Egos 'R' Us

[Liar]

Are we talking about ego, egocentricity or egoism?

I mean, I think my creative output is the bomb, that I'm pretty good at some stuff. But that doesn't mean that I think I deserve or will take the world by storm. Doing that takes a talent that I don't have, one that I have major esteem issues with: Determination and diligence.

These kind of things are stuff that I obsess with on an hourly basis, which makes me egocentric, I guess. But since I am aware of that I actually don't deserve any more than I've got (And I'm kind of thanful for the life and acknowledgement I do get.), I wouldn't call myself egoistic in that sense.

#L

 

[Guest]

Uh, well see, I kinda, uh, made that up. (Lisa runs away to figure out which pistol holster goes with a yellow angora sweater .... and a big brain)

[threadjack]
id love to crawl inside your brain and investigate ... now, that, is pure kink...
god you make me laugh
[/threadjack]

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I see more egoism in the opinions expressed on the threads than I do when it comes to our work. It is perhaps one and the same, but I don't know too many here who don't look for help, opinions, feedback from other writers and who aren't very willing to listen to what their fellows have to tell them about a piece. Kind of dicotomous.

Tell person A his story needs work here or there and you would think you were dealing with the most reasonable person on earth. tell him he is wrong to support something in a thread and you would swear he was the most hardheaded person you ever met.

 

[oggbashan]

Tell person A his story needs work here or there and you would think you were dealing with the most reasonable person on earth. tell him he is wrong to support something in a thread and you would swear he was the most hardheaded person you ever met.

One deals with a craft that almost all of us want to improve.

The other deals with our opinions and prejudices. Those are very hard to change even if we are open to rational discussion. Some of us are not. What is a 'fact' to one is an opinion or a lie to another. Once discussion starts about why something is so then logic tends to disappear.

Og

 

[Guest]

Are we talking about ego, egocentricity or egoism?

I mean, I think my creative output is the bomb, that I'm pretty good at some stuff. But that doesn't mean that I think I deserve or will take the world by storm. Doing that takes a talent that I don't have, one that I have major esteem issues with: Determination and diligence.

These kind of things are stuff that I obsess with on an hourly basis, which makes me egocentric, I guess. But since I am aware of that I actually don't deserve any more than I've got (And I'm kind of thanful for the life and acknowledgement I do get.), I wouldn't call myself egoistic in that sense.

#L

In my own mind, I'm riddled with a heady mix. I am egocentric and I am an egoist. My ego is big enough for three people, and I admit it.

But, I mentioned modesty earlier, and I think the image we protray is as important as any self-belief and so on that we might have. Bragging is not seen as an amiable trait, and that, I think, is why so few do.

I do have my insecurities, of course I do, which is probably why I appear OTT at times - I over-compensate, in an attempt to hide my own fears and perhaps short-comings. However, when it comes to writing and my own "talent" I have so much drive, determination and ambition, failure is not an option. I also have an "image" that I can market to my advantage. My writing talent could well be a secondary consideration, at least in making that breakthrough. Once I have been noticed, then my novels can speak for themselves.

So, yes, I am an egoist, and I fully expect some to want to see me fail, but that won't happen. I never quit and I never give up, it's not in my nature.

Beneath my fluffy exterior there is a very strong woman.

Lou

P.S. And if I keep saying all of the above to myself enough times, I might even begin believing it myself.

P.P.S. Did you like the touch of modesty at the end?

 

[Colleen Thomas]

One deals with a craft that almost all of us want to improve.

The other deals with our opinions and prejudices. Those are very hard to change even if we are open to rational discussion. Some of us are not. What is a 'fact' to one is an opinion or a lie to another. Once discussion starts about why something is so then logic tends to disappear.

Og

agreed, but if you enter into a discussion so convinced of your position that you don't entertain even the possiblity that you might be wrong, isn't that naked egoism at it's worst?

 

[oggbashan]

agreed, but if you enter into a discussion so convinced of your position that you don't entertain even the possiblity that you might be wrong, isn't that naked egoism at it's worst?

Yes.

Og

 

[Liar]

However, when it comes to writing and my own "talent" I have so much drive, determination and ambition, failure is not an option.

So then you actually do all those things that I don't? Finish novels? Pester agents? Send scripts? Huff and puff?

Beneath my fluffy exterior there is a very strong woman.

I could call your exterior a lot of things, but not exactly fluffy.


Beneath this fluffy exterior there's a mashmallow man.

#L

 

[amicus]

Happy New Years and all the best Colly...


"...agreed, but if you enter into a discussion so convinced of your position that you don't entertain even the possiblity that you might be wrong, isn't that naked egoism at it's worst?..."



Colly...supposing you entered into a discussion, perhaps unknowing that your counterpart believed the world was flat as a pancake and that the moon was composed of green cheese?

Would you entertain even the possibility.....?


cheers...amicus...

 

[Guest]

So then you actually do all those things that I don't? Finish novels? Pester agents? Send scripts? Huff and puff?

Yep, I do all those things. Persistence and patience, coupled with hard work and stubbornness.

