Okay, people, admit it, there has got to be at least one or two people in your life who gets emotional over the slightest things. Whether it's one (or both) of your parents, your sibling, a friend, a relative or worse, you yourself, there's always that someone who makes a big deal out of silly little trivial things.
You've seen these people in action. When someone accidentally spills a drink on the carpet they go ballistic. When someone is two seconds late for a meeting of some form they blow their lids. When they have to pay an extra five cents for something they go off as though they've lost 90% of their bank account. I could go on all day but you get the picture.
Anyway, for those of you who roll your eyes when these people you know throw a hissy fit over little things (ok, I'm guilty of doing the same. There, I said it), please spare a thought for the 47-year old American man who received a nasty death threat from his cantankerous 72-year old neighbour who threatened to shoot him for.....wait for it......farting. Yes, farting!!!!
Apparently, somewhere in the US the man walked past his neighbour's apartment door and let one rip. The neighbour, who apparently has an intense dislike for anything to do with flatulence confronted the unfortunate soul in the lobby and allegedly told him 'I'm going to put a bullet in your head!' He has since been arrested for making the threat.
Well, what can I say? I understand that breaking wind in the company of others is rude and embarrassing (although let's face it, it's also funny as hell) but is it really something you would threaten someone with bodily harm and/or death with? Seriously, someone should tell this old-timer to chill out! So what if your neighbour had the audacity to release a mixture of gases from his rectum (something that ALL human beings do and is beneficial to one's health) as he walked past your door? It's not like anyone was around to smell it and it's not like he directed it towards your face! But hey, what can you do? This old guy seems like one of those hypersensitive people we discussed earlier. While some people get worked up about schedules, lost items, forgotten tasks and getting things wrong, others like this bloke get worked up about bodily functions that make a funny sound and leave a nasty smell.
I am not advocating for people to break wind whenever and wherever they damn well feel like it. Sure, it's a normal thing but at the end of the day, farting around people and (especially) in closed spaces is seen as offensive and can make a laughing stock out of you. But is it really something for one to get so worked up about that the person who dealt it /supplied it/ fluffed it must be punished with threats of bodily harm or even death? Is the simple act of releasing bodily gas tantamount to stealing something, cheating on a partner or spouse, murdering a family member or any other act that results in death threats directed at the guilty person?
Seriously, some people are just too damn sensitive!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
Look but don't touch....or you might get counselled!
Throughout my school years, from primary school to high school, students were made aware of the 'hands off' policy (also known as the 'keep your hands to yourself' policy) quite early. Us students were banned from hitting, shoving and grabbing each other in a violent manner and it was hoped that such a policy would dissuade bullying. For the most part it seemed to work. During my school years I never really heard of many serious fights happening. Sure, I've seen students break the rule and get into a mini shoving match with each other (usually the result of verbal arguments gone wrong) and there were a couple of serious fights that might have erupted from time to time but I can count on one hand the number of times I've heard of such scuffles occurring - unless many more happened but I couldn't be bothered snapping out of my classroom boredom-induced daydream to notice but I digress.
Today, I read a newspaper story that looked at a primary school in victoria that took this policy to the extreme. Here, students are literally banned from ever touching each other. In addition to acts of physical harm, students are banned from totally harmless and friendly gestures such as hugging, playing tag or touch football, back-patting and even giving high fives. Yeah, sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Students who are caught breaking this rule would be treated to 'counselling sessions' (a counselling session that lectures students on the dangers of high-fiving each other? Yeah, sounds intense!) and the school's principal stated that the policy would discourage students from engaging in rough play with each other.
All due respect to the principal, but I am taking sides with the parents and child psychologists who are labelling this rule as unreasonable, over-the-top and just plain ridiculous. Back in my day, we were allowed to high five, play sport, back-slap and even play-fight with each other as long as it didn't get out of hand and anyone guilty of punching or kicking another student (ie: someone who violated the 'hands off' policy) were punished. I didn't hear of any dumb rule that prohibited students from laying a pinky on each other. All due respect but this principal sounds as though they are too lazy to take care of problem students and so they took the easy way out and implemented a silly rule that, in their mind, would be a fail-proof means of putting an end to bullying.
