I, Anonymous
Got an anonymous confession or rant you just have to share with the world? Submit it to I, Anonymous HERE and leave out the names of the guilty and innocent. The views and opinions stated here are not necessarily those of the Mercury.
The Universe, Signs, and Timing
[Got an anonymous confession or rant you just have to share with the world? Submit it to I, Anonymous HERE!—eds]
It’s an unusually peaceful ride home on the bus. I’m enjoying finishing the epilogue of my book. It’s at a sentimental part, it’s the end, the end in a way that is a happy/sad nostalgic conclusion. It’s hitting home because it relates to where I was born and raised, full of spiritual, historical and cultural references.
An actual paperback book.
Then Bam.
We pick up highschool kids. All these hyenas in human form, but with far less class than any animals, start shouting, yelling, with full flailing gestures. There’s the one person who’s the loudest, the center of attention, thinking they’re super funny and cool. The one hyena so cool they start making eating out tongue motions to someone who is not impressed. I make eye contact. Man. Man. Man. Loud. Chatter.
I get it and truly don’t. They got out of a half day of school and are now releasing energy from such hard education. Man, these kids don’t know hard. They don’t know hard work. They don’t know a hard life, what it means and entails. Let me be kids, yes, I’m Troy. Karen, and Chad. I’m Katrad. I was a kid. But I had a mom. And I had role models. This is a public bus.
What are teachers doing. Man, what are parents teaching. Man. Why am I part of this society. Now it’s shit and swearing. Super cool. Super funny. Man, if I could, I’d love to set that one right in his place and learn how to behave. The thing is, how cool and funny they think they are, but how so unattractive the behavior is.
I stopped reading my book. Sad. In the middle of a piss or climax. Can you imagine, whatever it is to get you to a place of such disarray? I’m sure you can.
And I just couldn’t wait for them to leave. But they’ll always be there doing the same hyena shit, never growing up, never learning, and thinking how cool they are being the center of their stupid universe they think life is all about them.
My stop is the last. And I was alone. I was truly happy. I was truly okay.
Reframing Workplace Certifications
[Got an anonymous confession or rant you just have to share with the world? Submit it to I, Anonymous HERE!—eds]
Recently I was asked about my “interest level in an opportunity for continued growth” at my job. This would mean getting a certification that takes several months to prepare for and pass an exam. If I agree to the certification the job will pay for half – BUT the catch is that I must stay at the job for 2 years or pay it back. I have no intentions to leave any time soon, but the rub is that when I ask for a raise and submit data for comparable roles nearby they turn me down (for different reasons, none of which are my performance). I shared the reasons for my reluctance with a supervisor and he told me that I should reframe it. Instead of “this certification gets me x” he suggested that I consider it an opportunity to beef up my resume, should I ever wish to leave. While that’s true…it makes me wonder if I’m next on the chopping block! I’m also not sure that a workplace should encourage me to use company money just for self growth. Am I totally off base in thinking this is a hollow offer and more hollow reframing? Perhaps the truth is somewhere in the middle…but what do I do with that?!—Anonymous
Let’s Sing Songs and Love Life
[Got an anonymous confession or rant you just have to share with the world? Submit it to I, Anonymous HERE!—eds]
I saw your face and wanted to hug you. Maybe it was just today. I know the darkness and general state of the world is a lot to take and then just being alive on top of it. Take a breath. You are a lovely human. You can get through this moment ❤️ Know that I think of you often and wish you the best. I hope one day we end up at a table across from each other talking through all of the shit over a nice whiskey. Just humans, trying to live a life, enjoying each other’s company. For now, find the joy and beauty that keeps you going. Keep it simple. See you around.—Anonymous
Art Student Seeking Museum
[Got an anonymous confession or rant you just have to share with the world? Submit it to I, Anonymous HERE!—eds]
I am an art student at Portland State University, pursuing my BFA. It is such a privilege to be an art student at a school down the street from our beautiful Portland Art Museum. Unfortunately, the museum, for some reason I cannot fathom, does not want to make itself accessible to myself and my fellow students at PSU college of art. For an adult day pass, it costs $27.50. For a college student day pass, it costs us $22.50. That discount is insulting.
I am taking an art history class this term, and several of my assignments involve independent or class trips to the museum. I was told by my professor to go to the museum, and upon presenting my student ID to the front desk, I should be given a $35 pass for the quarter. I went down to the museum the next day, student ID in hand, only to be told that they no longer give passes directly to students, as we must receive them through our professors, and that I really should inform my teacher of the change. I cannot imagine what the museum gains by adding yet another obstacle for art students to surpass in order to attend.
As an artist, I love the art museum, of course. On the first Thursday of every month, admission is free, and every first Thursday I am there. I am in class Monday through Friday, just blocks away, wishing to spend breaks and afternoons in the museum, and yet admission feels so out of reach.
This is my plea to the Portland Art Museum:
With my student ID, especially as a student of the PSU college of art, I should be granted access for under ten dollars, or, better yet, for free. If granted access to the museum for eight dollars per visit, there would be weeks I am there every single day. Learning, studying and growing my artistic knowledge. Is that not what the museum is there for?—Anonymous
Lights Please
[Got an anonymous confession or rant you just have to share with the world? Submit it to I, Anonymous HERE!—eds]
You:
Human Powered 2 Wheels
Gray & White Striped Shit
Marshall Park Neighborhood
Sunday October 4 ~ 11:30
Me:
Hybrid Powered 4 Wheels
About to pull out of my driveway
I quite nearly pulled right out in front of you as you came down the hill. You see, I didn’t see you.
If you recall it was clear and sunny and the street alternates between bright sun and deep shadows. As I started out of my drive I was in direct sunlight. I “thought” I detected motion in the shadow up the street but almost disregarded it as branches moving in a breeze.
But I hesitated, not certain. Then you appeared and were passed me within a second…you nodded as you passed.
Why am I writing in a forum that is certain to vigorously castigate me? To beg you to put lights on your bike, both front and rear, where none currently reside. Had you a light on the front of your bike there would be no question; I would have seen you instantly. As it is you nearly found yourself either plastered to the side of a car or sailing over its hood. Neither of which is desirable or painless
And that would be a terrible thing.
Lights remove all doubt.—Anonymous