On further consideration:
I'd have done anything reasonable to compensate the buyer for the delay, because even though I believe there were extenuating circumstances, the shipment is my responsibility. Had he said, "How about you ship the knife and send me 10 bucks to compensate me?" I'd have gladly done so. Had he accepted the refund, I'd have done that, too. All I ask is to be treated with respect and not snide condescension.
Maybe my standards are too strict. Maybe I'm unreasonable. I honestly don't know if compared to the average person, the demands I make of people who talk to me are too much. I simply won't allow someone to talk down to me; it isn't in my nature. I'll gladly own anything I do that's wrong. I've tried to be reasonable and civil. I certainly don't want to kill any future sales; I like being able to sell knives here when I need money or just don't want junk around.
But my self-respect is worth more to me than selling some knives, at any price. You tell me -- is that unreasonable? Is it unusual? Maybe so. If it is, it's my personality flaw, and I'll own that, too. Maybe I even owe Mr. Santos an apology, and maybe I earned the negative feedback he's promised to send me. Maybe I'm not understanding enough. Maybe it's me that lacks patience.
I shipped him his knife and he'll have it with the extra sheath I threw in for free. He could turn around and sell it for more than I sold it to him, I'm sure. The delay can't be returned, of course; time is time and it goes one way. But I believe I made every effort and I was willing to just let the whole thing go until his last couple of pompous, obnoxious mails. People talk smack to me all the time online, but this is different; this is personal business. Nobody talks to me like that in a matter of personal business.
Lack of empathy is a hallmark of narcissistic disorders, and sufferers find it extremely difficult to understand others' (and their own) emotional states and impact. This makes maintaining close or intimate relationships significantly harder. They may find it difficult to perceive or admit this, or may interpret it as a virtue.
It is also worth noting that the individual expressions of grandiosity or arrogance vary with the person's value system. A person will generally attempt to display superiority as they define it.
-Overreacts to criticism, becoming angry or humiliated
-Uses others to reach goals
-Exaggerates own importance
-Entertains unrealistic fantasies about achievements, power, beauty, intelligence or romance
-Has unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment
-Seeks constant attention and positive reinforcement from others
-Is easily jealous
-Has a sense of extreme entitlement
-Is exploitative of others
-Lacks empathy
-Displays arrogant, haughty and proud behaviour.
-Uses denial mechanism to downplay own inadequacies or failings
-Uses rationalization mechanism to justify self-centered behavior
Diagnostic criteria for 301.81 Narcissistic Personality Disorder
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
(1) has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
(2) is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
(3) believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
(4) requires excessive admiration
(5) has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
(6) is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
(7) lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
(8) is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her
(9) shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes
Pwned.
