I Hate People

Edwards: Why the big secret? People are smart. They can handle it. 

K: A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it.

(Men in Black) 

Fridays are one of my favorite days. Mostly because Jason doesn't have to work that night so we generally get to spend time together as a family (and as a couple. Ahem.). But I also love the Twitter phenomenon of the #FridayFollow. Basically it's an opportunity for people to let their followers know who else they might like to follow. A lot of the time people just create lists of people but sometimes folks will take the time to write thoughtful blurbs about why you should follow someone.

I love this because I am friends with some delightful people on Twitter and sometimes I'll make it on one of those blurb lists and people can remarkably kind. I've shed more than a tear or two over some of the lovely #FF's I've received.

However, I think I may have people thinking something about me that simply isn't true. In the past few months a few of my Tweeps have mentioned that I love people.

photo © 2006 Derek Baird | more info (via: Wylio)
If you spent a day or two in my home, you would know that this is simply not so. In fact, if you spent a day or two in my home, you'd hear me say what I really think about people at least a dozen or so times. Lean in and I'll tell you.

I hate people.

It's true. I can't turn on the news or read a blog or listen to someone's story without at some point hitting on something that makes me blurt out, "I hate people!" My husband can attest to this.

It's why I love the quote at the top of this post. People tend to be awful. People take stands. They're legalistic or militant or judgmental or bad drivers. People are the cause of arguments and wars and bad television programming. I hate people.

But if you're a person, well, that's a different story. A person might not agree with me, but they'll not let that agreement devolve into some kind of pissing contest. A person is someone who isn't afraid to tell me how I can be a better person but won't make me feel like I'm an inch tall when they do. A person is someone who isn't afraid to lay themselves out honestly, even if it goes against what their "people" think. I DO love persons.

I get the idea that Jesus was kind of the same way. He seemed to save most of his irritation for people, not for persons. He had all kinds of not-so-nice words for The Pharisees, but when it was just Nicodemus the person, Jesus was far more gentle. When I look at Jesus's interactions with persons, it is always loving. Turn into a people? Maybe not so much.

So if you see me turning into a people instead of a person, you have my permission to give me a smack.

And for future #FF's, please take note. I hate people. But I do love persons.

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What do you think is the biggest difference between people and persons? What makes you move from being a person to being a people? How much does it put your teeth on edge to refer to a singular person as a people?