To paraphrase the old saying about government, “language is a terrible form of communication, but it is the best we have”. Because we have different ways of learning and thinking, what seems simple and straightforward to one, can be incomprehensible to another. While most think “when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns”, means that outlaws will always be able to get guns, I used to interpret it as meaning gun bans would force those law abiding citizens who own guns to become law breakers in order to preserve their second amendment rights.

Some people have a charisma that allows them to say and/or do almost anything and still be perceived positively. Others, (I am a member of this set), have the opposite effect. There was a period of my life that I was doing things for a certain person out of love. I was stunned that everything I had done with the purest of motives was misconstrued to have had the vilest of intents. I eventually realized that I had no control over how my actions would be interpreted, particularly if was in this person's best interest to believe the worst.

A teacher once explained that the difference in constructive and destructive criticism is whether or not one has a viable solution to the problem. My criticisms are rarely about things to which there is no solution, but usually have a simple solution, and I am frustrated and dumbfounded that a solution hasn't already been implemented. Do not assume I am being negative, but understand that I think things could be better.