In a recent Dilbert cartoon the pointy-haired boss and Alice are talking:
Alice: The new software is a disaster.
Pointy-Haired Boss: Then why did you recommend it?
Alice: This software is your idea. I recommended against it!
Alice: So whose fault is it?
Pointy-Haired Boss: The person with the unpersuasive recommendations?
Pointy-Haired Boss: Then why did you recommend it?
Alice: This software is your idea. I recommended against it!
Alice: So whose fault is it?
Pointy-Haired Boss: The person with the unpersuasive recommendations?
It reminds me of a fellow I once knew. Whenever he made a mistake he managed to point the finger at someone else. Finally in his early 50’s he found himself in a situation where he couldn’t do it. He looked around and everyone looked back at him, knowing full well he couldn’t pin it on them. He looked startled, then said, “I’m wrong! I’m actually wrong!” He paused a moment then shrugged. “Oh well, once in 50 years isn’t too bad.”
Have you ever known someone like that?
Have you ever known someone like that? Yes, me.
When wrong, you don’t have to say anything. Ah, but it feels good to be right. (I’m getting over that tho’.)
BHB,
I’ve never been that interested in being right, which means I’ve often been the designated “blamee”. It was good practice in getting the conversation away from pointing fingers and figuring how our present strategy wasn’t working and what we could do to fix it. Much more fun than butting heads with people.
With increasing age and wisdom, I am getting more subtle in my methods of affixing blame to someone else and praises to myself. The problem is that others don’t appreciating my subtlety as they ought. 😉
There are a few times when I have actively sought to be the “blamee”. It would be good if I could do this more often.
Looney,
🙂 Well said. Thanks for the chuckle.
One like that lives with me! Now do you see why I am reaching sainthood?
I’m going to try & see how many times I can be the “blamee”. I’ll see how that works. After all my husband says he isn’t disagreeing with me. He’s only giving me another viewpoint. I tend not to see the whole picture as he does. I know that.
But it kind of blasts MY viewpoint. I want my viewpoint to be
***THE VIEWPOINT***
That was a Senior Moment. My turning a post about blame into disagreeing.
Now about Blame. I’ve been teaching Tom not to put wet sponges on the wood countertop for the last 15 years. He’s getting better but there’s still puddles by the sink. He does so much work around here; he’s the cook. I need to shut up.
I should add Tom never blames me for anything. I know. I don’t deserve him.
That wasn’t a Senior Moment my turning Blaming into Disagreeing. I was blaming Tom for disagreeing with me. I redeemed myself with my (last) comment.
there are lot of ‘people’ I blame for certain predictments but most of them I can’t change.
why was I born with short feet and very long arms…neither have been a blessing when purchasing items although the feet are better off than the arms 🙂
why have I always been prone to getting major ailments that either keep me off the streets for years on end or now I’m attached to meds to keep me on the streets…
I can squarely blame the new computer system at Uni for allowing me to enrol in a paper but not tell me that I have applied under the wrong conditions. I only discovered the anomaly this last week, when I had a new degree planner made in case it wasn’t right.
Still trying to rectify the situation…hope to get something sorted out on Tuesday but now not so bouyant that will happen. it will mean I will have finish Asian Studies with a paper, I don’t want to do!!
rummuser,
As you no doubt guessed, I think the term “sainthood” is as pretentious as the term “wise”. 😉
What’s the opportunity in your present situation? What are you learning? How are you growing? How is it expanding your view of life?
BHB,
Yes, Tom is a keeper. Fortunately he’s not going anywhere. 🙂
Cathy,
Why were the conditions wrong for the paper? Please keep us posted. At least it sounds as if you’re almost done.
Well, Cathy, your choice of hat not withstanding, at least you won’t have problems finding shoes your size. Never be the average. Otherwise you’ll find yourself gazing longingly at fully stocked and stacked racks of sizes 4, 8 and 9 (in the UK that is; where you’ll find yourself in the States I do not know)
Cinderella on the run,
U
Hey Cinderella, Cathy lives in New Zealand. I know. NZ looks like a state in America. (North Zakota ???)
Cathy,
Do they use the same sizes in NZ as they do in the UK?
Jean, learning to be patient and gentle and making substantial progress in that is the quickest way to Sainthood!
rummuser,
That does indeed sound like a wonderful opportunity. I assume you count your blessings every day. 😉