I had a 30 second, in passing, informal discussion with two of my coworkers today about the talents that some people are blessed with. It got me to thinking about how diverse humanity is as a whole, and how different every one of us are. Some people are blessed with incredible athleticism, others are blessed with amazing good looks, and some are blessed with the gift of music. There are so many possible combinations, it's really a testament to how different we all are.
However, with these gifts come inefficiencies and weaknesses. I think that while it's important to recognize and possibly capitalize on one's talents, it's just as important to realize when you're not gifted in certain areas and stay away from those areas.
I do a few things well. The top three things I believe I'm above average at are as follows:
1. Communication, all forms. Written/Oral/Dirty Looks/Stink Eye/Morse Code
2. Ping Pong (Wanna play? Pack a damn lunch, it'll be a long day for you.)
3. Betting College Football. I win more than I lose, which is more than probably 85% of the betting public can say.
This blog post is brought on by a bit of frustration, but also it serves as a public service announcement for those of who who feel the need to convey your faux prowess at pretty much anything, just to be the center of fucking attention. It's annoying, pathetic, and worst of all, self destructive.
For instance, if you're really not adept at interacting with people with small talk in the workplace, just keep it short and professional, and work on cultivating relationships that actually matter. I'd never blatantly tell someone, "Hey, you're really shitty at talking with people", just because someone sucks at communicating, because I wouldn't want an accomplished artist making fun of me doodling in boredom. Not that I'd compare my communications skills to a Banksy, but you get what I'm saying.
Here's a perfect example:
Person 1: Wow, you guys are really fast!
Idiot: Yeah, we're pretty organized.
Person 1: Well I've got everything ready for you, so this should be quick. It makes a difference when everyone's got their ducks in a row.
Idiot: Well,...that's kinda the pot calling the kettle black.
Person 1: "Uh....o.......k?"
I guess it comes down to just being you. Don't try to be someone else. When you do, you look silly. A few years ago when my brother was in the service, I went to visit him in Mississippi. I was a fish out of water, but for 4 days, I tried to change to accomodate everyone I was spending time with, including my brother. I realized after a while that I wasn't having fun, I wasn't comfortable, and worst of all, people saw right through the bullshit. Just be real.
I know this might be a weak blog entry, and maybe it's not laced with comedy as much as some would like, but I have zero followers at this point, so all zero of you can kiss my ass. This blog is for me at this point, and being able to get these thoughts out of my mind and out into some kind of "open", it delays the inevitable incident of me blowing my lid by maybe a few weeks.
Be real. It's worth it. You feel better, and people will respect you more. Peace!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Insanity
I'm a people person. I usually don't have any problem getting along with and having a positive relationship with everyone I come into contact with. Well, not everyone. Every once in a while, and by once in a while, I'd say about every 8-10 years, I end up having to socialize or work with someone who has a personality trait that I just can't deal with.
There's a part of me that's insecure and thinks, "What went wrong with me and Person A, and Person B, and person C? I'm the least common denominator, maybe I'm the one with the personality flaw."
There's another part of me that's a narcissistic asshole and says, "I know hundreds of people, if not thousands, and I've only had significant problems with 2 or 3 over my 30 years of life, 15 years of school, and 14 years of work. It's not me, it's them with the issue."
Currently, there's someone in my life that I really can't seem to get along with. Being an upbeat, happy people person, I can't stand when I have to spend time with someone who is the exact opposite of me. The person in particular is argumentative, confrontational, pompous, and worst of all, they're a one-upper. It takes everything I have to get through the day without verbally assaulting this person for how they treat people around them. This person takes every damn opportunity to belittle people, and give them a hard time, and just make things difficult, when in life, it takes a lot more effort to do this than to just be nice and smile and help people out. I really wish I could be more descriptive, and provide examples, but I like my life the way it is, and divulging more information might change it a bit. And I refuse to let a piss ant like the person we're talking about affect my life anymore than they already have.
I'm beginning to realize that this person is taking out their shitty life on everyone around them. When you do the same thing every day, go to the same awful bar every weekend, only have one pathetic hobby, and your life is filled with monotony and boredom, I think you develop a tendency to take it out on those around you that maybe don't mean much to you. When you're required to provide a type of say, customer service, one might develop a passive-aggressive attitude towards those you're supposed to help After all, they're 1-2 minute opportunities to slowly and unnoticeably disseminate your negative energy among the masses the same way a prisoner digging his way out of jail would slowly dump the dug up rocks and dirt through his pant legs on his walks in the prison yard over years and years of digging...and dumping...and digging...and dumping.
Einstein said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results. I guess when you live a boring life, and life ingrained in a mindless routine, a life where you're expecting a prince charming to emerge out of the same losers you hang out with from the same place you frequent, that's bordering on insanity.
Fortunately, for me, I'm a people person. This is one person of many, and I've learned to deal with it by the art of indifference and the cold shoulder. However, there's a part of me that hopes this person eventually realizes that they need to change it up a bit. Live a little. Visit a new place, meet new people. Maybe treat others with a smile and a greeting instead of with a stare and a pointed question.
There's a part of me that's insecure and thinks, "What went wrong with me and Person A, and Person B, and person C? I'm the least common denominator, maybe I'm the one with the personality flaw."
There's another part of me that's a narcissistic asshole and says, "I know hundreds of people, if not thousands, and I've only had significant problems with 2 or 3 over my 30 years of life, 15 years of school, and 14 years of work. It's not me, it's them with the issue."