But did it not occur to them that it would be damn near impossible to not accidentally touch another person? Would students be punished if they accidentally brushed against someone else when they were walking? Would they be punished for helping a student up if they tripped over? Would they be punished for putting a calming arm around a friend when they were distressed? Hang on, SOMEONE DID GET PUNISHED FOR THAT ONE!!!! Well played, principal. Way to punish an obvious bad seed that had the audacity to break your precious, oh-so-reasonable rule.
Seriously, I've heard of setting rules and boundaries for school children but this one is out of this world. While I am all for prohibiting students from pummelling each other, putting up a silly rule that is, quite frankly, impossible to obey is not only unreasonable, but it makes the school itself look bad. To the principal of that school, I have refrained myself from naming and shaming you, so I hope you don't put me in detention for writing this blog.
Oops! I accidentally tapped my friend on the shoulder. Oh rats! Here comes the counselling....
Today, I read a newspaper story that looked at a primary school in victoria that took this policy to the extreme. Here, students are literally banned from ever touching each other. In addition to acts of physical harm, students are banned from totally harmless and friendly gestures such as hugging, playing tag or touch football, back-patting and even giving high fives. Yeah, sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Students who are caught breaking this rule would be treated to 'counselling sessions' (a counselling session that lectures students on the dangers of high-fiving each other? Yeah, sounds intense!) and the school's principal stated that the policy would discourage students from engaging in rough play with each other.
All due respect to the principal, but I am taking sides with the parents and child psychologists who are labelling this rule as unreasonable, over-the-top and just plain ridiculous. Back in my day, we were allowed to high five, play sport, back-slap and even play-fight with each other as long as it didn't get out of hand and anyone guilty of punching or kicking another student (ie: someone who violated the 'hands off' policy) were punished. I didn't hear of any dumb rule that prohibited students from laying a pinky on each other. All due respect but this principal sounds as though they are too lazy to take care of problem students and so they took the easy way out and implemented a silly rule that, in their mind, would be a fail-proof means of putting an end to bullying.
But did it not occur to them that it would be damn near impossible to not accidentally touch another person? Would students be punished if they accidentally brushed against someone else when they were walking? Would they be punished for helping a student up if they tripped over? Would they be punished for putting a calming arm around a friend when they were distressed? Hang on, SOMEONE DID GET PUNISHED FOR THAT ONE!!!! Well played, principal. Way to punish an obvious bad seed that had the audacity to break your precious, oh-so-reasonable rule.
Seriously, I've heard of setting rules and boundaries for school children but this one is out of this world. While I am all for prohibiting students from pummelling each other, putting up a silly rule that is, quite frankly, impossible to obey is not only unreasonable, but it makes the school itself look bad. To the principal of that school, I have refrained myself from naming and shaming you, so I hope you don't put me in detention for writing this blog.
Oops! I accidentally tapped my friend on the shoulder. Oh rats! Here comes the counselling....
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Keep It Simple
I have to say, an article I read in the Sunday Telegraph by columnist Mia Freedman had me laughing and shaking my head at the same time. In it, she looks at marriage proposals and how it has become a sideshow and a 'competitive sport' and that simply getting down on one knee and popping the question is no longer enough. These days, you have to go over-the-top and include a choreographed piece of some sort, perhaps hire someone to help out with the proceedings and all the while hope that someone captures it on video and posts it on the internet.
Freedman's article stems from a recent story in which a man proposed to his girlfriend by choreographing a five-minute lip-synching routine that included many of their friends and family dancing in the middle of a street. The gaudy show was captured on camera and posted on the internet. The man, Isaac Lamb, was interviewed on TV recently and 'apologised' to men everywhere for setting the bar so high as far as marriage proposals are concerned.
But, Freedman asks, do women really want these over-the-top marriage proposals or are men just using it as a means to get in touch with their creative side?
She includes in her article a quote from one of her friends whose husband proposed to her in a pretty creative manner. This friend told her that unmarried male friends 'cower' whenever she and her husband recall the moment he popped the question and that such proposals have turned the whole thing into something of a competitive sport - all the while driving men up the wall as to how they can possibly make it one to remember. Freedman notes that men are not so much afraid of asking the question, rather, they are afraid that the moment won't be a magical one for their significant other.
She also noted that since most couples live together before marriage the anticipation of proposals have lost their lustre - therefore, the emphasis is on making the moment of truth as memorable as possible.
She also goes on to write that not all women dream of being swept off their feet in such a sensational manner and would prefer if the men kept it short, sweet and simple. Some women already feel overwhelmed and mortified when men get down on one knee and present them with the ring so can you imagine how some of them would feel when their men organise a big song and dance number that stops an entire community just to ask her a question?
