You're So Vain. I Bet You Think This Post is About You.

The internet seems to be feeding our appetites for the things we love the most, ourselves! I joked on my own MySpace page that my first "Interest" was myself (though that has been supplanted by my niece and nephew), and I originally had a headline of "Hey Everyone, Look at Me!" but I was apparently only half-kidding. Dale Carnegie, whom I mention regularly, writes in "How to Win Friends and Influence People" that one's name is "the sweetest and most important sound in any language".

The self-esteem movement that began in the 1980s in this country has seemingly turned into a monster. Read the article on MSNBC.

"Narcissism can have benefits, said study co-author W. Keith Campbell of the University of Georgia, suggesting it could be useful in meeting new people 'or auditioning on American Idol'.

"'Unfortunately, narcissism can also have very negative consequences for society, including the breakdown of close relationships with others,' he said.

"The study asserts that narcissists 'are more likely to have romantic relationships that are short-lived, at risk for infidelity, lack emotional warmth, and to exhibit game-playing, dishonesty, and over-controlling and violent behaviors.'"

What's the point, you might ask? Part of being a valuable member of society is the ability to get along with others. How can you live a fulfilling life if all you care about is yourself? If you become self-absorbed, you will lose your ability to empathise with others, and to solve problems and compromise. These societal failings no doubt lead to phenomena such as road rage and a rising divorce rate. A positive effect of the narcissistic trend, though, would hopefully be increased exercise and healthier eating. I am all for that.