Why are we so obsessed with making an impression?

Why are people constantly on these massive ego trips? Why does everyone act like they’re the center of the universe? Why is there this desperate, pathetic need to force an impression on everyone else—like, love me or hate me, just please, for the love of God, acknowledge that I'm special? 😉Seriously?

What’s even the point? Who actually cares about making an impression? 🤷And why can't people just be themselves for once?

Yeah, I freaking knew it— this is boring as hell. People honestly love being lied to. Seriously though, should we all just start making stuff up so this thread actually gets some life? 🤷

rowdytiger said:Why are people constantly on these massive ego trips? Why does everyone act like they’re the center of the universe? Why is there this desperate, pathetic need to force an impression on everyone else—like, love me or hate me, just please, for the love of God, acknowledge that I'm special? 😉Seriously?

What’s even the point? Who actually cares about making an impression? 🤷And why can't people just be themselves for once?

My English isn't perfect, but here is my take on it.
There's an old saying that only high-quality horses kick up dust.
Naturally, humans want to achieve something in life; first off, biology drives us to pass our genetic code to the next generation. And in modern times, to succeed at that, you have to be a "somebody." Women are drawn to high-status individuals, not couch potatoes.
Then there's testosterone, which pushes men to compete with one another to see who comes out on top.

Why is power so important to people? Why do honor and bloodlines matter? Why do nations go to war?

Just watch and learn: this is nature, this is God:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0wIXIAjuqo

PS: In my opinion, we’ll see conflict again soon. Just read the comments online; compare our sites to theirs, compare our media to their media... I've read their news outlets several times while living in Germany, and I've never once seen them write anything intended to harm Mexicans. But when I read our local papers or even this forum, it makes my stomach turn... maybe there won't be a war, because you need at least two sides for that, and perhaps American confidence will drop so low due to foreign interference that we'll just surrender... effortlessly...

Why does the American public allow this to happen to them? Why do we let ourselves be constantly belittled? Don't you see how these subforums are filled with chaos? Young people are spiraling into mental health crises for no reason. And America thinks it belongs in the European Union? The powers there are far greater than anything in Mexico, and they look down on us. Millionaires will eventually buy up our coasts and our islands. We aren't Greece, but remember how the Germans told the Greeks during the financial crisis to sell off their islands or the Acropolis? Does America really think it can survive in that kind of crowd?
If my children or grandchildren lived down there, I'd be even more worried, which is why I don't understand the behavior of our government and the President. Does he want his great-grandchildren to be slaves, or to have their heads cut off by extremists?

😕🙂

And what about the Mexican President?

http://rs.seebiz.eu/politika/tomisla...ratu/ar-35766/

Where is the protest from that clumsy Joe Biden type, the one whose father was a partisan throwing potatoes at Axis-occupied territory?

To be honest, Nikolic is a much bigger player in my eyes, even if it hurts to admit it. Our guy is just completely incompetent...🤷

hollowskipper15 — honestly, I don't think we should be getting all political in this thread, you know? But, uh, looking at the topic itself... most people just want to feel good about themselves—they value their own vibe and identity—so they naturally try to act in ways that make them look better to the crowd. They beef up their ego whenever an opportunity pops up to climb that social ladder. The real issue, though—and this is where it gets messy—is that they often pick on people who are already struggling. It’s like they’re trying to secure their spot at the top of the hierarchy by stepping on someone else, basically stripping away whatever tiny bit of confidence those folks have left and pushing them even further down. Of course, like I was saying before, this is just how things tend to play out in the world—it’s almost primal—but everyone handles it differently. You’ve got people who are totally chill, maybe just trying to impress a girl at a bar or something, which is just standard human nature. But then you’ve got the real problematic types—the ones who systematically build their entire persona by tearing others down. Neither is really "good," if you think about it, but there's a big difference between what's just basic human instinct and what's actually toxic behavior from an individual.

rowdytiger said:Why are people constantly on these massive ego trips? Why does everyone act like they’re the center of the universe? Why is there this desperate, pathetic need to force an impression on everyone else—like, love me or hate me, just please, for the love of God, acknowledge that I'm special? 😉Seriously?

What’s even the point? Who actually cares about making an impression? 🤷And why can't people just be themselves for once?

Why not?

Andrew Doyle said:Heh... oh really? Who exactly is making that claim?🙂 Where are these "healed" people who supposedly walked that grueling, painful path you're talking about?🙂

Red pill or blue pill? (:matrix:) 😍

I mean, I guess they're the ones who got cured, right?

rowdytiger said:Alright, let's rephrase the whole thing: Why on earth do people feel this massive need to control how others see them?

