occasionally, i find that i’ve let somebody in my life and i can’t for the life of me figure out why. it could be someone i actually know (and in some cases, i know well) or it could be an acquaintance or it could be one of those internet-only relationships where we only speak through email or twitter or livejournal comments. whatever the circumstance, they’re in my life and as we interact (or as i watch them interact with others, internet stalker-style), i wonder why i keep them around. why and how am i putting up with people who annoy me? what’s wrong with me? what’s wrong with them? i try to pinpoint the thing that’s bothering me.

when i do figure it out, 7 times out of 10 it’s the same basic reason: they’re kind of humorless. i’m not saying they don’t have a sense of humor, just that everything out of them is like an alternative ziggy cartoon caption, all ending with “sigh…”

and you know what? that’s fine. it’s their life, their internet real estate, so i’d never dream of telling them to lighten the fuck up. i’m just going to be a decent kid and, for the sake of my own mental health, get off of their lawn.

[the other 3 times, it’s because they’re kind of negative assholes.]