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spinelstarI am ridiculously and pathetically happy right now. I just successfully ordered something from Amazon.co.jp in ENGLISH and it'll be here TOMORROW. And I got to pay in U.S. DOLLARS with my AMERICAN CREDIT CARD with NO ADDITIONAL FEE.
This is a happy day.
Now I just have to resist the impulse to buy ridiculous amounts of stuff from that site. XD
In other news, do you ever wish you could stop a scene in real life to give people notes?
CUT FOR A RANT!
I went to a meeting with other female JETs (boys are welcome too, but no one happened to come this week) that we like to call "Stitch n Bitch." I got to learn how to knit and it was really fun!
But I happened to notice a conversation when one of the girls came in that was mildly awkward for all of us sitting at the table:
Person A: I just got done with my run.
Person B: I don't really like running... I'm more of a sports person.
Person A: (laughing) What are you saying?
Person B: (slightly embarrassed) No, you know what I mean...
Person A: (still laughing) What do you do in your other sports? Don't you run?
Person B: Well, yes, but in sports, you have a goal!
Person A: In running you have a goal; you're trying to beat your best time!
PAUSE!!!
Okay, here are my notes for these people:
Person B - You made an honest slip-of-the-tongue; that's perfectly acceptable. But I guess I'm just not sure why you said what you did in the first place. I've noticed that with some people it becomes this strange habit to chime in immediately and turn the conversation towards themselves. Shouldn't you wait for someone else to speak who might have an interest in running? That way they can relate to the person who just came in. By speaking first, and saying that you don't like something that they obviously enjoy (or at least do often), it's like you're trying to immediately antagonize them. And I know you were just trying to make conversation... Maybe instead you could indirectly tell them that you admire them for doing such a healthy activity that you find difficult? Observe:
"Oh, I could never do that! I'm so bad at running!"
It's not that much different from what you said, but the implication is that you're impressed with them, even if you don't share their interest.
Person A - Yes. Running is a sport. But I'm pretty sure you knew what she meant. And even if you didn't, please take the time to listen and try to understand. Granted, you make some good points; if you'd approached the situation differently (i.e. respectfully), this might have even made a interesting conversation.
But you laughed at her. She misspoke, which was maybe a little funny, and you can even laugh a little to show you're not offended. But you kept laughing, and you didn't listen. You acted like she was being ridiculous. I cannot possibly think of a ruder or more humilating way to correct someone. How do you think she feels? You've given her absolutely no opportunity to redeem herself in the context of the conversation. You were combative, immediately, and even worse you tried to cover it up with laughter. If you were offended, please be honest about it.
Also, you wouldn't let it go. The fact that you drew it out like that made it awkward for everyone sitting there and especially the girl who made an honest mistake. It was completely unnecessary.
*sighs* Sorry. Had to get that off my chest.
This is a happy day.
Now I just have to resist the impulse to buy ridiculous amounts of stuff from that site. XD
In other news, do you ever wish you could stop a scene in real life to give people notes?
CUT FOR A RANT!
I went to a meeting with other female JETs (boys are welcome too, but no one happened to come this week) that we like to call "Stitch n Bitch." I got to learn how to knit and it was really fun!
But I happened to notice a conversation when one of the girls came in that was mildly awkward for all of us sitting at the table:
Person A: I just got done with my run.
Person B: I don't really like running... I'm more of a sports person.
Person A: (laughing) What are you saying?
Person B: (slightly embarrassed) No, you know what I mean...
Person A: (still laughing) What do you do in your other sports? Don't you run?
Person B: Well, yes, but in sports, you have a goal!
Person A: In running you have a goal; you're trying to beat your best time!
PAUSE!!!
Okay, here are my notes for these people:
Person B - You made an honest slip-of-the-tongue; that's perfectly acceptable. But I guess I'm just not sure why you said what you did in the first place. I've noticed that with some people it becomes this strange habit to chime in immediately and turn the conversation towards themselves. Shouldn't you wait for someone else to speak who might have an interest in running? That way they can relate to the person who just came in. By speaking first, and saying that you don't like something that they obviously enjoy (or at least do often), it's like you're trying to immediately antagonize them. And I know you were just trying to make conversation... Maybe instead you could indirectly tell them that you admire them for doing such a healthy activity that you find difficult? Observe:
"Oh, I could never do that! I'm so bad at running!"
It's not that much different from what you said, but the implication is that you're impressed with them, even if you don't share their interest.
Person A - Yes. Running is a sport. But I'm pretty sure you knew what she meant. And even if you didn't, please take the time to listen and try to understand. Granted, you make some good points; if you'd approached the situation differently (i.e. respectfully), this might have even made a interesting conversation.
But you laughed at her. She misspoke, which was maybe a little funny, and you can even laugh a little to show you're not offended. But you kept laughing, and you didn't listen. You acted like she was being ridiculous. I cannot possibly think of a ruder or more humilating way to correct someone. How do you think she feels? You've given her absolutely no opportunity to redeem herself in the context of the conversation. You were combative, immediately, and even worse you tried to cover it up with laughter. If you were offended, please be honest about it.
Also, you wouldn't let it go. The fact that you drew it out like that made it awkward for everyone sitting there and especially the girl who made an honest mistake. It was completely unnecessary.
*sighs* Sorry. Had to get that off my chest.
