extreme
August 31, 2004
Well from the feedback from my previous post, I can say that the people who thought I was being too mean are all morons who don’t really know me.
Of course I don’t mean what I said. In the interest of sparking thought and discussion, I wrote that piece in a more polarized voice than normal. If I come off sounding like a dick to you, then chances are, you didn’t know me at all anyway. If you did know me, you’ll know what I am in real life: a big pussy who can’t even get rid of people who talk too much. (I’m much too polite).
Not that I really care anyway, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are several factors involved in considering another’s opinion that conflicts with mine.
- Who are you? Are you a stranger? Are you a friend? Are you a good friend? Are you a really good close friend? Are you my lover? There’s a progression of what matters more.
- Is what you’re saying really different than what I’m saying? In that is your view even possible? I’m rarely wrong, remember. There are some fundamental truths that will never change for me, no matter who you are.
- What kind of mood am I in? I think that makes a big difference. Just today I was approached by someone who wanted to complain about doing this person’s damn job. I just snapped at her because I was in a shitty mood.
Sigh. I’m so disillusioned with so much.
Meeting New People Sucks
August 16, 2004
Hey whatever your name is. The hardest part of making small talk is trying to act like I care. I mean really, if I were really into you, I’d be hitting on you. Otherwise, I’m just talking to you because I feel like I have to or else I’ll come off rude or, gasp, antisocial. I have enough friends.
Listen to what you’re speaking about. You’re talking about nothing. Look at these words coming out of your mouth; they have no value at all! Don’t you have something better to do? Don’t you have your own real friends to talk to? I sure do! You’re depriving me of time from my real friends.
After this “conversation”, I’ll go home and forget about you. I’ll probably never ever see you again. Suits me fine. Like you give a damn either. I don’t care what you like. I don’t want to tell you what I like. I don’t care what language you can speak. I don’t care that you think whatever is cool.
Don’t talk to me please. Go grab your food and drink, turn away, and walk away. Leave me with my friends. Don’t even look at me. I don’t want to look at you. Don’t talk to my girlfriend about me when I’m in earshot - that’s rude in all cultures (I don’t care if you weren’t saying anything bad). I don’t care that we have things in common.
If we do become friends, it will happen gradually and we won’t need this moment to cement our friendship. You know what, don’t even greet me. I gain no benefit from your salutations. When you leave I’ll say goodbye but I won’t mean it. I won’t miss you. You’re not my friend, why should I miss you?
You’re as faceless as the thousands of people I see on the streets and on TV. I will forget you as easily as the comic strip from last week’s paper or that joke I thought was funny for a moment. I can read you like a flyer.
Just go away.
Dedicated to 90% of people I’ve “met”.
Picture time
August 14, 2004
Some pictures from yesterday.
Synchronicity or Sheer Coincidence?
August 10, 2004
The woman and I entered the movie theater a bit early. The credits were still rolling from the previous showing but we figured we’d might as well nab some good seats now. This theater’s REALLY quiet so we weren’t disturbing many people. The movie was Riddick. The day was last Saturday.
As the theater lights came back on after the credits had finished, a fellow sitting in front and a few seats to the left turned around. We made eye contact. We froze for what seemed like a long time. It was none other than Dan Kim! If you’re from the ELI and you were here during my first summer or before, you’ll remember Dan. Anyway, he had just finished three years with JET in Hokkaido and was basically touring the country with his sister before heading back home to Vancouver!
The last time I saw Dan was probably in the summer of 2001 right before he left. Him and I used to hang out and drink ourselves silly with some other students. After he left, we pretty much lost contact until now.
It’s so weird that in a giant country of 120+ million, or even in a giant city like Osaka, there are still some very synchronous meetings like this. Anyway, we exchanged numbers and on his return to Osaka after Kyushu, he’ll give me a call and hopefully schedules will work out so that we can catch up a bit.
This is the third such random accidental meeting in Japan. The first was when I literally sat beside an ELI student at Narita airport while we were waiting for the flight back to Vancouver. The second being the bumping into of two ELI students in the middle of Shinjuku.
Weird and cool!
PS. I’ve captured some pictures of the summer festival in my neighborhood from the weekend.
PPS. Riddick was exactly as I expected: muscles, fighting, guns, knives.
Oh Dennis Where Art Thou?
August 05, 2004
I thought you were supposed to be back in Vancouver on Monday or Tuesday? What’s up? I haven’t heard from you. Look, a whole update dedicated to finding out where you are.
