Thread: Attention Seeking

Originally Posted by Dianeva

Perhaps this is something everyone does, but is not aware of. It is, for the most part, not done very consciously, so I would not be surprised.

Do not be fooled.

Originally Posted by Photolysis

There's 'attention seeking' in order to fulfill a purpose (which many social interactions require to an extent), and then there's attention seeking because gaining the attention of someone else is the end result in of itself. The two are completely different.

It isn't just one or the other. There are different levels. Someone's goal in explaining something might not at all be attention-seeking, yet the feeling of validation is still part of the result. For example, if I'm knowledgeable about a topic and discuss it with someone because I'm genuinely interested in it, the primary goal is not to gain attention. Yet there almost always exists something in me that feels good for being judged as intelligent by anyone observing the conversation, and is almost constantly aware of what people's impressions of me as a person will be.

Originally Posted by Photolysis

I haven't read the thread you mention, but I'm guessing by the title that it involves users ranting and complaining in some form. The purpose of such threads is mostly to provide an outlet for frustration; even ranting in text form about some idiot who is ruining your day can be surprisingly cathartic. It's not there for users to scream the internet equivalent of "HEY LOOK AT ME EVERYONE!!!111".

I didn't think anyone wasn't aware of that thread.
What is the release, exactly, in ranting about one's day to other people? Is it not that they feel they'll receive validation about their problems from those other people, and is that not the same as a cry for attention?

Originally Posted by InvisibleWoman

Do not be fooled.

Fooled into thinking what I said? Or fooled by people who claim not to have the issue?

Originally Posted by Dianeva

It isn't just one or the other. There are different levels. Someone's goal in explaining something might not at all be attention-seeking, yet the feeling of validation is still part of the result. For example, if I'm knowledgeable about a topic and discuss it with someone because I'm genuinely interested in it, the primary goal is not to gain attention. Yet there almost always exists something in me that feels good for being judged as intelligent by anyone observing the conversation, and is almost constantly aware of what people's impressions of me as a person will be.

Millions of years of evolution in a situation where humans lived in small tribes where reputation was very important will do that. Regardless, it doesn't matter if you get a warm fuzzy feeling from showing off your intellect, and it doesn't matter if you pay attention to how people are responding. As long as your primary motivation is something other than drawing attention to yourself, then it isn't attention-seeking. It's all about intent.

I didn't think anyone wasn't aware of that thread.
What is the release, exactly, in ranting about one's day to other people? Is it not that they feel they'll receive validation about their problems from those other people, and is that not the same as a cry for attention?

I don't tend to read outside ED much these days.

Where's the release in ranting? Simply by expressing the view in the first place. It's metaphorically punching something in frustration to make themselves feel better. If you're doing it to be validated by others, yes that's attention-seeking (and if you actually want feedback on whether you were wrong then you're not going to ask for it in a one-sided rant). If it's just to express your anger and get it out your system, no it's not a cry for attention