Learning from one's mistakes

Dear Diary,

I have to be honest. As an under-grad' I was a complete tool. I handled this... particular situation with a colleague particularly badly. I jumped to conclusions, didn't look before I leapt, and ended up with a call by Her Majesty's Constabulary to my house (at the time a Mexican opera singer was visiting). Although, perhaps unconnected, and quite possibly coincidence, I have been unsubscribed from the university's fora email list. At the same time, the same surname, given by the officer that visited me at my home to issue a warning, appears on the fora. This is just coincidence. There is no evidence that this particular colleague is the very same person. However, it may not be. Either way, it is best to learn from one's mistakes. Morihei Ueshiba said in his Art of Peace (as translated by John Stevens) that, "Each mistake teaches us something." It is best to be courteous, kind, respectful, polite and on good terms (as far as is possible) with all men (and indeed women).

It could also be a sign. The fora are unimportant, relatively speaking. Okay, so one or two of the assignments are actually assessed (graded) on our performance on the fora. That notwithstanding, I figure that reading the course materials, absorbing the likes of Alberty Venn Dicey, Charles Montesquieu, John Stuart Mill and also John Locke, are more important than 'peacock pluming' on the fora. There is also primary legislation and case law, constitutional conventions and academic literature, all of which are especially important.

Do I regret having spoken to a fellow colleague (who only wished to be a good friend to me, and I mishandled the situation grossly, even if my phone was being interfered with on a daily basis which drove me up the wall - at the time)? Yes, very much. Have I learnt from that mistake? Absolutely. I remember one person being particularly unkind to me in a dead-end job I was in. This man was nasty (I mean, utterly heartless). Another boss I had at the time (at a gig I used to play, a residency) gave me what was the best piece of advice I ever received: "Be as kind, and polite, and as nice to him as possible." It worked. Therefore, I suppose it is best to skirt round the fora, and instead focus on study. Despite the long arm of the law getting involved in our little... misunderstanding, there is still a channel of communication open, which I can explore, through an alias, discreetly. This person is an extremely good example of what it is to be a human being: understanding, empathetic, well read (brilliant even, a great intellectual, and a good person). Whether it is or is not them on the fora, I should not really give consideration, but treat all my fellow colleagues with equal respect and kindness. Yet, if it is them, then I ought to be especially careful and considerate. We'll see.

Like I said: there's no evidence. For example, on my last course there was someone named 'Steve Pearson' which was precisely the same name as a most excellent guitarist I once travelled with for many years. It was not him, yet he had the same name. Therefore, just because someone has the same name, does not mean it is necessarily the same person. Coincidence, right?