Why am I always the one who...
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 3:55 pm
...goes first, cares about others, gets others to do things with me (i.e. go somewhere, hang out)
I was discussing this with my best friend a few days ago, and we just can't wrap our heads over this..."phenomenon" ? is it? We're both like-minded in many ways, and that's one of the reasons we are best friends because we share so much that is common. This theme always resurfaces in our conversations, I mean, constantly. We are people from different backgrounds. My friend is Pakistani, while I'm Ukrainian. And we both spent a bit of our youth before we moved to the states. Almost exactly the same year, so to even say that "values" even have anything to do with it, would be sort of incorrect as neither of us had a substantial amount of time to develop any extremely deep ones while we lived there as both of us moved here around the age of 12-13. I of course did spend a lot my 'conscious' youth time back there and am well aware of how things "work" back home... however, living in the US for 11 years now, I basically grew up HERE in the states. 7th through 8th grades in Middle School, High School, and now University... so WHY is it, that I am such a different person than every other "American" walking the same streets I walk?
I'm basically "americanized" but I have kept my roots, language, some values. I speak English with a slight accent, I laugh at the same jokes... but why is it that when I talk to most Americans, I just "can't connect" with them? Why am I the one that asks for the phone number, email, or any other way of contact, after having met a person - regardless of sex - and had a great conversation with them. Then ask to hang out on phone or in person, them concurring that it's a great idea, and then just forgetting about it? Is it laziness, ADD?
or how about, if I'm already "friends" with some people, for them to never call ME and ask to do things, or let alone just call and ask how I'm doing? Why is it that I'm the only person who feels the NEED to do things like that, genuinely? You can't say I don't have priorities in life or am busy with something sometimes too, so why do I constantly think about people I know, and nobody but my best friend does so in return?
I was friends with one guy back in 2006, met him through a class. He seemed like someone I could kill time with, an acquaintance or possible good friend. I, along with my friend pulled him out of the house to do things and such whenever possible. One day last year he tells me that he's pissed that whenever he calls his "friends" and asks them to do things, they always say they're busy. I tell him as a response something akin to; "Well maybe they're not your true friends then?" after so many years this guy never bothered to call or invite ME to do things, yet he calls his other classmates and asks them to do things while they deny him. Isn't it funny? I told him if he ever wants to hang out, he is ALWAYS welcome at my house, whether to watch a film, or just shoot the shit, or go anywhere... - he never did so after that.
One day, in frustration out of all this; I snapped, and deleted everyone of my so called "friends" on my phone who have never even bothered to call me, or invite me out just for the sake of having a good time. Yet I was always the one person, who would be the one who said "let's do something on so and so day, let's drive here, or there" and they'd give me the obligatory "yeah dude, let's do that"
From this moment on, I have become cynical of people I meet. Every new person I meet, is a copy, of a copy, of a copy. I understand what "busy" means, but you can't play the "busy" card on me every single time, or the worst of which is the "false promise" which in reality is bullshit to begin with. When you say "yes" to something and either never call back, or back off.
I am beginning to think that this is engraved into the DNA of most people raised in the US.. but then, how come I wasn't touched by all this? Why is it, that if anyone I knew, no matter how little it was - and they asked for my help, or called me at 3am in the morning and told me to be somewhere because they needed me.. I wouldn't deny that? Are you going to call me "needy" ? huh? Or is it because I'm selfless, honest, and caring? Why do I feel more mature than the people of my generation?
Is it the people, or the environment in which I live in? I live in Northern Virginia, and I have yet to find RAW and honest people. My best friend's brother who lived in Jacksonville, NC on a Marine base feels the same way, all three of us feel this way. He says that he never had this problem with finding good people who'd invite him out somewhere or become good friends while living in NC... but not here.
Can anyone answer me any of these questions, or tell me if it's the environment in which I live in, or whether anyone feels the same..OR whether it's my own faults?
It seems to me like I'm one of the few "who give a shit" about others besides my own self. To be honest, I feel like there's a lack of good people where I live, everyone is so one-layered. You know? Like there's no substance, no conscience.
