Thats right! When we talk about common sense, we're generally not referring to those nickels you keep in your pocket, or the handful of quarters you carry when you know you are going to pass a vending machine.
This weekend I had drill with the Army Reserve, and my job specialty is a crewmember for a launch module for rockets that is attacked to either a track or truck chassis vehicle. Well, we also have a number of HMMV, or Humvees, as well as 5 ton trucks, reloading vehicles, and other all of which require monthly inspections, and thorough maintenance. This is only sensible, as our nations soldiers must rely on these vehicles if we are called to action!
Well, these inspections and maintenance have a name, and an acronym, which we use quite frequently. That is "Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services", or "PMCS". However, some people, in their infinite wisdom, do not understand that "Services" means we need to "Service" the vehicle. Now, the Army has plenty of mechanics whose job consists of repairing broken or malfunctional vehicles....but not servicing the vehicle. No, it is the drivers duty to make sure an undamaged, functioning vehicle is serviced.
During out PMCS, we have a form that has a space that says "Faults" and we fill out what is wrong with the vehicle. To the right is a space that says "Corrective Actions Taken". Well, again, soldiers in their infinite wisdom inspect a vehicle that is low on fuel, or low on oil, windshield wiper fluid, or the horn doesn't work.
Now, I understand many readers here are not in the military. However, if you were to join, would you not think it would be crucial to learn and understand YOUR job field? Time out.
Dont you think it is crucial to know your job, no matter what you do? Yea, I thought so too...
Well this weekend we had a soldier report "Low Wiper Fluid."
Folks, normally Wiper Fluid is a mixture that mainly contains Water. And that resource is easily accessible in a motor pool. However, some Joes like to report these things, like Low Fuel, and hand it to a mechanic.
Ladies and Gentlemen, how often do you roll up to a vehicle repair shop and tell them "Hey, Im low on Fueld?" ...I certainly hope you don't, because they're probably going to tell you that you are low on common sense, or lacking intelligence of some capacity. However, you occaisionally have that one soldier who doesnt know how to operate a vehicle so bad, that he doesnt know how to use the horn on a HMMV or 5 ton. Well, for those familiar with vehicles of this size, the engine has to start and the Air Pressure Guage has to fill up before you can operate the horn, or the wipers. Well, you also have to turn the lights on for the horn to work on a HMMV or a 5 ton. Why you ask?
The army has this funny thing where down range, we drive with the lights on during the day, and Black Out Drive (No lights) during the night. This is to remain concealed in the darkness from coming under fire. If you were to hit the horn in your blundering clumsiness in the night, that would counter the concealment factor.
I know this is not as much of a shocker to some of you folks who are not familiar with military vehicles, but the fact still remains that commons sense is not so common. You would think someone, whose specific job entails operating a vehicle, might have the common sense to know how to operate it. Or when they are doing Maintenance Checks and SERVICES, they actually Service the vehicle...
This is everywhere in the world, and we all become victims of a blunder once in a while, but really? Sometimes I wonder about people!
Well, this is a post where I want YOU to tell ME a story! Comment below with a Not So Common Sense story, either short or long, and I will pick the best and post it (Or Them) and it will be up top for everyone to see!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Careful and Considerate Communication: For Aspiring Couples
So I know a few days ago I made a post about how integrity is integral in any relationship - Be it a couple, or just two good friends. That can be people aspiring to date, people dating, or the people you just hang out with every day. I have yet to hear of a relationship of any sort built around resentment and distrust that has been successful.
Conversely, I would like to brighten the mood with humorous but very true relationship advice for both men and women. This is something that is entirely generic and very much, for me at least, common sense. Forgive me, but I will often refer back to a relationship I once had that was a very excellent example for both good and bad factors that play into many couples routine road bumps on the path to eternal happiness.
Now before I begin, please not that I will be going through some very basic concepts, but what I hope to do is not to touch on many of the subjects that other articles do, but to also provide relevant, realistic, and understandable logic that corresponds with most rational peoples state of mind. The original thought process of "how" and "why" is the meat and potatoes of this, and any relationship article. When you read an article that says "Don't be jealous, No one likes it when someone is clingy", that is about as good advice as "Be a good boyfriend, no one likes a bad one." I sort of want to bang my head, and wonder if these people seriously think their literary style of communication with the reader is that thin and shallow, or if they just do not care. I will try to make this like most of my posts - conversational, and easy to follow...for the sane mind :D
So here we go...
