Thanks to a very nice comment from J. Allen I’ve decided to come up with a list of my major flaws, arranged in order of importance. Because even though this blog should be my space to present myself in the way I like, apparently some people have gotten the idea that I think I’m absolutely flawless. Far from it. I ruthlessly scrutinize my character flaws and failings as ruthlessly as I scrutinize a menu in a new restaurant.
One of my favorite authors, Osama Gharib, wrote in his book “Aftookaliso*:” “Do you notice how when you ask people for character flaws they give you things that are really accomplishments? Such as ‘I care too much for people’ or ‘I’m a perfectionist.’” So, I’m not going to do that. I’m going to give you real, humongous flaws: So, without further ado:
- I have a healthier-than-normal ego and a less-than-healthy sense of humility. As this e-card goes:
It’s annoying me like crazy that I can’t share the details of my successes with complete strangers (aka you), who won’t even really care about them or know what they mean to me because you don’t really know me. - I don’t take criticism. Even if I know I deserve it, if I’ve done something wrong, I will try and explain it away. It’s very, very hard for me to swallow my pride and admit I’m wrong. On the other hand:
- I love to critique others. Or actually, I don’t love it but I’m convinced positive critique will help the person get better.
- I think my way is usually the right way. I will try and argue and debate with you till the cows come home to pick holes in your way and why my way is better. And thanks to years of arguing with my father, I’ve learnt to argue for hours without ever losing my:
- Temper. Thankfully this has gone way down since those angst-filled teen years, but I also know that other than hormones, a reason it’s gone down is because more or less I now get to do when I want. But when I don’t, I will be in a horrible mood. My temper isn’t manifested in tantrums and shouting, but in:
- Verbal Thrashing. I will flay the unfortunate person with brutal comments, bringing up old history without thinking before I react and then:
- Usually not apologize. Again, I find it hard to admit I was wrong so my apologizes are few and often not very sincere, especially since I’m convinced I was in the right.
- Cynicism and sarcasm. Whenever anyone says something really positive I point out the downside, and whenever they say anything slightly stupid I respond sarcastically/
- Complaining. I do it often and with gusto. I have to make the person in front of me feel the weight of all the things I have to do and how much effort I put into everything. All so they’ll praise how I’m handling it, of course.
- I monopolize conversations. Sometimes about myself, other times because I think my insights/ opinions have more value.
- I’m highly competitive. I love to win win win and I’m a sore loser.
- I hate delegating. If I ask someone to do something, I’ll probably find fault with it/ think I could have done a better job myself.
Do you hate me now? 
* Aftookalisoo: They gave you fatwas (religious edicts) that are lies. Fatwas have become so absurd here in Egypt the verb ifty is now used for anyone who is giving you their opinion.
Haha! I feel like I could just copy and paste those flaws with my own name – can’t hate you because it reminds me too much of me – I’m trying to work on some of it though
Don’t care about those losers – it’s your blog, your rules!
That’s kinda in all of us >_>!
don’t be hard on the yourself. First step in dealing with a problem is acknowledging the problem
ewww…how utterly repulsive!!!…and I mean scarily repulsive…
yea I do hate you now…n you wonder why….
i was wondering the same too…..now I know why…
plz do something about those flaws.
n nooo thats NOT in all of us…
ppl stop being sooo hypocrite n ass-lickers…I bet if ur unlucky enough to meet a person with such flaws on the streets…u wudn’t adopt such mentality n way of thinking as to ‘remind urself’ that that person “reminds u of urself” or that it’s in all of us…that’s BULL…I am sure u’d act in a totally diff. way towards that person…
Tata then mazen, what are you doing here?
My feelings are hurt *shrugs*
In my defense, it’s not like all these flaws are manifested all the time, and when they are, they’re present in varying degrees depending on the situation.
You wouldn’t “meet a person with such flaws on the streets” because no one will be shouting and complaining and boasting etc all at the same time. And I’m working on my flaws. This was just a public dumping of all the ones I know I have–at least I’m honest enough to admit I have them and work on them. And if you look closely at yourself, you’ll likely come up with just as many flaws, some worse, some better. No one is perfect.
I know am not perfect…thanks for reminding me…I know none is ever in any place to judge anyone else..but u’ve put urself up for it and given us all the right to comment/judge….yea I was a bit harsh but that WAS intentional…ur flaws r simply n utterly repulsive…consider me as the other side…or the other extreme of the sheer disgusting hypocrisy expressed prior to my comment…I just want ppl to call things by its name ba2a…n if they wanna be so damn polite about it then they at least needn’t disgustingly justify such repulsiveness of a character by falsely saying that it’s in all of us n such….dah el gayebna wara…I mean a person here says she enjoys critiquin others while she herself never takes criticism and we say ma3lesh ma3lesh…we’re all like that…well then SUCK IT u suckers
)
hurting ur feelings was not the point…I dont care about u….tho i sometimes luv u..but u can say I wanted to hurt their feeling…more so…yea…
n i dont really really hate u…like hatin u and wanting to exterminate u n stuff…ur but an erotic name on a screen…i’ll still continue checkin this meaninglessly mo2refa blog…but if ur unlucky enough to materialise be4 me in my life…then know that I’ll certainly abhor u…i’ll even make u hate urself.
Heay Mazen,
Well, what I meant was I think that we all have those tendencies. I don’t think that anyone here can claim that they never ever displayed those qualities. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t met a single person who didn’t display at least one of these flaws.
Another thing that you need to be aware of, is that there are varying degrees to these flaws. I person who is unaware of these flaws is downright impossible to communicate with. However, a person who is aware, might at least feel guilty about their actions and reconsider his/her attitude.
