Ummmm, what? Is there any debate on this? Human beings are narcissists. It's just much easier to be a narcissist in front of a bigger audience now. Hell, if they'd had Twitter, You tube etc when I was in high school, you bet your life I'd have been all over it. So would 90% of the people I went to school with. This generation is no more or less narcissistic than mine, it's just much easier to reach a wider audience.
I mean, this question is being asked by Jenny Brocky, who hosts a television program devoted to this single question. How narcissistic is that? Of course, they'll have school kids and others on proclaiming that they're not self-obsessed knobs, while being self-obsessed knobs. I mean, for God's sake, does anyone realise what narcissism means now? It's practically a non-existant term. EVERYONE IS IN LOVE WITH THEMSELVES, IT'S HOW WE SURVIVE.
And personally, I think it's great. I love the fact that it's easier to reach a wide audience. I love the fact that the Internet is full to the brim of some of the most inane shit you could ever come up with, because it means that, when you truly find something great, you still feel like you're part of an underground movement. You can still feel like you're part of something special, even if that thing suddenly takes off. It's kind of nice to have to sift through so much shit to get to the diamonds. But it's also great that people like me have an opportunity to put our thoughts out there and see what happens. I've always been an advocate of one in-all in. Why should it be only the privileged few who get heard? Why NOT everyone?
Of course, not everyone does get to be heard. For all the millions of people doing blogs, music, films, art etc; there are millions more who still don't have access to computers, phones etc. Hell, there are millions more who don't have access to electricity, water, food and shelter; let alone privileged things like computers. It's very much a rich country's concept, this 'are we breeding a generation of narcissists?'
Dare I say, it's very much a narcissistic country's question?
4 comments:
That's very perceptive of you. Human nature hasn't changed but the advent of the internet, cable telly and other external factors may lead you to believe that. Have you thought of running for office?
UB: to quote (sort of) the Simpsons; there are all sorts of things in place to make sure people like me DON'T get into office.
And of all the ones who do have access to a computer and use Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc., 75% of those are either illiterate, morons or up their own asses. :)
Narcissism. Look at people like Paris Hilton or the Kardashians. There's your proof right there. They don't DO anything but be famous and if that's not a prime example, I don't know what is.
Veg: The one and only thing you can say about Paris Hilton is that, at least she's related to famous people. For the life of me, I STILL don't understand how we all know Kim Kardashian's name.
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