Newsflash! Pugilist / Jonathan is MEAN!

Well, actually, I am not nice but in today's society once you are not equal to something you must be equal to its opposite. It's a silly construct but as I have to deal in reality, there you have it.

Why then am I so very mean?

It's really quite simple:

1. When most people ask you to be "nice" their meaning is "I am going to take advantage of you and you must thank me for it"
2. I don't participate in the above
3. There are very few people whose opinion of me matters to me
4. Getting people to like me is not a goal
5. I do not hesitate to return a smack with eight
6. I love competence and hate arrogance
7. I believe I am an equal, as a person, to any other person
8. I never take anything personally, especially when it is meant so

Hmmm, none of that seems so horrible.  Why then am I so very mean?

It's the application of the above that does it.

Let's see what I mean.

1. I routinely refuse or disagree with all "wouldn't you feel better if . . . " requests, suggestions, or threats
2. if you're not one of the people whose opinion of me is important to me, then I will ignore or ridicule, whichever is most amusing to me at the moment, any attempt you make at haraunging or insulting me
3. I don't seek approval and while respect is important to me, only the respect of those whose opinion is important to me is of any concern
4. I believe in the concept of an overwhelming response to an attack and do not hesitate to do so in as personal and demeaning way possible
5. As I love competence, I tend to attack those who pretend competence but do not posses it
6. As I hate arrogance, I tend to attack it at every turn
7. As I believe people are to be treated equally, as people, I tend to attack those who claim special privilege
8. I view attempts at insults for their entertainment value alone

And the application of the above comes across as mean.  I understand that and, honestly, it's something with which I am comfortable.
It's also why I've been given the tough jobs in my career, why people single me out in a crisis, and why so many consider me to be an asshole.

Because I am.

So, if you want an honest and respectful interaction, be honest and respectful.  Drop down into the dirt and I will go lower because I believe in dealing with people in a manner they best understand and only when you demonstrate to these people that the normal blustering and posturing is no longer effective will they be open to change.  And if it takes them a long time, well, I have to admit I enjoy administering the lesson and have the personal will and interest to do so.

Other people hold differing opinions and I respect them their efforts even while I find my results to be more consistent and productive.  They, no doubt, have the same opinion of their efforts and that's fine.

And so I am mean and some folks who may have had a positive opinion of me and were sure that I really was a nice person are disappointed and send me notes telling me so and I have to hurt their feelings anew when I inform them that they really should have paid attention earlier.

And why do I post this now?  

Because the subject's been broached anew here and, apparently, these folks are acting as if this all comes as a surprise.

I blame stupidity, but that's just because I am not nice.