It is incredibly interesting when you meet someone who has no social awareness or social boundaries. They have the power to make everyone else in a room feel very uncomfotable and yet be blissfully unaware that they sit at the epicentre of everyone elses discomfort. I have recently come into contact with someone like this and it is both incredulous and disconcerting when I have to spend time with them.
Their behaviour is quite interesting; a mix of attention seeking and immaturity speckled with a good dusting of rudeness that manages to make the air thick, people exchange glances and in some instances, I've even seen people just stare down at their feet in an attempt to dis-engage. And they are (as far as I can tell) completely unaware of this, and this is where the biggest problem lies because you can't really go around correcting adults on their social behaviours, you kind of just have to tolerate them. And it's really hard, because a few minor adjustments and things could be so much better.
Social rules are tenuous and can make or break many interactions, but there are eight very simple rules that I try to maintain when I am socialising and generally they never steer me wrong.
1. Silence will trump any argument - not every opinion requires a reply, so just say nothing.
2. The calmest voice controls the room and power doesn't shout.
3. Gossip once and lose trust forever because people remember.
4. Ask more and talk less, listeners win hearts.
5. Praise in public and correct in private and respect will go viral.
6. Mirror their energy not their chaos - stay in control of yourself regardless of anothers behaviour.
7. Interrupting shows that you have weak self control, let people finish. Watch first and talk later, smart people talk last.
8. Be polite, be kind and be interested.
Do I always get them right? Oh hell no! I make mistakes in social situations all of the time, I am hardly a genius but I really do try. I used to suck so hard at social interactions, so I did a lot of work to improve my skills in this area, and anyone can get better at being great socially - but at the end of the day - they have to want to get better and that, unfortunately, doesn't always occur.
Their behaviour is quite interesting; a mix of attention seeking and immaturity speckled with a good dusting of rudeness that manages to make the air thick, people exchange glances and in some instances, I've even seen people just stare down at their feet in an attempt to dis-engage. And they are (as far as I can tell) completely unaware of this, and this is where the biggest problem lies because you can't really go around correcting adults on their social behaviours, you kind of just have to tolerate them. And it's really hard, because a few minor adjustments and things could be so much better.
Social rules are tenuous and can make or break many interactions, but there are eight very simple rules that I try to maintain when I am socialising and generally they never steer me wrong.
1. Silence will trump any argument - not every opinion requires a reply, so just say nothing.
2. The calmest voice controls the room and power doesn't shout.
3. Gossip once and lose trust forever because people remember.
4. Ask more and talk less, listeners win hearts.
5. Praise in public and correct in private and respect will go viral.
6. Mirror their energy not their chaos - stay in control of yourself regardless of anothers behaviour.
7. Interrupting shows that you have weak self control, let people finish. Watch first and talk later, smart people talk last.
8. Be polite, be kind and be interested.
Do I always get them right? Oh hell no! I make mistakes in social situations all of the time, I am hardly a genius but I really do try. I used to suck so hard at social interactions, so I did a lot of work to improve my skills in this area, and anyone can get better at being great socially - but at the end of the day - they have to want to get better and that, unfortunately, doesn't always occur.
THE RULE OF JENNY PEN
Release Date: 2024
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 104 mins
A psychologial thriller based on Owen Marshall's short of the same name, The Rule Jenny Pen had a deeply disturbing affect on me. Maybe it was because I have an elderly parent and two elderly in-laws but the idea of a psychotic and unhinged predator lurking inside of an old aged home really upset me, and I found this material to be quite distressing, mainly because of it's absolutely possibly and plausibility.
Stefan is an elderly judge (Geoffrey Rush) who suffers a stroke in court and finds himself in a care home for the aged. He attempts to keep to himself but soon realises that there is a terror lurking within the walls of the home itself. A deranged man called Dave (John Lithgow), who masquerades as confused old man during the day but repeatedly abuses and terrorises residents of the home with late night vistis from himself and his sadistic hand puppet called Jenny Pen.
This movie was made all the more affecting by the exceptional acting of Geoffrey Rush as judge Stefan and the distressingly good John Lithgow who unforgettably haunts as the very disturbed character Dave. I cannot deny that this film left me saddened and quite shook and if you also have elderly parents, you too will find this film a hard watch.
FINAL SAY: We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing.
3.5 Chilli Peppers
Release Date: 2024
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 104 mins
A psychologial thriller based on Owen Marshall's short of the same name, The Rule Jenny Pen had a deeply disturbing affect on me. Maybe it was because I have an elderly parent and two elderly in-laws but the idea of a psychotic and unhinged predator lurking inside of an old aged home really upset me, and I found this material to be quite distressing, mainly because of it's absolutely possibly and plausibility.
Stefan is an elderly judge (Geoffrey Rush) who suffers a stroke in court and finds himself in a care home for the aged. He attempts to keep to himself but soon realises that there is a terror lurking within the walls of the home itself. A deranged man called Dave (John Lithgow), who masquerades as confused old man during the day but repeatedly abuses and terrorises residents of the home with late night vistis from himself and his sadistic hand puppet called Jenny Pen.
This movie was made all the more affecting by the exceptional acting of Geoffrey Rush as judge Stefan and the distressingly good John Lithgow who unforgettably haunts as the very disturbed character Dave. I cannot deny that this film left me saddened and quite shook and if you also have elderly parents, you too will find this film a hard watch.
FINAL SAY: We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing.
3.5 Chilli Peppers
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