If we're being honest with ourselves, it's totally normal to feel like the hero of your own story sometimes. Especially after navigating the slim chances and fortunate twists of fate during the pandemic, and with superhero narratives woven into our daily entertainment more than ever before, it's only fitting to occasionally embrace that Truman Show-like sensation of being the main protagonist. However, not until the point where this notion begins to consume us.
Continuing on the #maincharacter trend that took the internet by the storm in 2021, one user asked the Ask Reddit community, "What is the worst case of 'main character syndrome' you've ever encountered?" Ranging from self-absorbed local celebrities to narcissists who treat others like NPCs from a video game, there's a lot of fascinating answers to pick from.
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At my brother's wedding, his MIL showed up in a floor-length ball gown covered head to toe with sequins and with a band of giant bling around the waist. To a simple 20-person backyard wedding where the bride wore a simple knee-length sheath dress. She was also drunk and spent the whole day showing off her new boob job. They were C's, but she'd gone up from AA and was proudly brandishing them at everyone, including elderly relatives and kids, commenting that the bride would look so much better if she got hers done.
I bided my time until she came up to me and dramatically sighed about how sore her boobs were and said, "Oh good for you! When I got mine reduced, the doctor told me not to go down under a D. I wish I'd had the courage to get them reduced as small as yours." She cried in the bathroom for 2 hours, and my SIL hugged me so hard I got bruises.
In an era dominated by social media and self-expression, a peculiar phenomenon has emerged, capturing the attention of psychologists and sociologists alike. Dubbed "Main Character Syndrome," this cultural phenomenon and a lovechild of TikTok and self-isolation requirements, sheds light on the growing prevalence of narcissistic tendencies among individuals who exhibit an overwhelming desire for attention, validation, and the belief that they are the focal point of their own narrative. In simple terms, people who perceive themselves as the main protagonist of the movie that represents their everyday lives.
The emergence of the main character syndrome, meanwhile, has been attributed to the increasing influence of social media. According to psychologist Dr. Michael G. Wetter, main character syndrome is an “inevitable consequence of the natural human desire to be recognized and validated merging with the rapidly evolving technology that allows for immediate and widespread self-promotion.”
I was in Japan back in April. We climbed up to a viewing point to see Mt Fuji. A “famous” American Tik Toker and her “ entourage” started physically pushing people out of the way so that they didn’t ruin her shot. And then she yelled “i need an Asian in the shot to make it authentic”. So they grabbed an old man and got him to take photos with her.
It was gross and disgusting
That's the moment when you accidentally knock her phone out of the Mt Fuji
"Digital communication platforms make it easier for people to fall into the trap of main character syndrome. The anonymity afforded by digital communication allows people to reinvent themselves, or, in extreme and potentially dangerous cases, to present entirely false versions of themselves, much more easily," Phil Reed, a professor of psychology at Swansea University, explained in her blog.
And she's absolutely right. If not for the alter egos, it's unlikely that we would have celebrities like Dr Disrespect, one of the most popular streamers living today, or Andy Kaufman, the legendary late-night comedian known for his stunts and uncanny personas. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that these characters can swiftly veer into self-obsession and perplexity, which may strain relationships with those closest to the individuals affected by main character syndrome.
I was a shiftmanager at Starbucks, and an elderly woman had a heart attack in the middle of the store. I had to call emergency services and provide first aid. While doing that a barista came to me to ask if she could get another position to work at. Because she was bored of standing at the counter. This was while I was giving cpr to the woman on the floor. Then she got mad that I ignored her.
In general, check insta, tiktok, and snap.
In terms of my real life? My mum. Holy s**t... To hear her tell it, an overweight 77 year old woman is the most desirable partner in the world. Every damn man she finds even marginally attractive and has spoken to her has been "after her for years", and if they're dating someone else then "that b***h is a real piece of work, let me tell you". She has basically told me that world leaders are watching her because she is very important, and "I just don't know".
I can't barely spend time with her at this point, because it's got so much worse as she's aged... Thankfully she has dogs that she loves so I just get her talking about them.
According to Dr. Kristy Lee Parkin, a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology who specializes in narcissism, taking a temporary detour from real life can be a way to cope with life's hardships - which explains why the phenomenon was born in the midst of the pandemic. "Taken to extremes, main character syndrome can also become a method of dissociating from painful life experiences. They literally see their life as a story or a movie (think 'plot twist!' explanations) and that’s how they cope," Parkin explained to Bored Panda in an email.
About a year ago. Trying to board a flight and a couple held us up so that Main Character could get a series of photos in a series of poses standing at the top of the boarding stairs like some 1960s JetSet starlet in St Tropez.
