I blame the media (because I like to) for teaching us that being right is the exact same as being interesting. Very tricky, media!
This revolution bodes well for our friends the Well Actuallys. That said, I’m losing potential boyfriends at an astounding rate, as hordes of nerdy men adopt pretension as a way of relating to others.
I’m willing to fight to find real character under all that. We’ve all been treated like resum’es on dates; it’s natural for you to want to recite yours. But if I have to wade through countless crushes only to be told what I left out of my story or whether Maddox disagrees with me, I’m not going to last. I want to talk about a song I like, and you have to tell me it’s a cover. You tell me how many carbs are in our dinner. You start to recite all the supreme court justices, I don’t know. The facts themselves aren’t horrible, but it leads to this weird self-righteous judgmental attitude.
Besides… I already have a lover who gives me all the trivia I need, and then another who unapologetically assumes I’m stupid.
Preachy, but necessary. My advice is to ask a woman a question or two. Then respect her answer. Practice in the mirror, or on your pillow. And buy my new book, “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Women But Were Too Busy Critiquing Vista To Ask.”
January 13, 2008 at 2:56 am
sounds like you just got back from a really bad date… good times.
January 19, 2008 at 2:31 am
Phew! For a minute (several days) there I thought you were suggesting that all guys are supposed to have this so-called “real character”, which leaves me in big, big trouble. Fortunately, I have reread your sentence and noticed that you merely said you’d try to find it, which says nothing of the expectancy that there’s typically anything to be found and you’ll actually succeed. Free and clear!
I also love the idea of someone arguing with you as if they’re some kind of proxy for Maddox with no actual opinion or ability to form intelligent thoughts of their own. “Madam, as a sworn ally and protector of all things Maddox, I shall have to respectfully disagree! On his behalf. And mine, too.” Whoever that was is definitely a keeper, and I’d say his stock has just gone up five, nay, six points. That’s the kind of boldness not even Copperplate Gothic can match. By holding you to standards you don’t even consider relevant he’s taken interpersonal relationships to a whole other level. Absolutely brilliant.
February 1, 2008 at 3:51 am
‘Being right is not the same as being interesting.’
I’ll have to write that one on my hand.
To be honest, though, I’m not nearly as argumentative in real life as I am on the Internet… It only took me 18 years to realise that people don’t like being told they’re wrong, especially if they are.
The Internet, however, is the outlet of my pedantic, argugmentative side. Something about text based communcation brings the worst of it, because you can’t make a connection with people and nothing better to do than pick apart their words…
February 1, 2008 at 11:57 am
They say people come across a lot meaner online than they are in real life – and it’s probably for that very reason. the freedom to criticize and the lack of a good reason to hold back. Your message was endearing… and I’m glad you didn’t go away.
February 2, 2008 at 2:40 am
Sike!
‘On-line’ should be hyphenated.
February 2, 2008 at 10:31 am
Quit it Lawnmower.