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The Pariah At The Party
Fifty people gather for a party in a small space. It’s intimate but not cramped. You look around and notice everyone socializing. Then you realize everyone but you has someone to talk to. You go grab a drink because holding a drink makes you feel more secure.
You say hello to a few people. They counter with a polite, yet cool acknowledgment.
Hmm. Did I not shower this morning? Did I offend someone?
Those thoughts clouded my mind as I stood there by myself. What do you do in those situations? Technology to the rescue. You pull out your phone and look busy. Every so often, put your phone away and speed walk towards a destination. That makes you look like you’re headed somewhere specific.
Safety In Hiding
Both these activities allow you to hide. They allow you to go unnoticed. You avoid the difficult task of walking up to a stranger and introducing yourself. You avoid the even more awkward task of engaging in conversation.
I kept up this charade for an hour. I wondered if everyone gossiped about the weird guy walking around and staring at his phone. Maybe I wrote a blog post six months ago that angered all of them. Ah, I knew it. I figured out the source of their disdain.
