EXCESSIVE FAMILIARITY

Whether sending sms or with spoken words – it’s the same story. One must really be careful with the choice of words. If a simple punctuation could mean a thing, what more a hurting word. Then whether we’re making a conversation out of familiar ones or the ones in acquaintance, we must learn to bite our tongues. I am not saying it’s easy.

Do you agree with me? It’s easier to talk to or play around with people whom we are personally attached to.

It’s called too much familiarity. 

And so the susceptibility of being tactless is wide. That’s when we are tempted to act foolishly beyond the limit. People call it below the belt or foul words or simply offending.

We might not admit it, but it is true. We often find ourselves caught in tolerance pampering our sharp tongues, and then with lame excuses. That’s the influence of this excessive familiarity in us.

“We’re friends. He’ll understand.”  

What if he doesn’t? The next thing you knew he was already hurt enough. And with one tactless word a way, that person will burst in anger. You know what will happen next. No need further elaboration.

No one knows the heart of someone or how much patience one can give. If someone is really a friend, I think that person deserves soothing words. After all even the ones not considered friends must be treated the same way – why hurt a friend?  

Respect boundary and limitation!

“It was just a joke. I didn’t mean anything.” 

Good! 

But that doesn’t justify a wounded heart. Because each one is created unique and so one’s way of looking at the situation varies. Of course, no one can exactly predict how others interpret an action. Better safe than sorry. I rather assume that not every individual can truly discern a joke from what’s not. Remember that an intention will be understood clear only when a person tells (in many cases I know).

I don’t find telling joke as a mortal sin, but inappropriate joke is a different story. Many times we used jokes thinking to make someone laugh but it’s the other way around. For even familiar friend hurts or embarrassed.

Consider someone’s feeling always!

“I’m just trying to be honest with the way I feel.” 

So you have the right to say whatever you want. That’s how you feel. 

What about how others feel?

Even if we’re in the right position to do so, still we should not utter blunt words to people close to us. And even if we know someone from head to foot, we just do not say hurtful words for our own feeling.

Think of others as well!

“An open rebuke is better than hidden love.” But I don’t think this is how the verse implies. An open rebuke doesn’t mean to embarrass or to hurt or to provoke someone. Again this is just another lame excuse one could give. If one isn’t aware of too much familiarity (in spoken words especially), then that person is a foul-mouthed for sure.

Tame your tongue!

“That’s how we treat each other.” Two words – excessive familiarity!

Whether a tacky spoken word or an inappropriate joke or in a disrespectful manner, try to avoid all these things.  Reserve a boundary over familiarity.