On Fond and Deserved Accusations of Pretension

[rinue]

There comes a point at which humility is the supreme egotism. If I don't think that I am in some way extraordinary - that what I have to say is interesting and well expressed - then what the hell am I doing? How selfish it would be to say to a large audience: "I am no better than you at this, and have nothing to say that you don't already know and feel, but I think you should give me your complete attention for hours at a time to fulfill my desire for attention."

Comments

I said the same thing.

[bluezybunny.livejournal.com]

You know, I said something similar to someone else. I was making a superhero character whose superpower is that he's a fast thinker. She told me that he came off as arrogant because he recognized that he thinks quickly. I had to tell her that it wasn't my intention to make him seem arrogant, it was inevitable. I had to point out that the Flash always declares himself to be the "fastest man alive" and no one questions him about it. You can measure speed. If the Hulk said he was the strongest man in the world, no one would question him about that. You can measure strength. But when it comes to something as intangible as intellect, people become defensive because it then implies that other people aren't intellectual. It's a threat to alphaness.

Sorry, this was kinda rushed. I think you'll get the jist, though.

-Bluezy Bunny