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Apr 19, 2021 10:56
3 yrs ago
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English term

self-interest reflecting off me

English Art/Literary General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Context:
I went along because she paid for gas and I had never been more than a hundred miles from home. Having somebody who wanted to go places with me was a novelty, too, though in retrospect that may have been her own *self-interest reflecting off me*.

More context, please click:
https://www.google.com/search?q=“self-interest reflecting of...

--quoted from Talking with Dead People (2016, Science fiction) by Sarah Pinsker

Thank you!
Responses
4 they both had their own self-interests (reasons for going)

Discussion

updownK (asker) Apr 20, 2021:
@ Tony M Your explanation is helpful for my work. Thank you!
updownK (asker) Apr 20, 2021:
@ philgoddard I think the general idea is right. Thank you!
Tony M Apr 19, 2021:
@ Asker I think the idea here is that the speaker felt flattered because someone was showing an interest in them, although afterwards they realized that perhaps she wasn't actually "showing an interest in them", but rather taking advantage of their presence for her own purposes (i.e. the 'self-interest' bit) — like, for example, they might share the driving, etc. So perhaps she wasn't actually at all interested in their company (which they found flattering), but rather want them to meet some need for herself.
I don't actually think it's poorly-expressed, I think it's really quite a nice image.
philgoddard Apr 19, 2021:
It's not clearly expressed, but the general idea is that they're both self interested.
Mark Robertson Apr 19, 2021:
Reply You are right. The expression is confusing. I think the writer means that what appear to be his/her possibly selfish reasons were no more than a reflection of an underlying dynamic in which she was the real user.
updownK (asker) Apr 19, 2021:
@ MARK ROBERTSON Thank you! I'm confused about the usage of "reflecting off" here. Does it mean her self-interest "satisfied by me" or "just like mine"?
Mark Robertson Apr 19, 2021:
My interpretation The writer's first take on his reasons for going with her are 1. she paid for the gas, 2. the writer's desire to travel, and 3. the pleasure of her company. However, on reflection, the writer reconsiders and thinks that she may have been using him/her all along.

Responses

1 hr
Selected

they both had their own self-interests (reasons for going)

I have read the story quickly. Thanks for giving the context. I am almost certain that it means they both have their own reasons for wanting to go on this road trip. And it itn't the first one as Eliza is always "dragging" the narrator "Gwen" along with her to various places. They are college roommates at this stage

The narrator tells us her reasons for going on these roadtrips:
1) she (Eliza)paid for gas and
2)I (Gwen) had never been more than a hundred miles from home
3) Having somebody who wanted to go places with me (Gwen) was a novelty

and then says perhaps her companion's self interest mirrored hers in that she had similar reasons for wanting to go...

1) she Eliza is not able to drive so that is her reason for paying for the the gas as the writer is the driver

2) perhaps Eliza has not travelled that far before either?

3) perhaps Eliza also has no one wanting to spend time with her?

BUT
Mainly because Eliza wants to visit these places and wants company to bounce ideas off as later she turns these trips into stories

Gwen say Eliza had "pragmatic" reasons for going there, though she didn't realise it at the time

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Note added at 1 hr (2021-04-19 12:54:19 GMT)
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typo 2nd line: (And it) isn't

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Note added at 2 hrs (2021-04-19 13:07:24 GMT)
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reflecting= mirroring


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Note added at 3 hrs (2021-04-19 14:36:32 GMT)
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(it was like) her own self-interest was mirroring mine

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Note added at 1 day 41 mins (2021-04-20 11:37:58 GMT) Post-grading
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Glad to have helped. Note that it's often necessary to read more of the story in literature to understand the context as I had a slightly different understanding before doing so.

And yes, Eliza definitely had pragmatic reasons for wanting to have Gwen along
Note from asker:
And Eliza's self-interests also include that she thought Gwen's workmanship would be needed for her project, though it hadn't been planned in detail then.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you very much for your time! It's well explained!"
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