so does this make me a bad person

[whitak24]

ok, question for all of you:

this weekend, i found out some news that made me incredibly happy in a sick sort of way.

it's about this guy who went to high school with me. he was a couple years older than me, total "big man on campus" -- three sport star, cocky bastard, had any woman he wanted at any time, etc.

anyway, apparently he lost whatever job he had after college, had to move back in with his mom, and is currently chilling in the hicktown of his birth (8000 people and the biggest attraction is the walmart store). no job, living with mommy.

now i find this very satisfying. to me, it's like justice, because even though i was the geek in high school, never made anyone's top 10 for popularity, etc, i now have a great job, i moved away from the hicktown to the "big city", i'm having tons of fun, work with fun people, etc (plus i get to post on g|a all day :D).

so does this mean that i am obsessed, petty, and vindictive, or is it ok for me to be happy because i now have a better life than this guy who thought he owned the world a few years ago?

[jase71]

Nothing wrong with being happy that your life is going better than some of your former classmates.

It's not as if you made his life worse... you just made yours better.

And there's a certain justice to it... being BMOC at 17 doesn't mean jack when you get out in the real world, a lesson it appears he's learning.

I'd say, be satisfied.

[aglio412]

well, on paper yes, you are vindictive and petty. in reality, i hope you're not. i say this because i feel ya man. i grew up in a tiny tiny hicktown...less than 2-3k population and i wasn't a football/basketball player, so i was basically nothing in school. i was a HUGE geek. now, i'm somewhat successful, i have a damn fine girlfriend, and i look/act alot differently that i did in highschool..late bloomer i suppose, but nonetheless, i gain some sort of personal satisfaction when i go home and see the jocks and 'cool guys' that pushed me around and made fun of me because none of them left home and they're all humping crappy jobs. petty, yes i think so, but for all of the years of depression and torment i endured i feel like it's karma coming back to get those who oppressed others. i know oppressed may be a strong word, but i spent a good 10 years of my life trying to be accepted by a bunch of central PA jocks...it really put a dent on my maturation as my own person. so whitak...if you're guilty of being vindictive, then sign me up too...it's tough growing up in a hick town (or anywhere, i'm sure) when you're smarter than alomst everyone around you, and you're a 'geek.' i think it's only natural to have the <nelson>'HA HA'</nelson> attitude when you go home.

[Burzhui]

I'll alow it :thumbup:


the revenge of the geeks baby:D

[chrissy]

Originally posted by aglio412
What he said but in Southern IL

:stupid:

[Merlin]

Yes, it makes you a bad person. It should be enough that you have succeeded. Enjoying the misfortune of others is shameful. It is okay to be competitive but not spiteful. :nono:

[mcs328]

You know that ole addage...

"Living well is the best revenge" or something like that.
I used to be bullied all the time. Geek, nerd, not very athletic but I have a job, my own car that I've paid for, a place to live and a gf. If you hear bad news about some of those ppl who got you down I don't think you should relish or throw it in their face...that's mean. But I think a sense of satifaction is ok if not a given. Just don't kick them when their down.

I had ex-friends be-little me for taking a job at a no-name computer company while they went for the big boys. They became all uppity and snobby. Well 3 years later I'm still employed at the same job and happy. Now they are either laid off or fired or waiting for the axe as their company is being investigated (*ahem* Arthur Andersen). Well hopefully AA will trudge on and all those ppl will get jobs.

Anyways, just go on living your life and be happy. Don't squander it by waiting and seething and watching everyone who ever wronged you b/c that's a waste of time and energy. When you hear stuff like you did...take a moment or two, take some personal karma satisfaction of what goes around comes around, and continue with your life on your own path.

Just my two red pennies worth :)

[NuTs62]

wait, so u live in the town of the "Walmart Baby"? :P That isn't the town where "Where the Heart Is" was based was it?

I don't see it as being cruel. What goes around comes around. Just don't be too happy about it, and rub it in, or celebrate either. Thats pushing it. :) Just enjoy the satisfaction!

