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comment by user-inactivated
user-inactivated  ·  4321 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Not 30 Questions

Not really. I was taught/extrapolated at an extremely early age that showing emotion equated to weakness (just how I grew up -- this is not a generalization or by any means always true). It ties back to:

    I'm a big fan of relatively hands-off parenting (from experience as a son, not father)

...but I don't really feel like going into that right now.

So if I ever did have a short fuse, which I'm sure I did as a child, I learned to ruthlessly internalize it. I happen to be staring at something hanging on my wall that illustrates this in an entertaining way; this past Christmas my coworkers and I did a "Secret Santa"^ gift exchange and the gift I received was a Grinch shirt with "the many faces of the Grinch" -- happy, sad, angry, etc. on it. My Secret Santa had printed a picture of my expressionless face out and pasted it over the Grinch's. So now the face, mine, is the same for every emotive descriptor. It was a great gift.

^we had to call it "Elusive Elf" for political correctness I swear to god I'm not making that up

EDIT: chess pie.





IntimidatingScones  ·  4318 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    I was taught/extrapolated at an extremely early age that showing emotion equated to weakness

I'm thinking this topic is dead, but I find this interesting. My initial reaction was that this was a really sad thing to hear, but then remembering my own family, I realize it's according to the person. I guess I was just wondering your take on that?

Also, I suck at chess. Maybe it's tasty and I just never knew! =D

user-inactivated  ·  4318 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Oh, I just commented on your food post. Some interesting stuff, though you may actually be overestimating my food budget/available prep time.

I'm not sure if what I said was sad. I've only recently begun obliquely self-analyzing to the extent where I might decide how it's affected me (if it has). I usually take an extremely practical view of the world, and am of the opinion that my childhood doesn't really matter in comparison with where I am now.

I honestly tend to look down on people who wear their hearts on their sleeves, who lose control, who can't make a rational point without allowing emotion in. I am glad that I am not like that. I don't really understand why anyone who is like that would continue to choose to be like that. I mean no offense in case you are one of those people -- this is something about me that kicked off when I was so young I really can't help it, although I wouldn't change it if I could.

It boils down to: I'm a rationalist. I'm glad I'm a rationalist. I have often found, when talking to friends, family, coworkers, that their emotions interfere with their ability to reason. I can't be sure that I wouldn't have that mindset if I had grown up in a family with a different dynamic, so I am content with my childhood. Don't think about it much; it was a stepping stone.

Since I can't imagine being any other way, I guess I can't answer your question.

IntimidatingScones  ·  4318 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Yeah see that's what I thought. It at first sounded really sad, but then I thought "well not necessarily." And the latter is what you talked about. Yes, I am the kind of person who wears their heart on their sleeve, but I took no offense, because I know what you mean by liking who you are and never wanting to change. I changed to no sleeve-wearing, and immediately sought to change back because it's just not how I like to live. But, don't assume everyone who wears their hearts on their sleeves in over-emotional, over-reacts, and is uber defensive. It does help with reading other people a whole lot too.

Also, yo, those super-cool vitamins with sugar and fiber are usually like $1.30 a pill. That's more than the ramen meal I put up. And it literally takes the same time as mac and cheese because they both force you to wait for water to boil.

user-inactivated  ·  4317 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    But, don't assume everyone who wears their hearts on their sleeves in over-emotional, over-reacts, and is uber defensive.
Yeah! It's something I try to quash.

Nah, I get like a 50-pack of these little vitamins for maybe 5 bucks?