We all know those people – individuals who think the world revolves around them.
Whether it’s their entitled attitude, their constant need for attention, or their complete indifference to others, they can seem like a fight for space even in the most ordinary situations. These people may act as if their wants, preferences, or needs should always come first, which often leaves others feeling overlooked, frustrated, or even taken advantage of.
Sometimes these encounters happen with strangers or acquaintances, but it’s even more disturbing when the people closest to us—family and friends—show the same sense of entitlement.
From insensitive comments to thoughtless actions, here are some stories that show how the world revolves around these self-centered individuals and how we react when we’ve had enough.
Story 1
My husband and I bought a two-room apartment. I work remotely so I set up a small room as my office. When my mother-in-law came to visit, my husband showed her around the apartment while I was making tea. A minute later she came in holding my laptop and said, “Someone’s computer is in my room. Don’t put anything in there without checking with me first.” I was speechless, I didn’t expect such courage from her. She seemed to have decided that one of the rooms was rightfully hers for future visits. I told my husband, but he didn’t believe me.
Story 2
Our family went on vacation to the sea and booked an apartment with a kitchen. While we were relaxing in the living room in shorts and t-shirts, we heard the kitchen door open. We were stunned to see a man enter. We asked, “What are you doing here?” He replied, “There is no kitchen in my room, so I cook here.”
Story 3
I am very sensitive to perfumes and strong scents give me severe headaches. Even a walk past a perfumery can trigger it. My mother-in-law, aware of this, continues to wear heavy perfume whenever we meet. He pretends to care about me and often offers help or money for vacations. But every time we meet, he wears perfume on his outerwear and ignores my allergy. I remind her, but she just smiles and says, “Oh, I forgot, sorry. I won’t do that next time.” This has been going on for ten years and my husband believes it is just harmless.
Story 4
I was in line at Safeway when a woman started yelling that another cashier was needed. An advanced person was quickly pulled out to help. After the line moved, this woman pushed her way in front of me even though I was ahead in the new line. She boldly declared, “This is my place!” and tried to intervene.
Story 5
I am 28 weeks pregnant. My husband and I planned a trip to the sea before the baby arrived, we wanted some alone time. My mother-in-law immediately asked to join us, saying, “How exciting! I’ve always wanted to go to the seaside.” We politely told her we wanted to go alone, but she replied, “You’ll be asking me to babysit soon. I need to rest.” She seemed offended when we let her know we weren’t going to invite her to babysit for a while.
Story 6
A friend borrowed a small amount of money from me and then disappeared. Years later we ran into each other by chance. He asked if we could reconnect and I reminded him of his debt. He shrugged and said, “The past is the past.” That was the last time I spoke to him.
Story 7
My sister and her husband are having problems. He has been unemployed for six months and they have a daughter. They couldn’t pay the rent and moved in with us. Today my sister asked me to babysit her baby because she wants to go back to work. Why should I take care of the baby after work when her husband is home and free? When I refused, she called me shameless and accused me of not understanding life because I don’t have children.
Story 8
A friend became pregnant, but her boyfriend was far away from earning money and his parents lived in another city. I helped her with everything, I even went to the hospital with her when she was about to give birth. After all that, she said, “I would ask you to be our child’s godmother, but your status is not good enough for us.”
Story 9
A guy I thought was a friend didn’t invite me to his wedding even though we had a good relationship. He later asked when I was getting married and claimed he couldn’t wait to enjoy my wedding. I was taken aback by his arrogance and didn’t know how to react. Years later, when he asked again, I finally said, “Don’t worry, you didn’t invite me to your wedding, so I won’t invite you to mine.” The look on his face was priceless.
Story 10
I have six children – two biological and four adopted – and we live in the country where I own a small farm. Recently, families with multiple children received free 3D TVs. We declined because we have regular TV and the kids are busy with studies, sports, and hobbies. oOurneighborWhoho has only one child, she doesn’t talk to us anymore because I didn’t take her TV and give it to her. She believed I should have taken it for her daughter who wanted it.
Story 11
I used to work as a wedding photographer. A guy I knew asked me to photograph his wedding with a 50% discount, but when I arrived I found out that they didn’t arrange any food for me. When I asked, they gave me a plate with a small portion of potatoes, cabbage, and some other things. I wish they wouldn’t give me anything at all. I had planned to stay and film the whole event, but after the “meal,” I left an hour later.
Story 12
My brother complained for years that he couldn’t find a wife. He recently met one, dated her for two months, hs and then left her. When I asked what happened, he said, “She asked me to call her a cab home! I’m not a doormat!”
Story 13
I have my phone number on my car window for anyone who needs to contact me about parking. One day I got a call from an unknown number asking me to move my car. I was confused because I parked in an empty spot. When I got down there was a young guy next to my car claiming it was his place. He said he’s been parking there for three months, but I’ve lived in that building for over 30 years.
Story 14
I gave my wife an expensive gift, but I also bought a cheaper gift — a wool scarf — for my mother-in-law. She wasn’t happy with it because she was expecting something more lavish. In the end, my wife ended up wearing a scarf.
Story 15
My husband and I went to the movies. We only had two free seats on the bus: one near the driver and one in the back. I was sitting next to the driver and my husband was sitting in the other. It was a short drive and I didn’t know the way so I called him. Turns out he had already forgotten about me and was watching a movie by the time I arrived.
Story 16
A friend asked me to do her wedding makeup for free, plus I gave her money as a wedding gift. But she didn’t invite me to the wedding. She said it was a family-only event, but I knew she had invited her co-workers and her husband’s friends. We’re not friends anymore. It’s terrible when someone takes advantage of you like that.
Story 17
I was in line at a pizza place with my girlfriend and the guy in front of us had already ordered and paid. He overheard us talking about wanting the last two slices. He quickly ordered them and left with a smile, leaving us with nothing. The cashier who noticed what happened gave us three free slices until the fresh pizza came out.
These stories highlight how certain individuals, whether consciously or unconsciously, act as if the world revolves around them. Their behavior, whether selfish, reckless, or entitled, can leave us feeling frustrated, confused, and even hurt. The common thread in each of these situations is a lack of awareness or empathy for the feelings and needs of others.
Whether with family members, friends, or strangers, the tendency to put one’s own desires above the well-being of others can create tension and misunderstanding.
It is truly disheartening when those closest to us – people we trust – exhibit such behavior. From family members who expect more than they deserve to friends who take advantage of our kindness, these experiences can leave a lasting impact on relationships. It’s important to remember that respect, consideration, and empathy are the foundation of any healthy relationship, and when they’re lacking, it’s essential to set boundaries.
Ultimately, these stories serve as a reminder that while we can’t control how others behave, we can control how we react. Whether we confront the problem head-on or choose to distance ourselves from toxic individuals, we have the power to protect our peace. Recognizing signs of selfishness and arrogance in others and taking steps to address them can help us maintain our own mental and emotional well-being. It’s important to surround yourself with people who respect and value you and learn when it’s time to let go of those who don’t.