Many of us like to think of ourselves as the heroes of our own stories. But some people take things way too far. You probably know someone who embraces their role as the ‘protagonist’ of a ‘movie’ way too seriously, and their delusion and narcissism hurt to watch.
#1
I agreed to be MOH for my best friend. Meanwhile, I had planned my sister’s baby shower months ahead, mailed invitations, and coordinated family flying in to surprise her. The bride knew all of this and was invited.
Then she moved her Nashville bachelorette weekend to the same weekend as the shower. When I pointed this out, she said, “Well, I hope you make the right choice.”
My MOH dress went to a girl who needed one for prom.
Then she moved her Nashville bachelorette weekend to the same weekend as the shower. When I pointed this out, she said, “Well, I hope you make the right choice.”
My MOH dress went to a girl who needed one for prom.
82points
#2
First night at home with our brand new baby, she wakes up for a bottle at 2:21am. My husband took a photo of me giving her the bottle. Spread out in front of us, posing on his back for the photo, our fluffy little white Chihuahua. Because HE’S the star, Goddammit.
71points
#3
A friend of mine came out to me. I congratulated her. For the next month I am in and out of the hospital with a mystery illness. Even when I'm not in the hospital, I am horizontal trying to recover. My friend tells me a month later she felt I was queerphobic because I wasn't happy enough for her during the times we talked. And its like...
1. I was literally trying not to d**.
2. I came out 4 years before she did. Do not cite the old magic to me witch. I was there when it was written.
1. I was literally trying not to d**.
2. I came out 4 years before she did. Do not cite the old magic to me witch. I was there when it was written.
69points
In a nutshell, having main character energy means that you try to live life as though you’re the protagonist of a film. This has its fair share of upsides and downsides.
According to clinical psychologist Shannon Sauer-Zavala, PhD, this personality trait primarily revolves around extraversion.
These individuals tend to be assertive, talkative, more assured, and less self-conscious. They easily get other people’s attention in public and don’t mind being the center of attention, Verywell Mind explains.
In other words, they prioritize their needs, set boundaries, do what makes them happy, and speak up for themselves. And yet, if left unchecked, main character energy has some serious issues and can lead to narcissistic, obnoxious, overbearing behavior.
#4
Saw a guy at the airport whose flight got cancelled. everyone was losing it at the gate agent. this dude just calmly walked up, said "i know this isn't your fault, thank you for dealing with all of us" and asked what his options were. got rebooked on a better flight while everyone else was still yelling. absolute king energy.
69points
#5
On a crowded bus, packed to the nuts. Pulled up at the last stop before leaving downtown. A few more people were able to crowd on, but the driver had to say "sorry, everyone else has to wait for the next bus." 5-10 minute wait, not horrible weather. Person decides they MUST get on and kicks up a fuss at the door, refuses to get out of the doorway so the driver can close the door. Yelling that they worked hard all day and deserve a ride home NOW, this is discrimination, why are you denying ME a ride‽ There's probably 20 other people waiting behind them, they're not the only person being denied a ride. Driver tells them he cannot safely fit one more person on, please step back, numerous times then radios dispatch to send police. We all groan cuz they'll take 10-15 minutes to arrive then the driver will have to give a statement etc. And we'll be delayed half an hour minimum because this person thinks they're special. We may as well all get off bc the next bus will be here before the police get here, but that bus is going to be full too because it's rush hour, so probably more like an hour added to everyone's commute bc of this person.
One big guy forces his way to the front of the bus, he wasn't far behind the driver but it was fully packed. He steps up to the jerk and pushes them off the doorstep. Driver slams the door and takes off. EVERYONE CLAPPED and said thanks.
One big guy forces his way to the front of the bus, he wasn't far behind the driver but it was fully packed. He steps up to the jerk and pushes them off the doorstep. Driver slams the door and takes off. EVERYONE CLAPPED and said thanks.
62points
#6
Me and all the women in the team were having a meeting with management about the pattern of misogynistic behavior we had experienced in the department when a senior manager interrupted to say:
'I just wanted to say that as a man, this meeting is very hard for me'.
'I just wanted to say that as a man, this meeting is very hard for me'.
59points
Developing main character energy can be healthy if you have a habit of letting others overshadow your needs. However, if you then go on to ignore the needs and boundaries of others and sideline their perspectives for the sake of your own, it can be problematic. In other words, you’ll push people away if you make everything about you all the time.