[Nija]

Originally posted by NuTs62
wait, so u live in the town of the "Walmart Baby"? :P That isn't the town where "Where the Heart Is" was based was it?


HEY HEY HEY

natalie portman is one hot piece o a$$ plus she runs around in skimpy clothing.. a definite plus.. oh and besides the fact it's a pretty decent movie.

and Whitak... just goes to show them how much better you really are then them. :)

[Jihforce]

I think that's kind of mean. I can understand that the guy is one of those who you'd love to hate, but unless he did something bad to me or made fun of me, etc...I wouldn't really be happy about someone being out of a job. And having financial difficulties.

[Lothar]

I think its kind of mean also, but hey, that guy could have been a geek in high school too and gotten a good job, so really, its his own fault, in a way
or maybe im just dumb
anyways i know how ya feel

[whitak24]

thanks everyone. you make me feel better about myself :D

Originally posted by mcs328
Anyways, just go on living your life and be happy. Don't squander it by waiting and seething and watching everyone who ever wronged you b/c that's a waste of time and energy. When you hear stuff like you did...take a moment or two, take some personal karma satisfaction of what goes around comes around, and continue with your life on your own path.
yeah, that's kind of my exact feeling. i'm living my life, i'm happy, and i'm moving on. he's not. that's his problem :heh:

[molecularfire]

so does this mean that i am obsessed, petty, and vindictive, or is it ok for me to be happy because i now have a better life than this guy who thought he owned the world a few years ago?

Both. Yes you are being petty and vindictive (I'm not sure it would qualify as obsessed... depends on how much effort you went through to find out this information. I'm guessing not much.). We are all petty and vindictive. That's part of being human. I also think it's ok for you to be happy because you're better off than him. I was picked on a lot in high school. Now, all of the people who picked on me are out of shape and barely making minimum wage. I'm in med-school and have a black belt. Am I petty and vindictive... yes. Do I feel bad about it... no. :shrug:

[DoPeY5007]

I know what you mean, I feel the same when I see the more popular HS kids in lower jobs then me, ( unless they were good friends of mine, then I feel bad for them )

[Speedfreak]

Well, you can't change how his life is wheather you feel good when you heard that or not. He is just possibly getting a taste of what it is to not feel good about yourself. He probably though nothing of you in school, so why should you now. There is nothing wrong with having that feeling.

Now, if you had a chance to help him and it in no way affected your life in a bad way (i.e. give him a job in your big successful company), then you should. Win win situation. You are the boss of him, but you are also helping him.

What I am saying is don't hold a grudge. You probably can't help the feelings you are having, but if you were ever to actually meet up with him (i.e. reunion) be nice.

About 2 years ago I saw one of my former schoolmates @ Taco Bell (about 4 years after graduation). This guy was always a dick to me in school. He came up to me and apologized for "being an *******" and that he was "an immature kid" and only did that to impress his friends and increase his self esteem.

I hold no grudges. I have feelings like you do, but understand that when you are a kid, things are much different in the way you act around people.

[g222leav]

Originally posted by whitak24
it's about this guy who went to high school with me. he was a couple years older than me, total "big man on campus" -- three sport star, cocky bastard, had any woman he wanted at any time, etc.

anyway, apparently he lost whatever job he had after college, had to move back in with his mom, and is currently chilling in the hicktown of his birth (8000 people and the biggest attraction is the walmart store). no job, living with mommy.


you talking about me?

ahhhh hahaha, i'm so pathetic

[OC]

I was never a bully in HS, but I may find myself in the same boat as your "friend". Would you wish me well?

-OC

[whitak24]

Originally posted by overclocked
Would you wish me well?
of course i would.

i don't want to see anyone have a bad life, especially people who are kind to others, loyal friends, etc.

but when people who have walked around acting like they are god's gift to man are knocked down a few notches, then i find it satisfying that they are getting to experience the other side of the coin and are no longer in their high and mighty position.