This was not First Class transcontinental glamour flight, this was a 4 hour Budget Ryanair flight from the Canaries to the UK.
After being forced into the plane by the cabin staff who kept standing in the shot trying to get the plan boarded (Ryanair do not mess around with their fast turnaround) and also by angry people trying to squeeze past boyfriend/cameraman and getting in the shot. She then proceeded to stand in the aisle during taxi for take off just after the safety brief to get more photos. After threats of returning to the terminal and being put off the flight she sat down.
Nothing says a classy instagram model like the Ryanair colour scheme.
Shame they couldn't have confiscated the camera and wiped all the photos. Maybe the cabin crew could have made an announcement when they landed that the "ego has landed"
My sister. She’s two years younger than me. She’s done many Main Character Syndrome-driven things, but one particular highlight was when she announced that she had brain cancer. At my high school graduation. (Spoiler alert- she did not have and has never had any type of cancer, and our aunt had died from brain cancer two years ago. That upset quite a few relatives)
I can see why, I'm not spiteful but I don't think I'd talk to her again in a long while, specially if my relative had just died from the same thing
It's no surprise, then, that main character syndrome is "an offshoot of narcissism," something that most of us microdose with the help of social media. "Everyone has narcissistic traits. The major factor is if one can make choices that also benefit other people and not just oneself," Parkin argued. It's natural to occasionally experience moments of envy or desire to be in the limelight. But when these behaviors permeate daily life and intentionally cause harm to others, it transcends being a mere negative trait and becomes a full-fledged personality disorder.
My MIL and SIL who cried and HOWLED during our wedding ceremony acting like it was a funeral
My irritating asf sister She can't be at anything even her own kids celebrations without attention seeking, being loud and annoying. Must have all eyes on her at all times. Exhausting
On the other hand, there are instances, especially during our developmental years, when the main character syndrome is considered normal, Parkin said. "It could also be a sign of normal growth and maturation, such as we see in preschoolers or toddlers or teens/tweens." Also, for those who are making their first steps into the uncharted territory of adulthood or a new industry, it can be a great way to deal with the highs and lows of the journey. "For example, higher self-esteem and self-worth can guide you into having better boundaries or the confidence to be and feel respected," she explained.
My dad, all day long. He wasn't evil, but he was always right, every time. And he knew everything. Never mind anyone's education or lived experience of a situation, he knew all about it. Every time. He tolerated no criticism, especially from my brother or me, nor did he respect boundaries. He was our father and that trumped everything.
A former coworker had her disabled dad quit his really recently found new job that he truly enjoyed (he had a really hard time found one du to his handicap) because he couldn't miss a day of work for her birthday. She was 23 at the time, going 24.
She got mad when he explained to her that he couldn't miss a day so soon after being hired.
The man is in his late 50 with really heavy arms handicap. And he miraculously found a gardener job in his hometown (no drive car needed)
She didn't care about anything he said and cut short to the discussion: if he wasn't going to take a day off for her birthday, she didn't want to talk to him anymore.
The poor guy quit. He loves this ungrateful brat so much, it's painful to watch... really
And when he did, she wasn't even grateful, she clearly thought it was the bare, decent, minimum from his part
"Clinical narcissism is a formal diagnosis when an individual exhibits five of the nine hallmarks of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (or NPD)," Parkin explained, noting that the main character syndrome can be a big indicator of NPD. These traits encompass an inflated ego, a constant need for admiration and attention, a lack of empathy, envy towards others while considering oneself as enviable, manipulative behaviors towards people and relationships, and an excessive preoccupation with power, physical attractiveness, and achievement. According to the newest data, approximately 0.5% of the United States population, or 1 in 200 people, mostly men, has NPD.
A mother at school demanded that the break for the whole school should be postponed because her daughter is not hungry yet at the set time
One of my exes thought he was the main character of some cringy Garden State-type movie and that I was supposed to be his manic pixie dream girl. I'll never forget one of the arguments we had in which he was frustrated with me for not being more ~*~*quirky*~*~. He said, "You're supposed to take me by the hand and show me the world!" which sounds like a bad joke, but trust me when I say he was being serious.
Still, Dr. Parkin highlights the importance of understanding the difference between narcissism and being self-centered (which arguably is on the rise). "Narcissism is a catchall term but it is much deeper and dangerous than being self-centered. Narcissism can ruin lives and destroy relationships," she told. "Main character syndrome, while not as extreme, is a trait of narcissism and can still cause damage by alienating friends and family."
I worked with a woman Betty who was pregnant. Another coworker Tracy was pregnant at the same time and had a miscarriage. When Tracy was out recovering maybe a day after it happened, Betty found out she was having twins. Although Betty and Tracy weren’t really friends, Betty announced that she needed to be the one to tell Tracy her news and it needed to be done NOW. Betty called Tracy and it was just nauseating.
