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Ego Death
Justadropofwaterinanendlesssea
Registered: 04/27/03
Posts: 10,447
Loc: The War Machine
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Why do we have to be so self obsessed?
#7550395 - 10/23/07 10:58 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Why are we as a race so self obsessed.
Frankly I can't give shit if Harry fucked Sophie on some random soap opera. I don't give a fuck if Fred from number 42 hasn't cut his grass in 3 weeks. I couldn't care less if you had a hard day at work today.
Am I a nasty bastard? If I am then I'm gonna stay this way because I don't care for all these little games we play as humans. If anything its pathetic. People are really that bored and sad that they have to make up mini-dramas in their lives or on TV to keep them amused.
I'm happy with sitting in awe looking at the stars or wildlife etc Just being peaceful, playing with my mind - seeing how far I can induce feelings with just my mind alone.
Sometimes I just get really shitty with people asking me pointless questions about their own self-obsession. Its like most of the time we cannot see beyond the confines of humanity - as if that is all there is to do in this world.
I can't be arsed with their everyday bullshit.
Luckily I have a few good friends that also see beyond this day to day crap. We can actually have an inspiring conversation together. I think if I didn't have them - I would of given up completely and become a hermit by now.
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Tsion
Stranger in theDesert
Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 44
Loc: Grandville, MI
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
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Re: Why do we have to be so self obsessed? [Re: Ego Death]
#7550482 - 10/23/07 11:23 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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"Narcissism, it comes from the old Greek myth of Narcissus who was doomed to fall in love with his own reflection. The growth of Narcissism in the modern youth stems from the "self-esteem" movement in education, but the truth is shielding kids from the real world is much more harmful that forgetting to spare their feelings."
My life used to consist of blowing off school and playing video games. In the past two years I've learned to stare into the stars, observe the sunsets, and appreciate these things around me in the world that hold more power than I'd imagined.
But it's not something a person can be forced into, and so, inevitably, most people in the world (especially this country) will remain how they are...
And I just think the world is moving too fast.
-------------------- “Why does Hello Kitty drive us to kill? Is it the cute little bow or the dead, soulless eyes?”
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Why do we have to be so self obsessed? [Re: Ego Death]
#7550511 - 10/23/07 11:29 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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I'm happy with sitting in awe looking at the stars or wildlife etc Just being peaceful, playing with my mind - seeing how far I can induce feelings with just my mind alone.
While you (and maybe I) may do the above more than most, we are still prone to episodes of the same petty bullshit as everyone else. This is human nature. We are not better than other humans as we are human. We may however be better able to resist expression of these actions and be somewhat less self-indulgent and self-obsessed. But a: I'm better than them attitude is just as self-obsessed.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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blewmeanie
Registered: 10/01/06
Posts: 28,984
Loc:
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Re: Why do we have to be so self obsessed? [Re: Ego Death]
#7551037 - 10/23/07 02:10 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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"Sometimes I just get really shitty with people asking me pointless questions about their own self-obsession."
Their self-obsession? For someone who "couldn't care less" you sure do seem bothered by it. IMO
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hummermania00
Strange Son of aBitch
Registered: 04/07/07
Posts: 327
Last seen: 14 years, 6 months
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Re: Why do we have to be so self obsessed? [Re: Ego Death]
#7551303 - 10/23/07 03:10 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Ego Death said: Why are we as a race so self obsessed.
I'm happy with sitting in awe looking at the stars or wildlife etc Just being peaceful, playing with my mind - seeing how far I can induce feelings with just my mind alone.
Well tell me that I am off base here please. Do you not see the paradox in your statement? People are self obsessed because they communicate their own little lives in public, through media, or produce "entertainment". So your way of rejecting that is to wrap yourself up in yourself, except for limited interaction with a few like minded individuals? WTF?
