This is interesting.

I'm not sure if we're referring to the same thing but if I'm reading this correctly, I find that current T takes it to an extreme. A ridiculous example (but which is symptomatic of so much else that she does) -- we were talking about some random stuff and she said that she watched CNN before going to bed.

My instinctive reaction (and my serious apologies to CNN fans) was to make a face (I find most TV channels, including the liberal ones, to be rather idiotic) and say something that I think came across as combative (but is really just my usual way of expressing myself) -- "You actually like watching CNN?".

She immediately corrected herself and said that she finds it too confrontational and then when I kept staring at her, switched to saying that she liked the BBC (she assumed I preferred the BBC).

I found it so ridiculous that I laughed out loud and said "It's okay for us to have different opinions!".

She's done the same thing with other stuff -- I'd playfully asked her if she'd selected the new (now not so new) couch in her office (she shares her office with another T). She'd gone into this long explanation on how they'd both picked it out etc.

Recently, we were talking about something else and I just randomly commented that I hate the couch (it's a hideous color and not terribly comfortable) -- she immediately told me that she'd had no choice in the matter and that the other T had picked it out and then gave me a long explanation about it.

She's done the same when I've bugged her about the logistics of my sessions -- given me multiple different explanations at different times.

The multiple white lies -- or basically not knowing the truth simply because she's decided to avoid conflict with me at all costs -- really irritates the crap out of me.

I would much rather have someone willing to head on face opposition and deal with it rather than trying to avoid it at all costs.

If she weren't otherwise pretty solid in reading and understanding me, just this stuff would've had me walking out the door real quick.