Don't be expressive about your jealousy. That doesn't mean do not be jealous, that doesnt mean do not express your desires of exclusivity or even that you want someones habitual flirtatious nature to be toned down. This means, try not to be the boy or girlfriend that is obnoxiously always wondering where the other is, or what they are doing. Now -- Let me say this. YOU PARTNER WANTS TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AND WHO YOU ARE WITH. You want them to not ask? Then be considerate, and tell them. I had a girlfriend that I told something very simple.
"Hey babe, if you want to go with a bunch of friends, even guy friends, to a party or something, thats fine with me. If I cant make it, here is what I ask. 1 Tell me when, where, and who. Not because I want to approve your trip for you like you are a kid, but because I want to know you are safe. 2 -- Please make sure one of those people is someone whose judgement I can trust, and someone I can depend on."
That is because if something happened to you, I would take care of you. However, if my significant other elects to go somewhere where I cannot take care of them, I still feel responsible and still am concerned about the safety of my girlfriend -- So let me have a contact that I can phone up and say "Hey Billy-Bob, make sure So and So and is taken care of and gets home ok".
Sometimes its not so much that someone is jealous or controlling, its simply that they CARE about you, and they want you to be taken CARE OF. And if you elect to put yourself in a situation where I, your boyfriend, cannot take care of you, at least help me so that I can ensure your safety some other way.
On to my second point of relationships...Here is the truth...Dont be two faced, but dont subscribe to the "This is me, and if you dont like what I am, Fuck Off" attitude. When you are in a relationship, you need to have two "Demeanors", not two personalities. There is a difference. Two personalities means you would love to go bowling with your home boys, but you hate doing that when its with your girlfriend. (Or boyfriend)...Seriously -- Do NOT be like that. Conversely, however, there is nothing wrong with going out with the boys and cussing like a sailor and talking smack -- But when you get back to being with Susie-Q, your girl, give her an exclusive part of you that no one else sees. Dont curse around her if she doesnt like it. Instead, talk softly. There is no such thing as oversensitivity in a relationship. There is, however, something called being inconsiderate. One of them is a basic no no in any form of human contact, especially with people you care about.
Make your boy or girlfriend feel like when they are with you, you care so much about them, you are willing to either change your bad habits, or tone them down around her. Its a simple concept. I am a Cigar connoisseur, I love to go try new cigars. However, most girlfriends I have had do not like smoking, do not like kissing someone whose breath smells like charcoal, and do not want to smell that. So I have a simple solution. I just don't smoke around her, or even talk to her about cigars, because frankly nothing positive will come of it. However, if I don't smoke around her and I brush and chew gun after, shower, and only wear (and yes I have one) my shirt designated for smoking cigars, then she wont have to put up with it.
Bottom line guys, be considerate. If you can't break the bad habit, suck it up and don't make her put up with it.
So here is a big one. Oh, and if you are a parent, pay close attention on this one. Sorry, but this is a basic human communications No-No.
Don't nag. If you are going somewhere, and you need to bring something, or do something, and you remind the boyfriend or the son, and they dont do it, then here is the solution. POLITELY, and do not bring it up again, remind them that they made a mistake and politely provide a SOLUTION. If we are going some place, and we have to bring cash to pay, and I forgot my cash in my jeans, the stupidest, most absolute immature thing you can do as a boyfriend, girlfriend, mother, father, anyone, is continuously say "Maybe if you listened..." or "You should have done what I said..."
Here is my usual response. "You are correct. I made the mistake. Now, seeing as I do not have a time machine, and neither do you, lets be constructive and find a solution." Try this on for starters.
"Babe did you forget the cash that I told you to bring?"
*Thinks to theirself....Here it comes...the oh so hated I told you so...*
"Yes I did, Im sorry."
*THE RIGHT WAY TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO*
"Thats alright, theres an ATM a block from here. But next time lets remember to make sure we bring the cash."
See, not only have you provided a solution, but you didnt nag them, and you arent whining and complaining about how "You were right" and how "They should have listened". The minute you state your correctness without stating a solution to the current problem, then *You Are Wrong*. Dont be an argument starter in the relationship, be a solution finder.
