Self taught legend at Smalls

[Strat-itis]

Watching the full saga I think he has a personality disorder, most likely NPD, and I think is having manic episodes on top of that. His baseline doesn't have understanding of outside importance whether customs or other people, and then he acts wacky on top of that. While there isn't anything that looks fully psychotic.

Yes it's wrong to be cruel to people, but he clearly doesn't care about outside influence, and nothing on JGO is going to reach him anyway. The full machine already has ahold of this phenomenon so it will never be moderated in any sense, the full online sprawl will just run its course. My brother both has a personality disorder and psychotic episodes so I understand the behavior and how it's wrong to be directly cruel to them.

[Cunamara]

There are useful insights to be gained about human nature from observing the magnetic effect that watching strangers get embarrassed has on them. It's amazing how viral this has gotten.

Schadenfreude is universal.

[Cunamara]

Looking at the park crash out, he's having delusions of grandeur. So at the minimum he has a personality disorder like NPD, and it's possible he has mental illness.

NPD is a mental illness itself. I don't know what he's got going on, but it's caused him a world of trouble. Hopefully he can get better and the internet notoriety will fade when someone else gets the pile-on.

[Strat-itis]

NPD is a mental illness itself.

It's a personality disorder, it doesn't mean the person is psychotic, but they can overlap.

[Stevebol]

(mods - feel free to delete if this has already been shown here)

I don't know the melody or chords to Spain.

[Stevebol]

Lol him raging at a busker.

(Host can barely speak intelligibly tho, kinda have to skip past his blathering.)

The full saga since people just reference the videos and don't post them:

(Lmao it starts off with Epistrophy pounding.)

If there's security or a bouncer it sends the message that there are standards of behavior in the club.

[Strat-itis]

Stevebol's a self taught legend.

[ragman1]

So a misfit turned up at a casual session and messed it up. That's what happens when you let anyone get up there.

[princeplanet]

The guy put up an apology video, would someone with a severe personality disorder do that? What if he was just a regular asshole? Don't we still have those? Or must we give everyone who's an asshole the benefit of the doubt because they may be on the wrong medication?
And am I a bad person for thinking the whole thing is hilarious?

[Stevebol]

Stevebol's a self taught legend.

I'd be out of my element in that setting. I don't know those songs.

[ragman1]

I knew the moment that video started it wasn't the kind of night out I'd be seen dead at. For my own sake, admittedly.

[Mick-7]

And am I a bad person for thinking the whole thing is hilarious?

Wouldn't be surprised to see a Saturday Night Live skit on it: Maybe a self-taught legend and a very stable genius at the jam session.

[Stevebol]

[Cunamara]

It's a personality disorder, it doesn't mean the person is psychotic, but they can overlap.

My viewpoint on this is having been practicing psychologist for 35 years and working in mental health for 45. "Mental illness" does not expressly mean psychotic. Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are certainly mental illnesses, but major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, trichotillomania, personality disorders, etc., are also all mental illnesses and there are many more in the big old DSM V.

NPD certainly does not mean a person is necessarily psychotic, although any of the personality disorders can at times show symptoms bordering on psychosis. The maladaptive patterns associated with the disorder are often/usually creating problems in their lives. A treatment challenge in personality disorders is that frequently the person with one persistently locates the source of their problems outside of themselves.

We've all got our quirks and many people have undiagnosed/untreated mental illnesses and yet manage to live OK lives- they have family and friends, hold down a job, have social lives. It's maybe a little or even a lot harder to do those things, but they get 'em done.

[Stevebol]

A legend is born. #selftaughtlegend #STFL

[Stevebol]

[Stevebol]

Stevebol's a self taught legend.

No I'm not. I'm a dinosaur.

[olliehalsall]

He doesn't seem totally hopeless from what I see/hear. Just lacking humility?

[frabarmus]

many people have undiagnosed/untreated mental illnesses

Perhaps these are the majority? I know many who have clear symptoms who also avoid getting diagnosed, or avoid doctors altogether.

I guess many of us are sensitive and struggle when under pressure (for whatever reason)... I myself had a burnout in May + insomnia and was put on benzodiazepine for a month in order to recover sleep, I was diagnosed (a mild) depression, I take an antidepressant and see a psychiatrist/psychotherapist once a month.

