Friday Blog Roundup

by Mel

0 comments

1 Anonymous { 04.10.09 at 8:14 am }

I would definitely NOT read other people’s thoughts. I have been guilty in the past of reading someone’s personal journal and learned that the occasional offhand negative comment about me ended up being something I carried around a LOT longer than I should have, and probably way out of proportion to the degree of feeling that the writer held (they said I was “moody”). The same thing happened when a friend told me what another friend had said to her about me… it was THIRTEEN YEARS AGO and I’m still bitter… and all she said was “[redacted] kind of has her head in the clouds.” I’m way too insecure to be able to deal with that kind of knowledge! I’d rather maintain the white-lie buffer, and rely on my intuition to get a sense of what people are thinking – about me, or about anything else.

The only reason I’m posting this anonymously is b/c I’m still ashamed of reading my friend’s journal…

2 Cassandra { 04.10.09 at 8:51 am }

No thanks on the thoughts. Reading emails accidentally left open or inadvertently forwarded is more than enough. I’ve also gotten unwanted insights when someone doesn’t realize that the person on the other side of the phone is on speakerphone, or when someone says things and doesn’t realize the target is right next to the listener and can overhear/overread.

I do enjoy the foolish “Reply All” emails when they’re not about me, though.

3 Kristin { 04.10.09 at 9:44 am }

No…I Don’t want to read thoughts. I think that would be horrible. I mean, we all have fleeting thoughts we don’t really mean and I can’t imagine having to hear all those.

But, I can’t get past your status message at the top of the blog…Can you imagine the terror and excitement of surviving a werewolf seder?…and I’d really love to know the thoughts or happenings that led up to this status message.

4 Jennifer { 04.10.09 at 10:33 am }

I’ll pass on the thought-reading, thanks. I don’t know why I’m so stuck on CS Lewis lately (I need a trip to the library!), but I’m reminded of the scene in “Voyage of the Dawn Treader” where Lucy opens a book and sees a dear friend saying hurtful things about her. The friend didn’t really mean what she said, but the damage was done. For my part, especially in light of my own nutty thoughts, I’d rather not know what flits through someone else’s mind.

I *do* want to know, however, what sparked the werewolf seder status remark. I sense a story…

5 Somewhat Ordinary { 04.10.09 at 10:54 am }

I so do not want to know what people are thinking. Mainly because I know what things I think sometimes when I’m in a conversation with someone and I have to assume that I’m not alone in those sort of thoughts, so yeah, no thanks!

6 Mrs. Spit { 04.10.09 at 11:30 am }

I have such a sense that my thoughts are so scattered, I would be so embarrassed to have someone see them.

they flit around, and what I think this moment might not be what I think next moment.

Thoughts seem to be such private, intimate things.

7 Lollipop Goldstein { 04.10.09 at 12:55 pm }

If I had unlimited thought-reading abilities, I’d want it. But for one day, I’d always wonder if what I learned was a passing thought or the full truth. It would drive me crazy so no thanks.

8 Guera! { 04.10.09 at 12:56 pm }

I do not want to know what other people are thinking unless I can apply a filter. On the other hand I might find that my own thoughts are actually normal and common. I think we all have thoughts that we think are unique to us and we’d never confess them. It might be nice to see we are not alone. But ultimately, I prefer not to know exactly what someone is thinking.

9 areyoukiddingme { 04.10.09 at 1:36 pm }

I would like to know what people’s thoughts are. I have a very pessimistic view already, so I wouldn’t be surprised by unpleasant or unflattering thoughts. They would just confirm my opinion. Of course, I might just avoid those people whose admiration/love I want on that particular day…

Also, I can see why the Chickienob doesn’t think you’re too funny, but you are! She’ll probably think you’re even less funny when she’s a teenager.

10 battynurse { 04.10.09 at 8:57 pm }

I have to admit that I likely would choose to read peoples thoughts about me although I also acknowledge that I would probably be unnerved or bothered by what I “heard”. I think especially from the people I work with. As far as strangers, it might be interesting to see if people really notice me as much as I worry they are noticing me (and my weight) and maybe lighten up a bit about worrying what others are thinking.

11 Lollipop Goldstein { 04.10.09 at 9:05 pm }

Oooh, I really love Battynurse’s answer and that idea of knowing what strangers are noticing as they pass and is it what we THINK they are noticing?

12 Jennifer { 04.11.09 at 7:14 am }

Thanks for the posting the werewolf seder update!! I love your stories.

13 Bea { 04.15.09 at 7:15 am }

I would have to read the thoughts. I may or may not regret it, but I wouldn’t be able to say no. Like you, I would wonder if I’d got the whole truth. Like battynurse, I would probably be disappointed and at the same time relieved to know that other people don’t really think about me that much at all.

I do like people to come out and say what they think about me in life, though, and I tend to get on well with “blunt” types, so I don’t think I would regret it after all. I would finally be getting people to interact with me in the way I prefer.

I would, yes, probably seek out certain people on that day.

Bea