11 December, 2003 - 10:41 p.m.

A long, long time ago .. I can still remember when :

A friend said "you can never respect somebody who kisses your ass".

And despite all its simplicity (or tactlessness) of wording, I've oft thought that it's a very valid point. I am reminded of this again whilst reading another diarylanders entry*, and this time, instead of just nodding along sagely in my comfy computer chair, I've actually put it into writing, and created myself another one of those too-far-and-long-between-entry entries.

The problem with thought provoking fodder for entries is that most of them come to me as I'm lying in bed trying to fall asleep. All that reflection and critical self-analysis really have time to go nuts when it's dark and quiet. And although it drives me crazy, the fact still remains that in order for me to get all those thoughts down, I'd have to get up, get dressed, and lug myself to the computer. scratch that for a joke :*

Anyway, back to what I was saying ..

I honestly do believe that it's impossible to pay as high a level of reciprocal respect to somebody when they choose to fawn over you. I mean, I dig the whole "respect" thing, but I don't think it's healthy when people bend over and grab their ankles just to adopt other peoples' ethos without a backward glance at what they have to give up of their own beliefs or feelings.

How can you respect someone who doesn't respect themself?

* if somebody dummified linking to other diarylander's for me, I'd be linking x-y here.