Filed under: Comment
Bad Opinion?
Why is it that you can meet some people and immediately feel a connection whereas with others, even if you spent 10 days in their company, you’d walk away without any sense of commonality.
Contrary to what some of you are probably thinking, the answer to the people you feel a connection with is not one of the following:
[A] They’re female.
[B] They’re hot.
[C] They support Nottingham Forest.
And for the record, ‘connection’ is not a euphemism for ‘want to shag’ … I mean that you just feel you’re ‘in sync’ even if your backgrounds, views and experiences are wildly different.
Mind you, I find it even stranger how people suddenly act like they’ve met a long-lost brother/sister when they find out they share the same horoscope sign or something.
Anyway the reason I say this is because of all the people I’ve met at the Microsoft thing, there was one person I walked away from feeling I’d met someone very special and another where I walked away hoping to god I’d never cross their path again.
In both cases we talked about similar things, had similar views … and yet one left me feeling good while the other left me feeling relieved they’d gone – and judging by their face – the feeling was entirely mutual.
Good Opinion?
Now I am sure there are lots of reasons for this – reasons a whole bunch of clever people with impressive job titles could tell me about – but the thing is, I am find it fascinating that I can dislike someone as powerfully as I can like someone in what was nothing more than the blink of an eye which means that there must be a whole host of prejudices and negative frames-of-reference lying dormant in my head, only revealing themselves when certain circumstances come to the fore.
I hope that I am not alone in this attitude … though if I am … it is a valuable lesson to remember that regardless what research may tell you, people make their choices and decisions through incredibly complex and personal lenses and so if you want to make sure you communicate a message in a manner that stands a chance of having a positive effect … you’d better know how to convey your message, not just what you have to convey.
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someone took an instant dislike to you? no fucking way. really? thats so fucking random. or it would be if i lived in a parallel universe but here on earth its as expected as death, taxes and offers of blow jobs from supermodels.
Comment by andy@cynic April 13, 2011 @ 6:45 amforgot you lot are merely fucking average so the only blowjob you get offered are the ones where you pay first.
Comment by andy@cynic April 13, 2011 @ 6:48 amonly you can admit to being a prejudiced fucker and link it to some planning bollocks. thats skill. a fucked up skill, but a skill that would let you post rationalise the black fucking plague as an interesting brand idea, probably to do with having to fucking sacrifice to get ahead or some other bollocks.
you missed your fucking vocation campbell, pr needs you. or the fuckers at fox/republican party.
so tell me, was the person yo hit it off with female? hundred fucking bucks she was you slimy 2 faced perverted fucker.
Comment by andy@cynic April 13, 2011 @ 6:53 amThe fact it was a woman has no bearing whatsoever on why I liked them over the other person who was, sadly, a man.
I say ‘sadly’ because all this will do is convince you you’re an insightful genius when the reality is it’s just a coincidence because as you know, I’m an equal opportunity lover and hater.
I should clarify that I mean ‘equal opportunity lover and hater’ in terms of ‘getting on with someone’, I am not suddenly admitting I am bisexual.
See what you bastards make me do!
Comment by Rob April 13, 2011 @ 8:19 amlike fuck it doesnt. sexist prick.
Comment by andy@cynic April 13, 2011 @ 8:34 am@Andy. What do you think are the odds that Rob called the person he hated and invited them for lunch?
Comment by DH April 13, 2011 @ 6:59 amso he can be sure he hates them and it wasnt just down to being on his fucking period? most fucking definitely. hes the only twat i know who double checks his hatred. its almost sweet then you realize hes a fucking idiot.
Comment by andy@cynic April 13, 2011 @ 7:07 amSo I get dissed for not letting my first impression get the better of me? Well, for at least exploring the possibility that wasn’t the case. God you’re a hard audience – especially because had I followed what you are implying I should do, I’d of told you both to fuck off when I met you and then spent the rest of my life both avoiding you and slagging you off to everyone I meet.
