The Quest for Attention (Rant #3)

[Stranger of Sorts]

...that is life.

Sometimes I feel as though almost everything that happens is done for attention, especially on the internet. Take trolls for example.

On a more controversial note I would argue that many threads on this site are made to gain attention, not to create discussion which they should do. You know the ones where two word comments are enough to suffice so even the lazy comment, thus gaining the thread more replies and the thread's creator more ego.

Off the internet it is all much the same. But I realise that life outside the internet is a strange and scary place for some so I will not go into that just yet.

I was wondering if anyone agrees/disagrees, or even better has something to contribute (discussion see?)

Thanks x

 

[kalakashi]

Of course everything is done for attention. Well, almost everything. You have to take into consideration the many things that aren't done for attention, but you don't see them, because they don't grab your attention.

This is vaguely similar to my idea (pah, MY idea?) that there is no such thing as a selfless act.

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

Of course everything is done for attention. Well, almost everything. You have to take into consideration the many things that aren't done for attention, but you don't see them, because they don't grab your attention.

This is vaguely similar to my idea (pah, MY idea?) that there is no such thing as a selfless act.

You are a wise man, more than likely old and sporting an impressive beard as well.

 

[Daveman]

I can't make a shitty, worthless thread, it makes me feel stupid. I just have to stick to shitty, worthless comments. I can do them but I can't encourage others to do so.

I like attention but I won't do absolutely anything to acquire it.

I'm not sure I made any sense just there (this is my third edit) but ah well.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

I've always found it odd that most trolls are usually last minute sign-ups. Are they that desperate for the attention?

Also another, albeit more subtle, grasp at attention is when a poster sacrfices discussion for the sake of humour. Usually in a form of picture or a jab at a meme.

My most hated ones are "Cool story bro" and "I see what you did there". Though I'm guilty myself of using them in my earlier days on the web -_-

 

[Lullabye]

*Off the internet it is all much the same. But I realise that life outside the internet is a strange and scary place for some so I will not go into that just yet.*

The irony of that statement made struck my funny nerve. I remeber before I had even set a finger on a keyboard, my parents were warning me what a scary and evil place the internet is.
Now it's the world outside that people are afraid of.

OT: ATTN! I AM A TROLL! DO NOT FEED ME OR ELSE I WILL GROW BIGGER!

I think that a large protion of the threads on this website are not necessarily for attention as they are so much for pointless dribble.... I mean, how often Do you see a thread really get into a deep discussion without a troll ruining it? People are afraid to post an actual debatable opinion for fear of being trolled. I would post more but I need to go.

 

[MimsySnark]

I mostly agree with you, OP, but I don't think it's necessarily narcissistic, or a bad thing. I think it's perfectly natural to want other people to pay attention to you, because almost everyone wants to know that we matter to other people, that we have something worth paying attention to about ourselves. Then again, those quests for attention can get very annoying--I'm reminded of my 18-year-old cousin who is a chatterbox and constantly being loud and "funny" to get people's attention; and because I know the way she was brought up I understand she does it because her family always puts her down and doesn't validate her. So, everyone has their baggage, and we just all have to try not to annoy other people with it!

 

[LogicNProportion]

That leads to the thoughts that everybody does something for a reason.

Your analogy with trolls was a good one, but there are two types of trolls:

Trolls who DO do it for attention, and trolls who do it for lulz. This is one of the reasons why Anonymous or /b/ see themselves as godlike beings on the net, because, yes, they're a bunch of assholes, but they as a WHOLE get the attention, when it was usually just one person who had an impulse to do something great/sad/infuriating. Thus, this person knows they won't get the glory they look for. And if they try to say they did it, usually, they're just stoned to death for casting off his veil, or being viewed as a newfag or wannabe.

The Dark Knight had the right idea with Alfred's speech on trying to udnerstand The Joker. Not everyone wants attention; often, people do what they want to do.

For a more personal example:

I have a small case of OCD, and a tick to get myself to concentrate, is that I'll tap my teeth together 13 times occasionally. A teacher called me out during a test, asking me if I thought I was being funny. I told them "No, it's just a quirk I do to help myself from bursting out my chair." in a spaz-like gesture, thus, trying to draw attention AWAY from myself.

I like this topic, and that's my 2c. =]

 

[kalakashi]

Of course everything is done for attention. Well, almost everything. You have to take into consideration the many things that aren't done for attention, but you don't see them, because they don't grab your attention.

This is vaguely similar to my idea (pah, MY idea?) that there is no such thing as a selfless act.

You are a wise man, more than likely old and sporting an impressive beard as well.

I'm 17 and I barely get a 'tache =P. I'd like to think I'm some kind of wise, because I think a lot about my thoughts, but then that's only by comparison to most people my age, not by comparison to Escapists.

(8)I feel it in my fingers, I feel in my toes, elitism is in me, and everywhere I go(8)

 

[teisjm]

I don't completely agree, while it's true that a lot of people goes very far to get attention, not everything that "generates" attention is done for the attention itself.

