I was on Facebook recently saw someone labelled as a “(political party) hack” in a dismissive way, and it made me think a little bit about all of the people who are my friends on Facebook. My first thought, on reading this particular well-known person labelled in this way, was to think I would delete the one who wrote the comment, which I strongly disagreed with, and thought it to be untrue and quite rude. After some thought though, I’m not going to do that.
I have quite a few friends on Facebook. Some of them are people I actually know, and are friends with ‘in real life’, others are fellow writers I connect with on this site. Some others are people who have written something interesting, and I ‘friended’ them.
But thinking further, I remember the words, probably from Niccolò Machiavelli: “Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.” And of course if one keeps an eye on what your ‘enemies’ are doing you are likely to keep safer than if you have no idea about what they are up to.
I don’t think I actually have any real ‘enemies’ though, anyway, so I’m not going to unfriend anyone, at the moment. I will remain in a peaceful place, and contemplate puppy dogs and plants, and keep an eye on the clouds in the sky, and get the washing in before it’s too late!
The washing is all in now, and I’m comfortable with my decision on this matter. There are certainly people I don’t like, for various reasons, and I suppose there are people who feel the same way about me. I’m fine with that. I know I have wonderful people who care deeply about me, a well as family who love me.
And of course my dear dog Missy loves me, as dogs will love their owners if the food and other comforts keep on coming, every day!
A fuzzy but hopeful Missy in the kitchen, hoping for good things from her lord and master, my husband, Graham! (this is the first photograph I’ve taken of Missy using this laptop my son gave me, it’s still a work in progress, this handy but confusing machine …)
If dogs don’t like each other, they don’t hide it, they let their hatred show in very obvious ways. Snarling, growling, show teeth, and in fact attacking, make it all quite clear how dogs feel about others. At the moment, we have a bit of an issue in our family, with Missy and another dog.
This ‘other dog’ is our son’s dog, and Missy really doesn’t like her. The other dog seems like she would be happy enough to be Missy’s friend, but our dear dog isn’t having it. She doesn’t like Sharon, or Shazza to her friends … This other girl dog is a greyhound, a very, very tall one, black in colour and a very friendly dog to people. I think she’s a bit too friendly, as she licks a lot, and we aren’t used to having dogs who do that.
It would be nice if these two dogs could become friends, but I’m not sure if it will get to that stage. Missy is the older of the two dogs, but Sharon, with her size is quite imposing. I think Missy’s issue is that she’s a bit scared of the bigger dog, and she isn’t used to that. Missy has lived with other dogs in the past, but they have been family members, or an older dog that was already there, when Missy was born here.
We are letting these two dogs get to know each other, with occasional visits, and who knows what may happen. Missy is certainly remaining aware of her where her ‘enemy’ is, when Sharon visits, and Sharon happily lies down for a rest, keeping an eye on whatever is happening here.
Dogs can be odd, at times, but they are honest with it, and easier to understand. People can be downright nasty, even though they are playing at being a dear friend. Like Missy, I’ll keep an eye on the one isn’t really my friend, who I mentioned at the beginning of this discussion, and just remain there, but not too close, unless they say something that affects me.
Being a writer, and Editor of the local town newsletter means I talk to many different people and I need to be at least pleasant to people, if and when I need help from them so I can do the things I need to do. I try to stay neutral if possible, if things go ‘sideways’, and wait until I have enough information to make up my mind, and always remaining prepared to change my mind if I get new information.
Some people though! Some people can make it difficult to remain pleasant at times, that’s for sure!
Have you ever had to deal with a person who was an enemy? Some tips would be handy!
Carolyn Cordon - Creative 