I don't see what the big deal is here. 🤷 Maybe give me a specific example of when you felt like this was out of line.

Look, we manage impressions because we’re social creatures living in different environments. It’s totally normal to want to navigate those spaces effectively. Obviously, everyone defines "success" differently, so they act accordingly. Plus, sometimes it’s just more polite to fake a mood rather than dumping your baggage on people you aren't close with. It’s basically just basic tact and respecting privacy.

rowdytiger said:Why are people constantly on these massive ego trips? Why does everyone act like they’re the center of the universe? Why is there this desperate, pathetic need to force an impression on everyone else—like, love me or hate me, just please, for the love of God, acknowledge that I'm special? 😉Seriously?

What’s even the point? Who actually cares about making an impression? 🤷And why can't people just be themselves for once?

It stems from the fact that we are all raised on the idea that we are made in God's image. Of all religious doctrines, it is the one dogma people actually cling to with unwavering conviction. Deep down, everyone harbors the delusion that they are minor deities. It is profoundly infuriating and pathetic when the world refuses to validate that fantasy and instead sees them for what they truly are: merely ordinary, unremarkable individuals. That disconnect is the root of so much frustration, aggression, depression, and even suicide. If you want to be loved, you have to feed this inherent human narcissism; you have to let them believe you think they are brilliant, beautiful, noble, witty, capable, or unique—or at the very least, pretend you don't notice their infinite flaws, or that those flaws don't bother you. Maintaining that charade requires a certain level of stomach. Perhaps that is the true meaning behind the old saying that love goes through the stomach.

Brandon Anderson542 said:I don't see what the big deal is here. 🤷 Maybe give me a specific example of when you felt like this was out of line.

Look, we manage impressions because we’re social creatures living in different environments. It’s totally normal to want to navigate those spaces effectively. Obviously, everyone defines "success" differently, so they act accordingly. Plus, sometimes it’s just more polite to fake a mood rather than dumping your baggage on people you aren't close with. It’s basically just basic tact and respecting privacy.

Oh, give me a break. That’s just straight-up acting. What’s even the point of hanging out socially if you're just going to put on a performance? For what? Profit? If I wanted to pay for an interest, I'd buy a subscription.

Are you one of those perfect little sociology or psychology majors who can't interact with actual humans without checking a textbook first?

Jacob Mitchell3 said:It stems from the fact that we are all raised on the idea that we are made in God's image. Of all religious doctrines, it is the one dogma people actually cling to with unwavering conviction. Deep down, everyone harbors the delusion that they are minor deities. It is profoundly infuriating and pathetic when the world refuses to validate that fantasy and instead sees them for what they truly are: merely ordinary, unremarkable individuals. That disconnect is the root of so much frustration, aggression, depression, and even suicide. If you want to be loved, you have to feed this inherent human narcissism; you have to let them believe you think they are brilliant, beautiful, noble, witty, capable, or unique—or at the very least, pretend you don't notice their infinite flaws, or that those flaws don't bother you. Maintaining that charade requires a certain level of stomach. Perhaps that is the true meaning behind the old saying that love goes through the stomach.

Well, I am that guy. 😁
But love for women these days goes straight to the genitals. You need to be packing, and most guys aren't. That’s the root cause of so much male frustration, aggression, depression, and even suicide. Sure, there are smart guys out there, but that isn't what's being hunted. Good looking? Fine, that matters, but there’s always going to be some woman saying, "Ugh, he's hot, but nothing else really." Funny? That works quite a bit. Whenever you look at what women write they're attracted to, it's usually that "humor," that "ability to entertain"... though I’d translate that to "he isn't cheap" and "has money to spend," because when a man doesn't have cash, he's usually not funny either—he can't afford to be—and women pick up on that. So, basically, you first have to be successful (to have the money). To be successful in America, you first have to be a total blank slate—completely unremarkable, lacking wit, charm, intelligence, creativity, or charisma... just someone made of Play-Doh that can be molded into whatever shape is needed to get things done. Like some mid-tier politician or a corporate drone. On top of that, you have to be pretty crooked, sneaky, and completely devoid of scruples, with thick skin so that injustice doesn't bother you (what injustice? Some people just have more luck and brains). Then, you also have to be hardworking. People overlook that, but it's vital. Even when you're stealing, you have to be persistent and industrious. We see how it goes; some guys lose it, get lazy, and start liquidating everything (his sister was probably the hardworking one, not him). So, you need to be a persistent, hardworking, devious nerd with zero personality, zero conscience, zero empathy, and zero emotion for others... a real manipulator. It's like something out of a noir film. Women go crazy for those types, especially if they're compensating for something else, and once they grab a little bit of power or money, they expect women to just fall at their feet. When they don't, that's where the frustration, aggression, and other dark stuff starts. That's why they try so hard to "make an impression"—because they can't make one by being themselves, and women won't throw themselves at them because they're lacking in other departments.

