Never mock my intelligence.

[Asila]

Ever. It's kind of like grabbing a tiger by the tail. Or a wolf by the ears, for that matter.

In all seriousness, though, I really had a problem with this issue today. I'm sure pretty much everyone reading this will remember my newest 'friend', Lorraine, and my misgivings concerning her. She tends to be a bit over-critical and judgmental, though I still value her friendship because she's the only intellectual friend that I have in this state. Well, I spent the majority of today with her. And it was actually going pretty well, until she and her friend Jay partook in one of the deadliest sins on my list. Mocking my intelligence. (out-ranked only by trying to harm or kill myself or someone I care about)

Now, I know well that my intelligence is an easy thing to mock, as anyone who has ever met me will understand. I often fail to make obvious connections, I don't always realize that someone is talking to me, I have trouble translating what is in my head into words, I forget what I'm doing, I stare blankly at nothing for seconds at a time, I blurt stupid things, et cetera, et cetera. I know this. I live with me. And I happen to be painfully aware of every idiotic thing I do.

In fact, I've been convinced for a while now that I'm the stupidest smart person I know.

I'm also pretty tolerant of jokes involving my spaciness. They run rampant within my house, and I'm used to it. I know my denseness can be funny.

However, I'm also more insecure about my mental failings than I am about anything else. If both Jamie and Lorraine are very insecure about their weight (so no one teases them over it, because that would be a jerk thing to do) then I am very touchy over my frequent stupid moments. I can't even tell you how many people that I have encountered throughout my life thought I was some kind of moron due to communication difficulties on my part. In fact, I can safely say that far more people in my life have thought me stupid as opposed to intelligent. And this agitates me, because I know I'm not an idiot. I'm really not. But my mind constantly fails me. It's one of those things that you won't understand if you haven't experienced it, but I basically feel as though I am constantly betrayed by my own mind. It is a constant source of agitation that I try to ignore. Which generally isn't that hard, since it's something I've always had to live with and it's hard to stay annoyed over something when you have ADD problems, anyway. ((I'll save the story about what happened when I was on Ridelin for another day. *shudders*))

And now that I've explained why the following events bothered me, I will relate the referenced events. Though details will be lacking, since I can't remember conversations. However, it started with a card game. Apples to Apples, if anyone knows it. It's a game that required some degree of cleverness (Since you had to be able to guess what would appeal most to the other players/be most amusing. I won, by the way.), and so there were also many opportunities for me to say something stupid. And many opportunities for the other two players involved to realize I don't know crap about celebrities, since I didn't have the slightest idea who 80% of the names I encountered belonged to. Well, good-natured teasing about this lack in my knowledge soon digressed into comments about how I'm never really all there and my head just might be hollow, which digressed to actual baby talk.

By the time Lorraine started talking to me as though I were severely handi-capped and couldn't understand plain English or big words, I was getting kind of pissed.

But we were called in to supper before I actually started snarling (and now I was getting teased over my enthusiasm for the food, which I didn't really mind, but Jay and Lorraine were beginning to strike me as relentless). However, while I was kind of hovering uncertainly in the kitchen, since no one else was serving themselves and I didn't want to come across as a rude pig by being the first to pile my plate with food, Jay made another joke about my intelligence. At which point I responded with something along the lines of "Just for the record, I am severely insulted by blows to my intelligence. I will murder you." (for those of you who read the chat box, I know I quoted something slightly different there, but I honestly can't remember what I said word for word. But that was pretty damn close) It was almost funny, because Jay seemed to suddenly become a bit intimidated by me, even though I was smiling while I said the murder bit. I do think my voice had become colder, though, and the words and phrasing were definitely more vicious than anything I'd said previously. (Because I was just being a silly moron, earlier. That's how I act when I'm trying to be friendly.)

Jay didn't make any comments regarding my intelligence for a while after that. I don't think my broody silence following my comment made him feel very comfortable.

