I'm mad that you're mad about being mad...wait...

So, has this ever happened to you? Has anyone ever done something to make you mad. So, you get mad. Time passes and you get un-mad...or at least less-mad. You go to talk to that person again and find that they don't take your calls or acknowledge your existence? You finally discover that they're now mad at you. Why? Because you were mad at them. A discussion like this tends to follow:

You: Uhm, so...you're mad at me?

Them: Yes.

You: Why?

Them: ...because you were mad at me.

You: Do you understand why I was mad at you?

Them: Yes.

You: And do you agree that I had a right to be mad about that?

Them: Yes.

You: And so, you understand why I was mad.

Them: Yes.

You: And so, now I'm not mad anymore...

Them: ...

You: And...so...you're...mad at me?

Them: Yes.

You: Why?

Them: Because you were mad at me.

You: But you understand that I'm not...not now, right?

Them: Yes.

You: ...but you're still mad at me now for being mad at you then (even though you agree that I had every right to BE mad at you then) and even though I'm not mad at you now...

Them: Yes.

You: Does that make sense to you?

Them: ...Yeah.

You: Okay, well, tell me when you're no longer mad at me...I may be mad at you over this, though.

Well, that kinda happened to me today - I was walking some books to the library for a friend and came across Johnny Mac who I haven't spoken to in MONTHS over some comments and behaviours of his that finally pushed me over the line. I went so far as to walk on the other side of the street to avoid having to run into him because I'd heard he was still "mad at me for being mad at him" - of course, he could be mad about the letter I sent his boss...but that's a whole 'nother story...and one I don't apologize for. Anyway, he ends up crossing over to my side to say hi to someone and so I just casually step to the side to walk past him. Well, he shoots me the dirtiest look I've gotten in a while and I just smiled and went "Hi!" and kept on walking. I'm still pulling out the daggers he shot into my back...Ah, good times with mature adults.