“Be authentic. When you’re using main character energy, don’t say or do anything you wouldn’t if no one was watching,” Verywell Mind suggests.
“See how you affect others. Pause and see how you’re impacting other people or ask them what they think of you and how you handle things. If their feedback is negative, try to give them more consideration in your interactions.”
#7
I saw a guy at a funeral take a selfie with the casket, adjust his lighting, and then do a 'thoughtful' pose for his Instagram story. Like, bruh, even the d**d guy is tired of your cringe.
54points
#8
I was walking past a florist stand and a girl danced up and picked up a single gerbera pose in a cutsey manner and was about to walk off when the florist shook his head and snatched it off her. I think she honestly thought she was in the romantic montage of a movie, but she wasn't.
54points
#9
Probably my own kid. Penalty shootout at his primary school sports day, he would have been maybe six, and he scored a goal. Every other kid just returned to their place in line, win or lose. Not my guy.
No, he followed it up with a flat-out lap of the pitch with his shirt over his head and then a massive knee slide towards the crowd, like it was the World Cup. It was genuinely funny and everyone was in stitches but at the same time I was like 'Dear God, what am I raising??'
No, he followed it up with a flat-out lap of the pitch with his shirt over his head and then a massive knee slide towards the crowd, like it was the World Cup. It was genuinely funny and everyone was in stitches but at the same time I was like 'Dear God, what am I raising??'
54points
It is incredibly difficult to get along with narcissists. They constantly put their needs above yours, are rarely (if ever!) grateful, think they’re superior to you, and they make a habit of disrespecting boundaries.
According to WebMD, some common signs that someone is a narcissist include a deep sense of entitlement, manipulative behavior, an ever-present need for admiration, a lack of empathy, and arrogance.
What’s more, narcissists tend to exaggerate their achievements and talents, are busy fantasizing about success, power, or brilliance, and think that they’re special or unique. They also either envy other people or believe that others envy them.
#10
People who record themselves at the gym. I don’t mean recording your form or a PR for the memory books. I mean self-proclaimed fitness influencers getting their knickers in a knot because you walked in front of the tripod they set up in front of the dumbbell rack.
50points
#11
Years ago I lived in Southern California and some friends and I went down to Rosarita Mexico for a long weekend. While we were at the border crossing on the way back, dude in front of us in line told the Federales "I'm an American citizen, your Mickey Mouse laws don't apply to me!"
They dogwalked him to a backroom and I assume gave him a comprehensive lesson on the concept of national sovereignty.
They dogwalked him to a backroom and I assume gave him a comprehensive lesson on the concept of national sovereignty.
48points
#12
Girl at work who thought she had the right to know everything about everyone found out one of our mechanics (completely different department than where she worked) recently had a baby. Instead of congratulating him she just stood there in front of him blocking his way and said "Why did _I_ not know about this? I didn't even know your wife was pregnant!" - in a tone that suggested he had failed her and had been withholding info she was entitled to.
He replied: "You don't need to know everything" and walked away. It was glorious.
He replied: "You don't need to know everything" and walked away. It was glorious.
46points
What are the weirdest main character energy moments that you’ve personally witnessed in your lives, dear Pandas?
Meanwhile, what is a main character moment that you’ve had that you’re either embarrassed to remember or genuinely proud of?
How do you deal with over-the-top narcissists in real life? Tell us all about it in the comments!
#13
A guy I went to high school with made a long post to announce big changes in his life, mainly his new job selling roofs door-to-door. It went on for several paragraphs about how hard he has worked on his degree (associates online, which I'm not knocking, but you'll understand in a minute), how he been job searching for months for someone to give him a chance (he interviewed at my place of employment, he didn't get the job because he took off his shoes and sat cross legged in his chair, he wasn't wearing socks), and how his wife had supported and loved him so much. He went in about how he's the man now that he always wanted to be, and the rest of the year was looking up.
In the very last sentence, he mentioned offhand that he's also proud of his wife for getting her master's degree while working full-time, and also that she'd given birth a week after she graduated, and that because he's such a great guy, she gets to take a few weeks off her nursing job to recover.
Yes, his wife worked full time as a nurse while pregnant and still earned a master's degree, I'm assuming she was the one paying all the bills, while he spent months being unemployed, and he is giving her the "gift" of recovering. And he genuinely believed HE was the one that deserved praise.
