"I have as much concern for the well-being of the self-proclaimed "elite" as they do for us."

LOL I reckon you are a better man than any of them. Now, I could be wrong, and you certainly have no reason to intend them well, but even intent on their end you prolly reveal that your intent accounts your conscience of merit, while psychopaths cannot, and sociopaths do not.

I wouldn't measure yourself by them, as they are of little account on any level save for power that you regard as meaningful.

Regarding the Carver scale, aren't 1 and 2 reversed in the vulnerability column? You point out the Carver scale is highly subjective, but it just seems to me that little ability is higher than none on that scale.

I really appreciated this post, which was the result of thousands of years of culture and serious men that made a lot of mistakes to learn from. Maybe it will help me make fewer.

Thanks!