As we conclude, you are seeing that I am not providing you slick ways to have the happily ever after relationship. I am telling you the same things that anyone else will tell you, but Im putting it in perspective. Im helping you to see things from a certain perspective. I have more to write about, but I feel this is enough for one sitting, and that anything more would be increasingly excessive. Please comment and reply about your thoughts, other things that you do and dont like in a relationship, communication wise, and I can give some analysis in my next edition. If this works for you, you conflict with this, you have a differing opinion, or you want something brought up, email me or comment! This can help everyone, and hopefully it can help you!
Conversely, I would like to brighten the mood with humorous but very true relationship advice for both men and women. This is something that is entirely generic and very much, for me at least, common sense. Forgive me, but I will often refer back to a relationship I once had that was a very excellent example for both good and bad factors that play into many couples routine road bumps on the path to eternal happiness.
Now before I begin, please not that I will be going through some very basic concepts, but what I hope to do is not to touch on many of the subjects that other articles do, but to also provide relevant, realistic, and understandable logic that corresponds with most rational peoples state of mind. The original thought process of "how" and "why" is the meat and potatoes of this, and any relationship article. When you read an article that says "Don't be jealous, No one likes it when someone is clingy", that is about as good advice as "Be a good boyfriend, no one likes a bad one." I sort of want to bang my head, and wonder if these people seriously think their literary style of communication with the reader is that thin and shallow, or if they just do not care. I will try to make this like most of my posts - conversational, and easy to follow...for the sane mind :D
So here we go...
Don't be expressive about your jealousy. That doesn't mean do not be jealous, that doesnt mean do not express your desires of exclusivity or even that you want someones habitual flirtatious nature to be toned down. This means, try not to be the boy or girlfriend that is obnoxiously always wondering where the other is, or what they are doing. Now -- Let me say this. YOU PARTNER WANTS TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AND WHO YOU ARE WITH. You want them to not ask? Then be considerate, and tell them. I had a girlfriend that I told something very simple.
"Hey babe, if you want to go with a bunch of friends, even guy friends, to a party or something, thats fine with me. If I cant make it, here is what I ask. 1 Tell me when, where, and who. Not because I want to approve your trip for you like you are a kid, but because I want to know you are safe. 2 -- Please make sure one of those people is someone whose judgement I can trust, and someone I can depend on."
That is because if something happened to you, I would take care of you. However, if my significant other elects to go somewhere where I cannot take care of them, I still feel responsible and still am concerned about the safety of my girlfriend -- So let me have a contact that I can phone up and say "Hey Billy-Bob, make sure So and So and is taken care of and gets home ok".
Sometimes its not so much that someone is jealous or controlling, its simply that they CARE about you, and they want you to be taken CARE OF. And if you elect to put yourself in a situation where I, your boyfriend, cannot take care of you, at least help me so that I can ensure your safety some other way.
On to my second point of relationships...Here is the truth...Dont be two faced, but dont subscribe to the "This is me, and if you dont like what I am, Fuck Off" attitude. When you are in a relationship, you need to have two "Demeanors", not two personalities. There is a difference. Two personalities means you would love to go bowling with your home boys, but you hate doing that when its with your girlfriend. (Or boyfriend)...Seriously -- Do NOT be like that. Conversely, however, there is nothing wrong with going out with the boys and cussing like a sailor and talking smack -- But when you get back to being with Susie-Q, your girl, give her an exclusive part of you that no one else sees. Dont curse around her if she doesnt like it. Instead, talk softly. There is no such thing as oversensitivity in a relationship. There is, however, something called being inconsiderate. One of them is a basic no no in any form of human contact, especially with people you care about.
Make your boy or girlfriend feel like when they are with you, you care so much about them, you are willing to either change your bad habits, or tone them down around her. Its a simple concept. I am a Cigar connoisseur, I love to go try new cigars. However, most girlfriends I have had do not like smoking, do not like kissing someone whose breath smells like charcoal, and do not want to smell that. So I have a simple solution. I just don't smoke around her, or even talk to her about cigars, because frankly nothing positive will come of it. However, if I don't smoke around her and I brush and chew gun after, shower, and only wear (and yes I have one) my shirt designated for smoking cigars, then she wont have to put up with it.