If anything, you should be encouraging people to acknowledge their own flaws. If you ask any psychologist specialized in treating personality disorders and addictions, they’ll tell you that in order to accept treatment people must first acknowledge having a problem.
Finally, and I must add this. People don’t respond well to harsh criticism let alone rudeness. So if there are people that you know (including myself) who display those flaws, please approach them with a more appealing attitude because kind nature is very rare nowadays and it can go a long way.
@ Mazen: Ok, now I’m not so annoyed, because besara7a your comment seems kind of schizo shewaya: “I dont care about u tho I sometimes luv u?” You still don’t get it. Just because I hate being criticized doesn’t mean I won’t listen to it. Of course I will, and sometimes I will heed the advice. But I recognize that I don’t like it; no one likes being criticized! Just like I can go attend a concert by a signer I hate with friends. I won’t enjoy it much, but I’ll go. Bagy 3ala nafsy ya3ny.
I haven’t given you the right to judge me. No one has the right to judge me except God.
And I don’t agree that my flaws are “utterly and hideously repulsive.” They’re moderated, toned down, and dealt with. There are tons and tons of flaws that are, in my opinion, way worse than this.
And you’ve forgotten one important thing–the good things in a person’s character often balances out the bad points. I’ve just given you one side of the scale here, so obviously it weighs more than the other. Perhaps I need to write you a list of my good points, but then we’re back again to the showing off bit.
If this blog is so repulsive to you, then why are you even here? I give you fair warning: I won’t tolerate any more insults. If you disagree with something then say it respectfully, or I’ll block your IP address and you won’t be able to access this blog.
Thanks, Basma.
naffady khales. always thought he was a little bit weird to say the least, and if you’re an asshole, aren’t we all? at least u know it and are addressing the problems.
i don’t think i can add more to what basma, you (fattractive) or forsoothsayer have said. bas el mazen haada lazem ye3raf: iza mat7ebish el blog bitaa3ha, fi naas kitaar ma yi7iboosh el blog bitaa3ak.
and if anything, you have portrayed and left a lot of your characteristics on show for others to attack – not that i shall start doing so myslef, and would rather amuse myself quietly – so alf alf alf miyet mabrouk 3aleek ya fandem.
Well first of all let’s all not get polemic here and argue about whether u gave us the right to judge n “play God” here or not when u first allowed us to comment…well cos u sure did…it’s outta q whether u like it or not. what did u expect anyway? walla comments –or actually judgments – are welcomed only from sickening flibbergibs?!!
secondly, my previous comments as “harsh” as the are…someone just had to utter them…someone just had to….and I just luuuv so much to b the someone. I cudnt just leave the comments take that frightening stream of complaisance. We simply just cant all be this pathologically obsequious…some1 just had to rightfully describe n strongly disagree with a person who:
‘flay the unfortunate person with brutal comments, bringing up old history without thinking before I react and then Usually not apologize.’
n not as u all did –excluding forsooth to a degre – give a pat on the shoulder n say….dont worry we’re all assholes just like u…hehe well, tell that to that unfortunate person who usually gets flayed by that fattractive. n just to show that ur all but a bunch of double-faced sycophants…heyya my comments bas elly harsh w rude n u forgot the person who loves to criticise others, flays them with harsh words and never apologize afterwards?! u all forgot that w mesekto fe my harsh comments?!! el dignity na2ahet khalas now?!! ur truly a bunch of double faced subs…and ppl wonder y the arabs r in this state of slavery n submissiveness they’re mired in….we just love our dictators and lovingly justify their wrongful mistreatment to us kaman….
oh boy..maybe I took it too far…i didnt want anyone to hurt fattractive or insult her…I just wanted to see someone who simply just disagrees or revolts keda…or at least express being offended…even if slightly…but what i read was mo2ref…”it’s in all of us 2al” oooh ya salam..
u cud really block my IP? thats pretty advanced babe…in wordoress el kalam dah? well mine aint static…and hey…
I’d rather be blocked for who I am than be welcomed as a person I am not…or cant be…or more bluntly a person I’d be disgusted to be like.
Be all well…I luv u all…just wake the hell up…
Heay Mazen,
I think you are misunderstanding this blog.
The title “My Flaws” actually means “Flaws that I am trying to Fix”.
“In all of us” refers to, “We are all working on fixing those flaws in our personality”
Also, you are not off the hook, because you yourself are displaying a few of the flaws that you think are repulsive. So in reality, you are just supporting the point that “it’s in all of us”.
My last point here is, I have a hard time following your discussion, so if you don’t mind, can you please break it down to points 1,2,3..etc. Less curse words, and chillout.
I personally didn’t meet Fatattractive in real life, so she doesn’t have a hold on me; so you can’t really consider her a dictator. If I disagree with her she won’t send people to kill me or get me fired from job..etc.
Relax dude, I can tell that you are very bright. You certainly spiced up the topic, which made this interesting
but please tone it down a little.
We all have our flaws, what is double faced about admitting it?? Mazen, I think you are the two faced one to attack somebody for admitting to their flaws – we all have them – no need to act perfect…
Thanks Basma…Don’t worry…am ok…
about breaking down my argument…well khalas I’d rather not do that here…I kinda rest my case khalas…excuse me.
here’s my email: odorless_garden@yahoo.com plz contact me if u want me to explain to u anything…or simply if u wanna talk n get to know me better or have a new friend…whatever…i’d appreciate it…u’d be welcomed.
I feel similar to you! I love how you are so honest! i am trying to improve on my flaws this Ramadan!