In MY world view, 80% of humans living on planet Earth have Borderline Personality Disorder traits (I've become known for my writings on this topic). BPD is a developmental disorder, meaning emotional growth/maturation became halted at a very early age, due to various feeling states having to be suppressed. In order to avert the threat of parental abandonment or abuse if he dared to express his true emotions, the Borderline-to-be forces his difficult feelings underground, and works lifelong to amputate them out of his personality structure. Self-judgement just from experiencing these types of emotions, causes shame and self-loathing, which is typically foisted onto others, thru a means called 'projection.'

A developmental deficit leaves one appearing naive, ignorant or foolish. We make room for young children and their fantasies and childlike beliefs. We even encourage special affinity for the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause... but we also expect people to outgrow those childhood attachments, as they mature.

People with Borderline Personality Disorder traits (like young children) see their world in black or white terms. There is no middle ground, grey area or circumspection in these people, because of how emotionally immature they are. Unlike grown adults, they're not capable of viewing life from a Big Picture perspective. They lack the life experience and emotional education to do so. In short, they're exceptionally gullible, which shapes OUR perception that they are frivolous and "foolish."

In today's world, this issue is hugely magnified among people who call themselves "Liberals." Every generation of adults complains that their teenagers are "weird, bizarre, difficult, rebellious trouble-makers." This is a developmental stage most outgrow as they enter adulthood, but people with BPD do not. Have you ever seen a middle-aged female dressed like a flashy, seductive adolescent? You're observing someone with BPD traits.

The sad reality is, an emotionally undercooked individual never develops a solid, self-actualized sense of Self. They are never able to establish a healthy sense of identity. This spawns 'group think,' because just as adolescents are determined to be accepted and liked by their peers, the Borderline strives desperately for a sense of BELONGING~ even if it's to a tribe or group that lacks a sturdy, common-sense foundation.

Negotiating life with borderline disordered people is a frustrating experience for the rest of us. We find it nearly impossible to accommodate what we deem is acute naivete' or gullibility in others who LOOK like adults, but who are really emotional toddlers, trying to navigate life in adult bodies.

Too many people (laymen AND therapists) view BPD as a "mental illness." It is definitely NOT that, but rather a complex set of symptoms that include emotional dysregulation and dissociation, based on having had to disconnect from natural, normal (often darker) feelings from around the age of 2 onward, in order to 'get by' in one's family home.