It finally came to me on the morning drive.
I really don't get the whole 'zombie' thing. I mean, sure - from a certain point of view, I suppose the whole thing could be entertaining, if that sort of thing works for you. But for me, the whole 'unkillable, eats your brains and then you become One of Them' just didn't ring very true. I mean, if that's your destiny - best to just get it over with, right? Very short story with a less-than successful ending, neh? The whole scream, flail and run just didn't make any sense. You die - they don't. I've played enough video games to know what happens when I find the hack to make my player unkillable - it really makes winning fast and efficient. *shrug* I'll start looking at my watch, if you ask me to watch a zombie movie. I mean...we know how this ends, right?
I can understand people using 'zombie' to describe a stuck process as well. And well, you 'kill' zombie processes, and they go away. Until something else flips a bit and gets stuck muttering to itself, taking up resources and generally accomplishing nothing.
Accomplishing nothing but creating more of the same...and none of it very pleasant. Rather stinky and evil, come to think of it.
Then it hit me. I have a number of relationships with real people I can easily call 'zombies.' Not the people, mind - the actual status of the relationship I might have had with them once. I have never experienced the 'break-up' - but this is the closest thing to it I can think of.
Remember, this is what I consider most important in life:
Always do your best.
If you make a mess, clean it up.
And remember your impact on others.
If I can't be excellent to you, I'll be nothing to you. Generally speaking, I have a sharp enough tongue that this takes care of itself.
But it has happened when I have very firmly taken three steps back and said 'this is going to end badly if I stick around' - and well, what's left?
Zombie relationship. It's still there, but it's pretty clear if I touch it again, something really bad is guaranteed to happen. Mind you, it's rare - but this is me we're talking about. I'm pretty much an expert on me. If I say something bad is going to happen if you put me in proximity to X factor, this is the smartest person in the world on that subject and you might just want to listen to her.
My memory is good. Good enough for me to remember what put the relationship into zombie status every time I think I might want to do something about changing things about it.
Some people are proud of their tempers. I know just how dangerous mine is - you get a peek once in a while, but it's been trained to a faretheewell.
So I don't chance it. I don't know anyone who really deserves that. And I don't wanna.
It's that whole 'I don't do this very well' - like shooting pool and arranging flowers. This is something I know I don't do well, so I don't volunteer for it. (Seriously. You want to kick my ass, play pool with me. I suck. We had the pool table in the garage for decades growing up. I never got any better. Trust me, there was plenty of opportuntiy for improvement. Take me bowling, and I'll kick your ass. Just saying.)
I don't do zombies.
And if you should find yourself facing such a place with me, you might ask yourself which one of us the zombie really is before taking offense about it.
I really don't get the whole 'zombie' thing. I mean, sure - from a certain point of view, I suppose the whole thing could be entertaining, if that sort of thing works for you. But for me, the whole 'unkillable, eats your brains and then you become One of Them' just didn't ring very true. I mean, if that's your destiny - best to just get it over with, right? Very short story with a less-than successful ending, neh? The whole scream, flail and run just didn't make any sense. You die - they don't. I've played enough video games to know what happens when I find the hack to make my player unkillable - it really makes winning fast and efficient. *shrug* I'll start looking at my watch, if you ask me to watch a zombie movie. I mean...we know how this ends, right?
I can understand people using 'zombie' to describe a stuck process as well. And well, you 'kill' zombie processes, and they go away. Until something else flips a bit and gets stuck muttering to itself, taking up resources and generally accomplishing nothing.
Accomplishing nothing but creating more of the same...and none of it very pleasant. Rather stinky and evil, come to think of it.
Then it hit me. I have a number of relationships with real people I can easily call 'zombies.' Not the people, mind - the actual status of the relationship I might have had with them once. I have never experienced the 'break-up' - but this is the closest thing to it I can think of.
Remember, this is what I consider most important in life:
Always do your best.
If you make a mess, clean it up.
And remember your impact on others.
If I can't be excellent to you, I'll be nothing to you. Generally speaking, I have a sharp enough tongue that this takes care of itself.
But it has happened when I have very firmly taken three steps back and said 'this is going to end badly if I stick around' - and well, what's left?
Zombie relationship. It's still there, but it's pretty clear if I touch it again, something really bad is guaranteed to happen. Mind you, it's rare - but this is me we're talking about. I'm pretty much an expert on me. If I say something bad is going to happen if you put me in proximity to X factor, this is the smartest person in the world on that subject and you might just want to listen to her.
My memory is good. Good enough for me to remember what put the relationship into zombie status every time I think I might want to do something about changing things about it.
Some people are proud of their tempers. I know just how dangerous mine is - you get a peek once in a while, but it's been trained to a faretheewell.
So I don't chance it. I don't know anyone who really deserves that. And I don't wanna.
It's that whole 'I don't do this very well' - like shooting pool and arranging flowers. This is something I know I don't do well, so I don't volunteer for it. (Seriously. You want to kick my ass, play pool with me. I suck. We had the pool table in the garage for decades growing up. I never got any better. Trust me, there was plenty of opportuntiy for improvement. Take me bowling, and I'll kick your ass. Just saying.)
I don't do zombies.
And if you should find yourself facing such a place with me, you might ask yourself which one of us the zombie really is before taking offense about it.