Flibbertigibbet

How To Win Friends and Influence People... PSYCH!

So, my birthday was a while back, you'll all recall. To celebrate I made plans with an acquaintance of mine. I don't know him very well, but we hang out every now and then. He's the lonely sort and I was looking for company on my birthday so we made plans to go out on the town.

He never showed. He didn't call or email or anything. He just disappeared and turned up two weeks later to say that some stuff had come up and that he was sorry.

'Scuze me?

You don't leave your buddies hangin' for two weeks (on their birthday) and just show up with 'sorry.' All he would have had to do is call or write an email. I wouldn't have minded, but he didn't do anything.

Here's a transcript of our last conversation, which is taking place as I type these words.

Audacious Stander-Upper: hey . . .

Flibby: Hey

Audacious Stander-Upper: you doing okay?

Flibby: I'm fine.

Audacious Stander-Upper: am I forgiven?

Flibby: The question is if you're doing ok.

Flibby: I don't think so.

Flibby: What have you done to warrant forgiveness?

Audacious Stander-Upper: um . . . I have asked

Flibby: I'm not your fairy tale god.

Flibby: I'm the person you stood up a while back.

Flibby: I'm the person you didn't even have the time or energy to call after you did so.

Flibby: I want to be your friend but I don't have time to be treated like that.

Audacious Stander-Upper: you are right

Flibby: So, go on. Find some other people to abuse.

Flibby: You haven't earned enough of my patience to work past that.

Flibby: Bye.

Audacious Stander-Upper: is there nothing I could do then at this point?

Flibby: Why do you think you deserve any leeway?

Flibby: All you had to do was pick up the phone or dash out a quick email. "Dude. Something has come up. Sorry. I'll have to catch you in a couple of weeks."

Flibby: You did not show the least bit of conscientiousness.

Flibby: Instead, you wallowed in your own self-pity. That's your business.

Flibby: But why do you think I should put up with it?

Audacious Stander-Upper: all I can say is that I understand why you are angry . . . I wish I could take it all back or relive that night . . . I was really looking forward to reconnecting with you . . . you do challenge me to be better and I don't have anyone in my life that does that. I have never been able to have really good friends, which I am sure that you understand. But I am willing to admit that I made a huge mistake, followed my several more that has cost me your friendship. I am trying to be a better person, but self-pity is not where I wallow anymore. I don't have time for that either. So I guess you should not put up with it. No, I am sure you should not put up with it.

Flibby: Good answer. For once you're thinking properly.

Flibby: Maybe next time you make a friend you won't treat them so badly.

Flibby: Bye.

I just don't know where some people get off.

As I told someone else very recently, there's a reason courtesy is common.