Take trolls for insatnce, i think a lot of them does it not so others will pay attention to them, even thought thats one of teh results, but more so they can laugh at peoples reaction.

Peronally, i prefer paying attention, and contributing, cause i dislike too much attention. It's like, when people are talking, i can talk along, but i suck at "driving" a conversation.

I hate pathetic attempts at grapping attention, or attention-whoring is you want, solely for the sake of having people look at you. It may be arrogant, but i find it a character flaw, and i have a hard time respecting that kind of people who you could easily imagine would go crazy, if they had to spend a few days if not just hours isolated from other people.

Don't get me wrong, i like company, but sometimes i need to be myself, and alone, maybe for a few horus, maybe for a day or more. And when i'm seeing friends i really prefer to do something, and not just have them listen to me. Most often i don't actually see my RL gamer friends, but we sit in our seperate apaprtments and play games online, co-op is awesome-sauce.

But back to my original point, theres stuff in between "look at me, acknowledge my existence pretty please" and "i'm a cold calculating machine, who only cares about your oppipnion for my own purpose" Having a discussion (IMO) isn't as much about having people acknowledge you as it is an "intelectual" (i hate that word) pass-time activity.
Just cause something generates attention doesn't mean it's done for the sake of the attention, it can be a "side-effect" to the original purpose of a given action.

 

[DuplicateValue]

Very true. In fact, I'm almost certain this thread is just that - an attempt to attract attention towards you, OP.
You want to gain a reputation as "the controversial guy who questions the motives of the other users", or something like that. Do you not?

But yeah, most things are done for attention. Some are just more subtle than others.

 

[Robin-chan]

My idea of the internet is a tiny crowded room filled with people constantly shouting "Look at me! Look at me!" Someone may yell the loudest for a while, but eventually their throat will dry and their voice will fall back with the others.

Then some asshole will hand them a glass of water and they start doing it again.

 

[quiet_samurai]

On a more controversial note I would argue that many threads on this site are made to gain attention, not to create discussion which they should do.

Kind of like this one?

 

[The Anhk24]

of course people do stuff for attention its who we've become...we all want to be recognized in the world and not one of the losers left behind

 

[TheGreatCoolEnergy]

Well, nobody lives forever. Only in memory do people live on. How do you imprint yourself into other's memory? Get their attention. Therefor, the only way to "live forever" on earth is to get people's attention.

 

[T3h Merc]

See: Leave Britney Alone video.

Of course things are done for attention. Self-importance is what drives mainstream internet culture.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Not at all.

And who ever is doing it this for attention is getting it wrong. People never remember a thread unless its particularly good or frequently pops up.

I can't remember in what I posted before breakfast yesterday.

 

[RussetRanger]

Not everything is done for attention however a good amount of acts I bet are done for it. People want a reaction thus they try to be provocative or obnoxious. There are those though that take it to much further distances than others.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

I follow the theory that everything a person ever does is egoistic in nature. Think about it, there are no selfless acts. Let it be on a conscious plane or not, everything you do is to serve your own benefit, whether it is stabbing someone in the back to get what you want, or helping a lady over the street just to hear the thanks to fill your giant ego.

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

Nice, OP. A simple query, elegant, yet very thought provoking.

Yes, I do believe that most things that a person does in any social context, is done for some form of attention. But it's not all the same type of attention they seek, there are many kinds.

Recognition is a good one, and a lot of people want to be credited for what they have done. It's not much to ask, and really, they shouldn't have to ask, but most people forget to give credit where it is due.

Appreciation is one of the most sought-out forms of attention, it is the easiest to give, but one of the rarest to see. It's amazing how a simple "thank you" or "good job" can perk up someone's day. Perhaps more amazing is how often people neglect to give this to people who deserve it. Working a fast food job gives people plenty of insight into this issue. It is jaw-droppingly absurd the amount of abuse a foodservice employee is subjected to, even though they are working their ass off to cater to the customer. Rarely a thank-you, never a sincere one, they are shit on by their customers, managers, and often a couple of coworkers as well. It is not their fault that there is a lineup, or that the food will take a little longer because of the sheer number of orders outstanding. It is at the times when customers are their most irate, that staff are doing their best and going far beyond what should be asked of them, but instead of appreciation, they get more grief because every customer thinks he or she is the center of the fucking universe and how dare this lowly McCashier slow down his or her day with excuses! This is why service workers get stressed, go postal and/or quit, or simply stop giving a shit about their jobs. Because they get no gratitude when they work their hardest.

There is of course, just plain old-fashioned attention, the "Hey, look at me" kind that most people think of when they hear the word. It's human nature to want this, for a multitude of reasons. It's human nature to need a little bit of this from time to time. People want confirmation that they exist, they want to know that someone would know, would care if they dropped off the face of the earth tomorrow. How much or how little pure attention someone craves might be tied to how secure or insecure they feel, but that's just speculation on my part. Regardless, we all feel the need to know that we matter, even if only once in a blue moon.

That's my thoughts on the matter, at least.

A lot of thoughts... and I have to agree with them all. It's important to keep the balance between gaining recognition by doing something good, or gaining recognition for recognition's sake.