Forgive me, but that was funny
Over my lifetime, I have spent more energy than I wanted to trying to convince people that I am not an arrogant prick. I comfort myself knowing that I have friends that are more arrogant, and are greater pricks, etc. Recently, I have made comments that reminded me that I need to watch myself. No matter how apparent the humour is to me in a particular situation, others don't always see it, and my laughter can be interpreted as ridicule. Here are the situations, you can tell me what you think if you want.
At a recent vote, what on isn't important, a friend of mine insisted that his abstaining his vote needed to be recognized. The vote counter then issued this decree, "All those abstaining their votes, please raise your hands." At which point I burst out with a guffaw of laughter. The irony seemed clear to me. Counting abstaining votes is like putting up a poster on wall asking people not to put posters on that wall. I then asked him if he didn't think it was ironic. Perhaps when someone is trying to make a political statement, it isn't the best time to ask them if they see the humour in a situation.
In a recent overly long theological debate/discussion on the issue of the revealing of the Holy Spirit to each of us, a guy said, "I think problems arise, when people begin sentences with the words 'I think'." Of course I laughed at the end of that sentence and declared, "you just started that sentence with I think." I understood his point, but my laughing probably didn't convey that message to him. I just couldn't help it.
Add to that, my inability to express emotion appropriately, and these could be potentially harmful moments for my reputation as a caring individual.

   [ posted by William @ 11:06 PM ]