[Strat-itis]

He doesn't seem totally hopeless from what I see/hear. Just lacking humility?

Yep lol. He doesn't deserve an in person inquisition against him. He heckled Tony, the singer at Smalls, who does deserve it to be fair.

He's basically the real life version of the meme of jazz musicians being dorky, which is probably why he's so prolific.

[Stevebol]

Yep lol. He doesn't deserve an in person inquisition against him. He heckled Tony, the singer at Smalls, who does deserve it to be fair.

He's basically the real life version of the meme of jazz musicians being dorky, which is probably why he's so prolific.

They were trying to go easy on him and they were playing some blues but he was in outer space.
Well he's famous now.

[Cunamara]

Perhaps these are the majority? I know many who have clear symptoms who also avoid getting diagnosed, or avoid doctors altogether.

I guess many of us are sensitive and struggle when under pressure (for whatever reason)... I myself had a burnout in May + insomnia and was put on benzodiazepine for a month in order to recover sleep, I was diagnosed (a mild) depression, I take an antidepressant and see a psychiatrist/psychotherapist once a month.

The statistics are that about 20% of people in the United States experience a mental illness in any given year, and about 5% experience a serious mental illness (these would include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe major depression, borderline personality disorder, or any mental illness resulting in hospitalization such as an acute/severe panic attack- which might present like a heart attack).

In terms of the majority, most of us probably have a few symptoms of a mental illness. Mental illnesses exist on a continuum between basically normal and significantly impaired, rather than being a "you have it or you don't" situation. Just because we have some symptoms does not mean that we should be described as having a mental illness. The effect on our functioning is central to the diagnosis. If we are unable to work effectively, maintain social obligations and relationships, etc., those are functional impairments that would figure into a diagnosis. If we feel severely distressed by those symptoms, even if we were able to function pretty well, that would also be a factor in obtaining a diagnosis. In someone who has some symptoms but is functioning well in their life and is not subjectively distressed, entirely possible a diagnosis would not be given for that individual even with the presence of symptoms.

As far as whether the STL has any particular mental health problem, I can't say because I've never met him or interviewed him. Ethically speaking, I should not speculate on any possible diagnosis. He might be just fine and is normally a nice guy, but having a lot of stress in his life that has knocked him off his normal balance. People can say or do out of character things at times like that.

I will say I don't particularly care for his interpretation of Spain in that busking video.

[Stevebol]

Stevebol's a self taught legend.

The feds threw me under the bus in 1985. I don't mind it here. You get used to it.
The 80's was a long time ago.

[Stevebol]

The statistics are that about 20% of people in the United States experience a mental illness in any given year, and about 5% experience a serious mental illness (these would include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe major depression, borderline personality disorder, or any mental illness resulting in hospitalization such as an acute/severe panic attack- which might present like a heart attack).

In terms of the majority, most of us probably have a few symptoms of a mental illness. Mental illnesses exist on a continuum between basically normal and significantly impaired, rather than being a "you have it or you don't" situation. Just because we have some symptoms does not mean that we should be described as having a mental illness. The effect on our functioning is central to the diagnosis. If we are unable to work effectively, maintain social obligations and relationships, etc., those are functional impairments that would figure into a diagnosis. If we feel severely distressed by those symptoms, even if we were able to function pretty well, that would also be a factor in obtaining a diagnosis. In someone who has some symptoms but is functioning well in their life and is not subjectively distressed, entirely possible a diagnosis would not be given for that individual even with the presence of symptoms.

As far as whether the STL has any particular mental health problem, I can't say because I've never met him or interviewed him. Ethically speaking, I should not speculate on any possible diagnosis. He might be just fine and is normally a nice guy, but having a lot of stress in his life that has knocked him off his normal balance. People can say or do out of character things at times like that.

I will say I don't particularly care for his interpretation of Spain in that busking video.

I have my project for the day. Smoooooth jazz! I'm going to jam along with STL;


Self made legend, playing union square 1/2/26 #nyc #jazz #smalls

[KirkP]

I hope he learned something about the value of humility.