If I recall correctly, I read somewhere that the average person says the word, "I" a few hundred times a day, if not more. It is so common place that people don't even think about it, it's just what we do. How hard do you think it would be to go an entire day without saying the word, "I"? Do you think you could do it? I have already failed, having used it 3 times in this paragraph up to this period. It's a lot harder than it looks.

IMHO, learning how to speak without relying on the word "I" would actually make one more likable and perhaps less selfish. It would force you to refer to the other person more often to fill in the void and might actually help with charity. It might be worth trying it sometime.

E.G
"I really like Starbucks! I could drink a gallon of their coffee!"
Replace with:
"Starbucks is awesome, don'tchya think?. Their coffee is to die for,(+"in my opinion," if you feel like adding that).
E.G.
"I really wish my paycheck would come in so I don't starve!"
Replace with:
"Would you hear my desire? To receive my paycheck and not starve!"

It's a very subtle change but has the potential to be very powerful in the long run. Also forces you to use your brain, having to come up with clever ways of talking. You'll probably find yourself referring to the other person a lot more than you normally would. You almost have to.

I'm sure there are a lot of creative ways to avoid using the word, "I" (See? used it again!). Play around and see what you can create! Post them here though, so we can view them too. IMHO, it would be very fun to try!

Lybus, did you ever think of referring to yourself in the third person? Ask SJB on this forum, he just did it, coincidentally. He may be a kindred spirit.

All you have to say to people yourself, for example, is, "Lybus really likes Starbucks". Of course, people will frown upon that and inevitably ask who is Lybus? (Prepare to be suspected of being schizophrenic.)  It would then be acceptable for you to answer, "me". Even though "I" is the correct response, unfortunately, the world has commonly come to accept "me" as an answer....so you can still get by without saying "I".

A legitimate way to avoid using "I" is to learn some other language. Often the first person singular is implied in the way you spell the verb, without actually using a separate word for "I".

Bazz, do you think if "SJB" refers to himself as "SJB" instead of "me" one time it makes him appear schizophrenic. Or would that be a rashness in judgment?    :smile:

Methinks this is just plain silly.

Well...yea...

But think how awesome it would be if you could pull it off! Rebelling against our ego-centric society in an unexpected way!

One could manage it, if one were prepared to be pretentious all day.

Didn't Ayn Rand write a book about the elimination of "I" of "individuality"?  

Perhaps y'all shouid look up the title, Anthem.

Didn't Ayn Rand write a book about the elimination of "I" of "individuality"?  

Perhaps y'all shouid look up the title, Anthem.

There might be a balance you need to reach, but it might be worthwhile trying.

Aristotle said that to make a stick that is bent straight, one must bend it the opposite way just as badly as it was bent the other way, and eventually it will retake its shape. Our society is very ego-centric, so going to the opposite will eventually bring one back to a balance.

Why donate to starving children in Africa when you could join a protest against abortion?

Reading Scripture or Louis De Monfort are things that all Catholics should do, but how many people think of trying what was suggested above?

To be honest. this isn't anything that a saint might have said, but perhaps it might be a fun exercise to try, especially as a stance against the age we live in.

15 points if you can go an hour without saying, "I", 100 points if you can go an entire day. Eventually the exercise gets you thinking, and you start to find a balance and suddenly you aren't thinking about yourself as much.

At least that's my humble theory.

Quote from: CathMomof7

This is a very fascinating exercise indeed!  Three of our offspring are currently in the midst of their homeschool studies.  Every effort shall be made to encourage the use of less ego-centric language for today.  The one who is the most successful shall receive a reward.

FWIW, several years ago when enrolled in college, an interpersonal communications class was offered to me.  One lesson is said class was how to have a proper discussion over a conflict without causing an argument.  Included in this lesson was how to properly use "I" statements to express one's feelings and intentions.  We attempt to use this method at home---"I am crying because my feelings are hurt."  "I don't like broccoli because it tastes like grass."  But today we are going to experiment with NOT using "I"

Check back on this thread to see how it goes.....

Our children 6 and under lost the game in a manner of seconds.  Our 10 year old went around trying to get people to say "I" and our 15 year old spoke in third person all day.  Make whatever you will out of that.  

There was a time when it was considered extremely rude to talk about yourself without being asked. Only children used to do this.

The real problem might be that our society is filled with children with adult bodies.

During a dinner party my parents were hosting over Christmas break, my friend and I had to sit with two of the guests' children. One was between three and four years old. She would randomly, out of the blue, start talking about herself in a most nonsensical way. She did this the entire time, listing off things she liked and things she didn't like. All my friend and I did was nod our heads and give her funny looks, "yea...of course...mhm..."

Well, after a few years, you're usually supposed to grow out of this. Though at another party I went to just yesterday, it sometimes felt as though I were sitting at that same table, except that I was talking to four years olds in college students' bodies. "I like brownies!" "My butt hurts!" "Yea I like that song!" Wait what?

It has been my observation, though more so of my priest's who brought this to my attention, that people tend to speak in monologue. Many conversations have a tendency to follow these lines: one person says something about themselves out of the blue, then the other person says something about themselves out of the blue. It then goes back and forth until the two walk away without really realizing that the other person could honestly care less about what he said. Egocentric society, ay? It's where you are expected to be self-centered.
Personally (if you don't mind me talking about myself of course :-) )  I find it unfortunate to be born into all this, and being victimized with this tendency as well. I have probably lost a lot of chances for charity by taking part in this monologue our society loves. That's sort of why I started this thread, to perhaps bring attention to something that might not be easy to pick out, it being ingrained into the American culture as it is.