I feel like we shut down the secret knowledge discussion a little too soon.
I'm actually fascinated by people believing in conspiracy theories (as you can probably tell by my forum handle) and by cults. Did some "research" on both and it turns out people believing in conspiracy theories and people in cults have a lot in common. Very often rejected and lacking support group, very often disappointed by their lives and what the world has to offer for them, strong need of acceptance, if they have families - very unusual and unhealthy family dynamics.
Most often those people are rejected and feel like failures, that's where their desire to hold some special knowledge and be unique in some way comes from.
Your statement "either... or" is an assumption, not one based on fact. But I'm not going to dive into that.
I can only comment on what you tell us.
I'm going to set aside the fact that your statement "everything [is] either" is not based upon facts, as there are many non-conflict, non-transaction situations I've described my participation in, even in this thread,
What I can recall:
- Transaction-like relationship with Marshall,
- Transaction-like relationship with some CPS-avoiding network,
- Conflict with Kiwi Farms,
- Conflict with CPS,
- Conflict with landlord,
- Conflict with people in everyday life (I mean, aren't you a problematic customer? If it wasn't you - sorry)
The only sincere positive relationship you have appears to be with your kids.
as well as the fact that you would not know the full picture because you do not have knowledge of my personal life.
You tell us more than anybody could expect.
Instead I'm going to tackle the moral issues raised in your statement here instead.
I made no moral judgement in this case.
So you learned somewhere on the internet that narcissistic people do "transactions" and so you're trying to make a blanket statement but in the way you're doing it, you've misapplied what narcissistic transactions are.
That's an assumption (and not even a correct one), you don't know what my creds are.
Narcissistic transactions are when someone does not thread together interactions within a personal relationship to build an emotional bond. Instead, they simply use each interaction to feed their needs, mostly for narcissistic supply.
What is it with people of interest here being so interested in narcissistic personality disorder?
Actually when I think about provoking conflicts and instrumental treatment of people, psychopathy (not to be mistaken with sociopathy) would be my first guess... but that's not you, you're too easy to distress or even emotionally hurt.
If I was to diagnose you I would start with trust issues - you had an awful life, probably still have an awful life, you got screwed over too many times and you're afraid to form relationships with people because you expect them to screw you over.
Their motive is their own self interests, never the other person's overall well being.
That's how you explained the thing you have with Marshall - when he's no longer useful he gets the boot, no matter what he thinks and how he feels about it.
Staying in a relationship for the material benefits attached to marital rights, especially when children are involved is not a narcissistic transaction.
Once again, I never mentioned narcissism.
It's just a matter of pragmatism.
I'm a pragmatist but not when it comes to close friends and family.
The difference and keyword here is: "staying". Not "starting out". A narcissist *starts out* with only their benefits in mind. All other people may *stay* and *finish* that way for practical reasons, and there is the difference.
If all parts (you, him, the kids) know what the deal is - it's still strange and unhealthy in my opinion but a bit more acceptable.
If I didn't want my children, the option of abortion was always there. Murder of an unborn child is legal in the United States. I chose not to murder/abort them already.
You assume it only happens as premeditated murder. In reality it's usually a result of someone suffering a mental breakdown.
I don't betray people I love and call family, never, not once.
It's good you're capable of such feeling and hold yourself to this standard.