Comment by Rob April 13, 2011 @ 8:21 amyou think we didnt fucking loathe you on sight? you think we like you now? we only let you acknowledge our existence because in our darkest fucking hour, we can turn to this blog and remember we cant ever be as much of a fucking loser as you and instantly feel a shitload better.
youre medicine. but not in a fucking good way.
Comment by andy@cynic April 13, 2011 @ 8:39 ambillys latest bird in photo 1?
and before the female nazi brigade get their wahing up gloves in a twist, thats not objectifying chicks, its just an observation of them. one of them. the lumpy assed one.
Comment by andy@cynic April 13, 2011 @ 7:09 amMore cutting edge posts and comments on the future of mankind.
Maintaining that reputation, I only date hot chicks and even the pleasant looking lady in photo 2 would only rate a 6/10 on the Billyhotometer.
Sucked in.
Comment by Billy Whizz April 13, 2011 @ 7:15 amits the fucking harvard of the web billy. except for the posts, theyre the retards retard of the net.
as for the billyhotometer, is this the same machine that tells you dressing like an adam and the ants reject (look them up) is hot to the sort of chicks you used to talk loudly about every fucking day in the office? might need to change the setting off “freak and twats”.
Comment by andy@cynic April 13, 2011 @ 7:28 amFair point.
Comment by Rob April 13, 2011 @ 8:22 amDave is an observational genius.
Comment by Billy Whizz April 13, 2011 @ 7:16 amWell I’m definitely better than that bloke Rob wrote about yesterday.
Comment by DH April 13, 2011 @ 7:18 amthe dreadboy, pension pushing, kiddy game maker?
Comment by andy@cynic April 13, 2011 @ 7:22 amwho the fuck isnt dave, who the fuck isnt.
Oh god, this is going worse than my worst fears.
Comment by Rob April 13, 2011 @ 8:21 amits the fucking best thing that happened to this post.
Comment by andy@cynic April 13, 2011 @ 8:34 amAs you know Robert, I’m not the sort to call people out in public, however I feel it only right to point out that the title of this post does not match the content of this post.
Comment by George April 13, 2011 @ 8:30 am“Opinions are like arseholes” suggests you will be writing about the breadth of views people can have on particular subject matters. I am guessing it would revolve around one of your favourite phrases “opinions are like assholes, it’s just that some are much better formed than others”. However reading the post, you state the person you disliked had not adopted a contrarian position to yours, it was simply a personality mismatch and so the title of your post is incorrect.
you fucking go auntie.
kick him. kick him hard and long.
Comment by andy@cynic April 13, 2011 @ 8:32 amWelcome to the darker side George.
Comment by DH April 13, 2011 @ 8:58 amYou’re not the sort to call people out in public? I know no one reads this shit but seriously, you think this one of your infamous ‘little words in someone’s ear’.
You’ve changed. The mighty G has turned you and ruined their reputation at the same time. Do no evil? Don’t make me laugh.
PS: You’re right. You’re always fucking right. Ha.
Comment by Rob April 13, 2011 @ 9:54 amIf there were a Like button on this blog I’d be liking each and every comment in this thread.
Comment by Leigh April 13, 2011 @ 10:54 amI think the ones you dislike give you more opportunity to grow and can become your most cherished connections. Hate is a stronger emotion. In India they say, if you hate God (be warned) that you might end up getting closer to him faster than those who pray to him every day.
Comment by swati April 13, 2011 @ 11:15 amGood point Swati which is maybe why cynic’s planning philosophy was around the concept of “anger is energy” and W+K’s is “cultural provocation”.
People seem to do more stuff when they’re pissed rather than happy. That doesn’t mean you have to piss them off or make them scared, it just means you have to understand their deep seated feelings, needs and emotions not just some superficial feedback.
Comment by Rob April 13, 2011 @ 2:33 pmI would rather have an arse like #1 than #2. I’m just saying..
