But we're rarely pure victims and we're all capable of rudeness, insensitivity and cruelty. So it's time to 'fess up to the cruel things you've said.
To my shame, I once interrupted a philosophy student who'd been spouting inanely in the pub for hours with the words 'This isn't The Secret History, you aren't the intellectual elite, you scraped an E at A-level and we've heard enough'. It was cruel and pretty hypocritical given that I spent my undergraduate years in the pub, droning on about philosophy, politics and critical theory.
Obviously this isn't the only rude thing I've said to people - there've been too many to remember. If you've been on the receiving end, do remind me. I do recommend The Secret History though.
10 comments:
I was once trying to sympathise with a then boyfriend about something that didn't require it. I meant to say "things could be worse" I actually said "there's worse things wrong with you"
Most of the rude/hurtful things I have said are often directed at the people I love like my family. I get on really well with them and was never a problem child or troublesome teenager. But sometimes something hurtful just comes out and you can't really take something nasty that you have said back.
I think the reason I felt I could be rude to them is because, your family will love love you no matter what. If you are a bit nasty you know they will still love you.
I don't think this is 100% rude, prbably a mix of 50% rudeness 50% truthfulness. But becuase I have a conscience I still felt a tiny bit bad when a few months back I told my dad,
'Well I hope you are a better dad to the new baby then you have been to me, because you haven't been that great'.
It gave me satisfaction for about two minutes to know that I had struck him where it hurt, but it was kind of rude and I did feel a bit bad. Although what I said, is kind of the truth.
Mistaken rudeness.
Once in school we had an English supply teacher for the week. She was really helpful and kind, if a little on the overly large side.
One afternoon waiting for the class to come in, I was banging my hands to a beat on the table as she walked past. She turned round and looked at me with disgust. Miss Lee had thought I was imitating an earthquake due to her size. I really wasn't though, but she couldn't look at me for the rest of the week. And I didn't have the heart to say i'm sorry but I wasn't taking the mickey out your weight, just incase that made an issue out of her weight. So now she probably just thinks i'm a really rude person.
Emma - I love yours and intend to use it frequently.
Natural - from what you've written elsewhere, I don't think this is cruel or unfair: and I hope he is a better father to this child than he was to you.
Natural - the teacher one; that's pretty paranoid stuff. Definitely not your fault. We used to treat supply teachers terribly: tears were the intention and tears we got, while I was at my Stoke comprehensive. I felt terrible when I was older, and even worse when I did some supply teaching myself. Worst job ever.
To Sophie Ellis-Bexter at an Audience gig (it was at a festival so forgive me) - "You lot sound like Mike and the Mechanics"
Didn't you pelt her with gentlemen's interest magazines too?
I believe it was a torn up copy of forty plus magazine.
Christine won't be contributing to this discussion ("I've never been nasty to ANYONE", she just Monroe'd at me), so I'll furnish you with the nastiest thing I can remember having said.
It's unforgivable, because the intention was nasty, so don't bother trying to forgive it.
There was this girl called Nicola, waiting by the swings for her boyfriend -- the school alpha hunk -- to turn up. She was 14, I was 10. As my mate and I walked by in our replica football kits, I shouted to her "I've just seen him. He was kissing this other girl, I think."
She crumpled completely, and ran away in absolute floods.
Needless to say, I hadn't seen him at all.
My mate looked at me, and said, "Jesus, that was well out of order".
I shrugged.
The saving grace (for her) in this story is that I saw them later that evening, in each others arms and fully reconciled. I remain amazed that neither of them saw fit to come over and kick my sorry arse all over the park.
Oh James, aren't children cruel? As for Christine's innocence - NONSENSE. She's the wittiest gossip in the building.
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