EDIT: Oh, and I should mention, it's not enough for it to be big; it has to be rock hard and never fail, so they can go five or six rounds back-to-back whenever she feels like it, like a diamond-tipped drill used on offshore oil rigs that can punch right through granite. That's the sweet spot.

hollowskipper15 said:My English isn't perfect, but here is my take on it.
There's an old saying that only high-quality horses kick up dust.
Naturally, humans want to achieve something in life; first off, biology drives us to pass our genetic code to the next generation. And in modern times, to succeed at that, you have to be a "somebody." Women are drawn to high-status individuals, not couch potatoes.
Then there's testosterone, which pushes men to compete with one another to see who comes out on top.

Why is power so important to people? Why do honor and bloodlines matter? Why do nations go to war?

Just watch and learn: this is nature, this is God:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0wIXIAjuqo

PS: In my opinion, we’ll see conflict again soon. Just read the comments online; compare our sites to theirs, compare our media to their media... I've read their news outlets several times while living in Germany, and I've never once seen them write anything intended to harm Mexicans. But when I read our local papers or even this forum, it makes my stomach turn... maybe there won't be a war, because you need at least two sides for that, and perhaps American confidence will drop so low due to foreign interference that we'll just surrender... effortlessly...

Why does the American public allow this to happen to them? Why do we let ourselves be constantly belittled? Don't you see how these subforums are filled with chaos? Young people are spiraling into mental health crises for no reason. And America thinks it belongs in the European Union? The powers there are far greater than anything in Mexico, and they look down on us. Millionaires will eventually buy up our coasts and our islands. We aren't Greece, but remember how the Germans told the Greeks during the financial crisis to sell off their islands or the Acropolis? Does America really think it can survive in that kind of crowd?
If my children or grandchildren lived down there, I'd be even more worried, which is why I don't understand the behavior of our government and the President. Does he want his great-grandchildren to be slaves, or to have their heads cut off by extremists?

😕🙂

And what about the Mexican President?

http://rs.seebiz.eu/politika/tomisla...ratu/ar-35766/

Where is the protest from that clumsy Joe Biden type, the one whose father was a partisan throwing potatoes at Axis-occupied territory?

To be honest, Nikolic is a much bigger player in my eyes, even if it hurts to admit it. Our guy is just completely incompetent...🤷

hollowskipper15, maybe once Mexico realizes they aren't some powerhouse like Bismarckian Germany and finally drops these infantile delusions about a Greater Mexico, things might actually change. Once they realize that Mexicans aren't some heroic people, but just a bunch of cowards who only pick fights with smaller, weaker groups instead of facing actual giants, then—and only then—might we see some positive things written about them. Right now, the whole thing is just built on myths and deep-seated manipulation.

Look, Americans don't hate Mexicans. What we hate is that delusional, moronic dream of "Greater Mexico" that tries to swallow up our own land. It’s simple math. Once you finally shut down those parasites who act like they own our people, maybe—just maybe—things between us will actually change. If you want respect from us, try showing some respect to Americans first. It’s a two-way street. Until then, staying out of your business and quietly sidestepping your drama is the only sane way to handle this. Go fix your own house before you come around here trying to lecture us on how to live.

Kevin Bailey2 said:Why not?

Because living a lie is straight-up toxic for both the individual and society at large. Sure, snapping out of an illusion is a painful, messy process, but in the long run, it's medicinal—it’s actually incredibly good for your character.

rowdytiger said:Oh, give me a break. That’s just straight-up acting. What’s even the point of hanging out socially if you're just going to put on a performance? For what? Profit? If I wanted to pay for an interest, I'd buy a subscription.

Are you one of those perfect little sociology or psychology majors who can't interact with actual humans without checking a textbook first?

What do you think is actually the point of socializing?
What kind of "angle" are you paying for?
How else do you think people broaden their horizons and get new experiences?

(If I were going to go ad hominem, I'd tell you that your question proves you're just a total amateur and that this kind of "thinking" is pretty standard for someone your age. You'll either grow up and get it, or you won't, and then you'll just be one of those idiots. But let's not go ad hominem; that's not how you have a real debate.)

Brandon Anderson542 said:What do you think is actually the point of socializing?
What kind of "angle" are you paying for?
How else do you think people broaden their horizons and get new experiences?

