Just Off Center

You know despite the stupidity, bad clothes, philosophy reading, and getting run over by a steamroller thing, there's a part of me that really identifies with Otto from "A Fish Called Wanda". I think it's the whole killing people and calling everyone an asshole thing.

We all have days like this, when you walk in feeling perfectly fine. You know, one of those moods that makes you want to cheer up those around you who have lost sight of the beauty of life. And then. Well you know what happens. It only takes one comment from the wrong person to turn it all around. And I don't mean wrong comment like "you're fired" or "boss, I'm pregnant" but something along the lines of "sometimes I wonder if you guys even know what your jobs are". This is by no means a major hit, but it presses the ignition button on the rage rocket inside of you. The joy of living is gone and has been fully replaced with a firm desire to disembowel your peers with a spork.

What causes these sudden changes in our moods? Of course, we are all affected by the steady barrage of bad encounters, but what is it that flips the needle from great guy to spawn-of-the-dark-lord-Beezelbub in a single sentence? Perhaps it's just the stress. Maybe I I still have latent memories of last night's dream where my wife gets fifth based by my best friend. Whatever the cause, it can be a disturbing experience.

However, it seems to me that the results are not all bad. As long as your quality of work is up to par, there's really nothing wrong with being the guy most likely to bring in the shotgun. Somebody in every office has to be that guy. I mean understanding that most people are perfectly content with pigeon-holing those around them into cliched stereotypes, there are definite advantages to being the one who could blow at any moment. For instance, the rate of rejects on actions you request dives well below the norm. Also, you don't have to put up with the mindless banter of your coworkers. Do they really want you to know that they have a gas leak in their house or what school their kids attend. you're crazy remember? And it's virtually guaranteed that you won't be invited to any annoying coworker weekend cookouts.

So on second thought, let those tempres flare, America. If the current administration has taught us anything, it's that sometimes, cooler heads don't prevail. And who am I to argue with the morals displayed by those appointed over us? Exactly.