Do lots of I's in posts indicate self centeredness?

[Autumnleaf]

Long ago I was told by an english teacher not to use many I's when writing letters as it is a sign of self centeredness which is rude. Does anyone here agree or disagree with this?

 

[MERCY@GRACE]

Well *I* think content is everything. When *I* read commentary, *I* look for what the emphasis of the topic to be. If *I* think it is self centered...*I* will say to myself...'boy this is a self centered post. Then after *I* read the self-centerdness..*I* pray for the lost soul.

Boy I hope *I* didn't use too many *i*'s

 

[IDidntDoIt]

Nice Avatar Mercy - funny stuff.

I agree - it depends on the content of the post. What else are you suppose to do? Talk in the 3rd person? That doesn't put forth a good impression either.

 

[Godisgr8r]

Nice Avatar Mercy - funny stuff.

I agree - it depends on the content of the post. What else are you suppose to do? Talk in the 3rd person? That doesn't put forth a good impression either.

 

[sarasarabobara]

If "I" is selfish, then wouldn't that make Christian Forums selfish? All we do is ask each other about our views and opinions! It's pretty dang tough not to use "I" when expressing an opinion.

 

[Cordy]

I don’t think using the word “I” indicates a post self-centered. In these types of discussions, I think avoiding the word “I” and posting one’s opinion as universal truth is much more self-centered. Using the word “I” can quantifies your statement. Saying “I think” or “In my opinion” is a way of just giving one’s two cents, since we should not be so brazen to think we have the ultimate understanding.

People can use the word “I” to make a post self-centered, though. For example, if a person is always making the topic an issue about them. That is not, however, about using the word “I”, but the spirit behind the post.

 

[Oblivious]

What else are you suppose to do? Talk in the 3rd person?

Talking in third person was my first thought to. How annoying would that be! I think we're better off with the excessive use of "I".

 

[Linnis]

Using "I's" isn't in itself self centered. Most posts tend to be about a person topic, told in first person so I is the way to go.

I see self centered as one who can't seem to talk of nothing but themselves and they redirect conversations/threads etc back to speaking about themselves.

 

[searle29678]

It really depends on how it is used. I use it a lot because I try to relate personal experience to a problem someone is having. It gives an example of how someone else got through a similar situation, and if I am giving that personal account....'I' is going to be used quite often.

Like everyone else has said, it really depends on the spirit of the post and why it is being used so often. However, in English class we got the same lecture in regards to making a paper we were writing about the topic and the facts and not what we thought or what we did. On the forums, unless someone is asking specifically for facts or Bible verses the posts are going to be from the perspective of each individual and it's hard to write that sort of thing without 'I.'

 

[Leanna]

To answer the original question....

No

 

[Redguard]

Redguard enjoys speaking in the third person.

 

[Beth1231]

lol...

If I hear myself using "I" and "me" too much while speaking, I get embarassed and realize I'm being self-centered. Posting seems like a whole different thing. We are "taking turns" only in the sense of post after post. Conversation is in real time.

 

[Addicted2~Jesus]

Mmmm... well... most enlish teachers hated me in their class anyways so's.... beats me if it's actually considered sef centered er not, an personaly... I could careless. Here on these boards I don't think it makes a hill of beans if you use "I" to much er anythin I mean... most the time we're talkin bout our own opinions an what not so's you kinda need to use "I". I agree wit all the third person talk... I got enuff trouble talkin as it is... I don't magine it'd go over well me tryin to talk bout mysef in the thrid person. Now if your writin a letter bout sumthin, I reckon I'd probly stir clear of makin it sound to much bout me if'n your talkin bout sumthin er someone else etc. Jes my two cents... but most english teachers simply wanted me out of their class anyways... so not sure how much stock ya can put in my wordins LOL

 

[Tattered]

The teacher had the correct intention, but the wrong reason. Business writing is supposed to be relatively pronoun free. Using 'I', 'you', 'he', 'she' and 'it' is considered non-professional and passive. Using pronouns softens the subject.

It's also very boring

 

[ShiningSonBeam]

I (there's that word again) was taught that it doesn't make sense to add things like "I believe" or "in my opinion" simply because: the fact that you are saying something automatically means it is what you believe and that it's your opinion. Maybe that's what she meant.

I've (amazing how I use that word so much) thought about the use of "I" and "Me" and whether or not it would signify self-centeredness and I came to the conclusion that it can be ironically the opposite of a self-centered person. A person who is unsure of themselves or generally defensive would naturally qualify everything they say with those types of words, right? I naturally write with a lot of "in my opinion"s and "I believe"s but I go back to edit them all out if it's a business-type letter (as was suggested above). The statements are then simplified and if someone wishes to disagree, they may. But your word is out there in black and white, with no need to introduce it as your own.

 

[paulnoel]

Matthew 4;19
come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men.

Matthew 8;7
Jesus said to him, I will go and heal him.

Matthew 11;25
At that time Jesus said, I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.

Mark 12;43
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, I tell you the truth...

Luke 12;22
Then Jesus said to his disciples: Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.


Luke 22;67
If you are the Christ, they said, tell us, Jesus answerd, If I tell you, you will not believe me.

John 11;25
Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.

Revelations 22;20
He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming soon, Amen.

I Thank God that I am In Jesus, Amen​

 

[Maeyken]

I think many of us use "I" statements to emphasize that this is our own opinion, as just stating your opinion without "I" sometimes creates controversy around here. I think it's a lot different online than in person, since in person it is clearer as to what you are saying as your own opinion and what you are saying as a general truth. Online it's harder to distinguish those two.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

Often we are offering our perspectives. Hard to do that without using I.

 

[JimfromOhio]

Long ago I was told by an english teacher not to use many I's when writing letters as it is a sign of self centeredness which is rude. Does anyone here agree or disagree with this?

Yes... I agree. I have been told "if you use too many I's, then you have a problem with self-centerness" where we should be focusing on "other-centerness". There's nothing wrong with "I" but using too much tells us a story about who a person really is.

 

[Entertaining_Angels]

human beings are self centered creatures. You can avoid using I's and make it obvious and then it becomes false humility.

I was listening to Gayle Erwin (sp?) the other day and he had me cracking up. This is loosely paraphrased...very loosely paraphrased:

Gayle: (talking about how he'd make his humility very apparent) I'm so weak...I'm nothing...

Other people: "Oh Gayle, you're so humble"

Gayle: (talking in meek voice) "Thank you...it's not me...it's the Lord."

The Lord: "It's not me either Gayle"

laughter