Though when I started to cheer up again, he did hazard one more comment. Once again, I can't remember what he said, only that he earned a glare from me across the table. At which point he exclaimed "Why do you hate me?". I responded with a falsely cheerful "Because you insulted my intelligence." At which point he told me that he actually thought I was a very intelligent young woman, and I said "See? Now we can be friends."

Then Lorraine had to ruin the moment by saying she heard him laugh while he claimed he thought I was intelligent. Though, in Jay's defense, he did seem agitated by Lorraine's response so I believe he meant what he said. I left shortly after that.

And that's the entire episode. I'm sure it doesn't seem that bad. It's just one of those things that kind of sinks deep into my mind and evolves into a seething mass of agitation before the day is out. The reason for this I have hopefully explained, though I have my doubts regarding whether or not I've explained it well.

[Seven]

....
Those two are jerks. I want to scar them now, since that seems to be the only mode of offense my weak body can manage.

*ehem*

Anyways, that was a real jerk thing to do on their part. If you're having any doubts about having "over-reacted" to their jests, don't. Just don't. Because on any account, a cruel jest made at a person generally shouldn't be a throughout the day, nonstop barrage. I mean, as a person who (as Aka pointed out, has only two talents one being that I have long enough nails to give good back-scratches...) generally is only known for being smart (or rather, book-smart) even a handful of remarks can get me irked, since it feels like they're diminishing my only real virtue. So, I probably would have unintentionally channeled Daemon (or any of my other darker characters) and let them know exactly what I think of them. (Generally, the only time I'm ever really eloquent is when I'm angry or feel strongly on a topic. In such cases, I turn pretty cold and entirely objective, and there really aren't many people who can "debate" better than I can.)

Though you apparently value Lorraine's friendship since she's the only 'intellectual' in WI, I now doubt this. She just sounds haughty, and probably arrogantly considers herself an intellectual. *Shrugs* But then again, this just might be my position, but I generally like to think intellectuals have at least a small amount of tact and would refrain from childish and idiotic taunts. Since that's all that they really were. Oh, and annoying. I shuddered at the description of their baby-talk.

However....this is all so stupid...*shakes head* Especially considered they were taunting you about, of ALL the stupid things, because you didn't know CELEBRITY NAMES! How idiotic! That's just lame trivia! It has nothing to do with a person's intelligence! I don't know crap about celebrities' names because, quite frankly, I think it's an utter waste of time and memory! Had I been you, I'd be taunting them for being so idiotically mainstream for wasting their time reading tabloids and gossip magazines to acquire such useless information! *scoffs at the fact Lorraine thinks she's an intellectual...*

Maybe it's just that I'm in a somewhat sour mood right now and my perception is distorted as it is, but your friend sounds like a hypocrite and jerk, and not a very good friend. From what you related, she doesn't sound like she was teasing you. It sounds like she was taunting you. No one teases for a whole day. And hadn't you just met Jay that day? What the heck was his problem? Jokes about a friend that are of a critical nature generally only emerge after you've been friends for a while, when you can already trust that they're just joking! What bothers me more is this: we have a saying in Mexico that essentially says "There's a bit of Truth is ever Joke." So if someone' "joking" relentlessly about something in that mean-spirited way, I doubt they're really joking. Lorraine probably has an inferiority complex (since you're so awesome, clearly), and is probably trying to make herself feel/look smarter.

And now I'm rambling because I'm angry at these supposed friends of yours. They don't sound like good friends, and from what you've told me before, I don't know that you're even having a good time with them. For the record, I doubt Lorraine is as clever, artistic, or as good a writer as you, Asila, so from my point of view...her dumb opinions don't get to count, so don't take her bad "jokes" to heart. Clearly, even if she really did mean those taunts as jokes, she dimwitted for not noticing they were disrespectful and hurting you. I don't know if you are going to continue your friendship with her or not (I wouldn't...), but either way, don't let her get to you. You're worth so much more.

