The last couple of weeks have been extremely uncomfortable for me. And now that I’m through with it, they’ve been extraordinarily rewarding. I’ve learned more about myself, my friends, this hobby, and some facts that just can’t be changed. I’ve learned the lessons of the mosquito, or in other words, the “angries.”
Because of some long lingering childhood issues, I’ve always felt the need to please people. In clinical circles, it could be called being codependent on others’ pleased reactions. Man oh man, have I got it. I want everybody to get along.
As this hobby and the Flyertalk community have grown to numbers I never could have imagined, we have acquired a faction of discontented individuals. Throughout every single Faces of Flyertalk article we’ve done, the interviewee has indicated that the “angries” are now among us. Their numbers are minutely small in comparison to the “gratefuls,” but they still exist and are very vocal in their presence. They have threads of their own displaying their unhappiness and discontent, and in fact, now they even have their own blog. The blog actually promotes “rants, mini rants and mega rants” against their perceived injustices of our hobby. No matter how many free or discounted trips they’ve learned about on FT or from others, no matter how “grateful” they could and should be, they are “angries” and they are not going to change.
My friends, my family and many in this hobby like Brian ThePointsGuy, Howie from the blog, DeltaPoints and others, all handle the “angries” much better than I do. They just stay away from them and focus instead on the “gratefuls” who are thrilled with their successes and triumphs. They’ve learned that you can’t change an “angry.” I never learned this lesson growing up, or really, until just now. And thanks to the advice of my friends, family and the “gratefuls,” I think I’ve learned this lesson now too.
To those of you that saw me in the “angries” threads and the “angries” blog the past couple of weeks, I apologize. I got sucked in trying to make everyone happy without success, and got angry myself while in their company. Many of you can go in that mosquito-infested environment and walk out with only a bite. I got swarmed and fought back, saying things I shouldn’t have said. I have learned several lessons.
With the size and success of Flyertalk, we will now and forever have “angries.” They are just a product of success and size. Some of you can go and walk among them. I just have to stay away. Thank you to everyone for teaching me that lesson.
I’ve got some United Lounge passes for our grateful readers that Ricardo sent along. Send me a “grateful” comment and we’ll draw the winners in the next day or so. And here is a long term request and commitment I’ll make: If you catch me in an “angries” blog or thread from this day forward, send me an email or note ASAP reminding me of my pledge and I’ll send you a $50 Marriott card for getting me out of the mosquito-infested woods.
Thanks to all you “gratefuls” for your patience and understanding.
