Excellent Blog-worthy Rumination

 Having read a very interesting post from Jewish Young Professional, over here, and realizing how rare that attitude, her take, on this is, I thought I would write my own on the same subject. It is about self-deprecating behavior and speech. It is kind of how some people talk when they don't want to appear conceited, or to seem to be bragging. Bragging is something we regard as negative. 

Journalist: How does it feel to be the best guitar player in the world?

Jimi Hendrix: I don't know. You'd have to ask Leo Kottke. 

Why do we do this?  To avoid looking like its opposite. From the site, Word Hippo, we get these antonyms: 

Boastful, pompous, conceited, arrogant, vain, egotistical, snooty, big-headed, loudmouth, strutting, braggart--the list goes on and on. There were, in fact, 36 words listed, with a link below them to find even more. Not one of them had a positive connotation. We don't want to be any of those. 

But the phrase "self deprecating" doesn't sound so flattering either, does it? Is it like false modesty, or shyness, both of which are weak, or is it, ironically, a sneaky form of egotism? Like, not only am I not bragging, but I'm probably, in fact, actually pretty good, truth be told? 

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any single word to replace the phrase "self-deprecating" with something positive. What is the word for having a realistic and useful recognition and/or appreciation of one's own strengths? If this isn't a bad thing, why is the idea hidden behind all this obfuscation? 

I don't have an answer here. Just a question worthy of thought. 

The author of Jewish Young Professional blog asks the question, what are the five things we are good at? Scary idea, to throw something like that out there. But it reminds me of one of my favorite T-shirts, seen on the skinny torso of some skateboard kid hanging out with his skateboard buddies downtown. It read: "I suck, but I'm better than you." 

He's saying, among my friends, who are all avid skateboard riders, I am the least talented, but we're all in a different league than you, and we're all better than you--including me. 

What a way to finesse the self-deprecation trap. 

1.) I have a good eye for composition in photographs.

2.) I'm good at figuring out how to solve a problem or fix stuff using things I can (usually) find in my garage. 

3.) On a good day, at least, I'm a pretty good writer. 

4.) I can visualize things well--I can turn things around, inside out and upside-down in my head. 

5. ) I play the guitar better than Bob Dylan. I mean, I suck at playing the guitar, but I'm better than you. And just in case you're reading this, and you're Leo Kottke, just kidding!  

PS: If you did click on the Leo Kottke link above and liked what you heard, you might also enjoy this video of Leo and Chet Atkins playing "Sleepwalk" on the last Prairie Home Companion live broadcast June 13, 1987.