Everyone asks the same questions and says the same things in the same situations. And then you teach yourself the correct answers for each of those repeated questions. So you end up with every conversation being superficial. It takes a real effort to be truly honest with someone.
These cheerful thoughts brought to you by Ganchi.
4 comments:
I call those "socially acceptable responses." E.g.:
RIGHT:
"How are you?"
"Fine."
WRONG:
"How are you?"
"My wife left me, my truck broke down, and my best dog just died."
("Um...have a nice day!")
It's not so much lying as it's accepting the fact that the person doesn't really want to know how you're doing. Of course, my brain sometimes pulls out the wrong socially acceptable response.
RIGHT:
"Have a nice day!"
"You too!"
WRONG:
"Happy birthday!"
"You too!"
(*facepalm* "I mean, thanks.")
Additional note: I tend to dispense with these with my friends. Real conversation:
HH sister/RA: "How are you?"
Me: "Do you really want to know?"
(She comes to my room after rounds and lets me emote all over her.)
Thanks for the lovely start to my day. I would accuse you of being cynical or something except for the fact that you are very right.
I agree having those automatic responses really causes trouble on your birthday.
That's all true, but I was even talking about whole conversations...
"When do you go back to school?"
"Sunday."
"Are you excited?"
"Yeah, I guess. But it's my last semester, which is terrifying."
"What are you doing after college?"
...and then I've got this canned response that I spew.
I could just write that conversation on my shirt, because it doesn't change.
I just end up having the same conversation over and over again, because we're all programmed to think, and then talk, the same way.
Post a Comment