Spite and revenge are the same
By Dr. Robert Wallace ’Tween 12 and 20 January 14, 2013 2:26PM
Updated: February 16, 2013 6:05AM
Dr. Wallace: My boyfriend broke up with me because he wanted his “freedom.”
He started dating a new girl at our school. It really bothered me to see them at a school dance. At that moment, I decided that I really hate this guy and I wouldn’t feel sorry if bad things happened to him.
His pride and joy is his souped-up Thunderbird. He becomes upset if the car so much as gets rained on and rents a garage for it from my best friend’s dad. I asked Julie to ask her dad if he would stop renting my ex-boyfriend the garage so that he would have to park his car in front of the apartment complex where he and his parents live. That way, rain, wind and birds would pound his car, which would cause him to spend all his spare time keeping his car clean. That means he wouldn’t be able to spend a lot of time with his new love.
My friend said she would not ask her dad to kick the car out of the garage because her dad wants the rental fee. I think my friend has let me down in a time of need.
Nameless, Rochester, N.Y.
Nameless: “Spite” and “revenge” are the same thing — and both words describe emotionally unhealthy, futile behavior that usually boomerangs on the perpetrator. It is, indeed, stupid. In your case, you’ve damaged a friendship by trying to involve your best friend in a scheme to inflict petty punishment on your ex.
Write to Dr. Wallace
at rwallace@galesburg.net
