I call it the 'bubble of self' when people are like this, and it really irritates me.
I have a friend who is extremely self absorbed; she literally talks about herself and her problems constantly and never listens to a word anyone else says. I know she never listens as sometimes I'll tell her something, and she'll barely acknowledge it then she'll be surprised a few weeks later when I say I've done X or Y even though I have already told her. On the rare occasion that I have a problem she barely listens and never offers any advice and just says that I'm lucky I haven't got things as bad as she's got it. I've always been there for her and have been happy to listen, but in all honesty a lot of her problems are things she's taken out of proportion. She makes mountains out of molehills and turns them into huge issues.
I have a few other acquaintances that are like it; they just babble on constantly about themselves, and never ask anyone any questions or listen to anyone else's. Their facebook is all 'me me me', and they are the same in person. I actually had the misfortune of going on a night out a few months ago with about 5 people who were like this and who talked over each other all night about themselves. I ended up having a proper conversation where both parties talk and listen with just one other woman who was there, who felt the same way that I did.
Is it just the way of the world now that people are generally self absorbed? How on earth do people like that manage to keep hold of friends and partners?
AIBU?
To think that some people are extremely self absorbed?
baconfrazzles · 01/03/2014 09:57
I find a majority of people are like this to be honest!
My dh and I always joke about this after a social event like a wedding or dinner party. Whoever we've both been sat next to has rarely asked us a thing and we know their life stories! Maybe we are just amazing listeners 
.
I don't mind at social events as above but with people I see regularly I either interrupt them, walk off, put up with it because they are entertaining and fun, avoid them. Depending on who they are.
Bubble of self is an amazing phrase 
yes i know a woman like this she isn't selfish or nasty or anything she just doesn't realise there is any life outside her bubble although her self awareness is shockingly bad
Sometimes I try to interrupt self absorbed people. I tried it several times on the night out. And it is something that is virtually impossible. They just talk louder and louder.
I think self absorbed people must have been totally spoilt as kids and given constant attention, and were probably never told to shut up when they'd been going on and on for ages
I think I might be one of those people 
I notice myself doing it then get very self conscious and feel rubbish. So I make the effort to get others talking about themselves, but it seems rude to just KEEP asking questions. I feel like I'm interrogating them, but they just say one thing and seem to stop.
Tbh I'm happier when not talking but I can't bear silence in a social situation, so I tend to babble and over share. I'm quite a boring, staid person but the stuff I come out with males people think I'm totally uninhibited! Then I also make up mad opinions to try and stimulate a debate, so I end up regretting what I've said later on, too. But explaining that you try and be a cultural relativist and honestly can't get worked up about the tube strikes isn't really conducive to banter. It's just easier to fake an ego and opinions.
Odd much? Me? Nah...
Oh Undertone! Were you separated from your identical twin at birth? I'm EXACTLY the same get very self-conscious and feel rubbish.....can't bear silence....babble and overshare...a boring, staid person....stimulate a debate...regretting what I've said...you try and be a cultural relativist.. 
But you're very articulate - I bet you're very good company. It sounds like you have a sense of humour - OP is probably thinking of people who make no attempt to find out about other people and probably do a mix of bragging and complaining. You sound like a people pleaser. At least your heart is in the right place.
on an entirely unrelated note mil is visiting today. can't think why this thread made me think of her...
Undertone - if you worry about being such a person and take steps not o be, you almost certainly aren't. 
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