It's hard to argue against cynics ... because they have so much evidence on their side.

[witticaster]

I've danced around this issue with people before, but I don't think I've ever explicitly stated it

Comments

[contradictacat]

I wish I no longer believed in losing friendships or cutting people out of my life. But I've realized that for some people, trying to hold the cognitive dissonance of knowing all that is horrible about a person and still liking them anyway just flat out isn't worth it. I know this makes me not a good person, and probably pretty immature. But I've tried to continue a friendship past the point when it shouldn't have lasted, and the awfulness that caused has generally taught me that it is okay to let go and turn away sometimes.

I guess I have kind of the 90-degree version of your trust thing. While I also don't put much trust in people, that means that it's easier to turn away and write them off, rather than easier to deal with people's foibles.

[witticaster]

*nods* I've known your stance on this topic for a while, and it's one of the reasons we may never be closer than we are. If I can't trust someone to have faith in me, why would I put my faith in them

[contradictacat]

You've given me a lot to think about, and I think I'd like to talk about it, but I'm not sure I can articulate things well in text. Thanks, though!

[witticaster]

I'm always glad when my preachiness is in some way helpful to someone other than me, and I'm frequently willing to talk about things.

[hazliya]

I've met very few truly horrible people, and I've never befriended them.

Just so you know, elenuial has a degree in horribleness. It's seriously true - I framed it for him when he came home with it and now it's hanging on the wall above his workspace.