I was reading Youngstar last night and something caught my attention... this woman started her article with the statement that she rarely or at least try to not write using the pronoun "I" because she didn't want to be associated with those "narcissistic bloggers" who only talk about themselves. I felt sort of offended by such statement because I wrote a reaction regarding the same topic a few years ago and I am firm in my stand that narcissism is not a bad thing and people have the freedom to talk about themselves and to love themselves if they want to without being judged as someone who doesn't care about other people.An excessive preoccupation with one’s own personal importance, or with achieving one’s own chosen goals rather than bonding with others, or with associating only with others whom one chooses. The ability to be stimulated by one's own body. Most people have this ability as a normal property. self-love: an exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwnNarcissism is the pattern of characteristics and behaviors which involve infatuation and obsession with one's self to the exclusion of others and the egotistic and ruthless pursuit of one's gratification, dominance and ambition. In everyday use outside the field of psychology, the word generally refers to people who just are inordinately fond of themselves, without the pathological connotations.
Narcissism as defined above need not be a negative characteristic if it's with moderation. I know that strictly speaking, Narcissism is sort of an "extreme characteristic" but if it's in the context of a normal person, i see narcissism as "embracing one's being and accepting yourself as someone who is at par with everybody else". I know it's kind of a cliche but it's not everyday that you see someone who is ready to flaunt herself together with her bad side. I'm not saying that we should glorify even these bad traits but we must admit that we are a totality of all the good things and the bad things that comprise our personality.
Now, moving on to the more pertinent issue of whether or not one must be judged for being a "NARCISSISTIC BLOGGER". There is a genre called Creative Non-fiction, [a creative writing subject which i took under Ms. Fernandez when I was still in UPdiliman] and this genre for me is a good guise for writers who have a lot of things to share and are just sort of afraid that they'll be wrongly construed as "narcissistic". One of the most important characteristics of a good writer is his/ her ability to write about things that are close to him or her. That "personal touch", that "sentimental value" that you get when you talk about your personal experiences draws the readers closer to you not only as a writer but as an "invisible friend." That for me is the most wonderful thing about being able to blog... It's a shotgun approach of connecting with people whom are very different from you at some aspects but who can relate to you in at least one aspect. One's experience no matter how personal sometimes are triggered by the most general things. They're all triggered by emotions that are felt by everyone whose heart beats, who breathes and who just plainly watches the world pass him by.
The personal touch that a "narcissistic blogger" may sometimes be the same "reason" why people get interested. The honesty that comes with talking about yourself, what you feel what you think and what you experience is the same honesty that people hold on to.
Narcissism is not a negative adjective if you'll ask me. After all, my world revolves around me as the sun and how my warmth [or heat, hehe] affect the other astrological bodies [other people] whom I interact with.
I'm a Narcissist. So?
Let me end with this interesting quote from Ally Mc Beal:
Georgia Thomas: Ally, what makes your problems so much bigger than everybody else's?
Ally McBeal: They're mine.
