If you know me well enough you’ll know that if you comment on a personal fault that I know isn’t true, I’ll just brush it off and never give it a second thought because I know it to be false. If the comment is true, then I’ll stew over it for a good hour and be very quiet.
A few nights ago in my watering hole I was talking general business, politics and whatnot to the owner when he made a comment that I vehemently agreed with.
T says, “College today isn’t worth it. The kids coming out of Boston are $100,000 in debt at a rate of nearly 9%…You could do better by becoming a plumber.”
That’s when I nearly rose out of my seat, sticking my finger in T’s face and rather forcefully said, “YOU’RE RIGHT! Those greedy bastards, those banks, are the ones who love enslaving you forever with their debt!!”
My reaction, to others, seemed over the top. To me? It was right in line with my leftist political ranting. Angry young man of my youth is “angry approaching 50 man.” Believe me, my life in whole has toned down a lot now that I’ve hit soft middle age. But…BUT…my views on how this country should operate are still hot.
“For fuck’s sake Ron, I’m only talking here…” says T.
Yeah, he was right…we were just talking. This wasn’t a pulpit to be preaching from.
I wasn’t always like this…
I have a friend, who was a Commander in the Navy and had taught me the art of “barking.” When an officer feels like dressing down a subordinate, you raise your voice and very clearly say what you wish to say. It’s not an emotional, off the handle yelling tirade. It’s a controlled, reason-filled near shout. You keep unbroken eye contact and never swear or you‘ll blow it. I have watched my friend turn to mush nearly everyone he’s managed to set his sights on. It can be pretty devastating. His having a career in the Navy as a bridge officer gave him much experience to do this correctly.
This trick has come in handy as I rag on bank managers, auto mechanics and any other person who manages to push that one button I have. And that ONE button is hard to push. But that’s another story…
Not only was I taught this, but I got to see him use it in so many instances I realize that he can be an angry fuck looking to unload on someone. Ah well, we all have our faults. I noticed I was beginning to ape this behavior in him. Uh-oh!
I had better choose my time and place more carefully when my revolutionary zeal fires up.
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