Fry is definitely one of the great men of our time. *promote

Promoting this video and sending it back into the queue for one more try; last queued Sunday, August 28th, 2011 1:04pm PDT - promote requested by Skeeve.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'eoo, me, Stephen Fry, I mode, American TV' to 'eoo, me, Stephen Fry, I mode, I need, interest in others, American TV, shut up, heroism' - edited by calvados

*British

Adding video to channels (British) - requested by calvados.

I Need to listen to Stephen Fry at least once a day.

Very true... although I was sure this was on here already.

I wish there were 100,000 Stephen Frys' spread across the world spreading his insight and philosophy.

Yes, I agree that people who endlessly talk about themselves and their problems burden everyone around them with their emotional baggage. I don't agree that we should go around smiling for everyone and pretend we don't have any problems, because others might find it boring. Or that our empathy is selectively reserved for the deserving few who meet a certain criteria. I don't have to select who I am going to feel something for..there is enough room to go around.. The key thing Stephan said here is that he finds himself less interesting than other people. This is because he has a few personality disorders and presumably they are embarassing to speak about. You're not a hero for suffering in silence, as I suppose Stephan is. It's better to get it out so you might better reflect upon it, and maybe you'll help someone else out in the process.

Surely for Stephen it should be iMode

Sounds like a good way to convince people to shut up.

This sounds like a good idea...to promote more positive dialog. But keeping an illness and "suffering in silence" or "stiff upper lip" type stuff is just a way to create an environment where others are left to wonder why someone is behaving strangely, pulling away, being more adventurous, etc. Instead of being able to make their peace with the ill person and say things they've always wanted to say.

Think about all the conversations you'd like to hear that would begin with I.

I fell out of a plane ....
I met <insert your favorite actor/model/comedian>
I slept with <common friend>'s mom
I woke up with 3 girls in bed with me
I held up a liquor store
I was in a car chase
I got caught with a hooker
I found my number written on the stall wall
etc.

Versus what he keeps referencing in this video..which is basically complaints and stuff everyone has going on in their life...aches and pains, etc.

So his advice should be "Tell interesting stories and leave off the common place negative stuff. If you can't, listen to other people tell interesting stories."

He's got an i-apple on his shirt.

>> ^Seric:

Surely for Stephen it should be iMode


>> ^gargoyle:

He's got an i-apple on his shirt.


Guess he needs to throw out his egocentric i-pad and i-phone. I wish it were true, but sadly the world seems to be full of successful egocentrics. Just look at any politician, they probably can't start a sentence without the word I, unless its to sling mud.

But I get the gist of what he's saying, and the world would probably be a better place if people were less self-serving.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'eoo, me, Stephen Fry, I mode, I need, interest in others, American TV, shut up, heroism' to 'ego, me, Stephen Fry, I mode, I need, interest in others, American TV, shut up, heroism' - edited by xxovercastxx

Good stuff.

This is a part of "What I wish I'd known when I was 18", full vid here:

http://videosift.com/video/Stephen-Fry-What-I-wish-I-d-known-when-I-was-18

God he bangs on a bit, doesn't he?

Or that our empathy is selectively reserved for the deserving few who meet a certain criteria. I don't have to select who I am going to feel something for..there is enough room to go around..


He is careful to make it very clear that that wasn't his point - I mean, listen again to what he says and I don't think you can possibly take that message away. He cares for people, he's just trying to help people imagine what it's like to listen to people who are ONLY concerned with themselves. People aren't universally and equally empathetic, and considering how complaints might sound to others is going to help many people in social situations. Haven't you met many people in your life who are perpetually blaming others and complaining about their problems? I sure have - and I've done it myself sometimes. And it usually isn't productive. Sure many people need help, maybe urgently, and there's nothing wrong with seeking help. But that can't be all you do - to build the kind of relationships that can be a support to you later, you need to show genuine interest in others. You will be a better person, a bigger person, and a more interesting person the more you show interest in others.

The key thing Stephan said here is that he finds himself less interesting than other people. This is because he has a few personality disorders and presumably they are embarassing to speak about.


No, it's because despite his problems he tries to show real interest in other people instead of focusing on himself. This is a very Christian ideal - kind of reminds me of Philippians 2:3 -

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves


Stephen has been very candid about his own problems and has gone out of his way to help others - take this letter as an example. It's a simple, beautiful thought from a man who is honestly making effort to help a stranger.

Now, sure, his thoughts are a bit of a mess in this video (he's not on a script and he rambles and isn't always perfectly clear) - but his overall point is plain and is something that would really help a lot of people out of self-centered ruts. And, as before, I think focusing on others is a very Christian thing to do - coming in, I would have expected you to applaud this kind of thing.