Things I hate

There are some things that people do that I dislike intensely.

• When someone puts himself or herself down. Being uneducated is not stupid.
• Intolerance. Sometimes, people refuse to consider that someone else’s life leads them up different paths and that they do things that fulfil their needs.
• Being told that I’m smart. I’m not. I was only a “B” student. I look at things with an open mind.
• Spammers. Enough said.
• People who think that their freedom to do something is more important than considering how their actions affect others. I even set up InconsiderateBastards.com for this. Many drivers come into this category. It’s why I could never be a libertarian. Their actions are selfish, but I can understand the attraction.
• People who think they can dictate the actions of others. It’s why I could never be authoritarian. The extreme religious right is an example of this. I don’t have a problem with people who follow authoritarian leaders; it’s a way of fulfilling a need of theirs.
• People who use their emotional baggage as a way to get people to do things. We all have emotional baggage, and a friend is someone who will listen to you and offer advice on how to deal with it. It’s not something to share with every person you meet. You must deal with it if it will drag you down further. I remember talking to someone in The Royal Oak in Edinburgh one busy night. He was bemoaning the fact that he lost the love of his life twenty years earlier. That’s a long time to bring it up with a total stranger.
• Guilt is something you feel when you know/think you’ve hurt someone else. To deal with it, look back on your actions. If you won’t repeat it, then you’ve learnt and can move on. Good. If it is something that you will do again in the same circumstances, and you know the results, then don’t feel guilty about it; just accept it as part of yourself. Hmm, this could be a post in its own right.
• People who blame the system for their actions. Yes, I realise this fills a need of theirs. The system may have given them less choices, but others in the same circumstances make different choices, or deal with the choices they make. It’s how you deal with the choices you made that are important.
• Misrepresentation. Does this include politicians? Sixty-two plus three facelifts do not make you forty-six. (An example someone recently discussed with me.) It’s like having a photo on a dating site where you are holding your arms above your head in an attempt to reduce the amount of belly fat you have. This is only acceptable if your dates all involve swinging through the trees a la Tarzan.

I’m sure I’ll have more, but that’s for part II one day.