, wasn’t as WELL KNOWN as it is now and even then there is a long way to go. I wish this information was available to me then. Perhaps things would have been very different.
Yep, Nursing and any care giving profession that is highly empathetic is going to be a spath play ground! What kind of relationship do you have with your mom? Is it a positive, good one?
Have you read any books on the subject yet, Near? There are sooooo many good ones on psychopathy and sociopathy out there!
Just keep reading and learning and asking. You’ll be one of the youngest spathinators someday! LOL!
LL
Guys there are also LOTS OF PSYCHOPATHS THAT ARE NURSES TOO….I thought it was just me being paranoid but I have been reading some research now about how the nursing profession is FILLED WITH BULLIES And it has always been a “saying” that “nurses eat their young” and I think it is true, many of the worst bullies I have known were nurses…and the other extreme too, some of the most empathetic….ditto with physicians.
Ox,
Yep, very important point, precisely my fear with going into ANY medical profession.
They are in other helping professions as well too. They are therapists/psychologists, lawyers, pastors, etc etc etc….
LL
Ox Drover: My mom also told stories of some bully nurses. They would get jealous of things and set others up to fail. Then they would put on their “happy face” for patients and then complain about them once they left the room. Also, many surgeons are sociopathic, no doubt. I always joked that they were paid to be serial killers in training. 😛
lesson learned: Yeah, I wish somebody would have told my school about all this. Probably would have helped so many girls, and some guys. Although, maybe not. Not too many students at my school listened or wanted to be there, and many of the girls were pregnant at 15, and some had friends in middle school that were pregnant.
If this site is full of people from sociopathic backgrounds, then do you think there are many members that are sociopaths? This fact has been bothering me. It’s safe here, I know, but I still hate it that a sociopath could be here lurking. I’ve mentioned this a few times. 🙁
You’re grandma too?! Aw, no more. Don’t tell me anymore! @.......__@....... Aw, I’m glad you made it through all of it alive and you’re healing now. Issues are to be expected considering how toxic your life was. So my dad used a projection on me? I remember many cases of it now. Just like when he’d call somebody out on ripping him off, because that’s exactly what he’d do, even if they did not.
Yeah, I get the feeling everyone here wishes they would have known what they now know at an earlier age. 🙁
My relationship with my mom is perfect! I’m glad she got my dad out of the house early, as I think living with him would have made me into something else, possibly. My mom and I do a lot together and I can actually TALK to her. I don’t really talk with anyone else in my family. :/
My mom got Robert Hare’s books for me on Christmas! ^_^ She read them as well. We loved them. Snakes in Suits and Without a Conscience. Both were great. I was happy, but I had been reading online way before that. Although, some sites are not to be trusted with this info. I remember a few taking advantage of people, like Sam Vakin. So I try to stick to official books. This site is my trusted info site now.
Yes! Spathinator! *makes random poses* ^_^ How many have you noticed since you learned the signs? I bet you can spot them all of TV and in every day life.
Dear Near, I’m glad you have a good relationship with your mom, that is wonderful! I am also glad that you are reading GOOD and reliable information…..
Spaths lurk everywhere, but that’s okay… let’em….they can’t hurt us if we don’t allow them to. If we keep them at arm’s length.
Spotting the “red flags” at some times is easy, but others are very very sly and cunning and crafty so if we get too “cocky” and “sure” of ourselves about ALWAYS being able to spot them, we will get nailed for sure!
We need to keep our own P-dar in fine tuning at all times and when we see someone doing something that is DISHONEST or MEAN it should make our “ears perk up” and we should watch that person.
It doesn’t matter if they are lying about something or cheating on their husband or wife, or stealing small things, or what it is that is DIS-honest or mean…we need to watch that person. Not everyone who is dishonest is a psychopath but do we want ANYONE who is dishonest in our lives, or ANY bully as a friend? The bottom line is that any bully or dishonest person who will hurt someone else will eventually hurt US.
Sometimes people just continually make bad decisions and are not responsible….doesn’t mean they are bad people, or psychopaths but just that I don’t want someone in my close associations that is irresponsible….always needing to be bailed out. I can’t save (and neither can anyone else) someone from their own poor choices.
So we must be responsible for ourselves, and allow and insist even that others be responsible for themselves and their lives. Helping people who are NOT able to help themselves is not enabling, but helping people do what they CAN and SHOULD do for themselves is “enabling.” and it ALWAYS causes hard feelings and drama.
hi sky – i can boot a spath from my personal life – work is not so easy. that’s the folks that concern me – the n/p in the work and business life.
Ox Drover: You are right. We need to stay alert and not become too sure that we can spot them in time. I was lucky to spend so much time in the hospital, so I’ve seen all types. From patients to doctors to people that work in the offices and own the places. They come in all shapes.
Oh, I had some bullies as friends in middle school. 🙁 Many of them got busted with weed and sent away. I was one of the class representatives and model students, but still had those friends. I had all types of friends. Definitely not my best choice of company, though. 🙁
I agree about NOT helping the people who know better and can do better. My mom is learning. You sound a lot like her therapist. Have you ever been one? You definitely could!
Finally, I have a question for you, Ox Drover. I’ve read other post and see you talking about a Trojan Horse P and I want to know what you are speaking of? I know this is a random place to ask. If you feel comfortable telling me, then I’d love to know about it.