Dogs And Sorta Superior People

Years ago, I was at a grocery store, late evening, getting stuff. Two women came around the corner, and we all recognized one another. Then the “what have you been up to” conversation started. A few minutes later, we parted and went on our way. But I was left with something I didn’t expect. 

Somehow, I was still the sophomore in high school, she was the senior, and somehow, I was inferior to her. The whole attitude was so weird. Like, who the heck do you think you are? I haven’t seen you in, like, 15 years, and the years haven’t been all that kind to you in the meantime. 

Fast forward some more years. I had a student. Wealthy. After a while, I saw this same attitude. Husband was a professional, earned all the money. He died. Wife now had all the money… but she wanted to project that she was a cut above everyone, including me. It frustrated her that I talked with her as I would anyone else. Straight on, honest, just being me. Money doesn’t make you better and it doesn’t improve your IQ. Sorry. 

Had a similar encounter the other day. I came away thinking, how disrespectful. 

I have seen this kind of thing in the dog world. 

I remember a guy who held a dog training seminar about a million years ago. Walkin’ and talkin’ tough, about all kinds of gibberish. His claim to fame was he once… once… got a major title on a dog. He never did repeat that feat with any other dog. (In those cases, they owned a dog that figured it out, regardless of the methods used.) I hate all that posturing. 

You see this with many of these internet dog training gurus. Same pontificating and posturing. 

Hate. It.

I also see it with dog breed snobs. “My breed is better than your breed.” As if that is true. I observe this on internet dog forums. The ones who hate on pit bulls. The ones who act as if their favorite breed, which has no real-world accomplishments other than being pretty, is the tops at doing this or that. Hey folks, it is just a pet dog. It isn’t Michelangelo's famous statue of David.

Haughtiness is very unattractive, and everyone can see what is behind the façade. 

Knock it off.

Before you engage with such a person to confront them, maybe it is just better to leave them with their delusions. 

Oh, and they are not your friend. You are just another audience.

Plan accordingly.