Comment by lauren April 13, 2011 @ 2:23 pmWhich implies you are currently in possession of a #2 rather than #1.
Show off.
Comment by Rob April 13, 2011 @ 2:29 pmer.. rather it infers that I am in possession of neither. 🙂
Comment by lauren April 13, 2011 @ 2:37 pmI’m not going there. I’ll wait for Andy to do that.
Comment by Rob April 13, 2011 @ 2:52 pmtheres some places even the bravest man on the fucking planet wont go.
Comment by andy@cynic April 13, 2011 @ 10:23 pmAll this sophistry just so we can compare two female bottoms. There are other places on the web to do that
Comment by northern April 13, 2011 @ 3:21 pmCare to share??
Comment by Rob Mortimer April 13, 2011 @ 4:56 pmYes, and I bet you know every single one of them.
Comment by Rob April 13, 2011 @ 5:20 pmOn subject (I think, who can tell) I’m not entirely sure it’s all prejudices that make you instanty dislike someone, your instincts are amazing things, and let’s face it, at Microsoft conference, the score rate was never going to be high.
Comment by northern April 13, 2011 @ 3:22 pmThat’s the thing NP, the guys at Microsoft are not deserving of the view many people have of them. Obviously I have quite a close knowledge of the Google folk, and while they are also lovely, I have to say the Microsoft guys are actually – and I know this might seem weird – nicer. The issue is their inability to express this without falling into bad brand traps, as exemplified by calling their astoundingly good mobile platform ‘WINDOWS 7’ which immediately brings all people’s prejudices to the fore.
You’d think they’d of learnt their lesson with the success of XBox, but tragically no. However, there’s nothing like having competitors give you a real run for your money to help change attitudes and approaches so it’ll be interesting to see the next few moves they make to bring back their business to glory days.
Comment by Rob April 13, 2011 @ 5:24 pmAnd I am not saying this because they treated me like a King. If I was going to do that, I’d of worn shoes for Ballmer.
Comment by Rob April 13, 2011 @ 5:24 pmThey sound like my lot at Castrol. Really nice people, intimidating drinkers, but as soon it’s work, they can only talk about the comms objective as either ‘familiarity’ ‘awareness’ or ‘bonding’ and you don’t agree, you ‘align’
Comment by northern April 13, 2011 @ 7:01 pmTragic isn’t it. They celebrate the uniformed culture but don’t realise it’s actually contributing to stunting their success … even if it’s something that will happen years into the future.
One day when I meet you [which isn’t meant to sound like a threat] I’ll tell you about the meeting I had with some bigwig at Castrol and his justification of their football sponsorship and communication content. Brilliant, in the most horror-movie kind of way.
Comment by Rob April 13, 2011 @ 8:04 pmI’m waiting for Andy to start singing some Sir Mix-alot.
The connection thing is weird, but usually my first impressions on how I connect with someone tend to be right.
Comment by Rob Mortimer April 13, 2011 @ 4:57 pmhey rob, does this only apply in your professional life? or personal life too?
(i’m not taking the piss – promise.)
i’ve found the difference between who i’m critical towards and who i gel with on a professional level seems to be a much narrower bandwidth. in terms of friendship, the differences are much wider and the people i click with much clearer.
Comment by lauren April 13, 2011 @ 9:54 pmcampbell wouldnt know what the concept of personal life means lauren given the fucker only hangs out with freddie mercury and the boys and jerry fucking springer.
Comment by andy@cynic April 13, 2011 @ 10:21 pmi had a curry last night and my ass has been making a fuck load of opinions all fucking night and every bastard last one of them has been more fucking insightful than anything this blog could produce with a 1000 planners working overtime to make campbell trying to sound clever.
Comment by andy@cynic April 13, 2011 @ 10:20 pmNo wonder you attract classy ladies. I’m surprised you have time to fight them all off…
Comment by Rob Mortimer April 14, 2011 @ 4:55 pm