Betty also liked to tell everyone she tricked her husband into getting pregnant. They are divorced now.
I was downtown Vancouver, just walking a long smoking after a night out and across the street from us we saw two guys being loud as s**t and another group of about 7 guys just walking down the street towards them. The two drunk guys walk through the other group of dudes and bump into them.
The two guys instantly demand apologies, “ do know who I am? Bro I train MMA, I’ll knock your a*s out”
The bigger group is trying to avoid conflict but these two dudes are just being giga chads. One of the two dudes throws a punch (looks like it’s the first punch he’s ever thrown in his life), the other guy slips the punch and lays him out on his a*s. The second drunk guy goes into hero mode or something and also launches into an attack and gets his a*s kicked. The bigger group didn’t even go all out they just knocked each guy out and walked away
These two guys apparently thought they were tough s**t and got quick lessons handed to them. One of the best things I’ve ever seen in my life.
that annoys me people who watch boxing or MMA think they are bloody Bruce Lee or Mohamed Ali when in reality the only punch they could throw is the liquid kind
Local celebrities are pretty bad. Their spouses and families are even worse. The only time I’ve heard “Do you know who I am?” in the wild was when the wife of the local weatherman was arguing with a clerk at the grocery store.
Given that the weatherman is the only one of that couple with a visible public presence, she is obviously deluded into thinking anyone would even recognize her, let alone care who she is
Me from age 0 to 16/17.
Im convinced to have gained conscience just after that. Some s**t was justified but man i must have been exhausting to be around.
My soon-to-be ex-husband asking me how to flirt and date.
He doesn't move out until the 30th, *he wants the divorce*, and refuses to work on the relationship. He announced he was leaving only weeks ago, and is trying to get me to talk about dating experience with him while we cohabitate. He's already semi-stalking one poor woman who just changed her workplace and vocation suddenly (he used to show up at the bar she managed, now she left for a controlled childcare environment where he can't show up).
We have been together for ten years. What a POS. It's taking all my willpower not to Samwise Gamgee him with a frying pan
TEN YEARS. And HE was the one to initiate divorce? This looks strange
Not a specific instance, but working in college admissions, I deal with a worrying number of students who basically speak like they're trying to be edgy anime protagonists. And I mean general tone of voice, vocabulary, the whole "smirk while pushing their glasses up" thing, etc.
Like... it's not a lot of them. But it's more than you would expect.
Pick any of the people who started fights when I moonlit as a bouncer. Nothing says main character delusion like thinking you’re not going to get hurt fighting two dudes who have 60lbs on you.
My ex thought he came up with the idea for pop-up ads when he was 15 and was still telling people this at 33…
That was just one of the multiple things that convinced me that he was a narcissist with the biggest main character syndrome….
He also thought that women’s vaginas were permanently affected by any penis it came in contact with it, thought that men shouldn’t do housework because “the appliances are made specifically made for women” and I could probably write a book about him. I was so blind lol
It was weird when the Salt Bae guy inserted himself into the World Cup celebration immediately after the game.
My parents. They genuinely don't understand that other people are equal peers and that their children/grandchildren are separate, independent beings, and not accessory extensions.
Sounds a lot like mine. My dad is, in fact, incredibly intelligent, but it's led him to an "us versus them" mentality where the "them" (ie everyone else on the planet) are basically subhuman idiots. My mother goes along with it (and is a shrieking harpy, ready to go off at any moment with little to no provocation, but I've long thought that's the result of being married to a sociopath for several decades). I was simultaneously raised to believe that I was better than Literally Everyone (except them, of course), and also that I was utterly worthless. Deeply weird mentality to try to get out of.
An acquaintance of the family. She had a birth defect in her legs that made walking somewhat difficult. Not impossible at all. Just not something she could do a lot of.
She had the ability to walk and climb stairs. I've seen her do both. She was awkward at it, but she could do it.
I mention this because, apparently, at a niece's graduation she decided that her niece needed to help her to her seat. As in the niece was supposed to leave the ceremony part way through, come down off the stage in her robes, and escort this woman to her seat before going back.
Well, as you might imagine, the school didn't seem willing to accommodate this. So other family members offered to help her. But, as it wasn't the attention grabbing stunt she wanted, she decided that the best way to punish her family was to seat herself. By flopping down in the floor and moaning and groaning as she crawled on all fours. As I understand it, her family was running along beside her and trying to help her up but she ignored them. Just did a belly crawl up the stairs and made a big show of it.
At my wedding, one of our invites brought her roommate as her plus 1. They decided to pre party and she got s**t faced drunk and started yelling how she wanted the day to be about her. She was escorted out.
