Disrespectful Paranoia

You believe that everyone is out to hurt you, that everyone – from corporations to your closest friends – has ill will toward you always. You vomit out your most personal issues, goad your friends into offering opinions, and then, should they tactfully disagree with your made-up mind, you pout, rant, and de-friend. You are infuriated over the smallest things, and wish aloud that someone would take a machine gun and mow down your administrative enemies. You have self-professed thin skin and want everyone – those you know and those you don’t – to edit their words to ensure they don’t hurt you. You absolutely fail to do the same for others, especially those closest to you. You drop your friends in times of trouble because they don’t have capacity to listen to your tales of woe free from distraction – never considering their need for support. People are not mean to you. They are only reacting to your hypocritical, holier-than-thou rigidity, which you serve up with an ugly combination of righteousness and gloom. —Get Outta My Space

This article appears in Nov 10-16, 2011.