Muncha$$hole Syndrome

I have discovered a new illness that is very similar to the "disease" known as Munchausen syndrome. First, here is some information on Munchausen syndrome:

In Munchausen Syndrome, the sufferer feigns, exaggerates, or creates symptoms of illnesses in himself or herself in order to gain attention, sympathy, and comfort from medical personnel. The role of "patient" is a familiar and comforting one, and it fills a psychological need in people with Munchausen's.

Sufferers mimic real diseases, presenting a great problem to themselves and their healthcare professionals. The disorder is named after a literary figure, Baron Munchausen, a real person who was portrayed in fiction as a famous teller of tall tales.

The infirmity that I have discovered is very similar but is related to delusions of intellectual prowess and can mostly be found in celebrities who normally congregate in the Hollywood area. I have named the illness Muncha$$hole Syndrome. The following is a brief description of it:

In Muncha$$hole Syndrome, the sufferer feigns, exaggerates, or creates delusions of knowledge in himself or herself in order to gain attention, sympathy, and comfort from admiring supporters. The role of "intellectual" is a familiar and comforting one, and it fills a psychological need in people with Muncha$$hole's.

Sufferers mimic real expertise, presenting a great problem to themselves and their adoring fans. The disorder is named after a television drama figure, Detective John Munch, a fictional person who is portrayed in real life by actor Richard Belzer, an infamous teller of conspiracy theories.

Unlike most actors, in which a role played is of a person totally different from the actor in real life, Richard Belzer is actually playing himself as Det. John Munch with the single exception that the character Munch has a fictional police badge. Not only is he a cynical conspiracy theorist as a fictional character in television, he is also one in real life as noted by his book UFO's, JFK, and Elvis: Conspiracies You Don't Have To Be Crazy To Believe.

But the real indication of his condition as a sufferer of Muncha$$hole Syndrome was demonstrated in a recent appearance on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher. He implied that since he reads “twenty newspapers a day” he is more knowledgeable of the situation in Iraq than the actual soldiers on the ground in Iraq who are “19 and 20-year-old kids who couldn't get a job.” You can view the actual segment or read the transcript here.

So just because Belzer, a junior college dropout who became a successful stand-up comic and actor, reads a lot of newspapers he is a fountain of knowledge of current events and the intricacies of the Iraq war? And he knows more than the people who are actually there?

Diagnosis: Muncha$$hole Syndrome.

Update: Many thanks to Mrs. Greyhawk for the link from her excellent Dawn Patrol over at the great Mudville Gazette military blog.

I also completely forgot to mention that Richard Belzer's statement about reading “twenty newspapers a day” is a great example of how art becomes reality. In the movie Team America: World Police, the Janeane Garofolo character says: "As actors, it is our responsibility to read the newspapers, and then say what we read on television like it's our own opinion." How true!

Update 2: I'm honored to say that the incomparable Emperor Darth Misha I at The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler has linked to this post. If you like exciting and in-your-face reading please pay him a visit!

Update 3: One of my favorite bloggers Lou Minatti has linked to this post. Check him out for some interesting reading!

How Fitting!

Notice the "Fascism Is On The March" sign being carried by one of the marchers? How right she is! Hop on over to the Indepundit and see what Smash has to say about his experience with Casey Sheehan's mom.