A Sudden Revelation

[lagilman]

Okay, so over in tbr_bookshelf, lizbetann quoted a line which includes this gem -- "usefully annoyed," about listening to another person talk.

And I thought "yeah, that's it. All my best friends annoy me usefully.
That's how I draw the line between people I don't like (they annoy me to
no purpose), people I'm fond of (they amuse and/or entertain) and my friends,
who annoy me usefully."

This really does explain a great deal about my psyche. Not to mention my
friends. Oh dear. And yet, really, it's sort of devestatingly honest and complimentary, I'd think. If you value people for their ability to keep you from mental sloth or emotional/moral complacency...

(or vice versa)

Comments

[deire.livejournal.com]

I suspect it's also true that, for the most part, only those we love can truly infuriate us....

[lagilman]

*snickergrin* Oh yeah, to quote The Frog.*





*that one's for Sinjun

Or "usefully disquieting..."

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

My friends, when not being fun and fascinating, having very different lives from mine, often pop up with things that come back to haunt me. Just what I need--more moral dilemmas, more things to think about and process into my own server....

I guess I choose my friends in a way similar to how I choose the memories the LBb has allowed me to keep--because I enjoy them, or I learn from them. Everything else is fog....

Friends, however, can't have a cruel streak--while useful memories occasionally do....