NORTHERN CALIFORNIANS

There’s a saying that’s true about California, especially Northern California. "Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you too soft." The flip side to that is the one about living in New York once but leaving before it makes you too hard. I can agree with both of those statements but the one about Northern California really hits home. Everybody in this place is too damn nice! I truly believe it is a threat to the overall well being of society. Being too nice leads to not wanting to hurt others’ feelings, which leads to political correctness, which leads to a sheltered fake utopian lifestyle. In the end, what do you get? Michael Savage would say "Liberalism and the great mental disorder that comes with it." I agree to a point but that is a soapbox of mine that I don’t want to get on today.

What I am referring to is the growing epidemic of "passive aggressive" personalities that I see all throughout my daily activities. These are people who are nice to your face, then turn around and stab you in the back whenever they can. They will tell you nothing is wrong, to "hang loose", and not worry. Then they go on to tell a third party that the issue at hand is the end of the world. These people can’t deal with reality….they can’t cope! The PA’s (many hail from places like Marin, Sonoma, and the San Francisco Peninsula) need a conflict resolution class, not more political correctness.

I deal with a prime example of this nearly every day when trying to sell my products to people. The may have a few questions, but not the tough ones. They may have heard negative things about my company, product, or service, but won’t confront me. I am told everything is fine, given a smile, then hear through someone else that they have pending issues with something about the product/service I am offering.

Contrary to that is the New Yorker. I can immediately tell when I am dealing with one of these people and God bless them….they are brash, confrontational, and lay it all on the table. They will tell you they don’t like you, but its not personal. Cower down, and you lose! Be just as aggressive back, and you earn respect! Now, of course there are extremes, and somewhere is a happy medium. However, the passive aggressive needs to go. Let’s get back to reality and deal with our issues! I’ll just live through it here in good old Cali!