Name your poison...

The void created by the failure to communicate is soon filled with poison, drivel, and misrepresentation. ~C. Northcote Parkinson

Amen. It is difficult to communicate when one doesn't know that a conversation is taking place. Assumptions are rarely a true representation of what a person thinks or feels. "I didn't think you'd mind"...quickly followed by a hard defensive posture. That's where common courtesy kicks in. Most people really don't stop to think if the other person would truly mind. If you protest, more than likely, you'll be told to put on your big girl panties and get over it. That seems a bit backwards to me. But it also seems to be the norm.

Why does that happen? I don't think failure to communicate covers it. I think the void is more about dishonesty and guilt and the placement of blame. And sometimes you have to wonder how long the void had been there hiding amongst the fluff.