February 2010: i am neurotic

Those who see themselves in Woody Allen's nervous and maladjusted screen persona might be drawn to Lianna Kong's blog i am neurotic, a collection of people's behavourial ticks and quirks. In short and anonymous entries, people describe the habits that shame and embarrass them, unburdening themselves and getting a bit of free therapy in the process.

Lianna Kong, who is currently studying at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, set up the blog to document her own and her friends' neuroses. But, in the manner of online things, it grew as others decided that they too needed to reveal things like:

I can't stand seeing hairs on the tiled bathroom floor.

When walking up a flight of stairs, I have to begin with my right foot and end at the top with my left foot.

I cannot be bad. Whenever I play a game that gives me the option to do Good versus doing Bad, I cannot play the Bad character. I cannot play villains, I cannot hurt pixelated people. I am afraid that the people in the make-believe universe won't like me.

The blog was recently published as i am neurotic (and so are you). If you pick up a copy, check for any blemishes on the front cover, wrap it in two plastic bags and then carry it home under your left arm while smiling at evey third pedestrian. What? You mean you don't do that?