FWIW, a therapist I saw a few years back had the affected “I caaaaaaare” voice. My ex-girlfriend, a counselor, doesn’t, but I’ll have to ask her about how prevalent it is in the field.
Data point: My therapist.
About the right age and demographic. Toe rings. Doesn’t usually wear scarves, but has the rest of the wardrobe for sure. Beads galore.
She doesn’t talk like that or act like that in any way shape or form. If she did, I wouldn’t keep seeing her. Probably because I’d be in jail for assaulting her with a Birkenstock.
I do think you all are on to something with regard to this kind of behavior being related to the mental health and “wellness” fields. I used to know a guy who ran encounter groups in the sixties, and continued to try to do so, although his client base was understandably drying up and/or dying off. He did the whole piercing stare thing, too. Freaky. And yes, he was a total unredeemable asshole.
Okay … just got off the phone with my ex-girlfriend, who is a counselor. She told me that most counselors don’t have that affection or drawl as a default, but that she will switch to it if her client is visibly upset or traumatized. It’s something that’s soothing, relaxing, and says “I care” more than a regular voice. However, a good counselor won’t use only that affection.
Right, see, I was thinking that it has its roots in babytalk, basically. It’s babytalk adapted to be spoken to adult retards.
An office manager where I used to work always spoke like that. She had short gray hair and dressed conservatively, nothing like the style described in the OP. But the same speech mannerism was there. I’d always thought she was really nice. But as soon as I transitioned at that workplace, her nice caring manner was instantly forgotten, and for as long as I stayed working there, she treated me very coldly. So much for sincerity. :rolleyes: Don’t you love it when you can get people to show their true colors?
God, I hate that voice. I hate the looks, I hate the stares. I’m far too straightforward to deal with someone like that on a regular basis. Interesting responses though, I’ve never discussed my thoughts on those folks, but they seem to mirror the other posters thoughts pretty well.
My first gut reaction is usually “oh sweet baby jesus on a pancake, be REAL.”
And I freakin’ HATE patchouli, it makes me physically sick. shudder
I understand that this kind of behavior might be annoying to some people, but why do you think she is insincere? She perhaps deeply believes in everything she says.
Nah. If it’s the voice I think it is, it’s faker than a titanium Christmas tree adorned with breast implants and $2 Rolexes.
You’ve obviously never encountered this. I want to live under YOUR rock. (Trish was in last night. After renting that Jodie Foster documentary about homeless women, I kid you not, she stopped, tilted her head, and intoned, with all the conviction of a politician this close to losing an election, “Be well?” exactly as if she were saying, “Promise me the grief you’re feeling now for losing your entire family in a terrorist attack won’t lead you to suicide?” I don’t think she saw the humor in my, “No, you!” But she smiled insincerely anyway.)
Well why don’t you explain it then, buttmonkey?
Sincerely,
The 90%
It’s already been explained. I will leave it to you to find the relevant post.
ITT: A Merry Christmas.
Without the drawl and patchouli and in Spanish, I call mine Mom…
“What are you thinking of, dear?”
“Nothing important, Mom”
“No, really, you know you can talk to me!”
Well, Mom, I was thinking of smacking you over the head next time I catch you reorganizing my drawers, do you think that fire extinguisher might do the job?
Ha ha ha ha!!!
Could I get some audio/visual examples of the type of thing being discussed? I’m not entirely sure I follow.
I think I grew up in a similar environment and a large part of my family are quite alternative/60ies/indie/WeFoundOurOwnMicroSociety etc.
They talk “normally” though, there are no over amplified emotions in their talk. I guess that is where the “insincere” part in your acquaintances comes in.
Yeah, add me to the list of people who has no idea WTF the OP is talking about.
Think of it as the female equivalent (“vibe” wise) to the sensitive ponytail guy. Deep down they are more or less sociopaths that just see people as objects to be manipulated but somehow they have adopted this self-help/new age sort of shtick. But it is like way over done and obviously not sincere and a little scary too because you can sort of see that they are at least half buying it themselves.
You see it for the most part in Baby Boomers and there seems to be some odd element of a belief that every singe human interaction should somehow be infused with deep meaning (as long as it isn’t really challenging or in any way causes one to re think anything). Like the thought of a simple transaction is distasteful to them. They have real boundary issues and try to get into and rummage around your head. They have a generally smug and superior attitude.
WTF? Am I the only one having issues with this crap? How come you better know than these people whether they “buy” their own philosophy?
It seems to me that you project your own thinking into other people’s minds. Just because you don’t believe in a certain philosophy of life that doesn’t mean that nobody can believe in it.
Sometimes it is possible to spot fake sincerity. Nice hair, by the way.