I’m watching my mother deal with the fallout from some water damage done to her condo by an upstairs neighbor. I think I’ve finally isolated her conflict strategy, which bears an uncomfortably close relationship to my own. It goes something like this:
1. Experience an incursion of some kind.
2. Try to assure everyone involved that it’s no problem, everything is fine. (Composed of 50% trying to be a good sport, and 50% not wanting people to think you’re a jerk.)
3. Get annoyed at the incursion.
4. Complain to innocent bystanders rather than people who actually have the power to change the situation.
5. Lose your composure at some point and piss off everyone involved.
6. Repeat steps 4-5 as necessary.
7. Build and nurture a grudge.
Good one, eh? Now you see why the Pooch is so happy and well-adjusted!
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