In the very last sentence, he mentioned offhand that he's also proud of his wife for getting her master's degree while working full-time, and also that she'd given birth a week after she graduated, and that because he's such a great guy, she gets to take a few weeks off her nursing job to recover.
Yes, his wife worked full time as a nurse while pregnant and still earned a master's degree, I'm assuming she was the one paying all the bills, while he spent months being unemployed, and he is giving her the "gift" of recovering. And he genuinely believed HE was the one that deserved praise.
41points
#14
A 19-or-20 year old kid at the DMV who couldn't get his license because he failed the driving test. Again. The person helping him was patient at first but eventually they started repeating stuff back to him louder and louder so everyone could hear how stupid he was. He was adamant that because he'd spent X dollars paying to take the test "so many times" that he should just get the license. And of course, the kid's mother was there to argue on his behalf that in spite of failing the test, he should get the license. It's worth noting that he was definitely not disabled in any noticeable way, unless we are counting off-the-charts self-absorbed narcissism as a disability. The kid just got louder and whinier and more belligerent at each stage of the circular conversation, and eventually the security officer gently bounced him from the establishment. He screamed nonsensical profanity on the way out and his mother was muttering a bunch of curses at them too. I know this is a cliche that people on the internet use, but I swear, as soon as they were out the door we all clapped for the security guy.
39points
#15
Famous comedian approached my friends girlfriend in the airport while he was off buying something. He came back and the comedian acted as if he should know who he is. My friend asked him, after he never introduced him, "Am I supposed to know who you are?". The comedian was visibly taken aback. Was hilarious. After he left my friend turned to me and said "Yeah i know who he is, but he's a jerk". Legend.
36points
#16
My father was d**ng. My day was a cycle of getting up early and sitting with him before heading in to work, going back to the hospital when I knew the doctor made his rounds, back to work, rinse, repeat, etc. Everyone on staff knew exactly what was going on.
One of my direct reports complained to our manager that I didn't respond when she said good morning one day.
I can't even remember if I saw you much less heard you, and if I had? It was most definitely not a good morning.
One of my direct reports complained to our manager that I didn't respond when she said good morning one day.
I can't even remember if I saw you much less heard you, and if I had? It was most definitely not a good morning.
32points
#17
My kid was diagnosed with cancer at age 4. She’s all good now, more than a decade later. At the time, a family member who cannot tolerate not being the center of attention, flew back from a temporary overseas position that was supposed to last like a year. I was overwhelmed, in the hospital for two weeks during my kid’s initial diagnosis, lost 6 lbs the first week, silently sobbing in the shower every night.
Said family member called me bawling because I hadn’t celebrated their coming home enough.
Said family member called me bawling because I hadn’t celebrated their coming home enough.
30points
#18
There's a wedding I've attended years ago where the best man proposed to his girlfriend in the middle of his speech for the newlyweds.
30points
#19
I manage a bakery: one night a woman came by after the doors were locked and lights turned down. She knocked on the door, then tried to knock the door down when staff wouldn’t let her in. She screamed and hit the door for a while before giving up.
The next day she left reviews on multiple platforms about how terribly she had been treated. When I called her back she played the victim and I had to let her know I had reviewed the cameras and she seemed rather threatening, I wouldn’t have let her in either. Eventually she dropped it.
A few days later she sent the shop an email asking for us to post flyers, collaborate on social media, etc. to promote her business
The next day she left reviews on multiple platforms about how terribly she had been treated. When I called her back she played the victim and I had to let her know I had reviewed the cameras and she seemed rather threatening, I wouldn’t have let her in either. Eventually she dropped it.
A few days later she sent the shop an email asking for us to post flyers, collaborate on social media, etc. to promote her business
28points
#20
One time, this lady and this guy ‘helped’ a homeless person outside the bar by talking to him for five minutes. They spent the rest of the night going on about it to the bartender and acting like heroes, as they did whole breakdowns of what happened and how they just had to step in and help someone in need. The bartender just really wanted them to stop talking.
I was sitting on my own and they insisted on sitting opposite me to have a talk with me about life and what it takes to be truly selfless. I did snap at them eventually, which got them to leave me alone.
I was sitting on my own and they insisted on sitting opposite me to have a talk with me about life and what it takes to be truly selfless. I did snap at them eventually, which got them to leave me alone.
28points