Oh, and next time someone is mocking your intelligence, you should laugh haughtily and explain that you are merely acting moronic, a bit for fun, but mostly not to intimidate them and their pitiful mind with your vastly superior intellect. (...oo....I should use that one as well....*grin*)

In any account, I hope you feel better, and when you're feeling lousy because some jerk was doing what they do best (being a jerk), I don't feel you need to explain yourself for not posting. It's thoughtful on your part, but don't worry about it too much. You don't need that added guilt to go along with the stress and anger.

*Hugs* You're amazing, I love you, talk to you later!

[The Imfamous AKA]

*Spends a full ten minutes reading/rereading the above, completely ignoring the friend sitting at my Touch-It playing Mah-Jong*

*Points up* I concure.

[Asila]

*sighs* It was miserable having to deal with them. As I've referenced before, I spent the majority of my life as an incredibly withdrawn individual who didn't speak much. If I had a problem with someone, I was far more likely to just get up and hit them when I was sick of them than I was to tell them I had a problem. My kindergarten teacher thought I should have been held back a year, and I did so badly throughout elementary school that my concerned grandparents started bribing me with rewards of money for good grades in the hope that I would do better. The only thing I excelled at was reading, but I didn't want anyone to acknowledge me for it. I just wanted to be left alone. And if I was ever teased for anything, it was for being dense, or immature, or looking like someone who dressed every day without any concern for what, precisely, she was putting on.

Yep, a long history of being perceived as a person who was a few candles short of a fully lit candelabra. Which is why I both put up with a lot of rude comments regarding just how intelligent I am and wind up seething with rage and frustration. Unfortunately, all of that anger is directed at myself and my mind's faulty wiring since I know I'm being mocked for a reason. Even if it's a really shitty reason.

God, it just pisses me off. It really does. I hate how I can't speak coherently. Unless I reach that peculiar state of fury that comes with clarity of mind. And that's why I've begun to giggle during some of the most demented battles of my life. Such freedom...and I so rarely have it. Reasons why I romanticize things like anger and hatred. And part of what's ironic about this mess is that the reason Lorraine was one of those few people who actually saw my intelligent side before she saw the idiotic one is that I didn't like her. My first impression of her was one of intense dislike, even though I hadn't even held a conversation with her at the time I formed that opinion. (I have got to start trusting my first impressions, even if they seem unreasonable to anyone else.) So of course I sounded intelligent when I spoke to her. I wasn't trying to please her, so I had the freedom I needed to say whatever the hell I wanted. I couldn't have possibly cared less if she'd wound up hating me for it.

Unfortunately, she didn't. You know, I think the problem with this friendship is that Lorraine likes who I am when I couldn't possibly care less about her. But if I didn't give a fuck about her opinion, then I wouldn't hang out with her. Yet that seems to be the attitude she employs, since it's kind of how she reacts to everyone else. And she really is the haughty, vain type of intellectual who thinks she's above everyone else. Which is part of the reason she pissed me off so much in the first place. She bitches about little U-Rock all the time, because most of the people there are only there to get the degree and get out, without enjoying the learning process or really wishing to better their minds. She also hates the middle-aged people, because she seems to think that people who are old enough to be your parent shouldn't be in college. *rolls her eyes* Honestly, I love having established adults in my classes! It makes me feel like I am now on the same playing field that they themselves are on. I don't feel beneath them the way I used to.

As for taunting me about celebrity names, well, most of the names that came up were bigger names. People from famous movies that were not necessarily recent. In fact, most weren't. But most of those names weren't of the sort you would learn outside of a film class (as far as education goes). They also had a field day with the fact that I didn't know what Reggae was. It's freakin' Jamaican music! I don't listen to Jamaican music! Yet they still insisted that I was an idiot for not knowing the term! But fuck her, because she didn't know who The Grateful Dead were. Freakin' hypocrite.

