Okay, here are the rules of engagement according to bananaducky.

Whatever anyone decides to tell me about themselves, I take it to be what he or she really wants to tell me. Now that could go two ways. Either it's a question of trusting me with their life (which given enough preparation I am more than willing to abide by) or, as I've sadly learned over the years, it's the need to paint a picture of a life they don't want to admit.

Obviously, the object of my post is the second. People tell me things about plans and decisions and I stand by them. (I assume that if they take time to tell me and knowing how 'kind' I am about these things, they'd make sure that what they tell me are really plans and decisions that would better and enrich their lives.) I give them my understanding and support.

But what puzzles me is when people tell me one thing (which then supposes that they've changed, I mean about their motivations, limitations, insecurities) and then do another. I wonder, I wonder - why tell me anyway? They do know my tolerance for bs is worse than my fantastic attention span. And unfortunately, I do get around sniffing the bs anyway.

If they do wish to perpetuate a fantasy of themselves, I'd rather that they tell their stories to other people.

I am a very hopeful person and for people to, let's just say, 'waste' their stories on me - ay, I don't know what to say.

Yes, I know, people have to repeat over and over their stories in order to make them more palatable, more realistic, more believable. But please, there is only one of me and there are a lot of them out there.

When I listen to people, I do invest in their futures. I invest in their dreams by listening and in effect saying I listen. I care. I give a shit.

This is why I realigned my social circles (realigned, not dissolved). This is why I stopped going out regularly on weekends.

In other words, I really feel deceived right now.

In other words, if you pull off that stunt again, I hope to god somebody will stop me.

Don't fuck with me.