I have now managed to alienate just about everyone who knows me more
than casually. Wish I knew how to not do that in some way that doesn't
involve bottling up my reactions to situations and events.
Oh, waaah -- people in hell want ice water, too. We get what we get
and by the time we do, it's too late to change anything.
(And who's to blame? Society? Hah! My parents? Hardly; they had three very difficult children and did their best. My ex? As if! Nope, it'd be the woman who looks warily out of the mirror at me every morning, dreading another day.)
Well, you didn't manage to offend me, so there's that...
ReplyDeleteThis says it all.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWGn6_EH2gM
I have taken a certain amount of pride in being a bit of a bastard for most of my adult life and a certifiable sonufabitch professionally.
ReplyDeleteThe few friends that stick around are people I would trust with my life.
And the rest? Sod 'em. Fewer idjits asking me to move heavy crap.
Be you and bugger to anyone that can't deal with.
BGM
You're gonna have to try harder.
ReplyDeleteWhat Jeffro said.
ReplyDeleteYou sound like Heinlein's definition of a good neighbor....
ReplyDeleteIt occurred to me a few years back that the people I consider to be my closest friends all live hundreds of miles away and I mostly converse with digitally. Outside my marriage and family, I don't have any local meatspace friends I could consider close at all.
ReplyDeleteThis bothers me, and I'm not sure why. Is it because I'm too picky about people and the internets offers a bigger selection? Is it because digital interaction itself is a pleasant filter that makes fake interaction easier than authentic meatspace relations? Can I only deal with people if I retain the option to turn communication off when I wish? Am I broken in the head or do I just overthink things?
But it bugs me and it bugs me that I don't know why it bugs me. I need a drink.
Un-offended here.
ReplyDeleteNothing you have written here has offended me in any way, shape, or form.
ReplyDeleteYou haven't alienated me, yet. Keep trying, I dare you.
ReplyDelete;)
Mike
i'm a bitch. i know it and i own it. it's hard to offend me, so i'm still here, reading what you have to say. i'm just doing so when i have time (which is fleeting, due to PUPPY).
ReplyDeleteWelcome to my club.
ReplyDeleteThis is also where I am.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it makes me sad, but then I remember how annoying people are and I get over it.
s
Color me "unoffended".
ReplyDeleteClearly, you have work to do. :)
Darn, I keep missing the good stuff. So, I go back and re-read the last few days worth of posts. Who's offended? Not me.
ReplyDeletePretty sure none of you are "more than casual friends."
ReplyDeleteI'm offended that I somehow missed out on being offended - there now I feel better.
ReplyDelete1) In a half century upon this earth, I've not yet found a better way than to shut my mouth and keep my thoughts to myself, at least until I've had time to cool off and think over what I want to say.
ReplyDelete2)Remember, sometimes it's not you, it's them. Not every person who sees an insult lurking under every bush is a Democratic politician.
3)Before you open your mouth (or hit the send button on the email, or whatever), take a deep breath and think to yourself:
In 200 years, both this person and myself will be dead, and this whole matter will be of no consequence.
or some variation thereof.
Kishnevi
Oh, and after the fact, if damage control is needed, a blunt apology for the manner in which you spoke (as opposed to the substance of what you were saying) can often work wonders. Or at least remove the emotion from the discussion, and it's usually the emotional aspect that damages a friendship more than the intellectual aspect.
ReplyDeleteKishnevi
I have no magically helpful comment, wish I did. Dreading another day might be counterproductive. The best I have to offer is sending healing thoughts/prayers to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteJim R
Sorry, I am commanded to continue to love my enemies, and you will never get close to that list so you are fine. Don't know what they objected to but then being old means I don't have to catch everything someone says, and high frequency isn't in my hearing range.
ReplyDeleteI may not like you prove I am not a robot, but you did say please.
Let me point out that. much as I lurve alla y'all, I was referring to people who have to deal with me up close and personal on a realitively frequent basis.
ReplyDeleteI get along with people at arm's length -- well, two arm's-lengths plus an airgap -- pretty well.
You're awful hard on yourself Bobbi.
ReplyDeleteGive yourself a break.
I live with one of my ex wives. I just try to be polite to people I don't like.
ReplyDelete