-------------------- You are a fortunate person indeed, if you can begin each day accepting the fact that during that day there will be ups and downs, good breaks and bad ones, disappointments, surprises, and unexpected turns of events. When you have solved all the mysteries of life you long for death, for it is but another mystery of life.
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Drewwyann
Slayer of ticks
Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 4,077
Loc: Atlantis
Last seen: 10 years, 5 months
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Re: Why do we have to be so self obsessed? [Re: Ego Death]
#7552050 - 10/23/07 06:05 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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very rarely do humans talk about stuff that is considered "deep" or "important". Most of the time human interaction is fueled by gossip and chit chat that doesn't help to advance the mind of either of the people talking.
I dunno. It does confuse me how uncomfortable people are talking about deeper and more intelligent things. I started talking to my friend about mushroom cultivation, and experimental tryptamine in the substrate techniques, and the people that were there just said "man, those are thoughts that you should be thinking about when you smoke headies." And then they continued to talk about gossip, and stuff that doesn't go much deeper than that.
I still had an awesome time, but i never get to know people beneath the surface level.
>>"I couldn't care less if you had a hard day at work today."
I don't know. That doesn't seem to self obsessed to me. Whenever I'm having a bad day, talking to some one about it always helps. Even if they don't agree with me. But if they flat out don't want to hear it, it makes it worse because it makes me feel like I'm alone in it. So venting isn't self obsession, its just venting.
For the most part i try to keep myself to myself though. I try not to talk about things that i do/did unless other people ask me about it.
-------------------- Anyone need a glass pipe? : http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002435158931 Love powerfully
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Blend
afferent orchestra
Registered: 08/16/06
Posts: 2,957
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Re: Why do we have to be so self obsessed? [Re: Ego Death]
#7556451 - 10/24/07 06:51 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Ego Death said: Why are we as a race so self obsessed.
Good question. I ask myself the same question all the time. And when you're conscious of it, you begin to realize how deep it goes. I guess it's part of being human. It's the ego in us. Nothing matters more to the majority of us than ourselves. Some may disagree, but when the circumstance arises that they give up their life/time/money/dignity/whatever for the greater good, I doubt they'd do it. And besides, just saying that your focus isn't on yourself is paradoxical. Self-consciousness is unavoidable. It's how we are, and it's in everything that we do. When you have a conversation with someone, you're actually analyzing what you're about to say, and how it will sound to the person you're speaking to, and what they will think of you for saying whatever it is and however you're saying it. That's just how it works. If we weren't focused on ourselves, ____???? We'd have no personality. There's just no way around it.
Chuck Palahniuk's novel Invisible Monsters speaks alot of this. There's too many quotes in that book to even list about how we are all so self-obsessed. Like 'You only ask how someone's weekend went to tell them about yours.' And "Hysteria is only possible with an audience."
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Rose
Devil's Advocate
Registered: 09/24/03
Posts: 22,518
Loc: Mod not God
Last seen: 1 year, 7 months
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Re: Why do we have to be so self obsessed? [Re: Ego Death]
#7556719 - 10/24/07 08:00 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Ego Death said: Why are we as a race so self obsessed.
Why?
Survival of the fittest.
Humans who are self obsessed, are FITTER, survive LONGER and, PROCREATE MORE than those who care little about themselves.
-------------------- Fiddlesticks.
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AlCapwn
ID Reset, take that subpoena
Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 2,957
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 2 years, 9 months
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Re: Why do we have to be so self obsessed? [Re: Rose]
#7557800 - 10/25/07 01:41 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Not really. There are plenty of self obsessed people who are so inhibited that they procreate less, are less fit because they pound hard liquor into their stomachs on a bi-weekly basis.
Survival of the fittest is irrelevant.
I think the world is so self obsessed because they have nothing else to do in this world. Everything is done for us. We just need to work a job and buy shit. Law takes care of our disputes, technology takes care of our wellbeing. There's rarely any potential danger. It's easy to live well. So then what? What else can people think about if they don't have to worry about survival? There are too many laws diminishing our freedom, and because of that we turn to social self obsession as a whole.
