This isn’t about Midsummer Night’s Dream… And I’m getting in there quick because I just know what some people out there are like…
“Aaaaactually, as any idiot will tell you, it’s an ass…”
You said it, buddy.
But you…. you’re not like that. I know you’ve got more sense. I know you’ll be thinking, “Hmm, there’s an odd title. I wonder where she’s going with this…” And you’ll read on until that light bulb moment when it suddenly makes sense. I like that about you. Thanks.
However, there’s no avoiding the fact that people like you are few and far between, and it seems, sadly, that your numbers are dwindling day by day.
Remember ages ago, I said I wasn’t the bitey kind of vampire? Well, I’ll stand by that. And yes, I did admit that there are times when I’m tempted. People like the above “Actually” would be first in line. Although, ‘actually’, thinking about it… No.
A good example of a Mr Actually happened a while ago. And yes, like most of these instances, it happened online. Oh! The arrogance of online anonymity! I had made an innocent comment, stating an opinion about a subject that I happened to have several decades of knowledge/training/experience.
Mr Actually said, “You know, I’d never thought about it like that. That’s a very interesting point of view. Thank you for your thoughts. I always appreciate hearing a viewpoint that differs from my own.”
Only joking!
Of course he didn’t! Mr Actually went into full-on rant mode. He was like a terrier on a rat. His pages of diatribe and foul-mouthing I will tactfully condense into the following cute little couplet…
You’re wrong, I’m right.
You’re stupid, I’m bright.
I then went on to reply that, quite simply, this was my opinion. I didn’t bash him over the head with the whole knowledge/training/experience thing. None of it could be a match for his obvious expertise. Indeed, rather than accepting my statement, he behaved as though I had suggested that his mother had had a restraining order slapped on her by the local donkey sanctuary.
And the vitriol continued. I learned my lesson that day.
Pre-internet, I remember (decades ago) discussing a thesis of mine with someone who, miraculously, knew more about what I was doing than I did, even though he was hundreds of miles away. It also happened recently. Now, I know I’m technically a genius, but the intellect of these naysayers must reach such dizzying heights as to be beyond my simplistic understanding…
Anyway… My take on the matter now is this: You can disagree with me all you like: it doesn’t make me wrong. Or you right.
If you have to deal with people like this, may I politely suggest you try this out as a mantra? It’s actually quite invigorating.
Opinions, you see, are like, er, bottom-holes. Everybody’s got one.
The reason I would never succumb to temptation and bite is quite simple.
I would never eat something that disagrees with me.
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The Everyday Vampire 