Like... the mall.. or whatever..

[nfotxn]

Wasted time at the mall today with Paul (zer0ith). The man's got a new lady in his life and he's trying to quit smoking again. I'm hoping he can keep those two things mutually exclusive. But it's nice too see your best friend on the up-and-up.

Which brings me to a point I've been meaning to make for a while. As I am, I don't gloss things over most of the time. I mean, I know how to be courteous which sometimes includes being distant. But when it comes to friends, being realistic is my olive branch of choice.

I hate it when people expect me to lie to them as part of being their friend then get upset when I tell them my honest opinion. It's those subtle little implicit expectations that somehow these people won't approve of you unless you deny their problems along with them. Guess what? No matter what I say you're still maybe an alcoholic, slacker or workaholic. Often you're still beautiful, on the outside.

Sorry, I have more self-respect than that. There's liars in this world, this man need not join their ranks. And of course what's worst is that often people live inside their bubble of denial. They can't see their situations for what they are. We all do it, I guess right now I just have a good perspective.

Or so I think.

Note: this isn't an passive/aggressive assault on my friends or people writing on Livejournal. It's just another observation on life. Saw people from the past, thought about them then thought this. Fuck I hate putting disclaimers on here but all too often I find people mis-interpret the context, or worse, make up their own context!

Comments

truthhonorconfusionlies

[ranger1.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I have more self-respect than that. There's liars in this world, this man need not join their ranks.

These days, I think that many people lack a well-defined personal sense of honor. Religion used to provide the moral compass, but now it's being replaced with a multipicity of other opiates (television, Internet, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, etc.) To refuse to give up your high standards, even in the face of peer pressure, takes determination and guts.

Um, yeah. A less rambling version of the above: "good for you."

Of course we all indulge in the occasional white lies, dissembling, and distortion, usually in the service of good intentions. Discretion being the better part of valor, and all that. Ever the balancing act, trying not to stray too far down the spectrum from light towards darkness.

To paraphrase a song I once heard: Could you be true, and true to what you think is right for you?

Nothing that hasn't been said before but needs saying again:

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

You bring up a really interesting point regarding honor, moral compass and faith. A fundament of most religions is that of treating the human condition, be it through opiation or, idealistically, enlightenment. Without falling into a theological quagmire, I'd like to point out that modern capital driven mega-mass-media's solution is opiation through titillation of the senses. I suppose you could counter-argue that information ("enlightenment"?) is also more available and accessible to everyone than ever but also ignorance towards it has increased.

I still like to play the part of the everything-is-ok alarmist. You can't keep things balanced without being alert.

Re: Nothing that hasn't been said before but needs saying again:

[notofthisworld.livejournal.com]

"A fundament of most religions..."

Hey, I like what you did there. It's like a combination of fundamental and element. Or perhaps a back-formation from fundamental. I'm going to have to use that.

At least, I would, if my Concise Oxford dictionary didn't say that the word means arse.

Re: Nothing that hasn't been said before but needs saying again:

[notofthisworld.livejournal.com]

http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=fundament

(Okay, you're usage has precident, especially in American use. But it still primarily means 'arse'.)

"And as Miss Americana, I aspire to end racism and world hunger!"

[jwall.livejournal.com]

It's really easy to clap, cheer along, and pat someone on the back when they say something like what you did. It's also really fun and makes you feel good to join in with other people and say "yeah, I'm with you. I'm totally for what you've said."

Doing it yourself is something else, and if personal honesty were the norm and not the truly rare exception; what you said would be old news and warrant little praise--garnering the same reaction a statement like "I for one am against genocide" does today.

Anyway, call me an asshole and I'll respect you for it. If you live what you talk, you're a real stand-up kind of guy. Glad to know you.

Re: "And as Miss Americana, I aspire to end racism and world hunger!"

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

I try and practice my own dogma. It's really hard though.

I'm a stand-up guy because I like the excitement, at the heart of it all. Some might say "drama queen" but then I'd kick them in the nuts and tell them to be more original.

Well, not really. I've never intentionally kicked somebody in the nuts to the best of the recollection. See? Easy to preach hard to pratice...

[(Anonymous)]

What a wonderfully coded message you present Brother. Anyone you're trying to address in particular?

"Choking air and depleted natural resourses....."let's go shopping" is the cry of the true lunitic"


Remind me to bug Paul for the name.

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

It's mostly to do with acquaitances. The people I consider friends really don't suffer from chronic shallowness, generally.

Love the quote.

[(Anonymous)]

It's in 12 monkeys, the quote is part of a wonderful rant, wish I had all of it.

[sultmhoor.livejournal.com]

FUCK 'EM IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT!

Day 5 (just counting my x-smoking days)

[zer0ith.livejournal.com]

aww, brodie its okay. I know exactely what you mean. its all good though, dont worry about it. I think all your good friends that know you well enough actually know what you mean when you say the things you say. Plus i was there at the mall yesterday so i know what your talking about.

oh wow.....

[imattv.livejournal.com]

"window licker"

rocks my box.....coolest video ever.

"you better roll on niggah, Take your mama car home....you aint gettin no pussy nooooo way...cuz you aint shit an yo hair aint' either."

that electronica breakdown at the end while the champagne cork pops....that's one of my favorite booty songs of alll time!