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Is Your Boss a Psychopath?

Dogers writes "Robert Hare, creator of the Psychopathy Checklist, has recently been applying his test 'Is your boss a psychopath' to businessmen and has found some disturbing results. From the article: 'Why wouldn't we want to screen them? We screen police officers, teachers. Why not people who are going to handle billions of dollars?'. Citing Enron and Worldcom management as an example, it seems a reasonable argument. The same source also has a quiz (magazine produced it seems) which allows you to test your own boss, too!"

40 of 878 comments (clear)

  1. easy by justforaday · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yes! Next question?

    --
    I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
    1. Re:easy by Alphabet+Pal · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hmmm... actually, my boss scores pretty low, but I scored myself a 70...

      --
      Because you can't spell "slaughter" without "laughter"
  2. New Record by kevin_conaway · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think that this could be the very first Slashdot thread composed entirely of AC posts.

    Minus this one of course.

    1. Re:New Record by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Kevin, get back to work NOW! Don't make me come over to your cubicle.

      -- Your Boss

    2. Re:New Record by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Who modded that reply Informative? Funny, yes, Informative, no. Sheesh!

    3. Re:New Record by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 5, Funny

      I love incorrect moderations; they are usually hilarious. The best are funny posts modded Informative or Interesting, as seen in the grandparent. It seems to indicate the naivete or perhaps even stupidity of the modder, and it makes me laugh out of warm sympathy.

      --
      Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
    4. Re:New Record by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I'm not scared! The psychopath is also illiterate...

      Dave,

      Your fired.

      Frank

    5. Re:New Record by kyojin+the+clown · · Score: 5, Funny

      Funny mods do not add to your karma, so when people find something funny, they will mod it interesting or informative so the recipient gets the Karma bonus. thats why.

    6. Re:New Record by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 3, Funny

      a) I'm talking about posts that walk the thin line between sincerity and humour, not every single funny post. The grandparent wasn't particularly useful as an example, but oh well.

      b) Use 'Underrated'

      c) No, you are!

      --
      Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
    7. Re:New Record by Andrewkov · · Score: 5, Funny

      I prefer to mod people as funny when they post something serious, but wrong.

    8. Re:New Record by Snerdley · · Score: 2, Funny

      I love the fact that someone modded parent Funny!

  3. Slippery Slope by Alex+P+Keaton+in+da · · Score: 4, Funny

    Should we screen everyone then? On man's psycopath is aanother man's genius.
    Although there are psychopaths out there- I had an internship where a boss of mine spend 10 minutes screaming at me for stapling something crooked.

    --
    And All I Ask is a Tall Ship And a Star to Steer Her By
    1. Re:Slippery Slope by Adelbert · · Score: 4, Funny
      On man's psycopath is aanother man's genius

      An easy test for you: if someone goes around murdering people in a grizzly, macabre fashion then they are probably psychopaths. On the other hand, if they can solve complex differential equations in their heads, they're a genius.

    2. Re:Slippery Slope by wed128 · · Score: 4, Funny

      what if they can only solve complex differential equations in their heads after recieving the adrenalin rush of murdering people in a grizzly, macabre fashion?

    3. Re:Slippery Slope by qwijibo · · Score: 4, Funny

      What if someone solves complex differential equations in their head to help design grizzly, macabre ways of murdering people? It gets a little fuzzy there.

      In the business world, it's even fuzzier, because it's harder to differentiate between someone who lays off 1000 people because they're mean from someone who lays them off so the company can stay profitable and keep jobs for everyone else.

    4. Re:Slippery Slope by Bogtha · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well then they are obviously psychopathic geniuses.

      --
      Bogtha Bogtha Bogtha
  4. note to self: do not work for me by Amoeba · · Score: 5, Funny

    So apparently I'm in the Be Very Afraid range. Remind me to never go into business for myself or I'll eventually kill the bastard.

    --
    Do not taunt Happy-Fun Ball
  5. Thin line between Psychopath and Success ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    examples: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Bill Clinton, George Bush.