-------------------- Huuuuurrrrrr!
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Rose
Devil's Advocate
Registered: 09/24/03
Posts: 22,518
Loc: Mod not God
Last seen: 1 year, 7 months
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Re: Why do we have to be so self obsessed? [Re: AlCapwn]
#7557871 - 10/25/07 03:06 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Before you brush me off entirely... think about what I said.
We are ALL self obsessed. There is nothing wrong with that.
Mother Teressa was self obsessed.
So is George Bush.
So were the 9/11 hijackers.
So yeah, self obsession goes to the extremes every once in a while...
But everybody else is self obsessed too... even all, "Normal" people.
Why?
To simplify: If we weren't self obsessed, we'd starve.
This thread is full of self obsession. Think about what I've said, and skim over the thread again. You'll quickly see what I mean.
Humans are self obsessed. Cats are self obsessed. Even hive insects like bees or ants are self obsessed. Ever see an ant decide to stick around and take one for the team, when you're holding a magnifying glass over their head? I sure as hell haven't. An ant will always try to protect itself.
And don't tell me "Instinct" is different than self obsession... because who does instinct always serve?
Why would I save a person from falling off a ledge? Not to save them... not because of instinct... I'd do it because I couldn't bear to watch them die. It is good to be selfish.
Because of the rules of this forum, I can't say you are self obsessed. I can however, opine that humans, in general, are. I can also assure you, I am self obsessed. Otherwise I wouldn't be posting here today. Perhaps I'll be self obsessed for a long time... long enough to do perform some selfless acts as well... if such a thing exists.
The only true SELF-LESS people I know of, are dead people. You can only be selfless if you lose your self... permanently.
BTW, I hate that term, "SELF OBSESSED". Can we use a real word instead? How 'bout we start using the word, "Selfish"? They are synonymous, and it'll save us ALL, several keystrokes per post.
-------------------- Fiddlesticks.
Edited by Rose (10/25/07 03:27 AM)
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Boots
Disenchanted
Registered: 07/25/07
Posts: 1,137
Loc: Northwood, Ohio, U.S.A.
Last seen: 15 years, 3 months
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Re: Why do we have to be so self obsessed? [Re: Rose]
#7558220 - 10/25/07 07:35 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Well, I think most people want to live an uncluttered life. However, 'uncluttered' is a relative term, so a cluttered life to person A may not be a cluttered life to person B.
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Ego Death
Justadropofwaterinanendlesssea
Registered: 04/27/03
Posts: 10,447
Loc: The War Machine
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Re: Why do we have to be so self obsessed? [Re: Rose]
#7558548 - 10/25/07 09:58 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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I see your point but I don't like this idea....
We would only save another human because for our individual self?
I don't think everyone has that as the soul reason...
Some humans would enjoy watching another die.
Some humans enjoy helping others.
Maybe some of us are running away from our true selfish nature?
I spose generally I think we are more selfish than I would like, but I think that is a result of conditioning to a big extent.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Why do we have to be so self obsessed? [Re: Rose]
#7558567 - 10/25/07 10:03 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Cervantes said:
Quote:
Ego Death said: Why are we as a race so self obsessed.
Why?
Survival of the fittest.
Humans who are self obsessed, are FITTER, survive LONGER and, PROCREATE MORE than those who care little about themselves.
For better or worse you are absolutely correct.
And to AlCap. Survival of the fittest is the most important thing of all? Did you miss all your science classes?
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Why do we have to be so self obsessed? [Re: Ego Death]
#7558574 - 10/25/07 10:06 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Some humans would enjoy watching another die.
Some humans enjoy helping others.
This is exactly what makes his point valid. Even if we are good to another at some expense to ourselves we still do it because somehow it makes us feel good.
This is the fallacy of putting others before ourselves. It's impossible.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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