“I don’t want to tell you what to do…” or “I’m not trying to tell you how to do your job” or “I’m not trying to say that you’re wrong”…I don’t say any of these out loud. I don’t say anything at all because I know I won’t be listened to, my directives will not be followed, my opinion will be disregarded. I only seethe about it for a minute for now; I’ll add it to the worry reel, later. “If you would just listen to me” I would feel better; fuck how you feel. But that’s not how polite people work. and I am a polite people.
This is not just a one off kind of thing that happens once in a while with people who are genetically engineered to be stubborn, narcissistic assholes who never listen to anybody. It would make sense then that I am not to be listened to. Those guys don’t listen to anyone. And I’m typically not a fatalist when it comes to offering up opinions. I have a belief in my capabilities, my knowledge, my ability to apply reason to most situations that I run into, and an absolute willingness to say I don’t know once I’ve run out of guesses. I’d even go so far as to admit that I hesitate only briefly when admitting I am wrong. Disregard the hesitation, please. IF I’m wrong, I’ll get to admitting I’m wrong because it’s just easier.
How about when I have to admit that I’m right? there’s no ticker tape parade for that one. And rarely does the fanfare rise to the level of the fanfare when I’m wrong. I digress.