Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Laugh Hard
There's this guy I see on a regular basis right now (that's a clue that I can't be too descriptive), who always talks to me about the same thing. Over and over. For a long time. All the time.
At first I pretended to pay attention. I asked insightful questions. I made eye contact. I nodded on cue. Then I pretended to be busy. I became harried. I paused long before answering. I gazed into my screen as he waited out my response.
Now I don't even pretend. But he still talks. And just yesterday, I realized: he has no sense of humor. I don't think he has ever laughed. This thing he talks about: it is meaningless. It is a foolish dream. It is me talking about winning the lottery. It is make believe. I discovered this revelation when I made light of his topic of discussion. I joshed him about his interest (and rightfully so, it's all he talks about). But he looked at me hurt. He gave me grave plans, lifelong goals, Excel spreadsheets. And he never smiled.
This is what working does to some people. It makes them scheme. It makes them think they can get everything for free. It makes them believe in lotteries. It makes them lazy. As Steely Dan says, "Only a fool would say that."
At first I pretended to pay attention. I asked insightful questions. I made eye contact. I nodded on cue. Then I pretended to be busy. I became harried. I paused long before answering. I gazed into my screen as he waited out my response.
Now I don't even pretend. But he still talks. And just yesterday, I realized: he has no sense of humor. I don't think he has ever laughed. This thing he talks about: it is meaningless. It is a foolish dream. It is me talking about winning the lottery. It is make believe. I discovered this revelation when I made light of his topic of discussion. I joshed him about his interest (and rightfully so, it's all he talks about). But he looked at me hurt. He gave me grave plans, lifelong goals, Excel spreadsheets. And he never smiled.
This is what working does to some people. It makes them scheme. It makes them think they can get everything for free. It makes them believe in lotteries. It makes them lazy. As Steely Dan says, "Only a fool would say that."
