writefln and ASCII

John Reimer terminal.node at gmail.com
Thu Sep 14 22:50:21 PDT 2006


After reading Steve's second explanation, I decided to make some quick  
clarifications to my post:

>
> I tend to think that "friends" are over-rated.  Just have a very few  
> that are devoted to you (and you to them, of course) and worry less  
> about the others that probably aren't trying very hard to know who you  
> really are (or, perhaps, they are too caught up in themselves to care).   
> People are fical and undependable, as a rule.
>


"Friend" is a rather subjective term and that's why I stated the above  
that way.  Sometimes it may be a luxury to even have some "devoted"  
friends.  I have few and depend on few (in my defintion of the term) -- in  
contrast to some people, it doesn't bother me at all -- I get so much  
social exposure at work, that at the end of the day, I'm satisfied with  
the sufficiency of the day to day acquaintances with which I maintain good  
natured connections.

Yet at the same time, my motivation for friendship, often reluctant, is  
less one for companionship and more one of service.  What I mean by this  
is that my tendency is to avoid making too many connections because the  
selfish part of me prefers the easier life-style of quiet solitude and  
minimal-interaction pressure.  In contrast to some people, my energy can  
be exhausted when having to deal with people for extended periods of time  
(over the years, that has slowly faided due to a natural toughening  
process, I imagine).  Thus, I tend to approach friendship more as an  
obligation to serve or commitment to encourage than as a means for seeking  
companionship or solidarity. That describes my personalities' tendency and  
perhaps why I am reticent to persue such (because it's hard work).  Now  
and again, I try to "get out of my comfort zone" in an attempt to either  
learn to adapt to pressure or to accomodate what I think is a need in  
another.

Friendship comes at a price and has always been a heavy responsibility for  
me because I tend be more sensitive to peoples feelings and reactions than  
most... (ironically, this sounds like the mirror image of Asperger's :)  
).  Again, with time that sensitivity has slowly faided (that may sound  
strange... but hypersensitivity seems to be no blessing). But in the past,  
I often find myself more resistive to forming friendships because of the  
toll it took.

I see most of my good natured social connections as friends only in the  
sense of "acquaintances" and am much more reserved as to who I call  
"friends", a term I save for the nearest and dearest.  Mostly, I feel  
little need for more personal connection.  I have a family that I entrust  
with personal commitment and openess, and I consider them to be my closest  
friends.  So for me, a friend is really somebody I trust like a family  
member.  I treat such like brothers or sisters, and, as a result, there  
can be but few.  The surest sign, though, of my gradual progression to  
friendship is indeed increased openess (perhaps a common trait).


>
>
> Yes, that's the ugly reality of human nature in this world.  People prey  
> upon other's weaknesses... corporations tend to do that too.   
> Corporations are more dangerous because beaurocracy makes them  
> increasingly impersonal, which separates the decision makers from seeing  
> the immediate effects of their actions.
>


One other point: after reading my response above over, I just want to  
clarify that I don't think it's all doom and gloom.  The above makes it  
sound like it's a rather hopeless case to deal with humanity.  I don't  
believe that's absolutely the case, and I want people to know that.  My  
opinion above represents what I believe is the general predilection of a  
large percentage of people.  Some of this group resists that tendency,  
other's do not.

But I believe there is bountiful hope for anybody that seeks it, and I  
share that with those that are interested. :)

-JJR



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