Relating to people vs. music....
Ashton, I agree that Ross is a deep person. I understand a lot of his fears. I have the same ones.
But, Ross also is closed in that he doesn't "deal well" with people who aren't like him. I guess maybe I'm being somewhat unfair because most people don't deal well with people who aren't like them.
I feel like I do a "decent" job, but maybe, really, I don't either. (And I'm just fooling myself.)
Ross' rich understanding of music I appreciate. I listen to Rachmanimanoff (even if I can't spell it). Tchaikovksy, Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi. His understanding of physics and math, and even computers mean that he's smart. I'm not disputing that one bit.
But, smart people often have trouble relating to others, especially those who might not be quite as bright. Even I have people at work that simply drive me nuts, because they're supposed to be a C++ or EDI expert (and paid to do so), and they are clueless. And when those people succeed and you get poorer it pisses you off. It does me.
Ross has had some bad stuff happen, I admit that. And I'm sorry about his medical problems. And I get depressed like he does (even when I have a job). But my wife and church get me to focus, and eventually I can get the airplane out of the nose dive, and back to level flight.
I'm certainly not asking for "dumb down" conversation, I can handle what Ashton/Peter/Ross/Scott/Greg/RCareaga/Boxley throw at me. And you don't have to even be nice. I'm pretty thick skinned.
But Owl is different, sensitive. Maybe part of it is the gender, but she's wired to trust people, to converse on a plane of mutual respect and dignity, that perhaps us "NFL-style", "WWF style" boys aren't. And I get a little disappointed with us "rough and tumble" boys when we relate to women poorly.
We can get a little pugilistic at times, and I've been a part of those fights (but probably not for a long while).
Anyway, that's my two cents. Ross is deep, maybe even more so than the average person, but he doesn't trust/like people very much at all. And a lot may be justified as he's had a tough road.
Glen Austin
