Ever notice that one of the quickest ways to get a compliment is to tear yourself down? It seems like people who would ordinarily never piss on you if you were on fire will tell you nice things if you publicly shred yourself.
And the converse is true as well, say something nice, however true, and they're sure to pick at you for being egotistical and vain. It seems that we as people can't handle those who are out of dead center mediocratic ego.
Try to do something, and you will hear a million reasons why you can't, why it's crazy, how you'll hurt yourself, why you'll fail.
(Try running a marathon, try learning korean, try acting, try starting a business for example)
However, decide you can't do something, and the world will strive to tell you that you can, and that you should. (Try not reenlisting in the army, try to decide that you can't draw, try not drinking, try not ever cheating on your wife while away.)
I've done, or not done, all these things, (well, I'm still working on the marathon) in their respective categories, and every time I make a decision, someone is always there to try to talk me into the opposite. Does this happen to you? How do you react?
P.S. Dad, I love ya, and I will finish my comittment, but I'm not doing twenty in the army, no matter how many times you say it.