Often I get accused of having expectations for other people, when I get disappointed in their actions. This seems to be the trending defense of those who either don’t know how to function in society or refuse to do so. I have apparently arduous expectations that bind them to a life of Hell and horror. I really don’t, but they set out to paint this outrageous picture of me throwing everyone into a prison of virtue and morality. That’s even though they’ve not been prohibited to do whatever they’re carrying on about.
Yes, folks, I’m a horrific jailer. An evil man who sucks the fun out of life by prohibiting people from making a Grade A mess of theirs. It’s true that they did indeed make a Grade A mess of their life by not attending school like they should have, or not seeking professional help when they should have, or having too many kids when they couldn’t afford it, or whatnot. What’s being left out was that I wasn’t stopping them from making their choices. I simply don’t agree with their actions.
You see, we all have expectations for each other whether we’re willing to admit it or not. Every… last… one… of… us. It’s how societies are created. We can’t all function as independent little pieces, because we’re not all squirreled away in the mountains living off melted snow and woodland creatures. We have to have some modicum of expectation, otherwise I could simply do as I please. Trust me, you do not want me driving around in a dune buggy wearing fur pants scouring the Earth for people to work as servants. There’s an expectation of not being a barbarian. You expect me to be civilized.
What?! You expect me to be civilized?! How dare you! That’s your expectation! You’re not the boss of me! I don’t play by your rule book!
That’s what anyone sounds like when they start saying “your expectations… blah, blah, blah,” as I didn’t stop you from doing anything. I just hoped your mind would have a better sense of discretion beyond the age of 18. Take responsibility for the heaping pile of garbage you made and make a go of it. That’s apparently insensitive, as I obviously never lay in the bed that I make on a daily basis (hint: that’s sarcasm. I actually do).
So, for people who want to wail and moan about “expectations” maybe you need to stop and let others be disappointed. If it really didn’t bother you, you’d not try to brow beat them into anything. If you feel you have a right to unbridled action, it should be a piece of cake, right? Or are you trying to pin your conscience on to a scapegoat?
Corvidae in the Fields 