Can We Call It Crazy?

What is crazy? I mean, what qualifies as crazy as opposed to just different or unique behavior?

Kevin and I were discussing this just yesterday, because someone we're acquainted with -- let's call him "Raymond" -- has been complaining, bitching, moaning, yelling and downright hating on a co-worker -- let's call him "Todd" -- on an almost non-stop basis. It got to the point that we feared for Raymond's blood sugar level. I thought that Raymond's head would literally explode from the rage. Maybe he'd work himself into such a frenzy over Todd that he'd have a grabber. What made Raymond despise Todd so much? Todd's performance at work. His work ethic, or lack thereof. Todd's lazy, lackadaisical attitude toward the job. Todd's abilities to do the job. Everything about Todd's job performance pissed Raymond off. Way off.

That's not the crazy part. Maybe Raymond was a bit extreme in his ranting about Todd. Maybe Raymond was taking it all too personally, sure, but that's not crazy. The crazy came later.

One day Raymond let slip that he and Todd are... wait, here comes the "f" word... FRIENDS. "Oh, yeah, we been down from way back." Or something like that. I like using quotation marks, so sue me. It made you feel like you were right there for that part of the conversation, didn't it? Anyway, Raymond called Todd a friend. He even said that he likes Todd. After calling Todd every name in the book. After disparaging Todd to anyone who'd listen. After hating Todd, Raymond said that they're friends. I hope I never have a friend like Raymond.

That shit is crazy.

- Inda