Minimum Qualifications

After some recent interactions with unpleasant people, I have decided that there needs to be some criteria that people need to meet, consistently, in order to be considered adults:

1. Look people in the eye when having a conversation.
2. Accept responsibility when you are at fault, and even occasionally when you aren't.
3. Treat everyone with respect even if they don't deserve it.
   
4. Acknowledge other contributors in your life (personal and professional).
5. Channel your excess energy into positive activities. (Note "consistently" is not the same as "always")
   
6. Take it if you dish it. I am all about the quick comeback, but if you can't accept someone returning a smart retort, keep your trap shut.
7. Learn to make at least one meal. Even mac and cheese from a box. I once had a roommate that would measure the amount of water for boiling the mac according to the instructions on the box. Even so, at least after 10 minutes she had a meal.
8. Leave it on your plate, even if you don't want it - literally and figuratively. LP is the queen of throwing food that she doesn't want on the floor or at me. Even so, with some of the hot potato passing going on in my office, it is a wonder I don't come home looking like a high school food fight survivor on a daily basis.
   
9. Show some love. A little patience and understand can go a long way sometimes.
   
10. Keep it in your pants. Don't show too much love. Everyone doesn't need to see your goods. Yes, sometimes you need to vent, and as an exception world-wide sharing may be cathartic. But, really, having a few special friends is cool; showing your goods to the entire school, not only whorish, but sad.

This is only the beginning. Whatcha got to add, blog readers?