08-15-2008, 08:06 PM
I want to be objective here.
There's no doubt that Gollin has contributed and still contributes some valuable work in exposing diploma mills and terribly substandard schools. This is good for everyone concerned with education, even those supporting unaccredited schools. I'd say, particularly those supporting unaccredited schools - just think about it.
However, although I don't agree with the lengthy discourse on psychopathology presented by Brian Crawford, it's well known that every passionate crusader is driven by deep, unsatisfied personal needs. The "cause" is only a facade, a way, a channel through which those deeper needs may be satisfied temporarily, but never completely or permanently and that's why the person has to continue his crusade with ever increasing fervor. The crusader is not consciously aware of this game he is playing with himself - he cannot connect the dots....(lol, lol, lol). The game would be spoiled or completely ruined if he became consciously aware of it.
There are two main reasons why people play such games with themselves: (a) There are deep seated emotional needs seeking desperately an outlet so that some of the bottled up energy can be expended. If such an outlet is not found, the person may virtually explode, suffer a breakdown or go completely cuckoo; (b) the person holds beliefs (both conscious and unconscious) of personal lack and/or powerlessness and also extreme vulnerability in some specific domains (he may be quite confident and powerful in other domains though). As a result, he doesn't feel capable of facing directly and dealing with his real problems (may be internal, external or both). And/or feels that facing directly those problems would cause him extreme pain that the conscious self could not handle. Therefore, the only solution is the temporary satisfaction (a sort of appeasement) of these pressing needs through projection - what psychologists sometimes call "displacement". The internal needs are projected onto the "cause".
In Gollin's case the signs of projection and displacement are more obvious than in other similar cases in which the camouflage is almost impenetrable. His involvement is highly personal and that is evident. I would also say that, as it is very common in such cases, the vicious attacks he's been receiving have drawn him even deeper into this and made him more passionate on a personal level. This unconscious game is much more satisfactory when there are clear cut, black and white, distinctions or a demonization of the other side. Gollin's attackers have graciously provided that.
All this doesn't mean that crusaders don't provide a service, a service that probably wouldn't be provided otherwise. And Gollin does that, he does provide a service.
OK, let's play a game ourselves here. The game is "notice the signs that indicate Gollin is deeply involved in a personal, unconscious game of projection and displacement of deep personal needs". The game needs to be objective and matter-of-fact. Any kind of abuse, name calling, etc. would ruin it.
There's no doubt that Gollin has contributed and still contributes some valuable work in exposing diploma mills and terribly substandard schools. This is good for everyone concerned with education, even those supporting unaccredited schools. I'd say, particularly those supporting unaccredited schools - just think about it.
However, although I don't agree with the lengthy discourse on psychopathology presented by Brian Crawford, it's well known that every passionate crusader is driven by deep, unsatisfied personal needs. The "cause" is only a facade, a way, a channel through which those deeper needs may be satisfied temporarily, but never completely or permanently and that's why the person has to continue his crusade with ever increasing fervor. The crusader is not consciously aware of this game he is playing with himself - he cannot connect the dots....(lol, lol, lol). The game would be spoiled or completely ruined if he became consciously aware of it.
There are two main reasons why people play such games with themselves: (a) There are deep seated emotional needs seeking desperately an outlet so that some of the bottled up energy can be expended. If such an outlet is not found, the person may virtually explode, suffer a breakdown or go completely cuckoo; (b) the person holds beliefs (both conscious and unconscious) of personal lack and/or powerlessness and also extreme vulnerability in some specific domains (he may be quite confident and powerful in other domains though). As a result, he doesn't feel capable of facing directly and dealing with his real problems (may be internal, external or both). And/or feels that facing directly those problems would cause him extreme pain that the conscious self could not handle. Therefore, the only solution is the temporary satisfaction (a sort of appeasement) of these pressing needs through projection - what psychologists sometimes call "displacement". The internal needs are projected onto the "cause".
In Gollin's case the signs of projection and displacement are more obvious than in other similar cases in which the camouflage is almost impenetrable. His involvement is highly personal and that is evident. I would also say that, as it is very common in such cases, the vicious attacks he's been receiving have drawn him even deeper into this and made him more passionate on a personal level. This unconscious game is much more satisfactory when there are clear cut, black and white, distinctions or a demonization of the other side. Gollin's attackers have graciously provided that.
All this doesn't mean that crusaders don't provide a service, a service that probably wouldn't be provided otherwise. And Gollin does that, he does provide a service.
OK, let's play a game ourselves here. The game is "notice the signs that indicate Gollin is deeply involved in a personal, unconscious game of projection and displacement of deep personal needs". The game needs to be objective and matter-of-fact. Any kind of abuse, name calling, etc. would ruin it.