Getting To Know You, Los Angeles

I decided not to post on Monday and Tuesday because this was a busy weekend at work. I am still exhausted, but I will write this short piece.

Previously, I shared my experiences in Los Angeles. I believed the people of the city to be friendlier and more welcoming than the citizens of Boston. For the most part, I was right, but there is another side to the city.

I was asked, “how do you like LA?” The “interviewer” was shocked to learn that I thought the people are friendly. It was his belief that the people who live in LA are stuck-up and distant. I was shocked to hear him say that because I didn’t come across any of that type of behavior.

I now know what he was talking about. I travel extensively and I come across many different people. I grew accustomed to greeting random strangers, but things don’t always go according to plan. I would have to say that at least ten times a day, I experience this:

[I walk down an aisle and see a customer, or store employee approaching me.]

Me:  “Hi, how are you doing.” Or “How’s it going.”

Random Jackass: Stare at me without saying a word and continue to walk past as if I don’t exist.

This behavior baffles me. Why the heck would someone not return a greeting? It’s not like I’m trying to become the person’s best friend. I probably will never see the individual again, but they can’t take a second out of their “important” lives to say “hi.” In fact, I don’t even need a “hi;” just give me a freaking head not, you jerk.

Seriously, where the hell were these people raised?

Every single time this happens to me, I am amazed. I truly can’t understand what had to happen in someone’s life that causes them to act in such a deplorable manner. In a way, I am thankful that these people exist, because I love to laugh and their behavior always causes me to laugh out loud.

[Tangent]

Is it me, or are people using the acronym for laugh out loud, way too much. I can understand using the acronym in response to something that you found to be funny, but people are using it in their initial communication. ***I was around when the acronym use began and I decided that I would always write ha ha, instead. (If you don’t know what acronym means or which acronym I am referring to, I can’t help you out because I will not write those three letters!)***

Here is an example of what I am talking about:

Friend 1: “Hey, I saw your car parked in front of the 7-Eleven. (Acronym for laugh out loud)”

Friend 2: “(Acronym for laugh out loud) I stopped there to grab a drink. (Acronym for laugh out loud)”

Friend 1: “(Acronym for laugh out loud) grab me one too. I like Coke. (Acronym for laugh out loud)”

Friend 2: “(Acronym for laugh out loud) Yeah, that other cola sucks! (Acronym for laugh out loud) Wait are you talking about YAYO? (Acronym for laugh out loud)”

Friend 1: “(Acronym for laugh out loud) No, Tony Montana. (Acronym for laugh out loud) I am talking about the cola. (Acronym for laugh out loud)”

Friend 2: LMFAO (Acronym for laugh out loud)!

It’s really getting ridiculous. You can write LMFAO, HA HA, or (Acronym for laugh out loud) after something funny in order to show that the comment made you laugh, but please don’t write (Acronym for laugh out loud) with your initial comment. Deciding whether or not something is funny is the duty of the recipient. If you write (Acronym for laugh out loud) in your first comment, the individual may not find your comment to be humorous, but they will return your (Acronym for laugh out loud) with their own (Acronym for laugh out loud) just to be friendly. (It’s really a pity laugh!)

Feel free to use (Acronym for laugh out loud) as you wish, but understand that those of us who may be stalking your Facebook conversations, which we all know are private, are slightly annoyed by the overuse.  (Acronym for laugh out loud)

Back to rest and relaxation! (Acronym for laugh out loud)

@PeteTeix617