Do you ever just want to tell them to please shut up?
Now, perhaps, occasionally, you'd prefer to omit the "please" and insert a few phrases that would be decidely more explicit. And perhaps you would be justified (to a certain extent). Why is it, then, that we constantly plaster smiles on our faces and laugh weakly until that frustrating moment finally passes?
Well, I suppose I've already answered my own question. We feign joviality to get through these fleeting moments of disgust. Actually, I think I will stop using the pronoun "we" and just switch to the first-person. I do that...all the time. Sometimes, though, I wonder if it's such a good thing.
I mean, clearly, it would be unwise to throw this goodnatured behavior out the window altogether. For example, in the working environment, the following situation would occur:
"Hey, Andrew. Why did the chicken cross the--"
"SHUT. UP. I NEVER WANT TO HEAR YOUR STUPID JOKES AGAIN."
"Oh, okay... Also, you're fired."
So...bad idea, yes? I suppose that's taking it to the extreme, though. A lot of times, I'm really torn between being genuine and being kind in order to spare someone's feelings. Obviously, it's important to be genuine, and I think I am genuine most of the time; however, personally, I find that sparing others' feelings is more important. Every time. Now, I'm not saying that this is some intrisic quality that only I have discovered. Most people, I believe, would opt for the latter. But, occasionally, when I see someone "tell off" their co-worker, friend, or acquaintance, I can't help but admire them to a certain degree. Is that...sick...? Probably.
Once again, being kind to others is something that I value very highly, and I really don't think that anything tends to be accomplished by these explosive episodes of anger. With that said, I know that I would sometimes feel much better by occasionally partaking in the aforementioned explosions. But...I never do.
Honestly, I'm not even sure why I'm rambling about this. It's just something that bothers me from time to time. Does it ever pay to really let people know what you're thinking, even if it will horribly offend them? Should you put an end to their mindless chatter by telling them that you just can't take it anymore? I guess there are tactful ways to do so, but still... To "grin and bear it" has always been a favorite pastime of mine.
Well, there you have it--something else to ponder. If you happen upon any definitive conclusions, please let me know. In the meantime, I'll be here, smiling, nodding, and laughing myself into oblivion.
But I learned fast how to keep my head up 'cause I
know there is this side of me that
wants to grab the yoke from the pilot and just
fly the whole mess into the sea.
3 comments:
haha. I quite enjoyed this. I think that I have a similar problem, though when I come home, I lose some of that self control because some of my best friends are incredibly..hm...blunt. Oh, and so was one of my co-workers. It's kind of refreshing, because I always knew when someone said something or did something that bothered him.
Okay, so this bit cracked me up (I may have frightened the semi-animated bodies):
"Hey, Andrew. Why did the chicken cross the--"
"SHUT. UP. I NEVER WANT TO HEAR YOUR STUPID JOKES AGAIN."
"Oh, okay... Also, you're fired."
But anyway, I'm glad you wrote it tonight and gave me a break from the prepacking festivities.
Bravo.
I am always on the fence about this too. I never want to be mean to people (unless I have very good reason to) and I hold back saying things all the time. I think a more recent post is similar, so I'll comment more there.
I think that the problem with grinning and bearing it is most evident when you're bad at grinning and bearing it. The problem comes when you expect people to understand that they're annoying you when you've given them no indication.
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