Currently, there's someone in my life that I really can't seem to get along with. Being an upbeat, happy people person, I can't stand when I have to spend time with someone who is the exact opposite of me. The person in particular is argumentative, confrontational, pompous, and worst of all, they're a one-upper. It takes everything I have to get through the day without verbally assaulting this person for how they treat people around them. This person takes every damn opportunity to belittle people, and give them a hard time, and just make things difficult, when in life, it takes a lot more effort to do this than to just be nice and smile and help people out. I really wish I could be more descriptive, and provide examples, but I like my life the way it is, and divulging more information might change it a bit. And I refuse to let a piss ant like the person we're talking about affect my life anymore than they already have.
I'm beginning to realize that this person is taking out their shitty life on everyone around them. When you do the same thing every day, go to the same awful bar every weekend, only have one pathetic hobby, and your life is filled with monotony and boredom, I think you develop a tendency to take it out on those around you that maybe don't mean much to you. When you're required to provide a type of say, customer service, one might develop a passive-aggressive attitude towards those you're supposed to help After all, they're 1-2 minute opportunities to slowly and unnoticeably disseminate your negative energy among the masses the same way a prisoner digging his way out of jail would slowly dump the dug up rocks and dirt through his pant legs on his walks in the prison yard over years and years of digging...and dumping...and digging...and dumping.
Einstein said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results. I guess when you live a boring life, and life ingrained in a mindless routine, a life where you're expecting a prince charming to emerge out of the same losers you hang out with from the same place you frequent, that's bordering on insanity.
Fortunately, for me, I'm a people person. This is one person of many, and I've learned to deal with it by the art of indifference and the cold shoulder. However, there's a part of me that hopes this person eventually realizes that they need to change it up a bit. Live a little. Visit a new place, meet new people. Maybe treat others with a smile and a greeting instead of with a stare and a pointed question.
The places you go suck.
Many of my friends are quick to post on Facebook where they're at and where they're going. While it's fun to let people know where you're grabbing a bite to eat or where your kid takes tae-kwon-do classes, I should also inform you that the places you go are terrible.
For instance, every time I see someone at the YardHouse after about 8pm, I cringe. Don't get me wrong, I love YardHouse. I just wouldn't be caught in there on a weekend night. I go there for lunch probably 4 or 5 times a year, they have great food, Cherry Wheat on tap, and the service is always really good. At night, it's fucking ridiculous. The last time I was there, it was a fire code violation waiting to happen. There were about 500 too many people in the place. It took about a 15 minutes to get a 24 oz beer that costed 11 dollars. For 11 dollars, I can get 2 six-packs of the same beer across the street from my house. It only takes about 12 minutes to go there and back. Plus, I don't have to wade through the pretentious Ed Hardy wearing geeks who are there to pick up chicks.
There's another place right around the corner from YardHouse that is just as ridiculously packed and stupid, and that's Blue Martini. I've been there once. I spent about 5 minutes there before I realized it wasn't as cool as everyone said it was, and I bounced.
My favorite place to go is the Rumrunner on Tropicana by the Liberace Museum. Sure, it's in a shady part of the Valley, and there might be some insavory characters there, but let me tell you what it has that YardHouse, Blue Martini, Cadillac Ranch, and other stupid upscale bars/restaurants have. Cheap Drinks! You can get one of those big ol' mugs of brew for 3 bucks. A captain and coke is 3.50. Plus, they've got pool tables, shuffleboard, and darts, and I've never waited in line behind a bunch of dorks wearing TapOut basketball jerseys to play any of them. When I go out, I want the best for my buck. I don't want music playing so loud I can't hear myself think. I don't want to be shoulder to shoulder with 80 of my closest friends just to get a drink. I just wanna hang out and relax, conversate, and have a good time. YardHouse isn't a good time.
For instance, every time I see someone at the YardHouse after about 8pm, I cringe. Don't get me wrong, I love YardHouse. I just wouldn't be caught in there on a weekend night. I go there for lunch probably 4 or 5 times a year, they have great food, Cherry Wheat on tap, and the service is always really good. At night, it's fucking ridiculous. The last time I was there, it was a fire code violation waiting to happen. There were about 500 too many people in the place. It took about a 15 minutes to get a 24 oz beer that costed 11 dollars. For 11 dollars, I can get 2 six-packs of the same beer across the street from my house. It only takes about 12 minutes to go there and back. Plus, I don't have to wade through the pretentious Ed Hardy wearing geeks who are there to pick up chicks.
There's another place right around the corner from YardHouse that is just as ridiculously packed and stupid, and that's Blue Martini. I've been there once. I spent about 5 minutes there before I realized it wasn't as cool as everyone said it was, and I bounced.
My favorite place to go is the Rumrunner on Tropicana by the Liberace Museum. Sure, it's in a shady part of the Valley, and there might be some insavory characters there, but let me tell you what it has that YardHouse, Blue Martini, Cadillac Ranch, and other stupid upscale bars/restaurants have. Cheap Drinks! You can get one of those big ol' mugs of brew for 3 bucks. A captain and coke is 3.50. Plus, they've got pool tables, shuffleboard, and darts, and I've never waited in line behind a bunch of dorks wearing TapOut basketball jerseys to play any of them. When I go out, I want the best for my buck. I don't want music playing so loud I can't hear myself think. I don't want to be shoulder to shoulder with 80 of my closest friends just to get a drink. I just wanna hang out and relax, conversate, and have a good time. YardHouse isn't a good time.
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