Female Best Intentions

It has struck me over the past few months that many women don't always come across as conniving, selfish, greedy, grasping, two-faced bitches. Until something goes wrong with a relationship - then it seems to come out with a vengeance.

So the thought has slowly come to me: many don't really go into a situation with malice aforethought, etc. That's all the sub-rosa brew bubbling underneath. It seems that they might actually come into a situation with the best intentions possible. Only once it blows up does the malice come out.

The level of cognitive dissonance - of willful ignorance - for a woman to pull this off almost gives me a migraine to try and comprehend.

I am struck by the preface to "The 48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene:

Finally, those who claim to be nonplayers may affect an air of naivete, to protect them from the accusation that they are after power. Beware again, however, for the appearance of naivete can be an effective means of deceit (see Law 21, Seem Dumber Than Your Mark). And even genuine naivete is not free of the snares of power. Children may be naive in many ways, but they often act from an elemental need to gain control over those around them. Children suffer greatly from feeling powerless in the adult world, and they use any means available to get their way. Genuinely innocent people may still be playing for power, and are often horribly effective at the game, since they are not hindered by reflection. [Emphasis mine.] Once again, those who make a show or display of innocence are the least innocent of all.

Children - women - the "most adult teenager in the house" - not hindered by reflection.

A surface (you could even say inner) naivete, unhindered by reflection - and therefore unhindered by morals as well. If you're not reflecting on your actions, then your morals don't come into play, nor does your conscience bother you in the slightest.

So she can go into a situation with honest best intentions and come out with her desired cash and prizes and ongoing slave-man. Never mind the morals - they don't come into it. Never mind the reflection - that never happens. Never mind the conscience - without reflection upon morals, they are never engaged.

And it ends up all projected upon the man as "being his fault". She's not the one in the wrong. Because she doesn't reflect upon these things.

I wonder if there are natural "players" who are the same? Naive - go into a relationship with the best intentions - when the relation blows up - ends it ruthlessly ("it's her own fault"). Look for the next woman. No reflection, no morals, no conscience bothering them. No subtle warnings for the woman to pick up on.

As Robert Greene states: horribly effective at the game.