Justification

I've had this idea stewin' in my brain piece for quite some time now. I've been toying with the idea of making it funny rather than just ranting like a big sack of whiny dicks. However, I can't exactly find a funny angle. Let's just see what happens.

So this thought came to me as I moved back to New York City. New York is full of people. People everywhere. You're never alone on the streets of NYC and if you are, it's the god damn apocalypse. Take cover.

The variety of people here is like none I have ever experienced in other parts of the country. High class folks with more money than you've ever seen in your life, artsy people, celebrities, more tourists per capita than cement, homeless, you name it - NY has it.

Since there are so many people, someone is always asking for something. A dollar. A cigarette. A lighter. A moment of your time. Food. Directions. If you like comedy. If you want to save the planet. If you care about women's issues.

Sometimes you stop and oblige, sometimes you don't. Or if you're a real true New Yorker that requires constantly proving you're a real true New Yorker, you pretend like you've never heard another human voice before. However, sometimes when you stop, you don't always want to oblige.

And this is what prompted this post.

Whenever you say no to someone for any of the above things, there's always a reaction. Here, it's almost always a negative one. I've literally been called a "bitch" for saying "no thanks". Nicely.

So this got me thinking, why do we have to justify saying "no" to anything?
Why when I'm unemployed and have nothing to offer you am I a bitch for not giving you a dollar? Why do I feel obligated to lie to you and tell you that it's my last one when you ask me for a cigarette? No, I don't like shitty free comedy. I'm sorry if that bothers you. Yes, I do care about women's issues, I just don't want to end up on some god awful mailing list I can never unsubscribe from while you steal forty minutes from my day.

Why do I have to give reasons for any of that? Saying no should be a blanket statement that requires no justification. It's not my responsibility to give you a dollar or a cigarette or my time. Therefore, I shouldn't feel guilty or be berated about not wanting to.

The only "no" that requires justification in this life is from a parent who is telling a young child "because I said so". That's just a shitty cop out. Give 'em the fucking cookie.

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