Alter Egos and all that rubbish?

Question

WHERE IS IT APPROPRIATE TO PROMOTE SELF-ESTEEM?

Answer 1

When writing resumes and when doing job interviews, false modesty must be left out. For most of the rest of the social situations you might encounter, a little modesty, however false, is considered good manners.

But you must always distinguish between good manners and real self-effacement. You need confidence, you need self-esteem; but you do not need to brag and show off. Do you see the difference? If someone is in your face and asking, "Oh, so you think you are better than the rest of us, huh?" like some punk on TV, it is prudent to say something diplomatic to avoid confrontation. But how can you NOT feel superior to people who act like that?

In such a case, I think I would be tempted to say something like, "I will not attempt to make such comparisons absent an understanding of the criteria involved." It will take the punks long enough to translate that and decide whether you said yes or no that you can get out of the situation. I hope. Sometimes they will answer "Oh, a wise guy, huh?" and start swinging.

Like I say, how can you avoid feeling superior to the likes of that?