I laugh every time I think of this comic. It’s great reminder that we can’t believe everything we think — reality is much more complicated than the mental images our little minds create. Some people disagree, of course, and they believe they possess the truth and everyone else is wrong. Discussion is out of the question.
An extreme case of this is people who constantly criticize other people, no matter what the issue. Lyndon Johnson had a fellow working for him once, and when Johnson went by the fellow’s messy desk he said,
A cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind.
So the fellow worked hard to clean up the mess and later when Johnson came by again the desktop was clear. Instead of the praise the fellow hoped for, Johnson said,
An empty desk is a sign of an empty mind.
With some people you can never win.
Eventually Johnson received the same treatment from the press. Everything he did was met with criticism, so one day he complained,
If I learned to walk across the Potomac the press would say, “Johnson doesn’t know how to swim.”
It’s hard not to smile at the poetic justice of that.
August 18, 2015
Those who do nothing but criticise others really are a pain in the arse and best kept away from. Unfortunately if you can’t avoid their proximity (relatives, workmates etc), all you can do is not respond to their constant diatribes and hope they get the message that you’re just not interested. I especially loathe those columnists who either vilify everyone in sight or butter them up because they’re trying to get something out of them.
I’m with you! I will occasionally tell them I’m just not interested. The older I get and the less time left I have, the easier it is. 🙂
http://www.nairaland.com/attachments/718400_AuUw565CAAAoWEb_jpg122f98d2f68f43c1ebe254dd3e8df073
I’m afraid the link didn’t work.
Jean, when you click on the link it downloads an image to your “Downloads”. If you double click on the Download, it should open. I will send you the image by mail just in case.
cartoon is priceless!
comments so far too.
i ascribe to doctor wayne dyer’s approach. when all else fails…
if at all possible… simply remove yourself from their line of fire or their life.
in a workplace that would be extremely hard to do.
i finally did that with my toxic mother in law whose cruel barbs to me were constant. and always camouflaged in a tiny tight smile. as if she weren’t really being mean. when everyone knew she was being mean. especially me.
i simply quit seeing her. i told bob that of course they could come to our home any time since it was his home too… but when they did… i would not be there.
it finally gave me some respite. it’s terrible to be bullied by a family member. you think there’s no way out. i’m not confrontational… and i was so young. i just took it. but there comes a point. one has to say enough.
oh. and p.s.
i NEVER could stand lyndon johnson. never. period. nada.
it always amazed me that they considered him a ‘great orator.’
you’re kidding me!!!! then they heard a different johnson than i did. and he was a BULLY in every sense of the word.
and… sorry. normally don’t bring politics into your blog… or any blog.
but he strikes a chord. LOLOLOL. clouds can be so boring. LOLOL!
Yes, Johnson was a great bully! It would be hard to find someone who would argue with that.
And good for you for finally getting some respite from your MIL. I’m so sorry you had to put up with her at all!
My brother-in-law is like that.
I can barely speak without him thinking he knows what I’m going to say and attacking it.
He critiques every word I utter and tries to ridicule it.
He is always always right and I mean Right.
As you said, there’s no discussion with someone who believes they possess the truth, their truth and therefore the only truth.
And then some days, like magic, he’s nice.
I personally think he’s mental.
But it’s exhausting having someone who never actually listens to me but rather is busy preparing his rebuttal.
To make matters worse, he’s very much into politics.
He’s a die-hard Republican and hates Democrats with a passion.
He just assumes that I’m a Democrat, although I’ve never ever said I was.
But to be honest, he always helps me in my decision in who to vote for.
I just quietly listen to his rants when I have to (birthday parties, holidays and such) and then when it comes time to vote. I always vote opposite of what he would want.
Brings me sick pleasure in cancelling out his vote.
Yay, Cindi! People like that are exhausting if you can’t avoid them.
LOLOL!!!! i love this girl!
I think we all have people “who be better some place else” – I’ve been fighting battles against all kinds of people over the decades – some I have been able to dump i.e. a stupid primary care doctor/or two – but others I have had to find a way to live with them, some for short terms whilst others forever…
I suspect the long-termers never understand why I have disappeared for a while – most probably put it down to my health issues. Which is fine by me 🙂 gives me a great excuse to abandon them temporarily…
At least you’re getting some benefit from your health issues. It’s a great way of getting some distance without hurting people’s feelings.