Postscript to Experiment 007

This “Postscript to Experiment” should probably be called “Postscript to Excrement”, after the fallout from a recent post. Christopher Hurt needs to stop taking his friends, as well as himself, for granted, like your girlfriend.

I was speaking both generally of my friends and specifically of those friends of whom I have recently offended. I must recognize that such is a regular, cyclical problem for me and with me.

Follow up with a recent post and an apology, this post will delve deeper. I would liken the situation to the Gumpert Apollo, driven by Richard Hammond on Top Gear:

“Don’t mess with the standard settings, although optional; you’re only going to make things worse.”

I was told the same thing by three female friends in the same week, and I became angry. Neither having anger nor being angry is wrong, but that which one does with that anger can be wrong.

To clarify this point, today, I have a real-life analogy, although imperfect, like your girlfriend:

Obviously this image is of a piece of chilled, chocolate French-silk pie. Last night one of my coworkers left a voice message about the piece, which he left in the refrigerator for me. Free food is more often available in the afternoon than in the morning when I work. Now, this morning, no problem exists in my having this piece, which was left for me; however, the problem exists in how my coworker came by this piece.

The head of our branch has said that without permission from our department, we are not allowed to take any food left over from the conferences or events in the room near our office. Regardless, last night my coworker did, and now he must deal with words from our manager, and a chocolate-smeared plate, which he must return to catering.

People do have a right to say what comments others can leave to their status updates. I can be upset about being told that three times by three different female friends in the same week. I do not have a right to publicly and abusively comment about my feelings, thereby taking my friends for granted.

Yes, I made a mess of it. In British English, I cocked up. I went right from being a dick to being a complete asshole, and assholes shit on everything.

In writing this post, I am not looking to dwell on my mistake, thereby feeding a cycle of depression, grief, and regret into which I so often fall in these circumstances, but to try to learn something, and to not take my friends for granted.

I am again sorry, everyone.