I could call your exterior a lot of things, but not exactly fluffy.

Beneath this fluffy exterior there's a mashmallow man.

#L

*mwah* to you, Mr Fluffy Marshmallow man.

Hmmm, you'd be good to eat.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Happy New Years and all the best Colly...


"...agreed, but if you enter into a discussion so convinced of your position that you don't entertain even the possiblity that you might be wrong, isn't that naked egoism at it's worst?..."



Colly...supposing you entered into a discussion, perhaps unknowing that your counterpart believed the world was flat as a pancake and that the moon was composed of green cheese?

Would you entertain even the possibility.....?


cheers...amicus...

I wouldn't entertain the possibility of engaging in a discussion with him, since I know people never change their minds when they're convinced of something; and I don't care to bother.

That's why I stay away from the pol threads - I have enough arguing and people who will never see things my way surrounding me on a constant basis in real life.

 

[Kassiana]

I'm not egotistical. I don't need feedback. Why don't most of my stories have any public comments? And why don't most of my readers vote? Don't they like me?



Of COURSE, like everyone else, we have issues we think we're "right" about and that others must be "wrong" about. I think I'm a fairly tolerant person, but there are some things people like that I have a hard time believing they really like. Some things are clearly worthless, immoral, and wrong to me, so those people must be faking it.

And what's with the people who rate pathetically bad stories high and ask for more? They must be out of their skulls!

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Happy New Years and all the best Colly...


"...agreed, but if you enter into a discussion so convinced of your position that you don't entertain even the possiblity that you might be wrong, isn't that naked egoism at it's worst?..."



Colly...supposing you entered into a discussion, perhaps unknowing that your counterpart believed the world was flat as a pancake and that the moon was composed of green cheese?

Would you entertain even the possibility.....?


cheers...amicus...

If I don't entertain at least the possibility, then it isn't a debate, it's an argument. I assume I am correct. I believe I am correct. I can, in general support my position. I also tend to listen and have, at times, been proven to be wrong or have at least been forced to admit that my position is not as inasailable as I reconed it was at the begining.

 

[Lisa Denton]

Happy New Years and all the best Colly...


"...agreed, but if you enter into a discussion so convinced of your position that you don't entertain even the possiblity that you might be wrong, isn't that naked egoism at it's worst?..."



Colly...supposing you entered into a discussion, perhaps unknowing that your counterpart believed the world was flat as a pancake and that the moon was composed of green cheese?

Would you entertain even the possibility.....?


cheers...amicus...

I will back Colly up in this debate. Even if the world is a pancake, you need butter and syrup, therefore the counterparts assertation that the moon is green cheese must be flawed, and prolly taste gosh-awful also.

 

[gauchecritic]

Of course, talking bollocks helps, too.

Lou

The very secret of happiness and a succesful career in almost any industry.

 

[smartnsassy]

Having a big ego is just a defense mechenism agaisnt all of our insecurities.

 

[shereads]

It's just the writers. The rest of us are remarkably humble, considering our intelligence and everything else we have to offer, relative to the general population.

 

[sweetnpetite]

It's just the writers. The rest of us are remarkably humble, considering our intelligence and everything else we have to offer, relative to the general population.

Too true shereads,

even if you do have to say so yourself

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

I shot my ego a long long time ago...

Hmm, more memories. Why always memories?

Hmm, sorry, ignore that.

Why do people set so much store by egos anyways? Between the love of self or the improvement of self, only one choice has true merit. If you're caught up in making yourself the constant Hero of your tale, won't you be oblivious to when you're playing the villain?

 

[LadyJeanne]

I shot my ego a long long time ago...

Hmm, more memories. Why always memories?

Hmm, sorry, ignore that.

Why do people set so much store by egos anyways? Between the love of self or the improvement of self, only one choice has true merit. If you're caught up in making yourself the constant Hero of your tale, won't you be oblivious to when you're playing the villain?

Maybe you need to feel like a hero every now and then if you think you're always a villain (driven by your insecurities)? It's a way of coping.

 

[English Lady]

I'm not sure if it is ego or if it really is just bravado.

I think it is the heady mix of us being writers AND having some kind of anonimity because of the media we are communicating through.

It's easier to be self confident with a screen and a username between you and your friends/fans/idols.

 

[NoJo]

Aren't they, though?

Do you think it's a trait of writers, or just people who hang out at sex sites?

I think, collectively, we have big enough egos to overthrow the governments of the western world. What say you?

Of course, merely speaking for myself (or about myself?) I am, in fact, very modest.

Lou

Interesting...

I've been thinking a lot about this, recently, Tate. My conclusion in your case is that it's becuase you're a slag.

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Egos 'R' Us

Interesting...

I've been thinking a lot about this, recently, Tate. My conclusion in your case is that it's becuase you're a slag.

Why, I should slap you for that!

You tart.

 

[NoJo]

Re: Re: Re: Egos 'R' Us

Why, I should slap you for that!

You tart.

You'll only hurt your hand. I'm pretty buff these days. Better use a paddle or something.

 

[Guest]

Nah, I'll just punch you in the side of the head.