Socially Distant

The older I get the less interested I am in conflict.  This has never been more sharply in my mind than now, when the opportunity for conflict is all around.

When I was young, I would gleefully engage when someone said something I knew was wrong or stupid.  Now?  Meh.

I used to worry that people would take my silence for tacit approval.  Now?  :shrug:

Of course, I'm reminded of the old Seinfeld gag - where one of the characters chants 'serenity now' every time something bothers them until finally they explode from all the pent up rage.  "Serenity now, insanity later."

I'm also reminded of something Ayn Rand said a long time ago (and I'm paraphrasing here) - "When you realize the person you're talking to is irrational, walk away."  Which I take to mean, there's no amount of debating or arguing that will change an irrational mind, so continuing to engage with them is a waste of time.  It's saved me a lot of effort and a little heartache.

Of course, it helps that I am socially distant from the majority of mankind and have been for years.  I self-isolated before it was cool.

I trained for this as the wife of a city manager.  Getting involved in the bullshit of his job wouldn't have done us any good, so I stayed away from it all.  It was something we agreed to early in our marriage and it served us well over those years.  And it serves me still today.

Sure, I ranted and raved.  In the privacy of our home.  I still do in the privacy of our home and the limited autonomy of the internet - where I choose not to engage those that may have a difference of opinion.  I say things here and ignore any conflict that may come my way.