If You Can't Say Something Nice...

So, the subject of today's post is going to be tolerance...

In my opinion, there is hardly anything that is a more unattractive quality in a person than intolerance. I mean, how arrogant! To be intolerant of a person, or group of people, simply because they don't conform with your individual set of ideals does not give you any right at all to consider yourself above said individual...what a narcissistic manner of thinking!!

I'm truly baffled as to how people come to think this way. In my mind, it must, at least in part, come back to the environment that people are raised in...I suppose, if you grow up hearing others talk down on people [or certain groups of people] or if you see/hear that this sort of attitude is acceptable [or even encouraged], then maybe you wouldn't know any better...but I don't think that's exactly true either...

Once a person gets a certain age [or maturity level], they can no longer blame their upbringing for their social shortcomings. Unless it's some sort of seriously atypical situation, a person simply cannot make it to functional adulthood without having to think for themselves! Now that you're thinking for yourself, how is it possible that you let words of spite and hatred spill from your lips without giving any thought to how your words will effect other people?! And what makes you think that your opinion is so much more important than anyone else's? So much more important, that you have the right to spew your venomous opinion all over the 'offending' individual and those in your wake?!

It is a very small, self-centered mentality that allows this sort of garbage to carry on.

To the kids that grow up in environments filled with this sort of emotional filth: I, for one, am truly sorry that you have to be exposed to hate. I know that children do not have the ability/luxury of choosing their families, neighborhoods, or social cohorts and it is unfortunate that they have to learn to live and thrive in such toxicity. However, please do not forget that the most important thing that any person can learn is to be kind. Kindness extends to all of the people around you...family, friends, and strangers, too. Unleashing judgement on those around you is not kindness...even if you, personally, do not agree with or like an aspect of another person...keep your unsolicited thoughts to yourself. Just because you had to grow-up around closed-minded, hateful people definitely does not mean that you have to grow to be one as well.

To the adults that perpetuate this unacceptable behavior: what the hell is the matter with you!? Take notes from one of your kid's movies...remember the scene in Bambi when Thumper, the rabbit, started to comment on Bambi's lack of coordination [he was just born, after all] when his mother promptly stopped him. Instead, she asked Thumper to remember what his father had told him earlier that morning [See the picture to the right]. Just because you're 'grown,' does not make you immune to this very basic social rule! And for the sake of future humanity, do not pass this hateful way of thinking and behaving on to your children.

As I'm sure you've already deduced, this is a topic that strikes a very deep, very personal nerve for me...but, I do feel better now that I've typed out some of my frustrations and put them out into the blogosphere for everyone [or no one] to see...here's to hoping that the next post is much more light-hearted!

/Gripe...

Just a heads up, this post contains random things that I find bothersome...feel free to skip this post, if you want...

First thing that bugs me:
If you are a seller on eBay [or any site that is similar], don't be intentionally misleading. Jerks are intentionally misleading, and I'm pretty sure you don't want to be a jerk.

I've been doing some eBay browsing...I noticed lots of posts that were touting 'rare' items...items that are listed as 'very hard to find' or 'limited edition' should be just that. I think it's horrible that some of you list items as such when they're the very opposite! Specifically, I noticed some Disney merchandise that was listed as 'rare' on multiple listings...that very same item can be purchased right now straight from the Disney Store site! And for a fraction of the price!

Shame you on you, shady vendors. Shame.

Next thing that bugs me:
AT&T, you need to work on your customer service representation.

I called last week to tweak my U-Verse package a bit [does anybody else think that cable/internet is ridiculously expensive?], and the lady that 'helped' me royally fudged up my cable package. Big time.

I'm crossing my fingers that my bill isn't going to be botched the same way!

Next:
Dear upstairs neighbors,
You are the most inconsiderate couple of a-holes that I could have ever had the misfortune to live near. You walk like a pack of elephants and you have terrible taste in music. And I would know. I hear it quite often.
Loathsomely yours,
Me

And then:
Whomever is walking their little shite of a dog and allowing it to take little shites all over the common breezeways and sidewalks...I hate you. Marginally less than I hate my upstairs neighbors.

You are a lazy and sorry excuse for a responsible adult, let alone pet owner.

I pay way too much for my crappy apartment to have to deal with living in a literally crappy apartment building.

How hard is it to pick up after your dog? Too hard? If so, don't own a friggin dog, genius!

If/when I figure out who you are, I'll then figure out which apartment is yours and which car is yours. Expect some less than pleasant placements of your fecal transgressions.

Finally:
If you are fortunate enough to not suffer the burden of social anxiety, please consider yourself to be truly lucky. Because you are.

However, please do be sensitive to those around you who might not be as lucky.

Yes, it may seem strange to you that there are some people who can get physically ill at the mere thought of an unwanted [or wanted, sometimes] social interaction. It can, and does, happen. Please try to be considerate.

/ponders

Yep, that'll do for now.

Friendship Soap-Box...

Why is it such an inconceivable thought that a guy and girl can be 'just friends'? 

A good bit of my friends are/were guys, one of my absolute best friends is a guy...and yet it seems to me that the mere idea of it is ridiculous. 

From my experience, a lot of people are quick to assume that there's some nefarious hidden agenda beneath any interactions between me and my male friends and, frankly, it's insulting. Now, I will agree that not every friendship is/was 100% platonic...there may have even been some *gasp!* flirting on the occasion...but when it comes to the friendship between me and my best friend, let's call him 'Mr. C,' we've reached a level of friendship that is breaching on that of siblings.

Mr. C and I have been friends since middle school, 7th grade to be exact...that's when my family moved to Smalltown, Alabama. His last name is close to mine, alphabetically, so we would up sitting near each other in many classes. We had home economics together and he sat right behind me...one of his favorite things to do was pretend to blow spit balls at the back of my head [charming, right?]. On one such spit ball chucking day, I happened to have brought a gigantic manga book with me to school...seriously, it was as thick as a phone book! Mr. C was going about his 'annoy the quiet new girl' routine...when I'd asked him to stop a good handful of times, I turned around and smacked him with my comic book! [Yes, yes...we were both very immature...but this was 7th grade, people!] From that day one, he and I have been good friends.

Mr. C and I have seen each other through many break-ups, helped each other move several times, and have stuck with each other through more messes than your typical friendships...but I guess being friends for over 15 years will allow for that sort of thing.

Mr. C and I at my
16th Birthday

He was there for me when things soured between me and my son's father...and I was there for him when things fell apart between he and his last ex, which was right on the tails of his father passing away while he was overseas and culminated in my helping out when he needed to move back to Alabama. 

Yes, there are times when I get frustrated and am less than happy with Mr. C, and I'm sure that there are times when he's not thrilled with me either...but that's why I say with confidence that he and I are more like siblings than friends. And no, there's never been anything physical between the two of us either. Ever. Seriously. [That's the point that seems to get me the most raised eyebrows...but that's the truth. Former Girl Scout's honor!]

All this being said...yes, I will get a bit miffed if someone starts rooting around and trying to make something more of my friendship than there's ever been. And if those that are new to my life choose to persist in pressing the issue, hoping that what must be a facade will crack and that all sorts of gossipy-goodness will come oozing out...I'll probably shake my head, laugh, and then decide that maybe we shouldn't be friends after all if they think so little of me, to insist that I would lie about something that has been so factually innocent. 

Okay...

That probably seemed like it was a little out of left field, but I just needed to put that out there.

/stepsoffsoapbox