| I say we reclaim the Blunt. yes, the Blunt. It's never been very well received. In fact, people who practice the Blunt have often been called cold, heartless, insensitive, rude, impolite, uncaring, etc., etc. But check this out. Let's say I have to give someone a message, and I have the option of doing it one of two ways: straight up, no bullshit, or roundabout, perhaps in some sort of tactful, slightly more wordy, super-polite-socially-accepted code. I'd rather give and receive the first one. Conservation of energy, you know? That and I'd rather hear the truth, without its sugarcoat, than some half lie that's going to spare my feelings, because frankly, if it's hurtful, it's going to be hurtful no matter how gently it's delivered. Okay. Let's mix it up a bit more. Let's say it's me and hypothetical you. This hypothetical you and me are tight, and there's mutual respect and all that jazz. Alright. So now, the million dollar question is, "Is it possible to get so close that we can work the Blunt into our relationship?" So far, my answer is no, and maybe I just need to find a better hypothetical you, someone whose Blunt score is a more suitable match, so to speak. It seems like no matter how close I am to someone, social norms (read: etiquette) still apply. And maybe I'm just less attached to these social rules because they're silly and they need to haul their asses back to the City of the Unnecessary, along with their salad fork, stuffy dinner buddies. It's not that I don't understand them. I know what their purposes are and why they're here. It's that I wish I could put them aside when dealing with the hypothetical you's of my um...hypothetical social life. If the underlying meaning is the same, then I don't need you to tell it to me in a so-called nicer way. If you mean to tell me to shut up, then tell me to shut up, because dammit, I'm tired of unconstructive tact. If you did something to disrespect our friendship, spill it, so we can deal with it. If I'm acting a fool, say, "You're being an ass!" and proceed to tell me to cut it out. My feelings are always on the line, but I'm neither fragile nor delicate. I'm perpetually breakable, but fuuuck me if I don't find some way to repair myself. Like I said, if the naked meaning is hurtful, pain is inevitable, even through all of that froufy frill. So just give it to me, and give it to me in the raw; I'll show the same courtesy. And if we said the same thing, don't tell me what I said was harsher, meaner, more insensitive because I was blunt. (hypothetical)You said the same thing, only (hypothetical)you did so in a superfluous manner. With all of this said, people's feelings exist and some are more sensitive than others. If they can't handle the Blunt, it may be worth it to invest in some sugarcoating skills, if I care enough. Maybe (hypothetical)you aren't as big a fan of the Blunt as I am, and you'd prefer/need the Unnecessary. Sigh. Compromises, compromises, tricky, tricky. People are so complicated. What the fuck?! sidenote: I keep thinking about pot when I think "the Blunt." maybe I need a new name for it. sidenote 2: okay, fine, fine. you can't expect everyone to be the same. and yeah intent matters, and yeah, it doesn't always work that way, meaning in practice. |
