Impossible people

Photographer: Martina O'Shea

We often hear  about impossible people. A google search will take you to various sites where you will find advice from experts and non-experts about how to deal with 'impossible' people. I even found a site dedicated to body builders with a long rant about deliberate provocation by impossible people and how to deal with it!
I am a bit weary of the label 'impossible' people. To begin with it is all relative. For instance I have been variously described as kind, loving, elegant, beautiful, classy, courteous, intelligent, witty and as the exact opposite, uncourteous, unkind, selfish, shabby, stupid and ignorant - oh yes, I have heard that many times even   from people whom you would  regard as somewhat intellectually challenged - ugly etcetera etcetera. The truth is clearly somewhere in between and I know that it is all, how shall I put it, circumstantial - as in 'dependent on circumstances'. For example some people believe that posing nude is a sign of exhibitionism, others think nothing of it.  To keep it in the modelling world, some photographers (good and bad) will think nude models are "easy" girls, some will not. It all depends on their upbringing and their moral values and these are influenced by many different factors.
But I am digressing. So let's have a look at these 'impossible' people.

One of the things they do is blame. A lot. Here's a simple way to tell, says one site: "if you accept responsibility for your own faults and resolve to improve yourself, it's probably not you. Remember, impossible people 'can do no wrong'"

Impossible people have no flaws! Someone else is always at fault.

Another piece of advice is as follows:

"If you have regular dealings with someone who tries to portray you as the source of all evil, you need to take active steps to maintain a positive self-image. Remind yourself that this person's opinion is not necessarily the truth. Understand that oftentimes, impossible people are particularly "fact-challenged." If the attacks have little basis in raw fact, dismiss them. You can't possibly be as bad as this person would like you to believe you are. Do not defend yourself out loud, however. It will only provoke the impossible person into another tirade.

So who are these impossible people? People who carry a lot of sadness within and desperately need help. Except that if you help them they despise you"

You know what? Let them rot, that's the only solution!

(All photos modelled by Alex B)