Desires for Attention

AHR

We all have it. 

Some, like unnameables, whore the hell out, trying to get anyone to look at them, usually by trying to get people to be enthralled by their resident gimmick, or getting people to guess things about them or make things about them.

Others...are the majority of the population, and hide it better.

I know I myself, for example, greatly desire attention from others, to the point I get a permabuzz in my head when I think about the possibility of someone commenting on one of my stories or my art or something to that extent.

So, I was curious, IJBM2, how deep does your desire for attention go? Are you satisfied with the attention you are currently getting? How much do these desires bug the hell out of you?

Counterclock

You get high from Attention?

:3c

~gives AHR attention~

AHR

I get a high from the possibility of attention.

Actually attention makes me blush and gush and smile.

InsanityAddict

Meh, on the internet, I like to talk about myself only to get others to talk about themselves and see different local perspectives towards topics. Outside of comparing little differences between countries, I like topics to be about the subject at hand instead of being derailed towards the posters.

In meatspace, I try too hard to crack jokes and give crass observations in order to come off as a certain type of person. A memetic impression, if you will. It's easier to get away with such humour if people are expecting it from you anyway. Don't know if that counts as attention hogging.

Noimporta

I like positive attention towards my actions, but I'm not too fond of it when it comes to my person. That's about it, it's a normal thing, so I'm not particularly concerned, and I don't think I've ever gotten a level of attention I'd call uncomfortable.

Crimson

I like attention, I like it a lot. But I'm smart enough to know that most people don't care about me, so I try not to bother them with such selfish desires.

Forzare

Sometimes I feel like I'm more concerned with attention/what people think of me on the internet than I am in real life.

MillerCross

I like attention when it comes to what I do, rather than to who I am. But most preferably, I prefer to be relatively unknown. Someone who's known by the people who I care for and by the actions I've done in their benefit as well as my own achievements, rather than everyone and everything knowing who I am.

vandro

I harbor a desire for glory and prestige, but I don't really want it. About desiring attention...Nah, I only want the people with whom I talk to bother and pay me attention.

LouieW

I think positive attention is only really a useful thing for me when it is an indication that I am not messing up at something. For example, if someone who was supervising me said I was doing a "good job" I would find that helpful if I was actually doing an adequate job since it would tell me that I did not need to drastically change what I was doing.

I kind of agree with the last thing that Juan_Carlos said though. Sometimes I wish I were invisible and there are some things that I would avoid doing if I knew someone were watching in order to not seem too self-righteous or too much of a "goody two-shoes" or whatever. I realize that might not make that much sense.

I also believe that one should make it a habit to not talk about oneself, but that might just be a personal preference.

Vorpy

I just like attention.

AHR

Louie: I agree on the last part, of course, naturally, I talk about myself all the time, since I'm a hypocrite, but I do agree.

MillerCross

I disagree with that one on principle. Mostly because it's better to talk about what you know. And I'd say that what I know best is me. 

I try to not be intrusive about it, but I feel that not talking about yourself is too...selfless. And losing sight of the self seems a bit ridiculous to me.

AHR

Well, there is a difference between using what you know as a foundation, or telling a story that happened to you, and using yourself as a universal standard.

┻━┻ ︵ ヽ(`Д´）╯︵ ┻━┻

I like attention when it gets people to listen to me so they can respond properly.

I hate attention in the form of people annoying me on purpose.

Attention where I get praise for what i've done is...okay. At least attention itself anyway. I mean if I got cash along with it because someone notices me then that's cool.

LouieW

AHR,
I agree on the last part, of course, naturally, I talk about myself all the time, since I'm a hypocrite, but I do agree.

Well, I definitely would not say it is an easy habit to pick up and I think there are plenty of times when having that habit is heavily discouraged (i.e. applying for schools/jobs or running for office).  In some of those cases, I suppose it is understandable that talking about yourself and self-promoting would be encouraged.

In other cases, I feel like there is too much of a focus on seeking attention and telling people how important you are. Sometimes I feel like it is a cultural thing, but that is mostly just conjecture on my part.

I think Juan_Carlos is right about how one tends to know about oneself so talking about oneself seems reasonable. Still, I guess what I mean is that I prefer having a quiet self to a loud self. I am not sure that really makes any sense though.

Malkavian

I kind of like having a (mostly positive) reputation on boards I go to as well as knowing the people there, which is why I tend to avoid larger forums.
 

Stormtroper

I don't like attention itself unless it's positive attention or non-negative attention from people (or groups) I care about.

Oddly enough, I'd like to be seen as an attention whore by said groups.

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Also, I hate all forms of attention from people I hate.