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When Standing on Principle, It's Best to Understand the Word
This will not be a random blog post with a dictionary definition pasted into it with a passive aggressive indication that it applies to some other member.
I view this sort of childish lunacy as the work of a damaged soul. After all, they have this visceral need to lash out in order to alleviate the insecurity in their life and do so at targets they believe they can intimidate or attack without consequences.
As a result, I get called a lot of names and interact with a lot of faux accusations and all of these folks maintain they are defending a principle.
Oh they can't define it, they can't cite any transgressions, they can't be bothered with actual facts, but they know they are right because they are feeling bad about themselves at it has to be some one's fault.
And I'm an easy target because I have an opinion on everything and a burning belief folks just can't wait to hear it. I have a naive sense that if you have an honest discussion, people who say they want an honest discussion will not be offended.
And, mostly, I am wrong.
But that's fine because a side effect of this interaction is the identification of people with whom I'd prefer never to interact. And when I do that, well, that's when these people get really upset. After all, don't I know they are better than I am? Don't I know that they are smarter, prettier, more athletic, more talented, have more friends, and are liked more? How dare I be glad not to interact with them. How dare I dismiss them. They will show me.
And so begins interactions that defy logic, reason, and stretch the definition of stupidity into new realms.
And these folks all do this because they are making a stand on a principle, supposedly, maybe, really they mean it this time, "STOP LOOKING AT ME!"
Yeah, the problem is they can't define a principle much less list the one one which they are allegedly standing. Because what's happening is that they are hurt and angry and lashing out like children and this has always worked in the past because as a society we are taught confrontation is a bad thing.
Well, let me amend that. Lot's of folks are taught confrontation is not nice. That's right, folks are taught it is better to be taken advantage of than confront someone because you have the moral high-ground. This means you can feel better about yourself because you are obviously superior because you took the moral high ground.
I can't say bullshit loudly enough.
If you are being abused, taking action to stop the abuse is not wrong. Letting yourself be abused is not taking the moral high ground, it is creating a societal norm that is harmful.
So to you folks hoping to intimidate me, good luck with it. I'm going to let you in on a little secret.
I do not like confrontation.
But hell, I don't like cleaning the bathroom either. I do it because I am good at it, have an excellent attention to detail, and it has to be done so that the consequences of not doing it do not spoil my life. As so I confront these people and they get angry and call for my censure and talk to each other about how mean I am and get their friends to come and call me names and they do all of this because they are making a stand on principle.
Unfortunately the only principle they have is "I am better than you," which is moronic.
But what about me? Aren't my actions harsh and callous and disrespectful?
Yes, yes they are.
Because taking action to stop abuse is not wrong. If these people understood reason they would not be engaging in abuse to begin with. Since they do not understand reason, I do anything required to get them to stop.
I don't make a lot of friends this way, but then, people I desire to call friends do not abuse others so somehow, I am OK with that.
I view this sort of childish lunacy as the work of a damaged soul. After all, they have this visceral need to lash out in order to alleviate the insecurity in their life and do so at targets they believe they can intimidate or attack without consequences.
As a result, I get called a lot of names and interact with a lot of faux accusations and all of these folks maintain they are defending a principle.
Oh they can't define it, they can't cite any transgressions, they can't be bothered with actual facts, but they know they are right because they are feeling bad about themselves at it has to be some one's fault.
And I'm an easy target because I have an opinion on everything and a burning belief folks just can't wait to hear it. I have a naive sense that if you have an honest discussion, people who say they want an honest discussion will not be offended.
And, mostly, I am wrong.
But that's fine because a side effect of this interaction is the identification of people with whom I'd prefer never to interact. And when I do that, well, that's when these people get really upset. After all, don't I know they are better than I am? Don't I know that they are smarter, prettier, more athletic, more talented, have more friends, and are liked more? How dare I be glad not to interact with them. How dare I dismiss them. They will show me.
And so begins interactions that defy logic, reason, and stretch the definition of stupidity into new realms.
And these folks all do this because they are making a stand on a principle, supposedly, maybe, really they mean it this time, "STOP LOOKING AT ME!"
Yeah, the problem is they can't define a principle much less list the one one which they are allegedly standing. Because what's happening is that they are hurt and angry and lashing out like children and this has always worked in the past because as a society we are taught confrontation is a bad thing.
Well, let me amend that. Lot's of folks are taught confrontation is not nice. That's right, folks are taught it is better to be taken advantage of than confront someone because you have the moral high-ground. This means you can feel better about yourself because you are obviously superior because you took the moral high ground.
I can't say bullshit loudly enough.
If you are being abused, taking action to stop the abuse is not wrong. Letting yourself be abused is not taking the moral high ground, it is creating a societal norm that is harmful.
So to you folks hoping to intimidate me, good luck with it. I'm going to let you in on a little secret.
I do not like confrontation.
But hell, I don't like cleaning the bathroom either. I do it because I am good at it, have an excellent attention to detail, and it has to be done so that the consequences of not doing it do not spoil my life. As so I confront these people and they get angry and call for my censure and talk to each other about how mean I am and get their friends to come and call me names and they do all of this because they are making a stand on principle.
Unfortunately the only principle they have is "I am better than you," which is moronic.
But what about me? Aren't my actions harsh and callous and disrespectful?
Yes, yes they are.
Because taking action to stop abuse is not wrong. If these people understood reason they would not be engaging in abuse to begin with. Since they do not understand reason, I do anything required to get them to stop.
I don't make a lot of friends this way, but then, people I desire to call friends do not abuse others so somehow, I am OK with that.