ebonlock: (Default)
ebonlock ([personal profile] ebonlock) wrote2002-09-13 08:41 am

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned for Sega.

Truer words were never spoken. And a little word to the wise from this disciple of Cupid to all of you, never let the significant other in your life feel less important than a game (video or live action), a t.v. show, a sporting event, a job, or for that matter, anything else. Hell, I say extend that to family and friends too, anyone you care deeply for and who (presumably) shares the emotion. Love and friendship are the truly important things in life, forget that and you're going to end up spending a lot of time alone. Nobody likes coming in second to a game, and this goes double for the female of the species.

I say take a moment or two in your incredibly busy life and let someone (doesn't matter who) know you care. Stop MUSHing for a minute or two, stop playing the latest version of Final Fantasy, let TiVo grab an episode of the show you can't miss, set aside the role playing character you've been obsessing over, put down the project that's been consuming you, and think about all the people in your life that mean something to you. Drop them an email, or give one of them a call, or just stop by and say hello. Make contact and let someone feel like they rate in your life. It doesn't take much, and I promise you that whatever it was you postponed to reach out to someone will still be there afterwards.

But if you do it, do so because you want to, because you recognize that people are more important than things, no matter how nice, and new and shiney those things are. Don't do it because you think you should, or you'll just end up resenting that person and, guys that just defeats the purpose.

Just a little advice from me to you on a philosophical Friday.

Crunches: Ok, I was bad.
Deep Thoughts: Many.

[identity profile] cyranocyrano.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 09:17 am (UTC)(link)
Ah yes, the 'ugly little sister' of the Jason Smith movies, Mallrats.
And I feel fairly certain that if Jennifer Aniston were playing Warcraft III all the time, Brad Pitt would feel pretty hurt too.
And I warn you, next week I plan to use MUSHing in order to keep in touch with important people in my life, rather than shutting them out. (:

Re:

[identity profile] ebonlock.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 09:30 am (UTC)(link)
Gold star!
Yep, the gaming thing goes both ways, but it's been my experience that the male of the species is the biggest offender on this one *G*
And good for you, just remember communication = good, playing games/doing projects/working too much and forgetting about the other humans on teh planet = bad.

[identity profile] eilonwey.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 09:36 am (UTC)(link)
Amen, sister. (re: the gaming thing) :)

Re:

[identity profile] ebonlock.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 09:44 am (UTC)(link)
Heh, so how long before more of the boys pipe up with, "We do not!" regarding this? Not very I imagine };)

Re:

[identity profile] ebonlock.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 10:06 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you for being delightfully predictable, dear *G*

[identity profile] esmerel.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 11:05 am (UTC)(link)
I don't have that problem, most of the time =)

Re:

[identity profile] ebonlock.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 11:21 am (UTC)(link)
That's because you're a very lucky woman with a very wonderful husband. };)
merlinofchaos: (Default)

[personal profile] merlinofchaos 2002-09-13 02:53 pm (UTC)(link)
This said by the woman who commented to me just last night that she's gotten accustomed to the fact that if she says something to me while I'm, say, reading a web article or writing an email or something similarly attention-consuming it sometimes takes me 2-3 minutes to formulate even a verbal response!

Luckily we've both gotten accustomed to the fact that I'm simply a bad task-switcher and I try to task-switch better when I can and esmerel is wonderfully patient when I fail to do so well =)

Re:

[identity profile] ebonlock.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
It's all about the perspective, you actually want to pay attention to her, value her and what she thinks and feels, that makes all the difference. As [livejournal.com profile] mister_sunshine so aptly put it, it's all about mutual respect.

And of course it helps that you're a gourmet cook and shower her with both affection and yummy food };)

[identity profile] esmerel.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 06:45 pm (UTC)(link)
But no peeled grapes. Damn his eyes etc etc

[identity profile] technocowboy.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 11:29 am (UTC)(link)
*AHEM*.

Not all men are like that. And why is chauvanism wrapped in female form any different than chauvanism wrapped in male form?

Re:

[identity profile] ebonlock.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 11:42 am (UTC)(link)
I don't believe it is, dear. However, some stereotypes do hold a grain of truth to them, that's how they get started in the first place. And having experienced this phenomena personally (and speaking to many other gals who have as well) I can say that it can and does happen. Often.

[identity profile] technocowboy.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 11:44 am (UTC)(link)
I'm not saying it doesn't happen. It happens to guys, too, though. "A day with the girls" is a rather familiar phrase. "Girl talk." All that kinda stuff. ;)

Re:

[identity profile] ebonlock.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 11:59 am (UTC)(link)
Very true, and entirely admitted on our end, I assure you.

[identity profile] mallen.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 11:10 am (UTC)(link)
Women come and go, but my computer always loves me.

Re:

[identity profile] ebonlock.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 11:22 am (UTC)(link)
If I could reach you I would hurt you.
Speaking of which if you don't pick up your peppers by next week expect to receive them via mail...in pieces.

Ahem.

[identity profile] centerfire.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 12:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Using genericized I's and you's, as a hypothetical male to a hypothetical female SO:


I've told you I care about you many times before. The fact that I'm busy with other things holds no deeper meaning than exactly that: I'm busy with other things. It in no way negates the dozens and probably hundreds of protestations of affection that I've made previously; nor does it suggest that my feelings for you have in any way changed; nor does it suggest that I consider whatever activity I'm currently engaged in somehow "more important" than you. I'm just in the middle of something, and I'd prefer not to be disturbed.

