People say that long distances relationships usually don't work out, but what they fail to mention is that most relationships don't work out.  I mean, what is the definition of "working out?"  Is it marriage?  then the statement about long distance virtually means nothing because according to this definition, most relationships don't work out period.  How many relationships have you had that ended up "working out?"  Yeah, I thought so.  And if you add divorce to the equation, then the percentage of "working out" would be drastically small.  So long distance, short distance, you miniscule chance either way.

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When I was in Mongolia last time, someone asked, "where are you from?"

I said, I don't know.  Was he asking for my birthplace?  Korea.  Was he asking where I grew up?  America.  Was he asking for my current permanent address?  Korea.  Was he asking for my "true" permanent address?  America.  Was he asking for my heritage?  Korea.  Was he asking for my nationality?  America.  Was he asking where my heart truly lies?  Mongolia.  Was he asking me where I just came from?  13th district, Mongolia. 

I'm not criticizing him for asking me the question.  After all, I ask the same question all the time.  But what I realized was, asking where they're eventually registers as a partial (as in biased) information in my brain.  I must admit that I can't help but to ask because it's such a tempting question, but may be I should refrain from it because I'm afraid that their answer will make me biased. 

But besides all the political correctness aside, and that what I'm about to say might bite me later if I want to be a presidential candidate, I don't think it's possible to be completely free of prejudice. 

I mean, how many people do you meet everyday?  At coffee shops, restaurants, etc.  I mean, do you really have time to conduct a psychoanalysis of everyone that you meet every single day?  Of course not.  So we depend on quick clues to form an opinion.  And honestly, I don't think it's possible NOT to form a quick opinion, for I think this instantaneous opinion occurs in your subconscious.  To analyze another human is a natural tendency, a trait passed on from prehistoric times as a defensive mechanism.  Will that person try to steal my food?  Will he be my ally?




So my solution is, ironically, not to care about small prejudices, but be aware of them if they come into my head.  My reaction to a man wearing rags would be to assume that he is poor, but hopefully my awareness will help me treat him the same way as I would with a man in a suit.  I initial reaction to a teenager with gazillion piercings would be that he's a weirdo, but hopefully my awareness will help me treat him the same way as I would with a... well, man in a suit. 


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excuse me for pointlessly rambling.  I sometimes regurgitate whatever is in my head, and refuse to organize it later.

Remind me not to post my first drafts next time.