This is what I have learned after working with some really crazy people:
1. Show them some love, even if they don't deserve it
2. Don't be combative or argumentative. If the guy believes earth is flat, don't try to change his mind. But be open on where you stand and don't try to pretend sharing some of his views just to please him.
May not work on everyone and some folks are just evil, but I think many crazy dudes out there are just alone and have really bad social skills.
> 1. Show them some love, even if they don't deserve it
That's the problem. Everyone deserves love, but it's a bit of a chicken & egg problem when you run into someone who thinks of themselves as so repulsive, that they are convinced they don't deserve being loved.
My personal experience in this area has mostly been with people who already have been in therapy, sought help, etc and sometimes even then have problems accepting love, even when offered unconditionally (which might be also super difficult for the offering side).
But you're right, even a little bit of love and well-intentioned attention can go a long way. I hope that if drummyfish is reading this entire thread (which might be extremely emotionally demanding), they can see that the appreciation for their work and achievements is well-earned and deserved.
The root of the problem and the solution is (and always has been) to love oneself. If one can't accept self-love, how would they be able to accept love from others?
1. Show them some love, even if they don't deserve it
2. Don't be combative or argumentative. If the guy believes earth is flat, don't try to change his mind. But be open on where you stand and don't try to pretend sharing some of his views just to please him.
May not work on everyone and some folks are just evil, but I think many crazy dudes out there are just alone and have really bad social skills.