A different look at "Nice".

I've said quite a few times that I'm not a nice person, I just try to be nice.  Because of that I'm reading a book called "Be Nice and whats in it for you - Or Else!" by Winn Claybaugh.  Being an introspective kind of guy I've realized that those things that some people do instinctively, I have to make a conscience decision to do.

Everyone has their gifts and flaws.  My flaws involve a bit of callousness.  I prefer honesty and I have a tough skin so I naturally treat people the same way.  I've learned the hard way that it doesn't always work out that way.

In Mr. Claybaugh's book he talks about eliminating negative influences such as gossip, romance novels, action adventure films, and mystery novels.  WHAT?  I have problems with this, let me enumerate them for you.

1.  Gossip.  That is what I miss most about working.  Gossip is awesome.  Of course some gossip is malicious but some is just inane.  While working, gossip was a great way to keep a finger on the pulse of a workforce.  It would let me know who was dating whom and therefore might be a problem later on, who is doing drugs and what kind, who is thinking about looking for another job, and other such things like that.  The mean gossip on the other hand I don't want to hear, bad for morale.

2.  Romance novels.  Never read one, can't judge them.  I've read some "paranormal romance" (a Marine suggested them also) and thought the romance part was okay, just not my thing.  

3.  Action Adventure.  These films are pure escapism.  What is wrong with that?  Are they violent?  Yepper.  So was the Road Runner and Bugs Bunny.  Hell, look at Tom and Jerry.  Violence in cartoons and movies is a part of them, deal with it.  The first Terminator film was an action adventure/horror film.  You could say that it was a film about the human spirit being unconquerable.  

4.  Mystery novels.  WHAT!  Mystery novels are awesome.  If they are well written that is.  My favorite author is Donald Westlake, try his "Levine" book, the Dortmunder series, or the Parker books (written under the name of Richard Stark).  Don't know Parker?  Remember the Mel Gibson film called "Payback"?  That was based on a Parker novel, they had to make the character nicer for the movie.  Another author I like is Andrew Vachss.  He is darker, all of the books deal with child abuse and someone dies that causes the abuse.  You could say that it has a happy ending then.

I believe that we need these "negative" influences to make us who we are.  These actions give us scars that remind us of who we are and what we've been through.  Those scars protect us from some of the more disturbing things in our world.  Those scars give our souls depth and dimension.  Without those scars we would be as pure and innocent as a baby.  With those scars we can protect those that are pure and innocent.