Future Sociopaths of America

I was recently at the pet store with the dog, when I felt a tug on the leash and realized she was trying to run away from something. Her tail was tucked between her legs, her little feet were scrambling for purchase on the slick floor, her belly was as low to the ground as I’ve ever seen it, and her eyes were as wide as saucers. She was terrified.

Meanwhile a boy, about 12 or 13 years old, was standing nearby doing that horrible loud fake-sounding laugh that boys that age do. I asked him what happened. “Oh, I made a growling noise like this,” he says—and at this he makes this really scary low growling noise, sending the dog back into a panic again. “HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!”

“You think that’s funny?” I said. “Scaring a little dog?” I was a little mad and so I probably sounded a little mean, but it's not like I smacked the kid or anything. Which, by the way, he totally deserved.

At this point two men came over and demanded to know what I was saying to their little bully. When I explained one of the guys said "OK, but he’s just a kid." And the tone in his voice suggested that I was the one with the problem. At this point I really should have walked away.

“Yeah,” I said, “But it’s a sign of something, you know?”

“A sign of what?” he said.

“Sociopathy?” I suggested.

“Are you saying he’s a sociopath?” (The guy is yelling now.)

“Well no,” I said. “Not yet.”
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