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.