On Complaining

I saw this post from a friend and it set me off:

"I really have NO patience for stupid people and people who complain all the time about their jobs. In this economy, be happy you are on eof the employed and turn it into a positive"

Not sure what EOF means (used to mean end of file in programming language) but this was my response:

"I wouldn't lump in stupid people with people who complain. Two different camps. And I never ever ever relinquish my right to complain."

Now I can't speak for stupid people because I am trying to avoid them. I am polite and try to engage them in conversation anyway. But I get tired of people "complaining" about people who complain. To me this just mostly means they are incapable of being a true friend and listening to someone else. Most people I know are incapable of giving all of themselves to another person, even for a few minutes. At best, the receiving person makes sure that the listening is 50-50 (I used to ask why can't your 50 be tomorrow).

I wish people would consider that people who complain are merely releasing some of the tension that builds up with the pressures of work and life. Consider the co-workers who doesn't complain. Some are maxing out their credit cards shopping online during work hours (or after) while you are doing their work. And some are going out for smoking breaks every hour, moving closer to cancer while you cover their work. And there's one who does all his work and keeps his mouth shut but goes down to the local tavern at 5:00 pm and downs 4 or 5 before getting behind the wheel to drive home. There are a lot worse and more self destructive ways to deal with stress. And people who live an illusion if always being their for their friends seem to pass judgement as to when they feel they are needed.

(another quick thing - complaining comes in more than one flavor - sometimes it is just whining to someone who can't do anything about it. But other times it is to illuminate an injustice that needs to be addressed or a problem that needs to be worked on).

As for being grateful one has a job, when somebody tells you this they are imposing their own values on you; what you should do and feel. And if it comes from somebody without a job it is just their way of bringing you down to their level instead of them rising to your level.