We

We , I am sure, have all been in a situation wherein a certain look has passed between ourselves and another person, or perhaps we have said something to them, and there we were secure in the belief that they understood what was meant. Later only to find out that not only did they take our look or our words to mean something vastly different from what our intentions were, but that they misunderstood because they were basing their interpretation on what they perceived us to be about.

 “How could you believe that is what I meant?”

“Well .. you were always kind of a smart alec. How was I to know that this time you really meant it?”

Were we being a smart alec?

 NO.
Are we a smart alec?

No.

Not only are we not a smart alec, but we spend most of our time trying to be polite and honest. We rack our brains trying to be nice; we have ulcers from worrying about accidentally hurting another person’s feelings. Yet they think we are a smart alec.

 Why?

What do they think we are?  How could they be so wrong? IS it that they really don’t care and, so , have never really noticed your actions? Or,have you interpreted them so wrongly as well, that you also never knew them  and so gave them continually the wrong emotional answer?