DAMN YOU ROCK 'EM SOCK 'EM ROBOTS! CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG!!!!!?!!?!?!?!?!!
A thought struck me the other day. Among all my former - shit, I guess the correct word is "people I went to school with", "classmates" definitely isn't appropriate - that I've spoken to since finishing up at vermont high, not one has had something nice to say about anyone else? It's just bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch.
But I guess, looking back on it, the same thing went on while we were at school, I mean a favoured conversation topic has always been "let's talk about who's not here and drag their name through the mud". But even then there was at least some humor in it. Now it's just plain nasty. Anytime I see someone from vermont in the street, within five seconds the conversation switches around to what everyone else is doing, how this particular person saw whomever the other day...and the undercurrent to the talking is always something along the lines of "I'm doing so much better than this person, they look like shit and are wasting their life, I've got myself sorted, I'm making so much money/doing this course that's going to make so much money blah blah blah.
At first look that just appears like classic insecurity. But I mean it's just so malicious and nasty. All I'm hearing is people going on about how they saw half their old crew and are glad if they don't ever see them again. During this, I'm smiling and nodding politley, while internally I'm all like, "what, but you like got pissed and slept with this person!" or something along those lines.
I guess it's kinda confirmed some nasty suspicions that I had about the depth of friendships in that place. You only measure up against the value in social points that you can be traded for by someone. I mean fuck, this talking about people behind there backs is a fact of life, it's gone on for years. It fucking bites some big hairy yak arses, but it just happens. Not just confined to schools either...hardcore anyone? I mean sometimes if shit talk was an olympic sport we'd have to get victory records to make the uniforms for the all hardcore kid australian team...and we'd kick arse at it. And I'm totally as guilty of it as anyone else. I've been trying to change but, not succeeding too well.
What's worse is like talking to one half of a couple, or even worse still, former couple. You have to tiptoe around everything, make sure you're not giving away something that their partner has told you but didn't want the person you're talking to to know. And the one's that have broken up...I just love it how they can apparently move on so quickly and so wholeheartedly diss the person they were with, as if everything they professed to feel and every experience they shared means shit to them. Or at least they've convinced themselves of that.
There's actually a point coming out here that I hadn't realised...it all comes down to insecurity, I think (I slept through most of year 11 nd 12 psychology). But also basic dishonesty. Being nice to someone's face, then saying the most horrible thing as soon as their backs turned. I'm well experienced at being on the receiving end of this. Two big instances in the past six months are the ones I'm most aware of, and I mean if that's the shit I'm finding out about, I don't want to know what else is being said.
As I'm writing this, I'm just thinking more and more about the basic dishonesty and deception that goes on in social relationships every single day, it's fucking amazing. Is everyone like this, or is it just us eastern suburbs rich kids who have been educated to place materialism and increases in social stature over humanitarianism?
And when you think about it, what is the definition of "friendship?" in these terms? The footy club idea of your "mates?". Stand by your friends/wrong or right/can't call that justice/if it's just a stupid excuse to fight - Operation Ivy.
I won't even claim to have any answers here, because I'm as guilty of it as anyone else. I think a little honesty could possibly go a long way in everyday life, but when you think about how much our lives are based on deception and putting on fronts in a simple, everyday manner? Doubtful. I still maintain the world would be a better place if everyone listened to a little more Fugazi, but I don't think that's entirely helpful in this situation.
I guess it's just something that's stood out, and bears thinking about. Especialy any current or ex vermont people who're reading this. Blatant honesty 101.
