A VERY Belated Introduction

When I joined this site four years ago, I didn't introduce myself properly, as I wasn't aware of this particular forum until later. Today being my member anniversary, I thought I would list a few things to establish the context of my posts for those who don't know me.

My username once had an underscore instead of a space. If you're an old acquaintance still wondering why you get no search results for "Twinkling_Butterfly," then now you know.

I have OCD and ADD, but I wasn't diagnosed with ADD four years ago. The staff at the mental health clinic had suspected it for some years but not officially recognized until this year. No, I was not "trying" to obtain the diagnosis, but at this point there appears to be no simpler explanation for my distraction and inattention.

I also have VERY INTENSE social anxiety. It may not be very noticeable to a mental health forum from behind a keyboard, but it's here. It's always here.

I study ethics, but I am not, nor have I ever been, a professional ethicist. Old posts (by me or others) referring to me as an ethicist shouldn't be taken to imply professional authority. I posted to another forum last year:

Twinkling Butterfly wrote:

You're an ethicist by trade, right?

Well, I'm a student of ethics (and not a very faithful one, I've come to realize, though I'd hoped this first serious study of mine would hold my attention better than any of the whimsical ones ), and I try to put my ethics first in everything I do—easier said than done, I know. You may have noticed I stopped referring to myself as an ethicist over a year ago. I'd used the word to loosely because when I was growing up, scientists referred to their students as young scientists, philosophers: young philosophers, etc. But I realize that outside such relationships, there are greater expectations of those referred to by those terms, and as I have no desire to mislead anyone, I simply say I study ethics and leave it at that.

I was accused of claiming to be a biologist once, but I never knew why, because I don't remember ever saying that about myself.

While on the subject, since I don't know how the "biologist" label came about, I suppose I should also clarify that I am not a doctor nor a professional scientist of any kind. My interest in biomedicine, like my interest in ethics (and bioethics, and any subject whose name contains the etymon *bio* or *eth*) is personal, not professional.

I'm not ashamed of being a path-hugger. Contrary to what some might have you believe, being a path-hugger does not entail romanticizing or fan-worshiping psychopaths, nor does it entail sexual attraction to them. Do I love psychopaths? Yes. I also love cats, but I don't worship them, nor would I want to have sex with them.

I feel awkward as I write this, but I'm going to post it anyway.

Very belated is a sort of understatement really.

Twinkling Butterfly wrote:Contrary to what some might have you believe, being a path-hugger does not entail romanticizing or fan-worshiping psychopaths, nor does it entail sexual attraction to them. Do I love psychopaths? Yes. I also love cats, but I don't worship them, nor would I want to have sex with them.

This description made me laugh.

It's nice to see you still around and happy forum anniversary.

It's lovely to meet you here, Twinkling Congratulations on both your forum anniversary and being PF's Official Belatedest Introductée.

I forgot to mention that, as Salty and Ada know I was a moderator of the AsPD forum between August 2011 and May 2012. It was supposed to be part of my therapy in a way (since I couldn't go back to the volunteer job I'd given up before), but my symptoms grew worse, not better. Whether that happened because I was modding the AsPD forum or because of something else, I can't be certain, but I'd sensed for some time that I was growing too ill to continue. I might—but probably won't—go back later if I get better.

Also, if the etymon *schiz* is anywhere in your diagnosis, you'll hate me (with the exception of a few schizoids ).