Traits

I've noticed that I have a new annoying trait. They come thick and fast at this age. I should log them somewhere. But then logging traits will become a new annoying trait, and I'll be trapped in a loop. (The loop trap will become an annoying trait, the constant looping will be a loop - soon, I'll have my own chain-mail suit of annoying loops, which will irritate everyone).

The trait is this:

When I'm stating my opinion on something, or am trying to be reasonable, I prefix my statement with "I mean...".

Here are some examples.

Someone might say: "So you don't like glam-rock music?"

I would say: "I mean... I wouldn't say that I hate all of it, but it's not really my cup of tea..."

Or someone might say: "Is it immoral to join the army?"

And I would say: "I mean... generally speaking, agreeing to kill people is immoral, but I understand that people have been taught that protecting your country is the right thing to do..."

I do it all the time. It's a signal that I'm about to be even-handed about something and it drives me crazy.

"I mean..." is meaningless. I should mean everything I say. Even something like "I suppose..." would perform the same function, but would make more sense.

I mean, it's not like it's the worst thing in the world?

Hahaha. I did it there.

But that's reminded me of the even-more-annoying element. It's the old Australian interrogative inflection at the end. I've bookended my comment with two of the most annoying bookends imaginable (not counting two plaster Piers Morgans).

I must do it because it sounds uncertain. And uncertainty is a way to suggest that you're open-minded. I'm British - I don't want to state my opinions too forcefully. By couching my language in these buffers (is that a mixed metaphor?) I make myself immune to counterarguments. I can just claim that I was putting forth a theory, or "thinking out loud".

It's a trait borne of a desire to please, but it ends up pleasing no-one and riling everyone. It's a world-weary diplomacy.

I don't know how to avoid doing it. I think it will probably just go away in time. Ages ago, I noticed an annoying conversational trait, and I think that one has subsided.

It's probably just a phase. It's like a contagious disease: you have it once, and then become immune.

...

I don't understand diseases.

***

I'm sure you're heartbroken about this, but I've had to disable anonymous comments on this blog.

I started getting too many spam blog comments, and it was driving me crazy.

Though this one seemed to sum me up pretty well:

What a information of un-ambiguity and preserveness of valuable knowledge concerning unexpected feelings.

The worry is that disabling anonymous comments will put some readers off commenting. But given that the number of genuine comments I receive is usually about four each year, I doubt that it's much of a loss.

If you want to leave a comment, you'll have to have a name. This will be helpful, because you'll need to be identified. Anything that rare needs to be caught and studied. Like Bigfoot.

***

I have a cold. I feel like I'm underwater. This mouthful of krill isn't helping matters.

The corporeal world seems a million miles away. Occasionally, I hear voices, like echoes from a memory, and all I can do is snuffle in response.

I mean... I suppose having a cold isn't a huge hardship? But I'd still rather be asleep on a futon of swords.

I think I've just noticed another annoying trait. It's my tendency to write things like everything I've written in this post. It's quite the trait.

Where does a man end and his traits begin? Is man simply the sum of his traits, or is there other stuff in there too (veins, largesse, etc)?

Do animals have traits?

I thought that was a profound question, but then I realised that the answer is obviously "yes". I'll Google it, just to make sure.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110423020606AADHxXu

Yes. Every sane person agrees. And the people in that link.

Do animals have traits and personalities? 

I firmly believe that yes but some seem to disagree. 

I'd like to know who disagrees. I'd fight them. I'd punch them on the nose.

Look, I've Googled "trait definition"

trait/trāt/

Noun:

A distinguishing quality or characteristic, typically one belonging to a person. A genetically determined characteristic.

Typically belonging to a person, but not always. Rocks have traits, probably. Gates have traits.

I admire Kendall C's answer to the initial question in the above web page:

YESSSSS

Source(s):

My dog is spool crazy lol I try to give him a kiss and he backs away from me lol

Remember, that last bit it listed as his (or her) "source".

I remember going "spool crazy" once. I was thrown out of my textiles lesson for sewing myself to a whiteboard.

I don't know Kendall C's dog, but I respect Kendall C's dog.

I would also back away from her (or him) if she tried to kiss me. That's not spool crazy. That's spool prudent. Especially for a dog.

In conclusion: traits.

***

I thought that was the conclusion. But now I seem to be looking at some of Kendall C's answers to other Yahoo questions. This may destroy my entire afternoon.

In answer to the question 'If you could swim in any liquid, NOT water, what would it be?', Kendall C has answered:

Snaple

Mmm! Delicious Snaple! Everyone likes Snaple. There's nothing more refreshing than the juice of a curmudgeonly potions master.

This one needs to be shown in full, because it gives us a lot of information about both Kendall C and the questioner:

Kendall C is correct. If your door is a baby, you should always call the police. Better safe than sorry.

The asker has rated that a four star answer. I think that's about right.

***

I need to stop this now. Good bye.