The husband of a friend of my told her he didn't really care for interacting with their two twin boys, and would just wait for them to grow older and would be able to talk about his pretty specific interests.
They're no longer together.
This reminds me of a story I read where a man refuses to interact with his two young daughters because ‘he’s got nothing in common with them’. Is being their parent not enough for some people?
Some guy took the microphone during the school talent show and said,"No one is here for this s**t. They're all here for me."
This woman I know actually refers to some people as NPCs. Obviously she doesn't believe it literally, but she does treat people accordingly. She has also referred to some of her behaviors as "hot girl s**t".
To anyone not familiar with gaming, like me, NPC is a Non-Player Character, "any character in a game that is not controlled by a player."
Just one example of her… my mother has said, more than once, “If I had been born in medieval times I’d have been royalty.” She has said it so seriously. She meant it. I think this was around the time she was watching The Tudors.
It doesn’t even make sense!! As if monarchies don’t exist anymore.
Have fun being married off to your cousin who's twice your age in order to secure a trade agreement with France, lady.
I was at MSP and I was waiting in line to get a pizza. Dude walks up asking about a pizza place on a different terminal and which terminal it’s in. They tell him and he’s trying to play it all cool that he was sorry he wasn’t going to eat at this one pizza spot.
So the guy walks away, and maybe 10 seconds later comes back and says, “you know what? I’m gonna hook you guys up” and then he pulls out his phone and goes on TikTok or whatever and starts recording himself and how this pizza place he wasn’t going to eat at was dope. Recording all of these workers. Then he walks away.
Then after he walks away, the worker just says, “what an a*****e” and I was laughing super hard cause that was such a douchebag thing to do
Id have reported him as a suspected terrorist filming the security set up in the terminal, then laughed my head off when he was taken away by security (no doubt shouting "dont you know who i am?" while the security are saying "thats what were gonna find out, after the cavity search".
I was briefly friends with a woman who could do no wrong. She was the victim 24/7 and everyone was out to get her. She saw other people as means to an end and would say whatever she wanted about them, accuse them of horrible s**t, “repeat” things they supposedly said about you to your face (she made it up or heavily exaggerated every time), and just in general use people.
She told me within the first two weeks of us knowing each other that she was telling everyone we were best friends. When she moved away, she forgot I existed.
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Mixture of main character syndrome, no social skills, and young and stupid.
At least there's hope for the young and stupid. We were all there once.
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I used to date a main character. He would tell the most ridiculous tall tales and would say things that were blatantly untrue. For example, he would tell everyone he was 6ft tall. Like, dude, we can literally *see* you're only 5' 10" 😅
Not all of these belong here; single incidents can happen to anyone, but people with Main Character Syndrome do make themselves the focus as often as possible, often reaching to absurdity to make it happen. It's not just about selfish behavior. For me, a subset of this are the people who absolutely insist on commenting on every single entry on a list, reaching for anything to add, either with the most obvious of "jokes"--as though the rest of us couldn't have made that connection on our own--or an observation that shows how clearly they didn't read the entry quite correctly.
My (ex) best friend faked having cancer. We started to catch on when her husband couldn't speak to what she had abd didn't seem concerned. She would also refuse to tell us when her treatments wete so that we could drive her and make sure she was safe. Always talked about how much she paid for things and would leave receipts lying out in the open (I'm opposite and brag about my thrift finds). She also started to single white female me, wearing the same outfit a couple of days after me, cutting her hair exactly like mine and flat out telling my husband that she wanted what I have.
Mixture of main character syndrome, no social skills, and young and stupid.
At least there's hope for the young and stupid. We were all there once.
Load More Replies... I used to date a main character. He would tell the most ridiculous tall tales and would say things that were blatantly untrue. For example, he would tell everyone he was 6ft tall. Like, dude, we can literally *see* you're only 5' 10" 😅
Not all of these belong here; single incidents can happen to anyone, but people with Main Character Syndrome do make themselves the focus as often as possible, often reaching to absurdity to make it happen. It's not just about selfish behavior. For me, a subset of this are the people who absolutely insist on commenting on every single entry on a list, reaching for anything to add, either with the most obvious of "jokes"--as though the rest of us couldn't have made that connection on our own--or an observation that shows how clearly they didn't read the entry quite correctly.
My (ex) best friend faked having cancer. We started to catch on when her husband couldn't speak to what she had abd didn't seem concerned. She would also refuse to tell us when her treatments wete so that we could drive her and make sure she was safe. Always talked about how much she paid for things and would leave receipts lying out in the open (I'm opposite and brag about my thrift finds). She also started to single white female me, wearing the same outfit a couple of days after me, cutting her hair exactly like mine and flat out telling my husband that she wanted what I have.
