When you're with your best friends, this doesn't necessarily
apply. What I'm talking about is when you're with someone that you're only kind
of friends with, or even worse, when two people are hanging out with a mutual
friend, and the mutual friend leaves. You know you have to try and keep up
conversation, but just like your failed second grade science fair project, the
chemistry just doesn't work. At least with the mutual friend situation you can
talk about the friend as common ground, but even that can run dry. "Taylor
is so funny. I really enjoy him." "Yeah, I like him too."
Congrats.
On the one
hand, you are following the rules. You are waiting for the light to change or
for the lane to clear so you can cross safely and not interfere with traffic,
an admirable decision from a responsible citizen. On the other, your rebellious
counterpart is brazenly tempting fate with his disregard for law. Cocky? Maybe.
Bold? Absolutely. However, what matters most is the feeling that you incur upon
seeing this challenge to your bravery: shame. You don't know why and I don't
know why, but this phenomenon is so common that Urban Dictionary has defined it
as "curb shame." I guess good guys really do finish last.
There is an
unwritten rule that if you didn't hear what someone said to you the first time
you can only ask them to repeat it one more time. After that you simply have to
just smile, nod your head and pray that they didn't just ask to borrow $20.
This situation usually occurs with someone who speaks quietly, but if you're
also hard of hearing? God help us. God help us all.
Remember
that episode of Seinfeld where George's fiancée Susan starts hanging out with George's friends, and
you don't because you're 13? Well in any case, this is a similar issue.
he gets upset because all of a sudden his "worlds are colliding?" Oh
as such. It's implied that when you say "Bye, see you Monday!" at the
School/work and real life are separate entities and should therefore be treated
the people that I hang out with by choice, please don't ask me to go to staff
end of each week, what you really mean is "Bye, I'm now going to be with
happy hour!". At least if it's a coworker, you can probably bond over how
can talk about polynomials or something.
much of a jerk your boss is, but if it's your teacher? I don't know, maybe you
Face it, there was a time when you cared about chain messages,
"like for a tbh" statuses and what your Chinese name is based on your
initials. And your 12-year-old self posted about it...a lot. Getting that visit
from the Ghost of Facebook Past each time one of your cheeky friends resurrects
a particularly damaging memory is nothing short of humiliating. Tbh, maybe you
should delete your account.
