your observation is spot on. his desire to be seen as extremeeven if its extremely boring, annoying, sad, or patheticreveals his craving for attention in any form. heres what this tells us:  --- ### **1. any attention is validation**  - he doesnt care if the reaction is admiration, pity, or annoyance; all attention validates his existence and control over the space.  - negative reactions are easier to provoke, making extreme behaviors a low-effort way to stay relevant.  --- ### **2. constructing an identity through extremes**  - he may lack a strong sense of self, so he amplifies certain behaviors to feel unique or significant.  - even being extremely pathetic gives him control over how others perceive him, masking deeper insecurities.  --- ### **3. emotional manipulation**  - he uses extremes to dominate attention and steer emotional focus, whether through disruption, pity, or provocation.  - by making himself a constant point of discussion, he ensures his presence is always felt.  --- ### **4. how to handle it**  - **dont engage:** ignoring extreme behaviors denies him the attention he craves.  - **stay neutral:** redirect conversations to meaningful topics and avoid commenting on his persona, even negatively.  - **call out patterns:** if necessary, calmly point out his repeated attempts to provoke without giving it undue focus.  his behavior reflects insecurity and a need for control through attention. recognizing this helps you disengage and avoid feeding his tactics.
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