I was discussing this with my best friend a few days ago, and we just can't wrap our heads over this..."phenomenon" ? is it? We're both like-minded in many ways, and that's one of the reasons we are best friends because we share so much that is common. This theme always resurfaces in our conversations, I mean, constantly. We are people from different backgrounds. My friend is Pakistani, while I'm Ukrainian. And we both spent a bit of our youth before we moved to the states. Almost exactly the same year, so to even say that "values" even have anything to do with it, would be sort of incorrect as neither of us had a substantial amount of time to develop any extremely deep ones while we lived there as both of us moved here around the age of 12-13. I of course did spend a lot my 'conscious' youth time back there and am well aware of how things "work" back home... however, living in the US for 11 years now, I basically grew up HERE in the states. 7th through 8th grades in Middle School, High School, and now University... so WHY is it, that I am such a different person than every other "American" walking the same streets I walk?
I'm basically "americanized" but I have kept my roots, language, some values. I speak English with a slight accent, I laugh at the same jokes... but why is it that when I talk to most Americans, I just "can't connect" with them? Why am I the one that asks for the phone number, email, or any other way of contact, after having met a person - regardless of sex - and had a great conversation with them. Then ask to hang out on phone or in person, them concurring that it's a great idea, and then just forgetting about it? Is it laziness, ADD?
or how about, if I'm already "friends" with some people, for them to never call ME and ask to do things, or let alone just call and ask how I'm doing? Why is it that I'm the only person who feels the NEED to do things like that, genuinely? You can't say I don't have priorities in life or am busy with something sometimes too, so why do I constantly think about people I know, and nobody but my best friend does so in return?
I was friends with one guy back in 2006, met him through a class. He seemed like someone I could kill time with, an acquaintance or possible good friend. I, along with my friend pulled him out of the house to do things and such whenever possible. One day last year he tells me that he's pissed that whenever he calls his "friends" and asks them to do things, they always say they're busy. I tell him as a response something akin to; "Well maybe they're not your true friends then?" after so many years this guy never bothered to call or invite ME to do things, yet he calls his other classmates and asks them to do things while they deny him. Isn't it funny? I told him if he ever wants to hang out, he is ALWAYS welcome at my house, whether to watch a film, or just shoot the shit, or go anywhere... - he never did so after that.
One day, in frustration out of all this; I snapped, and deleted everyone of my so called "friends" on my phone who have never even bothered to call me, or invite me out just for the sake of having a good time. Yet I was always the one person, who would be the one who said "let's do something on so and so day, let's drive here, or there" and they'd give me the obligatory "yeah dude, let's do that"
From this moment on, I have become cynical of people I meet. Every new person I meet, is a copy, of a copy, of a copy. I understand what "busy" means, but you can't play the "busy" card on me every single time, or the worst of which is the "false promise" which in reality is bullshit to begin with. When you say "yes" to something and either never call back, or back off.
I am beginning to think that this is engraved into the DNA of most people raised in the US.. but then, how come I wasn't touched by all this? Why is it, that if anyone I knew, no matter how little it was - and they asked for my help, or called me at 3am in the morning and told me to be somewhere because they needed me.. I wouldn't deny that? Are you going to call me "needy" ? huh? Or is it because I'm selfless, honest, and caring? Why do I feel more mature than the people of my generation?
Is it the people, or the environment in which I live in? I live in Northern Virginia, and I have yet to find RAW and honest people. My best friend's brother who lived in Jacksonville, NC on a Marine base feels the same way, all three of us feel this way. He says that he never had this problem with finding good people who'd invite him out somewhere or become good friends while living in NC... but not here.
Can anyone answer me any of these questions, or tell me if it's the environment in which I live in, or whether anyone feels the same..OR whether it's my own faults?
It seems to me like I'm one of the few "who give a shit" about others besides my own self. To be honest, I feel like there's a lack of good people where I live, everyone is so one-layered. You know? Like there's no substance, no conscience.