I am of course sensitive to your bouts of insecurity, but I do not consider it healthy -- for either of us -- for me to pander to them. Demanding that I drop everything and tell you I love you while I'm in the middle of fixing the car or watching football or what have you is a psychological power-game, nothing more, and I'm not playing. I don't get clingy while you're watching daytime dramas or knitting; please show me the same courtesy while I'm cleaning my guns or trying to beat a Playstation game.

Rebuttal

[identity profile] ebonlock.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 12:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"Daytime dramas"?

Ahem, allow me to counter with:

Yes, you've told me that you care about me many times before, however affection is not a commodity to be stored away like money in a savings account.
One doesn't accrue interest, nor have I been keeping a tally of said affectionate comments. It is an ongoing process that cannot be set aside by the comment, "But I've already told you how I feel about you!" Feelings change, some of us need reassurance from time to time.

The fact that you're busy with other things holds no deeper meaning than exactly that: unless I'm standing in front of the t.v. in skimpy lingerie and you continue to play said game, or watch a sporting event with the grunt, "You're blocking the t.v." At that point, despite former protestations of affection, I am likely to be hurt, and feel unloved and unattractive.

Does this mean that you can't do anything that you deem important without fear of reprisals on my part? Not at all, indeed there will be many times I'll have things that I want to do, that I feel are important or enjoyable and I will expect the freedom to be able to do so. However, should you ever say to me, "I need to talk to you now." I promise to set aside whatever project, game, or t.v. show I was engrossed in and listen. I expect that at some point you will be willing to do the same for me.

Rebuttal to Rebuttal

[identity profile] centerfire.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 01:06 pm (UTC)(link)
One doesn't accrue interest, nor have I been keeping a tally of said affectionate comments... Feelings change, some of us need reassurance from time to time.

Feelings do not change so rapidly that the unquestioned sentiment contained in the, "I love you," I said last night before bed, or this morning after breakfast, is now suspect just because, right this minute, I'm trying to watch the football game, and would prefer not to be interrupted. A typical game lasts about three hours. Adults -- and I am under the impression that I am in a relationship with one -- can go that long without capitulating to insecurity about their partners' true feelings.

The fact that you're busy with other things holds no deeper meaning than exactly that: unless I'm standing in front of the t.v. in skimpy lingerie and you continue to play said game, or watch a sporting event with the grunt, "You're blocking the t.v." At that point, despite former protestations of affection, I am likely to be hurt, and feel unloved and unattractive.

I have no control over how you choose to interpret my behavior. I have just said, clear as day, that just because I'm not prepared to drop everything I'm doing in order to shower you with affection, it doesn't automatically mean I hate you and/or think you're ugly. If you walk away feeling unloved and unattractive anyway, then that's your choice that you need to shoulder responsibility for. Getting upset or angry with me is not only a completely irrational response, it's also quite likely to produce the reverse of the desired effect. I don't guilt easily.

However, should you ever say to me, "I need to talk to you now." I promise to set aside whatever project, game, or t.v. show I was engrossed in and listen. I expect that at some point you will be willing to do the same for me.

There is a difference between, "I need to talk; it's serious," and, "Sweetheart, do you really love me? Do you think I look fat in this? Do these shoes go with this dress? Why do you watch so much football?"

I do not mind setting aside what I'm doing, even if it's something important to me, if you really need me; say, you've just suffered a personal tragedy of some sort, or you have grave and longstanding concerns about our relationship, and truly need to talk.

But I reserve the right to get pissed off if you wait until I'm in the middle of an activity I enjoy to interrupt with a bunch of nonsense; and I reserve the right to be even more pissed off if you begin caterwauling about how this makes me an insensitive asshole who hates you and/or thinks you're ugly.

And, want to see me go absolutely nuclear? Gossip to your girlfriends about how I'm an insensitive asshole who hates you and/or thinks you're ugly.

Re: Rebuttal to Rebuttal

[identity profile] mister-sunshine.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 01:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Interesting. So would it be incorrect of me to conclude that you are both trying to say, "Good timing and mutual respect go a long way" ?

Re: Rebuttal to Rebuttal

[identity profile] ebonlock.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 01:58 pm (UTC)(link)
In a word, yes. And thank you for boiling that down into its essence so delightfully. But I would add to that "...and things are not as important as people." but that's me. };)

Re: Rebuttal to Rebuttal

[identity profile] centerfire.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
More or less, yeah. :)

I don't disagree with [livejournal.com profile] ebonlock's core proposition that things are more important than people, either.

I just, you know. Also expect relatively rational and courteous behavior, which I'll try and return in kind.

This just in!

(Anonymous) 2002-09-13 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Monkeys are funny
funny monkeys
just the monkey and the funny
silly monkey
silly rabbit
silly rabbit Trix are for kids
kids are baby goats
this and Andy Rooney tonight on
you home tonight.
John

Re: This just in!

[identity profile] ebonlock.livejournal.com 2002-09-13 02:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Heh, you are the silly monkey I suspect. Not free tonight (early to bed and very early to rise tonight) but I will be around Sunday late afternoon early evening if that works for ya.