"Shallow" People

Here's something I wrote this morning in response to a "shallow" person. Take it for what it's worth.

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Shallow People - © Kent Fletcher
March 25, 2008

Some people just have the gall to chastise others at the slightest inkling. At the very moment, I can think of one, but being the Southern Gentleman I am, I won't name the person. I will, however, make a short note of it, post it, see if the person gets the message. If the person does get the message, I won't hear or read of it, as that person is now blocked from my email. The person may make note of it, though, on a website, I'll just have to wait that one out.

Anyway, on a daily basis, I frequent a forum on the web where many friends hang out, some of whom I've met in my short lifetime, others not. It is a private forum and includes folks from all walks of life, from writers to musicians to teachers to retirees. I'm in the first and last groups, and I'm also a woodworker, sometimes. Whatever.

Yesterday a subject was broached by one poster who asked about where to meet someone of the opposite sex, although he was not on the market. He wrote something about eHarmony.com, which is a pay site, wherein one coughs up bucks for the privilege of attempting to meet someone, compatible or otherwise. As an aside, I chimed in this morning with a note about a free site, totally free, no fees, no expiration dates, just a place to meet someone, anyone for possible long-term or just an evening or day. The place is named plentyoffish.com (plenty of fish). I'm been a member of the site for about a year now, and I've still not found my one-and-only opposite. I doubt I ever will, but that's MY business, no one else's.

In a little while I receive a personal email with the following statement:

Subject: Plentyofish : 100% Free dating. Plenty o Fish

http://www.web-date.co.uk/project.php?id=22

Yea, I can see why you like this one! Sheesh!

Several times I pressed the "reply" button on the email to give this person a bit of my mind, and each time when I had written down what I was actually thinking, I deleted the same because I am not going to give this person an edge over me. The person is not worth the effort. The person is shallow, and I really don't like "shallow" people. Heck, just to make sure of where the person is coming from, I copied and pasted "Plenty o Fish" into my browser and came up with the same thing. Obviously this person cannot copy and paste what is posted, and then even cites the third option listed in the Google search in the email to me. Shallow, very, very shallow.

For what it's worth, I also deleted my reply post.

I initially titled this rodomontade "Self-Deprecating People". Then I got to thinking about that title, and thought, no, this is not the right title, for "self-deprecating" means for one to be "conscious of your own shortcomings", which I fully believe this person I'm writing about has no said conscience. "Shallow", on the other hand, is quite descriptive, meaning "lacking depth of intellect or knowledge; concerned only with what is obvious," among other things.

I'm also reminded of a song by Randy Newman titled "Short People". The lyrics go like this (and I paraphrase):

"Short People got no reason To live

"They got little hands, And little eyes, And they walk around, Tellin' great big lies, They got little noses, And tiny little teeth, They wear platform shoes, On their nasty little feet

"Well, I don't want no Short People, Round here

"Short People are just the same, As you and I, (A Fool Such As I), All men are brothers, Until the day they die, (It's A Wonderful World)

"Short People got nobody To love

"They got little baby legs, And they stand so low, You got to pick 'em up, Just to say hello, They got little cars, That go beep, beep, beep, They got little voices, Goin' peep, peep, peep, They got grubby little fingers, And dirty little minds, They're gonna get you every time,

"Well, I don't want no Short People 'Round here"

Now, if one were to substitute "Shallow" for "Short" in these lyrics, while the rhythm and/or timbre would be thrown off a bit, the meaning is still the same for me. I don't want no Shallow People 'round me. 'Nuff said.