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[LOLtron]

I watched the first episode of the BBC's Sherlock series this week (actually I watched the first two, but the second isn't relevant to this post) and I was reminded of an article by Chuck Klosterman, The Importance of Being Hated. In it he contrasts a nemesis with an archenemy:

RECOGNIZING YOUR NEMESIS •At some point in the past, this person was (arguably) your best friend. •You have punched this person in the face. •If invited, you would go to this person's wedding and give him a spice rack, but you would secretly hope that his marriage ends in a bitter, public divorce. •People who barely know both of you assume you are close friends; people who know both of you intimately suspect that you profoundly dislike each other. •If your archenemy tried to kill you, this person would attempt to stop him. RECOGNIZING YOUR ARCHENEMY •Every time you talk to this person, you lie. •If you meet someone who has the same first name as this person, you immediately like him less. •The satisfaction you feel from your own success pales in comparison to the despair you feel at this person's triumphs, even if those triumphs are completely unrelated to your life. •If this person slept with your girlfriend, she would never be attractive to you again. •Even if this person's girlfriend was a hateful bitch, you would sleep with her out of spite.

Apparently you need both if you're going to be anything in this world. BTW, If you've never read any Klosterman, you're really missing out. Check him out now.

Originally Pubished at: David Bird


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