You can shoot some people with a clue gun a thousand times and they will never get the clue

Last week or the week before--I can't be sure-- one of the girls on America's Top Model got a one from Tyra for not trying. Later, she's shown saying that Tyra didn't like her and wanted her to fall. One of the guys on the show told her that's not at all what she should take away from the experience.

Freud again

From a physchologist's perspective* ... never mind. From my personal expreince I get why she intentionally misunderstood. The issue is two fold actually. When someone tells us something we don't like to hear about ourselves-- the truer it is, the more likely and strongly our ego will misinterpret what we heard. It's a protection mechanism. It stems from fear... that what was said might be true. 

* I am not a spsychologist.

Co-worker again

I didn't ride my bike to work because I was running late. IMy bike's name is Silver Ester, because it's silver and it's almost a pun. (In case you were wondering.)  I took a taxi and save five minutes. Granted that five minutes cost my three dollars and fifty cents. Not quite a dollar a minute, but close.  Anyway, after work I stepped out of the building.  That Anoying guy had left. or so I thought. Suddenly, he appeared behind me from nowhere and wanted to have a conversation.

Actually, conversation isn't what happens. He talks at you, testing your patience and kindness. Just the previous day he had been told again that his students don't understand him, that he needs to slow down and enunciate.

"I did, I did," He moaned.

I was in the office, listening to him and M. This conversation is a rehash of before. I shouldn't have said anything, but one grows wear of the same thing.

"Perhaps you're not doing what you are think you're doing, because your the only one in the office that has this problem."

Imagine a four-year old caught with his cookie hand in the cookie jar. That was the face he gave me.

Now we're back to walking home. He said this and then that, each of the things completely unrelated to the next and then he said, "The other day I wanted to take a taxi, so I said ' can you take me home?' The driver wouldn't do and I think it's because I'm white."

"Really? "

"Yeah."

I was rendered speachless for a moment, and finally said, "Well, I've been in Korea six years, and never had that problem...  Korea taught me enjoy being white."

This is not to say that I didn't enjoy it before, but here, being untanned and pasty pale is a good thing. 

Freud again

Later, I thought of all the things I wish I had said and later still I pondered my extreme annoyance. Part of it is he belives he was descriminated against at university (ten years to get a degree) and in getting a job (no really experience). Finally, I understood. Annoying Guy has made an artform out of protecting his ego. He's stuck and the hopes that maybe, after spending a few months abroad, he would unstick himself, get a clue and move on... not going to happen.  Anyway,  I've come up with the perfect thing to say:

"That's stupid."

No worries. He'll  think that I'm refering to what the taxi driver did or whatever "issue" he has, not what's coming out of his mouth. Now, lets  bow our heads in a moment of silence and contemplate the larger meaning....