Why Does Derek Smart Act Like a Derek Smart?

I had a general understanding of Mr. Smart. Based on his previous behavior I felt I could frequently predict how he would react in certain situations. Most things that have been said about Mr. Smart in the flame war are absolutely true, both good and bad. It still didn't make sense to me from a motivational point of view. I thought I could predict what it was he might do or how he might behave but I still didn't understand why. I think I now understand what Mr. Smart's motivation is. I think I now understand why he keeps participating in his self destructive flame war. The break through understanding was when I read a book called Malignant Self Love by Sam Vaknin.. 

  Here's a link to the Barnes and Noble page that has reader reviews of the book. 

The book got excellent reader reviews and I agree with those reviews

Here's a quote out of the book's abstract.

"The narcissist is an actor enacting a monodrama, yet forced to remain behind the scenes. The scenes take center stage, instead. The Narcissist does not cater at all to his own needs. Contrary to his reputation, the Narcissist does not "love" himself in any true sense of this loaded word. He feeds off other people, who hurl back at him an image that he projects to them. This is their sole function in his world: to reflect, to admire, to applaud, to detest - in a word, to assure him that he exists. Otherwise, they have no right to tax his time, energy, or emotions - so he feels. The Narcissist's ego is weak and lacks clear borders. Many of the ego functions are projected. The Superego is sadistic and punishing. The Id is unrestrained. Primary objects in the Narcissist's childhood were badly idealized and internalized. His object relations are distraught and destroyed."

I believe that Mr. Smart saw an opportunity with the on-line medium to completely define his image the way he wanted. Truth and reality are not what defines Derek Smart to himself. His image is what defines Derek Smart to himself. This is what Mr. Smart means when he says that the Flame War Follies web site twists the premise. The web site presents an image of Mr. Smart that he doesn't like. The image that he wants is a brilliantly successful game developer that everyone else is envious of. Anything deviating from that image would be twisting the premise, according to Mr. Smart. Truth and reality are secondary to the desired image. Why does he stick to claiming a PhD? Simply because that is part of the desired image. To Mr. Smart it is not a lie, it is who he is, it is his image. Another part of Derek Smart's self image is defying the odds and defying the detractors. This simply grew out of the negative reaction he got from other people when he came into contact with him on-line. 

So Mr. Smart continues on-line even though it would be far better for him to disappear. He stays on-line because he has to. Flaming on-line is part of the definition to him as to who he is. It gives him the feedback that he so desperately craves to define his own very fragile ego. When he's not on-line flaming people, he will eventually start feeling lost and start feeling empty. He starts feeling uncertain as to who he is. An NPD needs others to constantly define to them who they are. The Taco Palace is a nice place for Mr. Smart but that's not enough. That doesn't fully define who he is. This rebel and flamer is now part of Mr. Smart and he needs it as well. Mr. Smart needs his detractors far more than we need him that much has always been clear. Now I think that I understand why.

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