  6. Politicians by AnonymousJackass · · Score: 4, Funny

    OK, this must mean that about 95% of politicians are psychopaths:
    - glib and superficially charming
    - grandiose sense of self-worth
    - pathological liar
    - master manipulator
    - lack of remorse or guilt
    - shallow
    - callous and lacking in empathy
    - fail to accept responsibility for his own actions

    Yep, that's a politician alright.

  7. Re:Douglas Adams knew why by heelios · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think you just proved you are yourself a psychopath. ;) "[3] Is he a pathological liar? Has he reinvented his own past in a more positive light -- for example, claiming that he rose from a tough, poor background even though he really grew up middle class? Does he lie habitually even though he can easily be found out? When he's exposed, does he still act unconcerned because he thinks he can weasel out of it? Does he enjoy lying? Is he proud of his knack for deceit? Is it hard to tell whether he knows he's a liar or whether he deceives himself and believes his own bull?"

  8. Re:15 points by scovetta · · Score: 2, Funny

    Your fired.

    -Mauricio

    --
    Wer mit Ungeheuern kämpft, mag zusehn, dass er nicht dabei zum Ungeheuer wird. --Nietzsche
  9. I *am* the boss... by dark-br · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... you insensitive clod!

  10. Is Your Self a Psychopath? by Percent+Man · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm self-employed, you insensetive clod!

    On the other hand, it looks like I may fit the profile pretty well. Grandiose sense of my own self worth... check, check, check... I pity the poor fools who are working for me - fools who, also, are me.

  11. Re:15 points by paulpas · · Score: 5, Funny

    You're fired for making a grammatical error that a 2nd grader would make.

    --
    -PMP-
  12. Re:Before you RTFM take the quiz by Nuclear+Elephant · · Score: 2, Funny

    [1] Is he glib and superficially charming?

    Wow, just like the GTK library

  13. Next up.. a quiz for bosses.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Is your employee a whining crybaby?"

    For each question, score two points for "yes," one point for "somewhat" or "maybe," and zero points for "no."

    1) Does he/she frequently post on geek websites, complaining about you being a psychopath?

    2) Does your employee hate Microsoft, IBM, the Patent Office, and/or does he feel that somehow his future is threatened by them?

    3) Does your employee believe SCO may have a case?

    4) Is your employee constantly whining about management decisions like purchasing a Microsoft Exchange server or cisco routers?

    5) Did your employee get overly agitated when you decided to pay SCO for their Linux Licenses?

    6) Does he/she often speak in a language uncomprehensible to human beings? using words such as "packet" "protocol" or "xfree"

    7) Does he/she look frustrated when you make bold management decisions, such as assigning half the company to a research project about sending electricity over fax machines?

    8) Is your employee constantly whining about not having enough time or resources in order to achieve his goals?

    1-4 | Our condolences. Your employee may be dead.
    5-7 | Be cautious about not approaching him.
    8-12 | Be afraid of approaching him.
    13-16 | Be very afraid of approaching him.

    1. Re:Next up.. a quiz for bosses.. by dapyx · · Score: 4, Funny

      2) Does your employee hate Microsoft, IBM, the Patent Office, and/or does he feel that somehow his future is threatened by them? An extra point if the answer is yes and you work for Microsoft, IBM and/or Patent Office.

      --
      I'm sorry, the number you have dialed is an imaginary number. Please rotate your phone 90 degrees and dial again.
  14. Psycho in Chief by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 4, Funny

    For each question, score two points for "yes," one point for "somewhat" or "maybe," and zero points for "no."

    [1] Is he glib and superficially charming?
    [2] Does he have a grandiose sense of self-worth?
    [3] Is he a pathological liar?
    [4] Is he a con artist or master manipulator?
    [5] When he harms other people, does he feel a lack of remorse or guilt?
    [6] Does he have a shallow affect?
    [7] Is he callous and lacking in empathy?
    [8] Does he fail to accept responsibility for his own actions?