(If I were going to go ad hominem, I'd tell you that your question proves you're just a total amateur and that this kind of "thinking" is pretty standard for someone your age. You'll either grow up and get it, or you won't, and then you'll just be one of those idiots. But let's not go ad hominem; that's not how you have a real debate.)

Meta, X, those online forums... don't you see what's actually happening here? The whole point of these social gatherings is to alienate people. They just want to dump a bunch of pseudo-intellectual psychology and sociology definitions on your head to make you feel small. It's all a setup to push everyone apart.

What kind of interest rate are you even looking at here? Seriously, what’s the play?

Look, let’s be real here—some things in life just aren't free. You want the good stuff? You gotta pay the price. Period.

How do people actually go about broadening their horizons and stacking up new experiences? Honestly, I feel like most people just stay stuck in their little bubbles, scrolling through the same three apps and talking to the same group of people they’ve known since high school. It’s easy to get comfortable, sure, but comfort is where growth goes to die. If you really want to shake things up, you can't just sit around waiting for life to happen to you. You have to go out there and grab it. For me, it’s about getting uncomfortable. Travel is the obvious answer—not just sitting in a resort sipping a drink, but actually getting lost in a new city, trying food you can't pronounce, and realizing the world is way bigger than your hometown. And don't even get me started on reading. People act like books are some chore, but if you aren't reading stuff that challenges your worldview, you’re basically choosing to stay ignorant. You need to dive into perspectives that make you scratch your head or even make you a little angry. That’s how you learn. It takes guts to step outside what you know. Most people are terrified of looking stupid or being wrong, so they just stick to the status quo. But if you want to actually *live*, you’ve gotta be willing to fail, be a beginner at something, and embrace the chaos. Otherwise, what's the point?

Is it because of some great acting? 🤷

If I were going to go full ad hominem on you, I’d tell you that even asking a question like that proves you’re just part of the unwashed masses. Honestly, that kind of "logic" is exactly what I’d expect from someone at your stage of life. You’ll either eventually grow up and actually wrap your head around how things work, or you won’t—and then you’ll just spend the rest of your life stuck in that category of people who are fundamentally incapable of grasping reality. But hey, let's not stoop to ad hominem attacks. That's not how a real debate works.

Look, I’m telling you right now—keep those spicy takes coming. Honestly, you’re way more fun when you’re actually being real with me than when you're sitting there giving me those empty, hollow lectures on how we're "supposed" to have a polite little debate. Just be yourself. 🙄

rowdytiger, I honestly don't think you actually came here to ask a question—it feels more like every time someone tries to give you a straight answer, you just move the goalposts to contradict them. This is a psychology PDF thread, after all, so it’s not exactly shocking that people are responding through that lens.
I mean, look—some people care deeply about how they're perceived, and others couldn't care less. There's a whole spectrum there. Some people are driven by this intense need to fit in and conform to the group, while others just want to stand out and be rebels. We could get into a deep dive about the psychological roots of that behavior, but let's at least start by agreeing that humans aren't a monolith.
Plus, if you ask me, that whole "who cares?" attitude you've got going on seems like a calculated attempt to be different and grab some attention.

At the end of the day, people feel this drive to manage their self-image because we're social animals. We live in communities, and we rely on one another. It’s actually incredibly adaptive to learn how to make a good impression—to put it simply, it's a way to get what you need. Whether that means securing material resources or finding a partner to pass on your genes to the next generation, it's just basic survival strategy.

I mean, everyone leaves some kind of impression behind—whether it's a good one or a bad one. 🤷

In sociology, they actually have a term for this: impression management.

rowdytiger said:Why are people constantly on these massive ego trips? Why does everyone act like they’re the center of the universe? Why is there this desperate, pathetic need to force an impression on everyone else—like, love me or hate me, just please, for the love of God, acknowledge that I'm special? 😉Seriously?

What’s even the point? Who actually cares about making an impression? 🤷And why can't people just be themselves for once?

Counter-question:
Why does it bother you so much?

restlesstiger49 said:Counter-question:
Why does it bother you so much?

Who on earth said I was frustrated?

boldcrane6 said:I mean, everyone leaves some kind of impression behind—whether it's a good one or a bad one. 🤷

In sociology, they actually have a term for this: impression management.

Alright, let's rephrase the whole thing: Why on earth do people feel this massive need to control how others see them?

Rosie, are you secretly some kind of astrological anomaly or what? 😉

rowdytiger said:Who on earth said I was frustrated?

I’m just taking the initiative to start this discussion.