Now, before I go back to bashing Lorraine to both A.) get as much venom out of my system as I possibly can and B.)work myself up to ending the friendship without feeling guilty, I do want to defend Jay a bit. Because, honestly, he didn't strike me as a bad guy. He's just one of those people that teases for fun. He does this to everyone, including Lorraine, and if he thinks something's bothering you, he stops. Unfortunately, two things kind of went wrong. One is that, while Lorraine would industriously join in to his taunts with crueler ones (she was the one that pulled off the baby talk trick, not Jay), escalating the teasing into outright mockery, I would not join into insults against either one of them with equal fervor. I will jokingly insult people, but they're stupid, spastic insults that don't even make sense half the time. Also, their timing is sporadic. And these insults are either generic things like "you're stupid" or "I hate you" (usually said while I'm laughing) or things that I know aren't true or that just sound stupid. So, while Jay would start to tease Lorraine the way he teased me, I would let the comments die before they could escalate. It's kind of like being the one nice driver in a city where everyone drives like an asshole. You only manage to increase your chances of becoming damaged in an accident and make driving more awkward for everyone else. The second problem was that, if you're used to being around blunt, irritable people who just come out and say they have a problem the second they have one, then you don't recognize the subtler signs employed by people who choose to try and be patient and understanding. He assumed that, because I was still smiling, everything was all right and everyone was still having fun.

And I can't really blame him, because I sometimes come across as confident. He was even completely baffled that I ever dated losers like my last boyfriend in the past (which came up when we were talking about my tendency to be very insecure in an argument). So he probably didn't realize that I was one of those individuals who smile when they're unsure of what to do, or to mask feelings that are becoming wounded.

And I know I'm making excuses, but I've forgiven Jay because he expressed regret in the end, when he realized that what he'd said had bothered me. And that's all I need to forgive.

Lorraine, however, was a fucktard up until I left.

Which brings me back to Lorraine. Just let me wrap up this rant by confirming a few more of your very accurate impressions regarding her. I did get the impression that she wasn't really joking. That's why I was ticked. And if I wasn't so insecure about my mental failings, I would have reacted with more anger, sooner. But by the time my rage really began to kick in, it was time for me to leave. I suppose I could have stayed later, since I was the one watching the clock and everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves (especially Lorraine), but I'm not the type to go out of my way just so that I can make someone suffer. So I just left.

And now, I will be a bitch. And a bit vain. But Lorraine isn't as artistic as I am. I will admit that her talent rivals mine (and of course it would. She was in an art class throughout high school. I was only in one for the last year. So she has three years on me, since she's also been in the same number of art studio courses at the college as I have.) But I believe that my vision surpasses hers. I mean, I've been in her house. I've seen the pictures hanging in her family's hallway, and the only two that really looked nice was a self-portrait of herself, and a picture of herself and her boyfriend. Then there was a bust she'd carved of herself on a pedestal.

Yeah. I know. Though she did a better job on her self-portraits than I did on mine. In her portraits, she enhanced her beauty. In mine, I emphasized my flaws. And both the assigned self-portrait I did in art class and the one I drew in my sketchbook to practice drawing people had demented, haunted qualities to them while hers just looked pretty. This amuses me. That's why I pointed it out. To further stroke my ego as far as vision goes, the only thing she'd drawn in her sketchbook this semester was a picture of her kitten, which didn't even look like her kitten. The facial structure was off. She even said that she doesn't really draw much, anymore. I don't even think she ever draws anything unless it's been assigned. I do. I've done far more on my own time than I have in class. I have vision, even if my skill can't quite live up to every idea just yet. So many ideas that are never attempted...

A good writer? Well, she's one of those individuals that can crank out papers that earn A's. Though nothing she writes would ever sound as pretty as anything I write. She just doesn't have the passion. She hardly even expresses emotion.

