main character syndrome

• Main Character Syndrome

main character syndrome (uncountable)

1. The phenomenon of the protagonist of a show or movie receiving unrealistic special treatment from the worldbuilders. [since 1995]
   • 1996 June 5, Dr. Briefs, “[DBGT] Pans potental.”, in rec.arts.anime.misc‎ (Usenet):

     Furthermore,
     Goku is still the main character of the series, and thus by the rules
     of the main character syndrome, no one on the same side of the main
     character shall surpass the main character, and the main character will
     always (eventually) save the day.

2. (derogatory) The phenomenon of thinking of oneself as the protagonist in the movie of one's life (and, thus, usually as unrealistically important or distinguished). [since 2009]
   • 2020 May 5, J. S. Park, The Voices We Carry: Finding Your One, True Voice in a World of Clamor and Noise‎, Moody Publishers, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC:

     What I suffered from is this idea I call the Main Character Syndrome. I know the name is ridiculous, but it sounds like what it is. Main Character types see themselves as a Hero-Savior and everybody else as a secondary prop. The Main Character feels more real than everyone else. It's the same way that infants don't have object permanence: if I don't see it, it doesn't exist. In the case of adults, I count and you don't. I matter more than you.

   • 2022 February 23, Erica Dhawan, “Feel Free to Ignore Some Texts and Emails. We All Understand.”, in The New York Times, section A, page 23:

     Being triaged might not feel much better than being ghosted if you have an urgent question for your boss, client or colleague — I’ve been on that side of the interaction, too. But it’s at least more realistic, relatable and human. I’ve found that it forces me to confront my own main-character syndrome — the idea that we all play a starring role in the movie that is our life, with everyone else merely the supporting cast.

   • 2022 April 30, Carlos Avitia-Velazquez, Javier Avitia-Velazquez, Curb Children‎, Seven Proxy Press, →ISBN:

     […] , than try to do something actually useful for humanity with that hypercapitalism exploitation money, like save the climate or solve world hunger or erase extreme poverty Or fucking help trafficked children, lmao. But that wouldn't stroke their massive egos enough, I guess. Main Character Syndrome much? I'd rather have hundreds of multi-millionaires than one billionaire lmao. Greedy, narcissistic, sociopathic fucks. Cuz that's not even 'being rich,' that's fucking Smaug-levels of money-hoarding.