main-character syndrome

main-character syndrome (uncountable)

1. Alternative form of main character syndrome.
   • 2021 June 7, Nana Baah, “The Pandemic Let Us Exist Without Being Perceived. Some Don’t Want That to End”, in Vice‎, archived from the original on 7 June 2021:

     Kreider ends his essay by poignantly identifying “the mortifying ordeal of being known.” Over the past year, that sentiment has become so pervasive that “not wanting to be perceived” has quickly become a staple trend across social platforms. It’s joined the ranks of what could be considered the “being perceived” antithesis, the concept of having main-character syndrome, where you act as though you’re the lead in your own movie and everyone else is simply an extra in your narrative.

   • 2022, Stassi Schroeder, “End of an Era: Au Revoir, Vanderpump”, in Off with My Head: The Definitive Basic B*tch Handbook to Surviving Rock Bottom, Gallery Books, →ISBN, section “Fifteen Songs for Rock Bottom”, page 79:

     This is mainly a playlist for people with main-character syndrome (gotta love Gen Z for coining that one), aka people who envision themselves as the protagonist in the movie of their life.

   • 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.

   • 2023, Sara Jafari, People Change, Penguin Books, →ISBN:

     ‘I just wanted you to know how you made me feel is all.’ ‘Yeah, but that’s the problem – you have major main-character syndrome. You act like you’re this big deal living in London, that your feelings are the only thing that matter. Whenever you call me, you bang on about work, when your job sounds cushty to me – or it’s about Kian and how you’re obsessed with him. You only ask about me as an afterthought.’