Sometimes I fear that there is something dreadfully wrong with me, because happy people piss me off.
Share a rant, and I’ll be there to defend you. Tell a sob story and I’ll run over with tissues. But gush on and on about how fantastic life is? Not only do I find you boring, I’ll eventually come to see you as an annoying scab whose very sight makes me want to vomit.
“Seeing you so happy makes me unhappy.”
I like to think that I’m a good person. I obey the law, practice good manners, and have high morals. So why can’t I stand these happy people?
Some call these people “refreshing” and “delightful.” I call them “tiring,” because spending an entire day with them really drains me of my own energy.
Admit it — you know these people too. People whose pure exuberance fills them with bouncy joy day in and day out. People whose Facebook statuses are only updated with feel-good messages. People who act like Jehovah’s Witnesses on crack.
On one hand, you question their sincerity and genuinity. No one can be that happy, you think. You look for a chink in their armor. You tell them that horrifyingly tragic story of the 12-year-old girl with no legs forced to turn tricks in order to pay for her brother’s open-heart surgery because the people of their village kicked them out on the streets for having a funny-sounding last name. Yes, THAT ONE which can bring any optimist to question, “What has the world gone to?” Except THIS person who responds with a hug and the perfect thing to say in this situation (which even I can’t dream up), in addition to the plans for a foundation dedicated to helping this poor girl and her brother, and all others like them.
The fact of the matter is that the world NEEDS people like this just like it needs its villains. And I can’t fault them for who they are, just as I can’t discriminate against people who like their coffee black, because that’s just how they were wired.
So for the time being, I will silently seethe, trying my very darndest not to jump up from my seat, grab ahold of their arms, and shake them while screaming, “STOP BEING SO HAPPY!”
Anyone care to join me?
8 Responses to “Shiny Happy People Piss Me Off”
Marvins and Eeyores unite! I’m with you, I don’t do perky. I think momentarily giddy is about as close as I get and that’s usually after no sleep and too much caffeine.
hi unni!
i like you honestly share your feelings yet acknowledge the need for them to balance out the "villains"…
I also get tired of the too-happy-24/7 people…
on a similar topic, the having to put up a "happy" face (not overly happy) when i’m not really happy for the sake of socializing and not making a bad rep at school is realllllllly getting tiring.
i seethe with you!
yikes i hope i never piss you off.
Some of us just really enjoy life. Is that so wrong?
@Jennifer — it isn’t wrong. It’s merely my preference…and please keep in mind that this is coming from a pessimistic, sarcastic Debbie Downer.
I totally get where you’re coming from (especially lately). My irritation for the exuberant status updates has skyrocketed, and I’m not sure why (getting older? wiser? (ha) sure). But, I *do* try to keep a healthy positive attitude, regardless. I think maybe what it comes down to is moderation, and maybe that’s why you’re wary of the overwhelming "bouncy joy" – because we’re human and we have more than one emotion.
I don’t mind the super happy people so long as they don’t expect me to be one of them. This really annoyed me with the wedding planning. "Aren’t you SO EXCITED for your wedding?" Planning a wedding is STRESSFUL. A couple of people actually told me I should act all excited and peppy about it even if I don’t feel that way. WTF? Since when do I ever get crazy excited and squealy about anything? It just isn’t me.
The people that really annoy me are the cruel uber-pessimists who drag everyone down if they say ANYTHING positive and can’t ever find the silver lining. The ones that hate on everything under the guise of "playing devil’s advocate." Those are the people that I just steer clear of in the end.
The world is full of different people, that’s the secret of it’s strength.
Personally overly happy people get on my last nerve and I know how you feel.
I will state for the record that if the world was dominated by happy people, I sincerely doubt
we would be as far ahead scientifically, socially or any other .*lly you could name.
We strive and gain because of a deep sense of unhappiness, unfairness, pride, and in
general some daemon that drives us. So the next time some jack off writes that happy
fulfilled marriages can be traced to smiley high school yearbook pictures consider the following.
How happy could we be if we were all happy happy people living in caves waiting for fire to happen,
and having our kids die of some common illness at the age of 3.
That’s right happy people suck off the rest of us it’s what you do best!
Yet in the end I suspect we need them as much as they need us … which doesn’t make me happy!