Modern Incoherence

on display:

...Narcissistic personality disorder was first defined in 1967. The DSM-IV defines the essential feature of narcissism as "a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy that begins in early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts." It's a definition that was set before the rise of social networking, reality TV, or partisan news channels designed to confirm our every opinion. Perhaps it truly is time to update it.

...believing that your every movement deserves a camera crew is one of the disorder’s diagnostic criteria. But today, such an attribute is considered normal—modesty has become a liability. In a culture where the fantasy of fame is realized by the unlikeliest contenders, is it still grandiose to believe that the world should watch and admire you? Everybody has narcissistic traits, and many of these are healthy, even required, to be a success in certain segments of the modern world. “Narcissism is not a disease,” says Freed. "It’s an evolutionary strategy that can be incredibly successful—when it works...”

In such an environment, it's natural—even smart—to be narcissistic enough to think you could be the next celebrity, because you could be...

Because, as everyone knows, as soon as something becomes the spirit of the age, then it cannot possibly be disordered or need correction. No, no--we are "modern," and therefore up to date. That which is now is good because it is now, and infinitely better than that which was then. The only thing better than that which is now is that which is to come, for we worship progress.

And everyone is asking the great question, first quoth by the modern Prophet Dark Helmet: