I discovered long ago that I have a problem with tact. And by problem, what I really mean is a DISTINCT LACK OF IT. I suspect that my brain-to-mouth filter has been clogged by hormone-lint or some other such nonsense.
Granted, this isn't as much of a problem as it used to be. That was why I used to be horribly mean, actually--I'd speak without thinking, and it turns out that the stuff I said on the fly was a lot crueler than anything I actually had to think about. So that sort of explains why Narvel used to hate my guts (part of it, of course, was that I hated her guts, and it's hard to not indulge in mutual hate-fests when you're in middle school).
Anyways, basically I have finally decided that the best solution to this problem is to take an anger management course and practice spiritual, holistic yoga to cleanse both body and mind.
....
......
Yeah, I was lying.
In reality, the best solution is to adopt (in part) the philosophy of the skeptics.
No, really. I'm serious this time. Because their philosophy basically goes something like this: Never pass judgment. Ever.
Turns out if I don't pass judgment on the people I care about (no matter how hard or how easy that task may be), I can't actually piss any of them off enough to start another hate-fest a la 6th grade. And, yeah, this is probably going to be harder than it appears at first, but I have other outlets for anger and frustration with my friends and family--I just need to make more use of them. Taking it out on the people themselves actually does nothing, and I KNOW I never manage to do anything other than make the situation worse. Which, obviously, leads to a whole bunch of bad stuff.
Additionally, in a moment of sap--forgive me--I've sort of come to terms with the fact that I've only got a year and a half left with you guys, and then we'll all be going off to various corners of the globe doing our own stuff, and I am TERRIBLE at keeping in touch with people. Like, horrendously, notoriously bad at it. So I should probably make the most of you all--you're the most spectacular group of people I've had the "playsure" of meeting, as the Epicureans would remind me. Better not to screw that up by being my usual tactless self.
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Okay: as somebody who hangs out with you a fair bit, I can say with authority and honesty that I hardly ever see you being really tactless anymore. Either that, or I've gotten used to it. :D But seriously, although you might notice yourself being tactless, I don't notice it at all.
But as to your plan to adopting the philosophy of the skeptics, I heartily agree. Sometime between 7th and 10th grade, I realized that any convictions of mine, be they pigeonholed into me by the church, the media, my friends, or even my own ruminations, would somehow eventually be proven wrong. I've since adopted a policy bordering on complete skepticism, in which I force myself to have a long period of uncertainty and inner debates (at the very least) before actually forming any conclusions. And while this might one day force me to hire a manservant to keep me out of the way of moving vehicles, it really does help me to get pissed less often and hate fewer people. So give it a try. :)
I'm not going to comment on the last paragraph lest I get too emotional. Cheers.
You are a sweetums despite your hormone-lint.
Frankly I think you're going to have a very high fail rate for your skeptical strategy because I believe that as people living in a society that passes judgement, it is inevitable and unavoidable that we will pass judgement on every person we meet in some form or another.
But you know what, do what works for you. Who knows? Don't let me be too skeptical (LOLLOLOLOLZ) for you.
I've actually never noticed you being tactless (at least to me), and goodness knows I give you plenty of opportunities/reasons to be. So you already win!
RE: sap - yeah, it's starting to hit home that I'm getting on a plane for the East Coast in August or September. Hooooly fuck. but fortunately, I have dear Wanda to force you into a vlog project. aside from that, I'm also ridiculously awful at keeping in touch, so it will be an adventure in follow-through. or I'll just end up never talking to you again and you'll never have the chance to finally be tactless.
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