My feet are painfully white. So yesterday I decided that I needed some decent sandals/flip-flops so that they may see some much-needed sunlight.
I went to Kohl’s and found some really nice ones on sale. When I got to the register to check out I noticed that they now have a fairly large monitor facing the customer that displays all of the items that have been scanned.
As the cashier scanned the box containing my new flip-flops the following appeared, in fairly large print, on the monitor:
MEN’S THONG
I started laughing… mostly because there’s no way I could wear a size 9 thong.
Oh, and the next morning at church, I spilled grape juice all over the right one. Figures.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I was talking to a friend of mine a couple of nights ago and he shared with me a great analogy concerning relationships…
In academia, there are basically two points-of-view in the realm of grading exams. The first is that all students begin the grading process with a zero. As each question is graded, points are accumulated for every correct answer and the final grade is determined by taking the number of points earned and dividing by the number of points possible. The second is very similar, but the perception is changed. In this scenario, all students begin the grading process with a perfect score. As each question is graded, points are deducted from the total for every incorrect answer and the final grade is determined by taking the number of points deducted, dividing that number by the total number of points possible, and finally subtracting that percentage from 100. Have I lost you yet?
Anyway, my friend has concluded that I fall into the former of the two when it comes to relationships. For the most part, it is an accurate conclusion. In my mind, most girls start out at “zero” and as I get to know them better I am able (though sometimes unable) to determine if they are someone I would like to date and, possibly, eventually marry. Though, there have been some exceptions to this for some reason unknown to me.
My friend, on the other hand, says he was the exact opposite (was, because he’s now married). In his mind, he wanted to date virtually every girl that he met. As he got to know them better, he would weed out those who were “undateable.”
So, what does this all mean exactly? It means I’m picky. Which can be both good and bad. Where do you think you fall in those two camps?
June 18, 2007 at 12:02 pm
I think I was in your friend’s camp. If I was interested in a girl, I would assume we’d be a good fit unless I saw a “red flag.” So I guess I was deducting points from a perfect score.
But does this style of thinking leak into other relationships and friendships? Wouldn’t it be horrible if you assumed everyone started at a zero and had to “earn” friendship points? Do friendships and dating/marriage relationships start so differently?
June 19, 2007 at 11:36 am
Question…What if there were a third option? What if you thought that everyone started at a “C,” and they can improve or worsen their score based on their answers? That is the way I view my waiter/waitress relationships. You are going to start out at 15% just because it is right, but you can get a better tip or a worse one based on your performance.
Another question…what is the difference between those people who view thier relationships in the above ways? I mean, why do some people view all relationships as a 0 or all as a 100? Is that based on a pessimistic or optimistic attitude, or past experience, or your basic beliefs about yourself?
And by the way, Ben, you are wrong. I’m deducting 10 points from your score.
June 22, 2007 at 4:21 pm
I start everyone out at 100. Then I deduct 20 points everytime they remind me that they’ve beat me at Five Crowns. Which means, you’re a D-, Michael.
June 27, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Michael, If you are waiting for someone as perfect as your mom is; It will never happen. Mom’s just can’t live up to that kind of perfection, not even yours. Moms are from another planet. You know they have another eye on the back of there head under the hair, so they have all eyes on you even if she uses some of her friends to tattle on you. So start out as everyone being good in their own way, then add and subtract accordingly. Come on get it right!!!
July 17, 2007 at 10:51 pm
I think I’m with Lee on this one. I find that I can meet a person and think that they are okay. Then as I get to know them ,I decide whether they are worth my time.Most guys just end up as friends ,others I let go and the interaction fades.I like you ,am a picky person.There is a very short list of men I have ever even considered marriage material.It’s ok to be picky,I have learned that it’s a good thing. I think the reason why so many people get divorced in this country is not being cautious about who we choose to share our lives with . There’s a saying that ” a girl wants to marry a man just like her father .” As for me that saying is so from the truth. In most cases people desire to marry people with the qualities they most cherish about their parents ,which is ok.I just think we have to remind ourselves that we don’t want someone ” just like our parents, but shares our parents good qualities”.