Obviously, since I'm starting this topic, I'm immediately admitting I do this. The talking to myself, not being the one being bothered by it.
Anyhow, it seems I've been overheard thinking out loud (so to speak), and I've finally been confronted about it by someone. They seemed pretty upset about it, to the point that they feared I was about to have a mental breakdown (considering I've had a few breaks occur in my past, mostly caused by stress, bullying, loneliness, and what-have-you). If anything, I'm just venting out whatever comes to mind at times; but usually have the courtesy to quiet down when someone's nearby, or at least, within earshot.
Personally, I find it easier to think this way. It breaks the silence and frees up some mental energy and allows me to ask my brain some questions and refine thoughts even further. Also I tend to read some of my posts out loud before posting them, but that's also just to make sure they sound right, or at least the context comes across easier. Kinda why I tend to ask myself questions in that manner. More or less, to sound less like an ass. If anything, alot of this has actually been a great ease on my psychology, and helped me lift a whole lot of (psychological/spiritual) weight off of me. So to say, I'm my own personal psychologist, and I'm pretty damn good. Understandably, it doesn't work on everybody, and can have the opposite effect, leading to more denial and crap, and just adding more weight to someone's mindset, and potentially making someone worse off a person in the long run. If anything, that was the first thing that came to mind when I started, and took every precaution to prevent psychological bias once it happened. If anything, I'm aware that there's a psychological/psychopathic event horizon, and at least try to keep a stable orbit away from it.
This is where my concern over the concerned comes to mind. Some of these have an orbit so far, they have myths about the event horizon being far larger and dangerous than it actually is, and are more closed-minded to it, and at times, pass judgement or over-protection, more than trying to understand it first. But I tend to sense a bit of a double-standard at times regarding this: They concern for me, and others like me, when they encounter someone letting off some steam, or milling an idea in their head, and need to voice out a few things to keep their minds rolling. Some do this out in public without a care; others wait for privacy, as to not bother others; and there are those that are outright paranoid, and tend to make ABSOLUTELY sure that they are alone, and cannot be heard by absolutely anyone, before they let their minds loose and go on; and then there are the total shut-outs which keep everything in their mind, and nowhere else. In a sense, they never speak their mind. My concern for the total shut-outs is: Is that healthy?
This kinda reminds me, actually, about a funny term I once heard from someone on another forum. They called it Mental Masturbation. Same exact mechanics as the physical act, except instead of the body fapping away, it's the mind doing so; it's a release of old pent-up crap, and frees up room for more lively thoughtlings that can eventually give birth to healthy new ideas. It follows similar mechanics to what I stated above as well. It's actually really funny now that I think about it. Would you prefer me to call the topic "Mental Masturbation: Does it socially count as Indecency?"? Well, put into that context, it seems to make a lot more sense why it's frowned upon, and treated as such. But then comes my bullshit call on other people who judge: Who are they to talk? Like they don't talk to themselves when they're in an empty house, or alone, or in their car and their radio doesn't work, musing ideas, coming up with masterpieces and so on. Look at it this way, some of our most brilliant minds have been perceived as a few screws loose to the machine.
I'd like to hold this belief, not on a level of denial, but more as an argument that this is normal for me. As I recall, some people find it even more disconcerting when a total loon finally starts acting sane (not saying I am one, but I tend to have habits that make me, well a bit unique and unusual). Something's wrong; especially if it comes out of nowhere. This is my fear considering if I suddenly break my commonplace appearance in front of other people (IE- If I comply and turn into a shut-out so I can appear like a normal person again); and to say the least, this sucks. It's like a Catch-22. I remain "crazy", I'm treated as such, I finally act sane, I'm "no longer myself" (and also feel as such) and people start worrying more. There's no way to win here.
Anyway, what are your opinions on this matter? Do you privately talk to yourself? Do you even care if you're overheard? I feel like I'm the only one annoyed and worried about this, and it's social stigma; but I also know I can't be the only one. This has been bothering me for far longer than you can imagine. I figure it's time to hear what others think about it.
An example of how I tend to regularly talk to myself:
Watch some Freeman's Mind