In my third year of uni, I met a master manipulator - so much so that when I realised this and then saw said person again over a year later, I totally forgot anything I had deduced about their character other than the warm and bubbly person they presented themselves to be. Not that this person committed heinous crimes - but they are really good at lying and that is the scariest quality of all. It's the smile of the psychopathic sweet-looking old lady.
Carrying on with the manipulation scene, there were the many people who made my Honours' year the hell that it was. Of course I know that not all people are there to be my friends, but that doesn't mean that I'm only there to be used and then thrown away like an old doll.
I have also learned a fair bit about loyalty from the people I have had the pleasure (or otherwise) to know. One standout example is a girl I met in high school. Ergh. Lack of loyalty masked as 'being laid back'. And the lies! I am of the firm opinion that friendship is based on mutual respect and honesty, and accepting each other's flaws. Not lying, telling people they need to change, and setting yourself up as the golden standard. If someone is attacking you, you don't expect your friends to join them.
Then there are the people you are always trying to catch up with and keep up friendships, and they just don't care. Obviously sometimes life gets in the way and all, but after a point - especially when they're making the time to see other people going on about how they have nothing to do - you just want to give up. Then they message you and are cheery and friendly tell you how much they miss you, and all you can think of is a perfectly-worded insult that ends the friendship and causes maximal damage to the other person. But as an adult you can't function like that, especially if you want to be a decent person. You can't just cut the rubbish bits out of your life, unfortunately. People get catty and don't realise it's because they are so awful and not because you are a judgmental b*tch. And people are so good at believing the worst in people and being nasty about it, so if you're not adequately equipped in the snarky remarks and general doggishness department, you don't stand a chance.
At this point, I would like to thank the many loyal and lovely people in my life, the ones who make me a better person and who give me faith in humanity. But this post is mostly about the ones who don't.
My many good and bad experiences with people have also taught me soemthing about myself - I am too willing to think and bleieve well of people, I ignore people's faults until one day I explod and people think I'm just being petty, and I'm incredibly gullible. I also get really close to people really quickly, and I feel like I've found a kindred spirit, and then they disappoint me.
These experiences have also highlighted a flaw of mine character - I am passive and live too much in the moment without analysing the bigger picture until it is too late. But seeing as this is my flaw, I won't dwell on it too much.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of everyone I have met and everything I have learned. But I think it's enough of a start.
Peace and love,
S.
