Let me be clear. I'm not complaining as much as I am noting a recent experience. In short, it's a repeat of what many of us experienced in school during recess, in playgrounds, at play dates. The you-can't-play-with-us-because-we-didn't-invite you, or you're-not-one-of-us phenomenon--how many of us have been the recipient of such behavior? The protagonist? It's a form of bullying. Less obvious perhaps, less overt, possibly even less painful than the blatant "I hate you" or "you're weird/too different"but let's call it what it is. It's exclusion.
I can't think of any instance when bullying is acceptable. When adults take part it's just dumb. Be honest. This resonates. We've either seen it happen, heard of it, or taken part ourselves.
The latest such experience is taking place not near me, but around me. Hypothetically, let's imagine there's an event taking place somewhere far away that involves a community of Japanese locals. Let's also hypothetically assume there's been an attempt to sell Tohoku-related goods at this event specifically meant to help those who made these items. Now let's "pretend" (and I'm being generous with this word) some of the sponsors of this event decided they needed to intentionally block the sale of goods made by those in Tohoku (to whom the money would go) because -- wait for it -- it wasn't their idea.
Let's call it as we see it. This is a I-didn't-think-of-this-first-and-you-didn't-ask-my-permission-so-I'm-going-to-block-you response to an act that would otherwise be considered common sense, right, proper, courteous, and kind.
I don't get it. It's silly. This is what people do when given a bit of power and they feel the need to exert it. I'm also really sorry this kind of behavior is necessary. Clearly, some people aren't able to see the big picture. It's sad, really.
Thirty years after we've played in parks, living rooms and playgrounds, evidently some of us still don't know how to play nicely in the sandbox.
Maybe I am complaining.
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