Me, myself and . . .

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

A few weeks ago a friend and I were playing a little mind game in which we made it a rule that neither of us were allowed to use the personal pronouns, “I,” “me,” or “my,” in conversation. This made talking to each other considerably more difficult. It’s amazing how much we humans have to refer to ourselves to make a conversation seem meaningful or coherent–as if our own particular lives are completely indispensable. News stories and such do fine without the personal pronouns, but it’s when we’re talking to each other that these words become so useful.

As it happened, that friend and I started having a hard time with our game, slipping constantly.

I don’t know how possible such a thing is to try here, but I thought I’d point it out to people and ask if anyone entertains him/herself in a similar manner . . . or if I’m just too simple-minded to need more complicated entertainment. . . the latter is probably it . . .
<wink>

2

I don’t make a game of it, but your point is well-taken. I notice it when I use “I” frequently, and I try to avoid it 'cuz I don’t like the way it sounds. You were right; it’s extremely hard to do.

But it doesn’t bother me at all when other people use “I”. Probably indicates a lack of self esteem on my part.

An attorney I worked for once would start a letter thus: “I am enclosing a (whatever) that I (whatever).” I always changed it to “Enclosed is.” She was egotistical, and that was my pitiful way of letting her know.