This is a really good point. If someone comes along and posts "Pbutton, you're worthless" I'm going to automatically think "No, you're an idiot and this insane reaction you're having is about you, not me." (Go ahead, try me. ) If you post that I am awful at math or mean to animals, I will REALLY think you're a buffoon. I know what I'm good at.

That said, I do have areas of weakness & if you attack those areas, I may react by being hurt. This is because my belief in myself isn't as strong in those areas. Most stuff, I feel like I know myself better than anyone else would. I'm more vulnerable to outside influence in areas where I am not as confident in myself. It doesn't mean that I am actually any weaker at those things, just that I don't have the belief (esteem) in myself to back myself up.