I guess I haven't thought of it that way.  I've always loved this Calvin and Hobbes strip because it's what I like to think about dreaming.  Sometimes, Adam and I will both be exhausted in an afternoon and somehow convince each other that we should nap "together" (from across the state); or, if I particularly miss him, I'll tell him I'll meet him in my dreams.  Yeah, the most likely thing is that it's all just projections of our minds, but it is kind of comforting to think that, at least, the other person's also trying to dream of you.

Actually, the other thing I think about when we're actually there together is a quotation from Dr. Seuss: "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because your reality is finally better than your dreams."  When we're sharing a bed, I don't want to be apart from him for even a second, and I resent my dreams.

When we're far away, I'll take whatever I can get that brings me closer to him.

Word.

I definitely think dreams are just unconscious jabberwocky. I sometimes feel so sad in dreams because I realize it's really only me. And I've been really cheated out of sex dreams. If there are two people in the room, I'll always end up with the one I don't want. And the one I want is always indifferent. I think this is a reflection on my confidence. :/

we're all vain and inescapably self-obsessed. that's why we have blogs.
imagine thinking that anyone will find all your thoughts so interesting that you should allow them to comment on them!

@fenek - 

@fenek - 

Ahah, I see your point!

That would make all journals narcissistic then, no? Finding solace in conversing with oneself?

It seems, though, that blogs and journals, although the are a means to sort out personal thought, are much more than that now. Here's a question: Because we claim it to be true, that all journals and blogs are narcissistic, does that make them so? Or does a journal or blog exist somewhere merely for sorting and sifting through thoughts by putting them in to words?

@godofthelost - 

@godofthelost - 

But to think that any individual who exists now possesses even one thought that has not been conceived at least once before is to say that that individual's thoughts are important. And to make oneself important is narcissism. So, by the mere act of going back and sifting through thoughts, you are giving importance to your own thoughts and thereby yourself.

@fenek - 

Then narcissism is a very important factor in maintaining individuality. To what degree do you think individuality is a good thing? Do you even view it necessary?

Interesting, living would be narcissistic. Sure, there will always be people to experience things never experienced before, but when the individual places importance on their reaction(which has surely occurred before, reactions are thoughts after all) it would be narcissistic. Memories, then, would be narcissistic, as every thought has already been conceived.

Narcissism is not only essential to individuality, it's essential for awareness. Every being capable of thought is narcissistic.

@godofthelost - 

individuality is 'necessary' for those who believe it is. I believe not all people are carbon copies of each other, but up to some degree, each person is some version of someone who exists somewhere on the world or has existed or is yet to exist. This also brings into question, 'what qualifies as existence?' but that's a different chicken-egg scenario all together.

Living is a selfish act, for by living we are just progressing the self onward. Using resources and creating waste. However death too is a selfish act. Because a human can also be used for something while alive and cannot serve a purpose to others once dead except as an idea. So whether you are dead or alive, you're narcissistic. And that's why all humans, whether they like it or not, are selfish. They are all about their self-isms.

Memories are especially narcissistic because they are literally reflections which allow us to feel again and see again things we have already felt and seen. They are ways for us to stimulate ourselves, and therefore, to have a memory, is a selfish thing.


And you got the nail on the head! Everything that exists is selfish, and thereby narcissistic. Even Echo who pined away while watching Narcissicus stare into his own reflection, was there to appease something in herself. She wanted to destroy herself. She got her wish.

@fenek - 

Oh how I've missed a good discussion!

@godofthelost - 

Me too! My brain almost died today. Thank you for saving it!

@fenek - 

Aye, mine too! Thank you, as well!

I had a dream last night that I had to choose between returning to the real world in which you had ceased to live or staying in a in a dreamlike coma in which I could recreate our happiness in perpetuity. I don't remember which once I chose.

I think that dreams can also be narcissistic in a positive way. Your subconscious can appeal to the egoistic conscious in an attempt to reveal facts of your life that would otherwise be ignored for the sake of your attitude. That's the interesting thing about dreams--we like to think that we're in control of our subconscious when in fact, it's only in an unreal state that we really allow ourselves to take the wheel (we just don't realize it).

I agree with you. Real life is infinitely better than dreams... but sometimes, you just have those really great dreams that you don't want to wake up from, you know? Like... a few nights ago I had a dream about being with my boyfriend. We're in a long-distance relationship right now, and I miss him so much all the time... That dream was just so great for me and I was so happy. And then I woke up >.<