As far as I'm concerned, and no disrespect, but pulling off these over-the-top stunts just to ask your significant other for their hand in marriage is unneccessary. So what if simply getting down on your knee or presenting her with the ring during dinner or taking her to a special spot and all those other tried-and-tested ways seem dull compared to these media-grabbing circus acts? Your mission is to get a 'yes' out of her and as long as that happens then mission accomplished! No need to go all out and put on a big show. To me that just screams 'look at me!!!! I'm proposing to my girl and I want attention for it, darn it!!!'
Not that I would wish this upon anyone, but I can only imagine the kind of pain and humiliation a guy must endure if, after putting up a great show for his girlfriend and asking her to marry him, she turns him down. Let's face it, they won't always say yes. Wouldn't the damage be minimised if you kept it simple and got straight to the point rather than go all the way and do something that would make Lady Gaga and Elton John blush?
Freedman closes her article by outlining some of the best proposal stories she'd ever heard. They were all simple, and one involved a mutual agreement to get married. Freedman notes that these stories happened in the 1990's 'before those bloody viral videos'.
Guys, while going over-the-top to propose to your girlfriend is your decision and is an endearing way of expressing your love for them and your wish to spend the rest of your life with them, please note that you might end up embarrassing her and that you risk making a laughing stock out of yourselves. By all means, do what you think is the best way for you, but in my opinion, keeping it simple is the best way to go. The goal is to get a 'yes' out of her, not to turn the whole thing into the next youtube sensation.
Freedman's article stems from a recent story in which a man proposed to his girlfriend by choreographing a five-minute lip-synching routine that included many of their friends and family dancing in the middle of a street. The gaudy show was captured on camera and posted on the internet. The man, Isaac Lamb, was interviewed on TV recently and 'apologised' to men everywhere for setting the bar so high as far as marriage proposals are concerned.
But, Freedman asks, do women really want these over-the-top marriage proposals or are men just using it as a means to get in touch with their creative side?
She includes in her article a quote from one of her friends whose husband proposed to her in a pretty creative manner. This friend told her that unmarried male friends 'cower' whenever she and her husband recall the moment he popped the question and that such proposals have turned the whole thing into something of a competitive sport - all the while driving men up the wall as to how they can possibly make it one to remember. Freedman notes that men are not so much afraid of asking the question, rather, they are afraid that the moment won't be a magical one for their significant other.
She also noted that since most couples live together before marriage the anticipation of proposals have lost their lustre - therefore, the emphasis is on making the moment of truth as memorable as possible.
She also goes on to write that not all women dream of being swept off their feet in such a sensational manner and would prefer if the men kept it short, sweet and simple. Some women already feel overwhelmed and mortified when men get down on one knee and present them with the ring so can you imagine how some of them would feel when their men organise a big song and dance number that stops an entire community just to ask her a question?
As far as I'm concerned, and no disrespect, but pulling off these over-the-top stunts just to ask your significant other for their hand in marriage is unneccessary. So what if simply getting down on your knee or presenting her with the ring during dinner or taking her to a special spot and all those other tried-and-tested ways seem dull compared to these media-grabbing circus acts? Your mission is to get a 'yes' out of her and as long as that happens then mission accomplished! No need to go all out and put on a big show. To me that just screams 'look at me!!!! I'm proposing to my girl and I want attention for it, darn it!!!'
Not that I would wish this upon anyone, but I can only imagine the kind of pain and humiliation a guy must endure if, after putting up a great show for his girlfriend and asking her to marry him, she turns him down. Let's face it, they won't always say yes. Wouldn't the damage be minimised if you kept it simple and got straight to the point rather than go all the way and do something that would make Lady Gaga and Elton John blush?
Freedman closes her article by outlining some of the best proposal stories she'd ever heard. They were all simple, and one involved a mutual agreement to get married. Freedman notes that these stories happened in the 1990's 'before those bloody viral videos'.
Guys, while going over-the-top to propose to your girlfriend is your decision and is an endearing way of expressing your love for them and your wish to spend the rest of your life with them, please note that you might end up embarrassing her and that you risk making a laughing stock out of yourselves. By all means, do what you think is the best way for you, but in my opinion, keeping it simple is the best way to go. The goal is to get a 'yes' out of her, not to turn the whole thing into the next youtube sensation.
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