hellyjellybean
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They say that one of the main causes of social alienation is a "superiority complex". This is an uncomfortable idea.
I hate to think that I'm supposedly lonely because I'm arrogant and self-centred, as I'm sure you do too.
I know I used to come across sometimes as a bit stuck up. The thing is, I didn't even realise that that was the impression I was projecting. Then I found out later and it was a surprise.
It is possible that you or I could be a stuck up arse and not realise it at all. People don't. They always think they are quite nice really and are more likely to believe others are at fault. Oh God, was that a stuckup thing to say?! Am I now being vain because maybe deep down I don't really believe that was a stuck up thing to say, maybe I just wanted you to tell me I'm not a horrible person and that means I really AM self-centred and arrogant and I deserve to be a larry no-mates? Oh god I hope I'm not arrogant!
That is the kind of silly train of thought you get if you run with this idea.
I am inclined to believe the psychiatrists are onto something, though. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
However, I wonder whether behaving a bit superior is a way of dealing with isolation and rejection rather than the cause of the condition itself. Or maybe it is a vicious circle, or perhaps a vicious snowball.
I also think not having social reference points to gauge your behaviour by can cause your attitudes to become even more eccentric and superiority complexes may be exacerbated by that. As a child when I was very isolated my twin sister and I developed a mini-culture that evolved away from mainstream culture *see Lord of the Flies, see the Cement Garden (but without the incest)*.
I have met other isolated people in real life of course. The ones I am thinking of were kind of stuck up but maybe I am just thinking of them cos I am naturally inclined to think of stuck up lonely people now that I've got the idea on my brain so it isn't really fair. Ah wait, I remember one who wasn't stuck up at all, but the reason for her alienation was that she had learning difficulties.
I suspect that in my age group and culture (British) friendships are founded on one's ability to behave while drunk in the silliest way possible/make very dirty jokes in rapid sucession/ be confident. I can't help finding this exasperating and boring to be honest. Is that egotistical, or is the world (Britain at least) full of boring and exasperating young people? But isn't it kind of egotistical to start blaming an indifferent world in which no one has responsibility for insignificant little you except you yourself and to an extent your family? MAYBE humans are ALL egomaniacs at heart, whether they are loners or not. Social prowess is important to our egos, alas. Maybe loners try and compensate for this by making themselves believe they are superior.
Whatever, it's an awkward, awkward topic. I'm not saying you are all arrogant *******s, please, not at all. This is just an idea I have heard and I want to discuss it.
I guess I don't know what to make of it though. I'm lonely and no one cares and everyone's just living their lives and getting drunk and going out. Hugs all.
I hate to think that I'm supposedly lonely because I'm arrogant and self-centred, as I'm sure you do too.
I know I used to come across sometimes as a bit stuck up. The thing is, I didn't even realise that that was the impression I was projecting. Then I found out later and it was a surprise.
It is possible that you or I could be a stuck up arse and not realise it at all. People don't. They always think they are quite nice really and are more likely to believe others are at fault. Oh God, was that a stuckup thing to say?! Am I now being vain because maybe deep down I don't really believe that was a stuck up thing to say, maybe I just wanted you to tell me I'm not a horrible person and that means I really AM self-centred and arrogant and I deserve to be a larry no-mates? Oh god I hope I'm not arrogant!
That is the kind of silly train of thought you get if you run with this idea.
I am inclined to believe the psychiatrists are onto something, though. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
However, I wonder whether behaving a bit superior is a way of dealing with isolation and rejection rather than the cause of the condition itself. Or maybe it is a vicious circle, or perhaps a vicious snowball.
I also think not having social reference points to gauge your behaviour by can cause your attitudes to become even more eccentric and superiority complexes may be exacerbated by that. As a child when I was very isolated my twin sister and I developed a mini-culture that evolved away from mainstream culture *see Lord of the Flies, see the Cement Garden (but without the incest)*.
I have met other isolated people in real life of course. The ones I am thinking of were kind of stuck up but maybe I am just thinking of them cos I am naturally inclined to think of stuck up lonely people now that I've got the idea on my brain so it isn't really fair. Ah wait, I remember one who wasn't stuck up at all, but the reason for her alienation was that she had learning difficulties.
I suspect that in my age group and culture (British) friendships are founded on one's ability to behave while drunk in the silliest way possible/make very dirty jokes in rapid sucession/ be confident. I can't help finding this exasperating and boring to be honest. Is that egotistical, or is the world (Britain at least) full of boring and exasperating young people? But isn't it kind of egotistical to start blaming an indifferent world in which no one has responsibility for insignificant little you except you yourself and to an extent your family? MAYBE humans are ALL egomaniacs at heart, whether they are loners or not. Social prowess is important to our egos, alas. Maybe loners try and compensate for this by making themselves believe they are superior.
Whatever, it's an awkward, awkward topic. I'm not saying you are all arrogant *******s, please, not at all. This is just an idea I have heard and I want to discuss it.
I guess I don't know what to make of it though. I'm lonely and no one cares and everyone's just living their lives and getting drunk and going out. Hugs all.