Sometimes, I despair, I really do. My mother once informed me that "No good deed ever goes unpunished". This is a saying that has bit me on the bum many a time. Yesterday is one of those occasions. You do something which is quite clearly a good turn. The person thanks you at the time. A month later, they are seeking a financial advantage in an unforeseen (by me) situation, and it gets re-invented as a terrible thing. I'd love to share the details, however it would be wholly inappropriate. In this particular case, it is something that is pretty trivial (unless I am missing something), which makes it all even more annoying. It is not the first time. I doubt it will be the last. In business, I've almost lost count of the times I've tried to help a colleague, associate, customer, only to find that not only is it unappreciated, it is actually a source of resentment and hostility for them.
The human brain is a strange thing indeed. If you give someone a discount to try and help them, their assumption is that previously you were trying to fleece them and the discount is proof. If you give them career advice, as you can see they are making basic mistakes when seeking promotions, new jobs, if they succeed using your advice, they then tell everyone "I'm glad I didn't listen to him" even though they clearly did. When you make business introductions to help people forward their career, you find they try and cut you out.
Normally, I sail through such things. You learn and you move on. Today my sciatica in my back is driving me mad, so it is really annoying me. As sciatica is caused by nerve related issues, for me, it affects the wiring in my head and makes me want to kill people (not literally). So today it bugs me.
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