As for being clever...well, I guess I still win that one. I'm much more inventive, and I'm even as smart. I got a fucking 4.0 my first semester at U-Rock. My only problem is that my communication issues took a turn for the worst and my ability to write papers became handi-capped in the same way that my ability to express myself through speech has always been. It's as though my mind only continues to rebel more against structure as it learns to express itself well creatively. (I brought up the 4.0 thing because Lorraine was bragging about her 3.98 grade point average and it made me remember the condition of my own GPA at this time. *insecurity*...at least I got a 3.4 in the classes I took this semester. My ability to ace exams redeemed me in my English class and I got a C- even though I only wrote 5 out of 9 papers and handed half of those in late. But my GPA is still suffering...) But she can still communicate better than I can, and that's what really matters in the real world. Potential is nothing unless it's expressed. And I may as well be autistic for all my ability to convert my intelligence into a form that can help me get ahead in this world.

Well, I just made myself feel awful again. Damn it. Stupid brain and it's stupid failings. *scowls*

And stupid Lorraine and her insensitive mockery. *more scowling*

And now...*glomps Seven* And not only do I love you as well, but you are far more amazing because you actually read this crap. And if you do decide to respond, DO NOT do that thing you do where you try to respond to everything I say! It's just not worth it! In fact, don't even read back. Only say what you want to say and be done with it.

[Asila]

Dear. God. I actually spent so much time writing my moody response that Aka's response wasn't even there when I began.

That was a fail.

But that was cute, Aka! *grins*

[The Imfamous AKA]

*Initiating facepalm* Mm-kai, I could go off on a long rant about how amazing you are, how much lorraine obviously sucks and i should hunt her down like the dog she is and gut her like the fish she is--yes, she is a dog-fish (have you ever seen one of those? They are ugly, wormy little sharks)--I did, in fact, read the last couple of sentences directed at Seven, even though I was distracted by my new Crash Bandicoot game, so I shall refrain. I do, however, feel the need to point out one thing...

I absolutely love the fact that you say-- "Just let me wrap up this rant by confirming..." approximately 60% of the way through said rant.

Damn, Asila, I love you. No one else I know would ever do that.

Also, is it weird that that's the single most important thing I pulled out of that rant?

[Asila]

Aw, you're threatening the person who was a dick to me! That's so sweet! *glomps Aka*

Wait...why am I lovable because it took me five full paragraphs and then some to 'wrap up' my rant? Not that I'm complaining. I'll take love where I can get it. *more hugs for Aka* I love you, too!

Weird? Not on FF, where anything goes. Perhaps it would be in the real world, but I'm too detached from standard reality to know for sure.

[The Imfamous AKA]

((Be forewarned, the following rant is either utter genius or utter crap. I haven't quite figured out which yet...))

So, in relationship (or not...) to this little (or big) issue, I got distracted from reading my favorite book (OF ALL TIME!) Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. How, you may ask, does the moron named Lorraine being a bitch correlate to a science fiction novel? Only in the strange connections that my mind is capable of created is the answer. So here, for your reading pleasure (feel free to hit me if this is really stupid) is my insane logic.

I begin my twistings and turnings with Asila's statement "And both the assigned self-portrait I did in art class and the one I drew in my sketchbook to practice drawing people had demented, haunted qualities to them while hers just looked pretty." Two of the characters in this book, in case you haven't read it (WHICH YOU SHOULD!), are Valentine and Peter. In their utter geniusness of the their writing, Peter has the ability to pick out people's flaws and accentuate them, turning them over to his point of view with fear (which is not necessarily a good thing, but it works). Valentine takes what people like best about themselves and flatters them into coercion.

After a long and complicated process, at the end of the book, we discover a very important point. Val (in this case being used as a euphemism for Lorraine) ends up fairly happy, spending the rest of her life following her younger brother across the universe, writing contentedly, never having to deal with Peter (aka Asila) again, because frankly, even though they worked together and he's her older brother, she can't stand him.

Peter ends up ruling the world. Enough said.

So, by the logic I've gleaned from the most awesome book ever, being able to create something dark, disturbing and, above all, true, pwns a pretty lie.

[Asila]

Yes. The disturbing dark does pawn a pretty lie. *strokes her non-existent beard in the cliche, villainy fashion* Indeed...

