responsibility

responsible adj. - having control and authority; reporting and accountable (to); sensible and dependable

I do not have any problem with that term when it concerns my personal life. I believe that I have control and authority over my life; I only have myself to report and be accountable to (e.g. I'd go to the mirror and ask myself every evening: "My goodness! What in the world have you done today??!"); and I can assure you that I am sensible and dependable when it comes to organizing my life. The part where that word responsibility does not often apply to me is when it concerns my work. While I can rationalize certain situations with my colleagues without much problems or protests from them, I seem to possess the difficulty to stamp my feet on the ground and make that crucial decision for the team! It's also difficult for me to point directly to the person and tell him/her: "You know what? I think your work resembles Picasso's version of a cow dung!" Nope, I can't do that. I can't handle the expression on their faces that basically spells out: "Who the hell do you think you are telling me what to do?!" To my close friends, it is perfectly fine if I say "your work is just a piece of shit!" because I can be honest with them and they can do that to me without causing a permanent damage. But doing that to a colleague who isn't a friend, it feels like granting a death sentence and being cursed forever. That is really a frightening prospect! Now, that is what I call irresponsible!