robinturner | Online primate grooming

Recent exchanges about how much people use the Internet (and especially LJ) as a way of bolstering their frail egos got me to thinking about whether and to what extent I do the same. I wouldn't say that winning praise is very high on my reasons for writing in LJ, but hell, I'm human, and a like it when people make nice comments.

However, it's unexpected e-mail that really strokes my ego. A few days back someone mailed me to ask if they could have a copy of my MA dissertation because it sounding so interesting. Woot. Then there was a mail on a list which really got me preening:

> Robin's reminder below of the various semantic nuances a
> term may obtain in natural language is right on the money.

You don't need to tell me I'm cool, sexy, a beautiful sensitive human being or whatever (though it doesn't hurt, I suppose). Just tell me how clever I am, and I'll love you forever.