Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The Rules Are Changing

See Beth bitch. Bitch, Beth, bitch.


If you make an effort to be nice to an obnoxious person, at times you’re rewarded. You catch a glimpse into their soul and it’s a good one.

Or, it can blow up in your face. They remain as obnoxious as ever.

You know the rules of baseball? Three strikes you’re out. Four balls and you get a walk to first. After two strikes (two of which may be foul balls) you can foul off any # of pitches and they won’t count as strikes. (Are you still with me?)

Well, when it comes to dealing with obnoxious people, I’m going to modify those rules. After one ball, one strike and one foul I refuse to pitch anymore. Consider yourself as either having struck out or you can walk to any base you like – all by yourself. Take your pick.

Oh, and if for some misguided reason you think it’s okay to diss my friends, that’s an automatic strike-out.

Life’s too short for some games.

I’m not getting mean and nasty as I get older, I’m getting smarter!



15 comments:

Cid said...

I totally agree, I have decided, at the ripe old age of 42, that life is too short to hang out with nasty people. Soon I think I will also be giving the book to high maintenance friends, but that is another post.

Sherry said...

Life is too short to give repeated chances to repeat offenders...people are going to be who people are; we know that going in. Chances are they aren't going to change so that leaves the "changing" how we see them up to us. Moving on seems the best option here.

oreneta said...

sounds like a plan to me....

Lainey-Paney said...

sounds good to me.

Cheryl said...

I used to feel guilty for trying to avoid certain people, especially if good friends of mine still considered them friends. So I would try to change how I felt about them. They're not rude, they're wounded, etc. No, they're rude. And I've stopped apologizing.

Beth said...

cid:
The older you get, the more discerning you become - although apparently I've been a late bloomer in this regard.

sherry lee:
Once in awhile I succumb to the "give them the benefit of the doubt" philosophy. It's turning out that in the end, it's not worth it.

oreneta:
And better late than never to implement it...

lainey-paney:
And my "rules" sound more than fair to me!

cheryl:
I think I'm going to stick with and stay with my initial intuition as to certain people - and behave accordingly.

The Bodhi Chicklet said...

Some days are like that. Some days you can give more. Nasty people can burn up your energy quicker than you can say...(pick one)...Nothing wrong in sticking up for yourself, girlfriend. Remember that song, "these boots were made for walking, and that's just what I'll do, one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you"!

The Bodhi Chicklet said...

P.S. I love your graphics.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Beth! You seem really angry. I think it is important to remember that if someone disses your friend, it is important to know both sides. Sometimes the other person is dissed first. A diss you may or may not be aware of.

I disagree, respectfully, with Sherry Lee. Life is too short, but that is exactly why people who have good souls deserve a second chance.

That is my two cents, of course it is your relationship issue, not mine. For the record, I don't see you as a bitch. I think your a very kind, giving and intelligent woman.

Peace to you and your heart.

XXXX

Anonymous said...

Don't you think that we can all be bitchy and obnoxious sometimes? Is this obnoxious to even ask? I say the person needs to be obnoxious even when they are nice to get a strike out.

Beth said...

the bodhi chicklet:
I'm going to settle for no longer treading lightly! ;)

cheryl:
Never meant to come across as angry! I'm not at all. Simply more wary and less inclined to look for a "softer spot" where none seems apparent.
When someone disses an 89 year old woman (who happens to be my friend) - they've struck out!

laura:
You're right - I can certainly be both! Perhaps rather than "obnoxious" I should have used the words insensitive and mean-spirited regarding those incidents.

Sherry said...

Hey...for Cheryl who disagreed with me (which is fine, that's what discussion is about). My choice and my discussion is based on how much time I personally have left to live. With a cancer diagnosis you don't count the days you have left...you count the ones you've got which starts with the one you are in. So if I have to choose between people who I know for a fact are the people I need to be with then that's my choice. I can't afford to take chances on people who have already hurt me once and may do so again. Just wanted to clear that up.

rebecca said...

I disencumbered myself from the obnoxious, the energy suckers, the narcissists, and the just "plain don't get it" a long time ago. Too draining. I don't agree with you, you don't agree with me, let's call it even and move on.

Loved this post. A lesson here to be learned.

Beth said...

rebecca:
Took me awhile to learn the lesson (too long) but I'm finally there - and saving my energy for who (and what) really matter.

Anonymous said...

I like that attitude! I feel it too – the older I get, the less tolerant I am of pains-in-the-ass people.

That picture and tag line underneath are hilarious, btw.

Bitch, Beth, bitch!!