Litmus, Litmus on the Wall – If you had to come up with one question, the answer to which would determine whether or not you could be friends with a person you’ve just met, what would it be? What would the right answer be?
Does anyone remember for what litmus paper actually tests?
From the ubiquitous source of all knowledge and frequent misinformation — Wikipedia — comes this enlightening but incomplete (please feel free to conduct your own research) definition:
Litmus is a water–soluble mixture of different dyes extracted from lichens, especially Roccella tinctoria. It is often absorbed onto filter paper to produce one of the oldest forms of pH indicator, used to test materials for acidity. Blue litmus paper turns red under acidic conditions and red litmus paper turns blue under basic (alkaline) conditions, with the color change occurring over the pH range 4.5-8.3 at 25 °C. Neutral litmus paper is purple. Litmus can also be prepared as an aqueous solution that functions similarly. Under acidic conditions the solution is red, and under basic conditions the solution is blue.
I’ve yet to determine the “litmus test” for anything other than PH balance. Like in a tropical fish tank. You need to know the PH there or the fish will die. Otherwise, I don’t know anything about tests. I never know which posts will generate the most hits or comments. I have no idea who will turn out to be the person I can turn to in time of trouble. All my best friends became best friends because we liked each other, enjoyed each other’s company. Probably shared similar taste. There was no litmus or any other test. We hung out and couldn’t get rid of each other.
People and life aren’t a formula. There’s no single thing to indicate the potential quality of a friendship, the probably value of a relationship, the likely longevity of two hearts that resonate to each others’ rhythms.
I’m sure I’d never pass anyone’s “friend test.” Probably, assuming I could create one, not even my own. I don’t believe in standardized tests. Not in the schoolroom and certainly not in relationships.
As for standard litmus testing, I’m pretty sure I have a pH. If an actual litmus test were applied, I would definitely pass. Everyone would pass a litmus test because … (drumroll, trumpets) … you can’t fail a litmus test. There’s no correct answer and no passing grade. (Throw that bum out! His pH is way too low!) If my mother was any kind of judge, I’m too acidic, though there are days when I feel distinctly alkaline.
Since surviving my brief fling at youth, I have opinions, but I don’t test. I have standards. I don’t argue with stupid people. I’m referring to folks who combine blissful ignorance with strong opinions. I suppose there are a few other points, political, intellectual and social (don’t chew with your mouth open), but no test. I like people or not. I like what I like and I don’t know why. I don’t want to analyze it. Does that make me a loser? Or, as they say on Facebook, a looser? I’ll bet my problem is when I have nothing to say, I say nothing. That’s gotta be it!
If you want to be my friend, I promise you’ll never have to pass a test of any kind. Not a litmus or any other test. My love and loyalty are test-free, organic, and earth-friendly.
Categories: Blogging, Friendship, Humor, Writing
I’m with you! 🙂
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🙂 I think we should substitute “being nice” for “brutal honesty.” It would do more good for everyone.
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I loved reading your thoughts. I wrote about the Litmus test as well but not nearly as sharp and from the heart as you did.You said it all! Thanks.
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Thank you. This came up before in a prompt … so I was perhaps better prepared to answer it 🙂
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Litmus paper and bunsen burners were the best things about the chemistry lab…. especially when they were used together….
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I never considered using them together. I missed a major opportunity. Darn!
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You made me giggle with your answer…It reminded me of how my best friend would answer…logically with a dash of humor…
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A giggle is a good thing 🙂 The thing my best friend can always do for me is make me laugh, even when I’m crying.
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Well told! And I am sure you have had occasions where upon meeting someone whom you’ve never seen before, rattles your spirit and the both of you take an immediate, unexplainable dislike to one another. I’ve only experienced this a few times and when I do, I pay attention to my instincts.
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Prolly why I don’t have very many friends.
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Oh, I bet you have plenty. One good one is enough. It’s not quantity. It’s definitely quality.
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I have a few women friends at the gym and a neighbor, but really hub is my only REAL friend.No childhood friends, high school, college. I’m pretty much a loner by choice.
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I started out a loner, got very popular, then discarded most of those who had gathered. I think we wind up who we are one way or another. Too many friends is sometimes like not having any at all. Garry is my best friend too … even if a grumpy one at the moment 🙂
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Yes, I’ve had that same feeling; even tho hubs can be grumpy, I figure I’m that way too sometimes, and it all balances out, right?
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I think if we are honest. we all have our grumpy hours, days … etc. I think as we get older, we are more honest about it. Honesty is a privilege of age 🙂 One of the few!
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What a nice response! 🙂
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I’m not big on tests. It’s like IQ tests which don’t necessarily test for intelligence. They test something, but exactly what, no one really knows. I don’t have friend tests, but I do have friends 🙂 You are one.
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Awww! I’m honored! As a former teacher, I’m not big on tests either–especially the soul-draining standardized type that have managed to suck the fun out of school! 🙂
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Not only suck the fun out, but also the adventure, learning, and creativity out of it.
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I am listening to this; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IdEhvuNxV8
And looking at your photo… Perfect match 😉
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😀
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With my millimeter hair cut, if I shook my head it would probably all fall out. Otherwise being acidic is not so bad, it wards off the unwanted and being alkali is just as good, as the survivors from the acid attack are dispersed. Let’s just stay blog sisters-in-arms.
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Amen, sister. We golden oldies gotta hang together else we’ll hang separately 😀
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Please note: When I shake my head, my hair DOES fall out.
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Reblogged this on ebonysweb1com and commented:
I think you could ask to be friends or just ask to play because when I had no friends I just asked and then they knew that I NEEDED friends
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That’s one way to go about it. And maybe, when you are young, it works.
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You are right.., there is no test for friendship.., we just ARE. A musician friend of mine once said. “you pick people you like because of the way they smell.” I know It’s a way of identity in the animal world, and can decide whether you’re friend or foe even within the same species. So, that being said, just maybe olfactory sense has something to do with it, although I’d hope there was a little more, to it, among humans. Sniff, sniff
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Pheromones? Something that tells us whoever it is, is on our side or could be. Whatever it is, I like it!
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