Cool concept, Aka. It makes me happy. (meaning, of course, that your rant was clearly utter genius and did not fail. At all.) And I will have to get around to reading that book, since Peter sounds like the kind of character I would enjoy. Delightfully twisted.

Thank you for your rant, Aka. I now feel like I am clearly hard-core in all my dysfunctional, silly madness.

[Seven]

Alright, to begin with, I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to respond, but I've been fairly busy these past four days since my mom took 2 days off, then WUV asked to come over, then my mom decided we MUST clean EVERY FREAKING CREVICE OF THIS BLOODY HOUSE! *sighs* At least the house is clean now, so I won't be expected to do much cleaning for at least a week.

*ehem* Anyways....

Your further descriptions of Lorraine only make me angrier at her. That, and I must sheepishly admit that despite the fact that I have all the vigor and durability of a thin piece of glass, I still have these childish and immature fantasies of playing hero (or rather, vigilante) and breaking everyone I deem foolish and no longer worthy of breathing of Earth's invaluable air.
...Probably in mentally, in Daemon-esque fashion.

In any case, Lorraine is now on my list of people to get vengeance on. Or to at least pick a verbal fight--I mean--"debate" with, should you ever introduce her to me.

Though, for the record, I don't think you should be putting up with the stupid comments any longer, because for one, you're not, and second of all, they're going to ruin your self-esteem at this rate (if, sorry love, they already haven't). I know that you mention many times that you have issues communicating verbally, and that it takes a while to respond, and that you have so many thoughts to voice all at once you wind up feeling confused, along with other failings, but I can't help but wonder how much said ineloquence is really a symptom of 'mental failings.'

I know that you're very clever and very smart, and I see how you express yourself in writing, so I can't help but think 'bad wiring' isn't really the problem. That, and I don't think being smart in one topic (writing) is as nontransferable (speech) as you think, especially in your case. I know this because since our early days, when I first expressed my desire to speak to you over the phone, you immediately jumped up to warn me that you don't do well with phones, or even talking/chatting in general. And though I might have settled for such an explanation back then, I can't help but think that's not true anymore. Yes, when we spoke on the phone the first time, it was a bit awkward, but only because it was the first time we were having non-web communication. But after that, you spoke just fine. In fact, you don't use verbal fillers like "Uhmm" or stutter as much as other people I've met do. Everything we've spoken about seemed to be fairly well-phrased and clear (the only times I needed you to repeat something were when the cellphones started failing us, once again, not a communication problem on your half), and we actually even had really long conversation.

So no, at this point I am doubting your self-doubts. I think you can speak just fine.

But then I remembered something. Please pardon my assumptions, but I suppose that you trusted me more or less by the time we were having phone conversations, and that perhaps you were more at ease with me(?). And then I remember all the times you've conveyed your doubts about Lorraine, from the very beginning. I don't think your problem with expression comes from some mental failing in that area, I think that, once again, it's an anxiety problem. And I think that you've endured so much bashing from the people around you, insisting that you're stupid, that you've merely come to accept their explanation so much that you took it upon yourself and made it a part of you. And in turn, it is what you expect, and trying so hard to not to be that person others have painted of you, you wind up with more anxiety and eventually fulfill that prophecy of inadequacy, once again starting up the cycle of poor expression again.

Of course, this is all speculation and my attempts to be as analytical as possible, so feel free to bash me if I've offended you in any way.

I suppose, part of me thinks this is the case because if vaguely reminds me of the whole Darkness issue you had much earlier on. I remember your anxieties about trying so hard to be or not be like others expected you, which eventually left you conflicted or awkward, but over all in pain. I know that you're very smart, but I've also known that you're pretty anxious as well. I know that you have had trouble even starting a two page paper, despite the fact that here on FF, you've written the equivalent of 4 page papers, all beautifully written, insightful, and poetic in just one sitting. (Note: Though I have yet to actually measure the length of one of your posts, Rojo once told me that he measured the length of one post and it was equal to the length of his leg. And, if he's as tall as he claims, then he's taller than us both.)

