on a spectrum... i am a bit of a narcissist. but... i don't manipulate people emotionally or otherwise hurt anyone. i have seen narcissistic behaviour enough (i was raised by it in part) that i can be categorically certain that i don't display narcissistic traits with any consistency.

i also wouldn't peg anyone you mentioned (including you) as "showing signs of narcissism".

at least not as distinct from people in general, especially people who (by virtue of being pedophiles in a society that condemns us - but often much more than that too) tend to experience episodes of severe strife. i wonder how much of what you attribute to be signs of narcissism are actually signs of complex and deeply rooted psychological coping mechanisms surfacing in response to whatever. society needlessly and thoughtlessly inflicts heavy psychological damage on pedophiles as early as their most formative years. i would hesitate to call someone who was abused and responds by developing an air of (some would say) confidence in one's strengths that reinforces positive self-image in order to overcome their oppression and live a meaningful life "narcissistic", even if he may come across that way to someone who is lacking information.

so sorry, griffith. but as someone who refrains from judging others in lack of information (and also pretty much in general)... i just can't agree with your assessment.

and, btw: i'm an awesome, fantastic, attractive, kind, spirited individual who's gifted with children.

as an example, that might come across as narcissistic to say about oneself. i would say it about myself on a site about pedophilia in order to counter stereotypical judgments about the negativity of the pedophile character. i would never say it in person. that perception of myself also comes from how others (relatives, friends, acquaintances, and particularly children) label me as much as it comes from my own interpretation of my own behaviour.

but even if i wasn't all that... if i at the very least thought i was all that then i might end up loving myself enough to love another. if i called myself a narcissist, i would be rather afraid of hurting others and rather self-loathing and would never emerge from my cave. that doesn't sound very narcissistic to me at all.

narcissists think they're all that but hurt people in practice. that is not me.

on a spectrum... practically everyone is a bit of a narcissist. ;)

just be wary with labels.

~ rainbow