I remember incidents my ex-wife used to bring up all the time of my being "truthful" and blurting out things that were embarassing to her. One time we were at a Six Flags, and after waiting about 2 hours to get on a ride, we were about to go on the ride when they stopped us to allow someone who was in a wheelchair go before us. I got upset and made a fuss and pointed out the fact that the guy didn't wait and he was sitting in a chair so he shouldn't get to go first.

Also, when we were in Vegas, I pulled into a driveway and had to wait a minute to pick up someone. The valet told me I couldn't wait there and I went off on him about the fact that there was nobody else around and I would move if someone came and wouldn't budge at all and just avoided getting the police called on me... I had no idea anything I did was wrong... I figured that sitting in a chair wasn't anything to complain about and that as long as I wasn't blocking anyone, I wasn't doing anything wrong...

I have done a lot of similar things. I usually do better if I have someone remind me of manners and I'm not feeling stressed. God forbid someone argue with me when I can logically prove my point!

@altie - Brandon used to say the same thing asking, how old are you?  Just the other day I was giving a presentation, and after I walked off the stage a little boy came up to me and I asked him, how old are you? Yes, you guessed it he said, "How old are you?" I think I just may stop asking that question. Thanks for your comment.

@amaliastarr - @amaliastarr - 

Things in common. Our son Louis, 48 has cerbral palsy. We been through the wars for handicapped chidlren. Back then the public schools did not have to accept them. We fought for school, little league and other rights. Today Louis works for WalMart, is a preacher and Christian DJ and owns his own home! (A very long way from originally being diagnosed retarded). Louis graduated high school with honors and went to college. But the road was long and winding....people don't hire people who look different.

It's when the room goes quiet and I see the people round about me staring at me open mouthed or else laughing (if they know me) that I realise I have said something out of order. Unfortunately by the time I have said something I've often forgotten just what I've said so Ispend a lot of time asking, "What did I say?".

To be perfectly honest I'm not so much being helpful as thinking through the blog and comments on paper (it would be pointless to think out loud as there is no one here to reflect back anyway as I edit i gain clarity). If what I say is helpful I am pleased,I certainly wouldn't want it to be unhelpful!

I think it's why writing is better than conversation. When we speak we don't have time to filter what we say because those filters are not automatic and may not work without being able to see what is to be said (I hope this makes sense, it does to me), writing gives the opportunity to review our words before publishing. I don't know if writing stops the truth serum but it does give us time to choose not to make our views known or to do so tactfully. If I am to speak out loud I like to have written down what I am to say first.

@amaliastarr - Well, I'm 35. I have gotten better only because I pretty much refuse to talk in public and try to just keep a "stiff upper lip" about things. I now mostly have trouble when I see someone else getting the raw end of the deal. i'm very protective of others, especially kids. In public, if I ever see an adult being rough or mean to a child, I will become very vehement or even assert myself physically.

I am a nonviolent person, but I will bluff and place myself on the receiving end of a beating to avoid letting someone else get hurt. I have had parents tell me off like, "It's my kid." Then I'll argue with them loudly and attract a lot of attention and tell them there's no excuse and threaten to call the police... People I'm with get embarrassed and ask me to back down, but never will I let a child be abused. I grew up in that environment and won't let it go on around me.

I can see how people are embarrassed by me, but someone's gotta stand up for the children and those who can't do it for themselves...

@amaliastarr - Thanks for the kind words, but most people see it as arrogance and rudeness. I am sure it's one of the main reasons my wife left me. That, plus the fact that she had about 4 miscarriages with me and after the first two I told her, "Don't get your hopes up." Only because I didn't want her to be hurt when she was pregnant the third time... Then she had our autistic son and she finally left after he was diagnosed at 3... She would always tell me that I was so stupid for a genius.