    1-4 | Be frustrated
    5-7 | Be cautious
    8-12 | Be afraid
    13-16 | Be very afraid

    --

    --
    make install -not war

  15. Is psychopathy so bad? by M+trotsky · · Score: 5, Funny
    From RTFA:

    Is he glib and superficially charming? - Is he a people-person?

    Does he have a grandiose sense of self-worth? - Does he add value to the company?

    Is he a pathological liar? - Does he keep the investors informed

    Is he a con artist or master manipulator? - Does he attract new business?

    When he harms other people, does he feel a lack of remorse or guilt? - Does he have what it takes to thrive in a competitive enviroment?

    Does he have a shallow affect? - Does he let his emotions control his business decisions?

    Is he callous and lacking in empathy? - Is he able to place the interests of the company first?

    Does he fail to accept responsibility for his own actions? - My personal favorite - Is he able to look at the 'Big Picture'

    --
    Yes, tis true. We are the future!
  16. Re:The question is why do they exist? by Bimo_Dude · · Score: 5, Funny
    Yet emergency situations requiring their brashness tend to be very rare.

    That just gave me an idea for a business, "Psychopaths On Call." We can have them stay at home with a pager, and companies can hire them by the hour for those tough, decisions of questionable ethics...

    I think I'll call my attorney about the legalities of this one.

    oh wait...

    --
    "Teleporting Rodents with D-Cell Battery Displacement" theory -- IgnoramusMaximus (692000)
  17. Re:15 points by scovetta · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh lord. I'm usually part of the grammar police myself. I guess I could say that I was imitating Mauricio by using "your" instead of "you're" on purpose. In fact, that's what I'm going to go with.

    --
    Wer mit Ungeheuern kämpft, mag zusehn, dass er nicht dabei zum Ungeheuer wird. --Nietzsche
  18. Re:What about politicians .....? by Conspiracy_Of_Doves · · Score: 5, Funny

    Are you kidding? For those kinds of jobs, being a psychopath is practically a prerequisite.

  19. US Senate by hellfire · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'll see your half dozen communist dictators and raise you 100 US Senators. I'll hold onto my President card just in case you have any thing else to play.

    --

    "All great wisdom is contained in .signature files"

  20. Somebody should have said it by now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I for one welcome our new corporate psychopath overlords.

  21. Grizzly murders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    An easy test for you: if someone goes around murdering people in a grizzly, macabre fashion then they are probably psychopaths.

    Hmm... darn.

    What if I don't use the grizzly? Are brown bears acceptable, or should I just go with the crazed attack weasles instead?
    --
    NotAPsychopathNoReallyImNot

  22. Speaking as someone who's self-employed by bitflip · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yes, indeed, he's a psychopath.

  23. Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers by Conspiracy_Of_Doves · · Score: 2, Funny

    There was this great line from the first Red Dwarf novel. I can't find the exact text online, this is how I remember it. It takes place before the 3 million year sleep, right after Lister comes on board and Rimmer is addressing him and the rest of his shift.

    Lister: I'd like to be transferred to another shift, sir.
    Rimmer: Why?
    Lister: With all due respect, sir, I think you're mentally unbalanced.
    Rimmer: There's always one in every group, isn't there. One idiot, one loser, one psychpath.
    Lister: Yes sir, but he isn't usually in charge.

  24. Re:15 points by paulpas · · Score: 3, Funny

    Your on probation Mister.

    --
    -PMP-
  25. Re:Why psychopaths exist... by Johnboi+Waltune · · Score: 2, Funny
    Psychopaths are overwhelmingly male

    Wow, you must not date much.

    --
    "The advanced societies of the future will be driven by competing systems of psychopathology." -JG Ballard
  26. Re:What about politicians .....? by shawb · · Score: 3, Funny

    People sleep better at night not knowing how sausages or law are made. -Paraphrased from Bismark.

    --
    I'll never make that mistake again, reading the experts' opinions. - Feynman