Hmmm.... I think it just happens (imagining why someone reacts the way they do)... it's just how I am... maybe it's a defense mechanism. Maybe it's the only way I can handle the fact that so many are so mean? If the reality was that people are mean just because they are mean and they actually LIKE to make me feel awful I think I would spiral into depression! I think that 99% of the time people have reasons behind their meanness that are nothing about me so why not acknowledge it? I know myself when I am being awful it's usually because of some completely unrelated issue. So why not give the benefit of the doubt to other people? I guess I'd like it if they could do the same for me. So I guess for me it's not a waste of time because it's a knee jerk reaction... based on self preservation. It's probably done more good than harm... if I didn't do it I would definitely be involved in more conflict in my life.