The whole world is split into two, one
for freedom of speech and the other totally against it. Here I am making my own
list. Knowledge of "self"is essential to get a better
understanding of the world. I read many posts on this issue and it made me
think about which side I am on.
“yo’mama” and insulting comedy cracks
me up but when someone is laughed at or ridiculed in a movie based on their
sexuality I cringe.
So in real life when do i get offended?
Here is a short list of things that I
consider are offensive.
I am offended when….
1. someone yells at me at work.
Even if I make a mistake, I don’t wanna
be yelled at! I haven’t gotten the zen realization yet, that the offender is
just “an empty boat” and calmness of mind is what needed when that happens. I
am consciously trying to apply it at such situations. Thanks to Zenhabits blog!
2. talks to me disrespectfully.
Teasing me is fine I know me and I
don’t need anyone’s approval or acceptance, but taking me for a sucker and
talking to me with no respect do piss me off.
3. an old friend doesn’t miss my presence.
some people become a part of our
everyday thoughts. I met a wonderful girl four years back, we worked together
and she became my “bestest” friend. We went everywhere together.
She would do anything for me. She waved at guys on the road just to make me
laugh. I moved to another town, I missed her terribly but she didn’t and that
hurt me the most. Suppressing that emotion, I couldn’t even speak well with her
the few times she called.
4. a man touches me inappropriately when I
am on the road helping a woman who was hit by a bike.
Yes, I thought she was the victim, and
that she needed my help, but both of us were!
Most men are of the opinion that they
can touch a woman and that the she shouldn’t complain about it, because “these
things happen” and that if she doesn’t like it then she shouldn’t be on the
road for any reason whatsoever! Scumbags!
5. a woman breaks my trust
and hurts me merely out of jealousy.
I am in many ways like her and so we
hit it off very well at the start. She even offered to help me when she learnt
I was a battered wife. But everything changed when I became popular with the
colleagues more than her. It just happened that some preferred me over
her, to hang out or to decide on things. And she became my worst enemy as she
knew all details of my personal life. The one whom I admired became the one to
trouble me at work.
6. some nice (?) guys, whom I think I can be friends with, think of me as
a sex deprived single mom.
I don’t believe in labeling and
generalizing (that’s why “most men” in my posts ) but how married women are
treated or seen is different from how single(unmarried or divorced) women are
perceived. Married women are not to be “played with” here. I think it’s out of
fear, of facing the angry husband. May be. The level of risk is higher
for single women. I am hurt when an otherwise good guy thinks he can have a
fling with me because I live alone. That’s cruel.
7. people of “power” (at work esp.) don’t offer
me a chair.
Oh the stupid things we follow at (my)
work place! Mr. “someone” is rude and “someone Sir” is respectful. Standing in
front of a higher authority is respectful and sitting is not. Morons!
This doesn’t mean I am all innocent and
saintly. I hurt others too in known and unknown ways.
But the more I experience this
unpleasantness the less I do it to others.
And I am happy with that.
