A Topic of Annoyance

There are things that annoy me in this world, lots of them. I'd like to talk about one of them now. Basically it's about people who argue things that are completely beside the point of what you're actually discussing. I may be alone in getting annoyed about this, hell, I probably am, but the urge to kill keeps rising when I'm confronted in this way. Perhaps it's a leftover remnant of childhood, talking to my father is often even now at crosspurposes. I'm not sure if it's a listening issue or a comprehension issue or what. Depending on the person, I suppose it may have to do with things that push their buttons. And I guess once you find those triggers for specific people you can decide whether to exploit that or avoid those topics. It's useful to know things like that. With my father it's more like he hears part of what you say, grasps onto one part, makes assumptions about it, then will argue about it until you agree just so he'll shut the hell up even when it actually has little to no impact on the original debate or conversation. I have friends like this as well, sometimes I'm more tolerant of it than other times. Plus some people are easier to distract to another topic.

But so I just got into one of those kinds of discussions (read: argument) here at work. It took a lot of willpower for me to not just say, "S____, you're an ass!!!" Of course, the reply I actually gave him after trying unsuccessfully to explain the actual point wasn't *much* better. It was something along the lines of an exasperated, "You know what S____? How about I print out the article, you can read it and actually be informed about what the topic really is, and then you can go rant at someone else." I'm pretty sure he knew what I meant, ie. "You're an ass!!!" It's not that I don't find other peoples opinions valid, valuable, possibly interesting or anthing like that. But yes, you know what, when someone is being argumentative and passionate over something really dumb or completely tangential to what is being discussed, I do indeed feel superior. I realize how self-involved that sounds, but at this moment I'm not really in the caring kind of way. RAH!!!!

Arrivals!

So teapot_farm is here! Yay!!! The flight was long... 7 1/2 hours, but she got to see Greenland out the window, which kind of made up for it. Customs apparently were a breeze, she got asked tougher and more probing questions attempting to get through security at Gatwick than she did here. Funny how things change, yet remain the same. And so then eventually I showed up to get her. I totally should've gone back for my car first, I know better now. Taking the Airtrain and NJ Transit is a total bitch with luggage. You'd think I'd know better, it's not like I've never done it myself. But well... I don't generally go on flights that are that long and I often travel fairly light. Anyway, so she's all jet-lagged and camping out at my house now. Anyone desiring to speak to her should call there. Oh, except I might've turned the ringer off on the phone. Um. Ho hum. I'll fix it later.

Anyway, it's fab that she's here and stuff. And there's still stuff to do! There's an art festival in New Hope this weekend, and she's not been to Philly yet, and she so needs to go to the Amish market, as well as a mega-huge grocery store. Maybe Costco too. Nothing says scary more than that. Well, perhaps the Palisades Mall, but that might scare her too much. She's refusing to go see Shark Tale though. Damn her!!!

Anyway, if anyone has any ideas for what I can introduce my oh-so-British friend to, do let me know.