Well, just think about it for a bit if you'd like, and don't feel bad about not knowing about dumb trivia. Trivia is not a measure of intelligence--especially being, as I stand by my earlier post, dumb trivia. And for the record, the only reason I ever found out what reggae was is because The Roomie loved it back in our Junior year of high school, hence, I listened to it as well. That, and don't feel bad about being a bitch to Lorriane (clearly, she didn't think to not be one to you) and temporarily being a narcissist in your comparison of qualities. (*grins* It's hardly narcissism if it's truthful!) *wry smirk* That, and you being confident and proud rather than self-depreciative is sexy. I'd recommend you doing it more often....but then I might wind up raping you. Forgive me for being a deviant? *shrugs innocently* Though, considering it's you, you can hardly blame me!

On the topic of art.....when you mentioned Lorraine's art, I couldn't help but think that SHE'S a major narcissist. I mean--she carved a bust of herself? And all those self-portraits of an idealized beautiful version of herself? That's kind of annoying to me. I suppose you can run to her defense, claiming that it was art "homework," but considering it was an art class, she probably could have been more artistic and less narcissistic about it. (Hey! I rhymed! *feels idiotically gleeful about that....*) After hearing about that, she annoyed me more.

As for your self portrait....I admit, the first thing that came to mind after reading that part was the painter Frida Kohlo. In which I promptly spent about an hour reviewing her work rather than responding right away. *sheepish grin* If you don't know her, she's a fairly famous Mexican painter (born in 1907), revolutionary, and all around radical. Her paintings were primarily of herself (usually as portraits, but not always), and they were all in the fashion of Mexican art (which, if you can't guess, is known for they're extremely bright, colorful...colors.) However, despite the bright appearance of her art, most every picture is fairly morbid and really dark in nature, or at least challenging mainstream thought. In all of her self-portraits, she emphasizes her ugliness and masculine qualities that make her more "ugly" by feminine standards. Her pictures are essentially pain on a canvas--though it would be for good reason. (Frida was born with polio. If that wasn't bad enough, during the Mexican Revolution, she was also impaled with a large, heavy, metal pole from her genitals, through her uterus and out her stomach, leaving her fairly crippled and in constant pain for the rest of her life.)

Sorry about that, I tend to go on tangents, but I guess what I wanted to say is that Lorraine might be able to paint something pretty, yet unthought provoking. Essentially, any artist of moderate skills can do just that. There have been all sorts of artists such as that...but we never hear of them since they never stand out. Frida, on the other hand, became international famed, world-renowned, and the first Mexican painter to have a piece in the Louvre Museum. (A faint parallel to Aka's "Peter takes over the world," for you.)

Oh, and one more thing, I promise! It was about the actual writing of your previous rant. Though I agree with Aka that the whole ""Just let me wrap up this rant by confirming..." approximately 60% of the way through said rant" being fun (Yes, I found such irony quite amusing) I don't think it was the best thing about your rant. The best part of your writing is your writing. Allow me to clarify. When I began to read the second rant you put on here, a lot of times I thought you were about to go on a random tangent, from speaking about your childhood to other things. Quite frankly, this would have been fine with me. I know I tend to go off on random tangents all the time and with no chronological order to anything, no foresight as to where I'm headed with the thought, or any really insightful reason why I started talking about that thing in particular to begin with. But when you started to "go on a tangent" as I kept reading, I discovered that it wasn't a tangent--not at all. Instead, you were cleverly transitioning points AND creating evidence and support for the point you were about to make. It made reading every one of your paragraphs a pleasant surprise, a mystery as to what revelation you were about to make. You're writing has excellent style to it, Asila, so I have no doubts in my mind that you are a better writer than Lorraine, and that you are so much more than just smart.

*does one of those cheesy "stay in school" poses* So be cool and don't listen to insensitive, stupid people!