Publications
Partners
There seems to be a new trend out. The complete and utter inability to be happy for others.
When something good happens to another person in your life, the normal and acceptable response should be one filled with positive remarks.
Often the words used are: “Congratulations” “That is lovely news” “Oooh lucky - you must enjoy” “Well done”
Online we click like and type out the appropriate comment. In everyday life we verbally confirm our happiness at someone else’s good fortune. It is easy and it takes barely more than a few seconds.
It also costs nothing which makes it extra rude when people are just to bloody selfish to be happy for you.
These are the same people who take a special form of delight when something doesn’t go your way. Schadenfreude addicts. Those who take malicious joy in other people’s misfortunes.
And yet some of us are ‘lucky’ enough to call these people friends. If your own friends cannot be happy for you, then who can?
On FB I am one of those people who will click ‘like’ whether my family and friends have posted a picture of a new car / a weekend away / a random but funny quote or a photo of a queue to Burger King. It doesn’t always fascinate me beyond belief but I understand that to them that photo or status is important at that moment.
Yet when I post, those same people will not click ‘like’ or comment on anything. Ever. I may not be posting a pic of a brand new car or how I made it into a new fast food restaurant after standing for ages outside, but I too have something interesting to say!
I had my hair cut the other day and a work friend (who couldn’t be happy for others if her life depended on it) asks why some hairs are longer than others. It is called layering, Einstein.
No attempt to say it looks anything in the region of nice. Just a stare and “You didn’t have it highlighted”. No I didn’t get highlights – thank you so much for pointing ot my roots. I don’t own a mirror or a set of eyes to see the obvious.
Or when I put in a day's leave and can look forward to a little time off to relax. I get the long look and questions regarding who will do my work etc. Why not just tell me to enjoy my time off and keep your sour expression and ridiculous comments to yourself?
It is extra annoying when the comments are from someone who isn’t even in your department and doesn’t even work on your floor. Is my day off that much of a big deal to you?
We expect these stupid comments and put downs from people we don’t like. I’m never surprised when I get a lovely ‘compliment’ from people who aren’t close to me or don’t know me from a bar of soap.
But I expect more from some of my friends.
Wouldn’t you?
Follow Women24 on Twitter and like us on Facebook
When something good happens to another person in your life, the normal and acceptable response should be one filled with positive remarks.
Often the words used are: “Congratulations” “That is lovely news” “Oooh lucky - you must enjoy” “Well done”
Online we click like and type out the appropriate comment. In everyday life we verbally confirm our happiness at someone else’s good fortune. It is easy and it takes barely more than a few seconds.
It also costs nothing which makes it extra rude when people are just to bloody selfish to be happy for you.
These are the same people who take a special form of delight when something doesn’t go your way. Schadenfreude addicts. Those who take malicious joy in other people’s misfortunes.
And yet some of us are ‘lucky’ enough to call these people friends. If your own friends cannot be happy for you, then who can?
On FB I am one of those people who will click ‘like’ whether my family and friends have posted a picture of a new car / a weekend away / a random but funny quote or a photo of a queue to Burger King. It doesn’t always fascinate me beyond belief but I understand that to them that photo or status is important at that moment.
Yet when I post, those same people will not click ‘like’ or comment on anything. Ever. I may not be posting a pic of a brand new car or how I made it into a new fast food restaurant after standing for ages outside, but I too have something interesting to say!
I had my hair cut the other day and a work friend (who couldn’t be happy for others if her life depended on it) asks why some hairs are longer than others. It is called layering, Einstein.
No attempt to say it looks anything in the region of nice. Just a stare and “You didn’t have it highlighted”. No I didn’t get highlights – thank you so much for pointing ot my roots. I don’t own a mirror or a set of eyes to see the obvious.
Or when I put in a day's leave and can look forward to a little time off to relax. I get the long look and questions regarding who will do my work etc. Why not just tell me to enjoy my time off and keep your sour expression and ridiculous comments to yourself?
It is extra annoying when the comments are from someone who isn’t even in your department and doesn’t even work on your floor. Is my day off that much of a big deal to you?
We expect these stupid comments and put downs from people we don’t like. I’m never surprised when I get a lovely ‘compliment’ from people who aren’t close to me or don’t know me from a bar of soap.
But I expect more from some of my friends.
Wouldn’t you?
Follow Women24 on Twitter and like us on Facebook
