My Pet Peeve - The Backbite and Frontsmile

I rarely get surprised by human behaviour. In fact, I pride myself on being a pseudo psychologist, which then somehow (operational word) qualifies me to accurately (well, at least half the time) predict and explain behaviour. I beg you, though, don't ask me to guess what you're thinking next time you see me or get in touch with me, you just might be the subject of my next rant.

One thing always gets me though, every time! That is the ability of people to say bad things behind a person's back and then be extra nice to their face. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr (I'd go on, but I'm seeing doublessss).

What prompted me to rant about this, apart from years of being surprised and annoyed by this... this... 'thing', was a programme I attended last weekend (well, there goes the anonymity of this story). Moving on... there was a lady at the programme who was quite normal in my estimation. On one of the days, she was running late and a discussion ensued about her that I was 'privileged' to observe. She was described in such terms as kooky,  fibber, unfortunate,  and so on; but when she showed up minutes later, the very same individuals that were on the forefront of the campaign against her were the first to talk about being worried about her, and love, kisses and hugs, and all that jazz (I exaggerate, of course, but you get the gist).

There are two things that immediately go through my mind when something like this happens:

1. I wonder what they say behind my back

2. Why? What? Wh...? 

I think what annoys me most is the acting all friendly afterwards. I am not excusing backbiting but I would expect that if you can't either shut up or say the negative things to the person's face then do not act all lovey-dovey with them. 

Also, about saying negative things to someone's face (or to their inbox and other such personal correspondence facilities on social media), it's not really as bad as it's made to be. If you were someone like me, that person would be your favourite person. Well, right after your parents, siblings, that uncle and aunt that call ever so often to make sure you're still alive, the funny guy on YouTube that just cracks you up, the toothless old woman that smiles at you at the bus-stop, the ... (see what it's like to be me?).

As long as you don't say it in such a nasty way, I don't see why that shouldn't be an option. Let me say this again (albeit differently) - people who can say negative (but true) stuff about me to my face are the people I respect the most... well, right after my parents, my siblings, that uncle and aunt that call ever so often to make sure I'm still alive, the funny guy on Youtube that just cracks me up, the toothless old woman that smiles at me at the bus stop.... 

That's it for now. Rant over. Time to wait for the next surprising episode of Backbite, Frontsmile. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

A Rant about Scholarships

Okay, this really is a rant about scholarships - specifically applying for and not getting it.

I mean, I do appreciate that there might (the operational word is 'might') be people that are more worthy of the scholarship than me, but... hey, all is fair in love and .... No, that's not the quote for this rant. Wait, why is there even a quote for this rant? I already feel I'm digressing.

Back to my rant. Anyone who's ever applied for a scholarship knows how difficult it is not to get it.
You know you were worth it, you know your proposal was strong enough, you know you met the criteria... so why in the world did they pass up on you? Was there some wizened professor who spread snot on your personal statement section? Did your application slip into a shredder before it could be assessed? Who was that person who was more qualified than you? Why... there are so many questions, and no answers.

Personally, I do not believe in coincidence and so I believe everything happens for a reason, but it doesn't stop the resultant anger, confusion, and the whole avalanche of rant-inducing emotions that you suffer.

Don't think I have not tried other avenues to come up with money on my own. Believe me, I have tried all possible (moral, I should add) avenues; many of them utterly laughable - business ideas that have fallen as flat as pancakes, working overtime with the few pennies it adds to my already meager savings, attempting to sell personal belongings, even random thoughts about busking (it definitely gives another meaning to 'it's the thought that counts'). Lest I forget, there's even trying to win the lottery!

All I know is that this year will not pass me by, by fire by force!

That's the spirit we ought to adopt though, isn't it? I mean, what are the alternatives?

I guess all I have to do now is wait for some philanthropist to accidentally stumble on this blog and 'reach out' *wink, wink*.

I wonder if I should post my phone number... just in case!