Bottom line guys, be considerate. If you can't break the bad habit, suck it up and don't make her put up with it.
So here is a big one. Oh, and if you are a parent, pay close attention on this one. Sorry, but this is a basic human communications No-No.
Don't nag. If you are going somewhere, and you need to bring something, or do something, and you remind the boyfriend or the son, and they dont do it, then here is the solution. POLITELY, and do not bring it up again, remind them that they made a mistake and politely provide a SOLUTION. If we are going some place, and we have to bring cash to pay, and I forgot my cash in my jeans, the stupidest, most absolute immature thing you can do as a boyfriend, girlfriend, mother, father, anyone, is continuously say "Maybe if you listened..." or "You should have done what I said..."
Here is my usual response. "You are correct. I made the mistake. Now, seeing as I do not have a time machine, and neither do you, lets be constructive and find a solution." Try this on for starters.
"Babe did you forget the cash that I told you to bring?"
*Thinks to theirself....Here it comes...the oh so hated I told you so...*
"Yes I did, Im sorry."
*THE RIGHT WAY TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO*
"Thats alright, theres an ATM a block from here. But next time lets remember to make sure we bring the cash."
See, not only have you provided a solution, but you didnt nag them, and you arent whining and complaining about how "You were right" and how "They should have listened". The minute you state your correctness without stating a solution to the current problem, then *You Are Wrong*. Dont be an argument starter in the relationship, be a solution finder.
As we conclude, you are seeing that I am not providing you slick ways to have the happily ever after relationship. I am telling you the same things that anyone else will tell you, but Im putting it in perspective. Im helping you to see things from a certain perspective. I have more to write about, but I feel this is enough for one sitting, and that anything more would be increasingly excessive. Please comment and reply about your thoughts, other things that you do and dont like in a relationship, communication wise, and I can give some analysis in my next edition. If this works for you, you conflict with this, you have a differing opinion, or you want something brought up, email me or comment! This can help everyone, and hopefully it can help you!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Large Order of Lies, Please.
So not long ago, Chick-Fil-A was interview and asked what their position on Homosexuality and Marriage was. They, as an organization that is closed on Sunday in observance of the Sabbath due to their CHRISTIAN foundation, rejected homosexuality and homosexual marriage. Since then, the "Holier Than Thou" Liberals, have decided to deface, defame, and defile the name of Chick Fil A, and made wild, silly, and ridiculous accusations that they support hate groups! I was astounded. I actually got into an argument with someone on this topic. I pulled out a pen and paper and shoved it at this person. I said, "You obviously know all the sins this company has committed. Here my expert friend, write down all the companies that they fund."
Well, only one came out of his crusty, trash spewing hateful mouth. Exodus International.
So off I go, little old former Debate Captain, to do my research. I read up on Exodus International, and here is, word for word, a description of their company. Exodus International asserts that reorientation of same-sex attraction is possible,[1]but warns its members not to go to counselors who claim they can help eliminate all attractions to the same gender.[2] It does not conduct clinical treatment but holds the position that, "reparative therapy - a holistic, counselling approach to addressing unwanted same-sex attraction - can be a beneficial tool."[3]Techniques "can include abstinence, lessening of homosexual temptations, strengthening their sense of masculine or feminine identity, correcting distorted styles of relating with members of the same and opposite gender."
Are you kidding me? This is an organization that does NOT believe that clinical treatment is the answer. The also do NOT hold signs and spew hateful speech. Lets pull that one line out and highlight that here. It does not conduct clinical treatment but holds the position that, "reparative therapy - a holistic, counselling approach to addressing unwanted same-sex attraction - can be a beneficial tool."
Bear with me as we take a bite out of that last sentence, and just narrow this down a teeny bit farther.
"reparative therapy - a holistic, counselling approach to addressing unwanted same-sex attraction
And, one last time.
addressing unwanted same-sex attraction
Are we on the same page? Are you reading what I am reading? People who have same-sex attractions -- Homosexuals, have these desires, and find them unwanted. So they seek out Exodus International and ask them for assistance in the Reparative Therapy program.
So to call Exodus International a hate group, is like denigrating Alcoholics Anonymous because people who have unwanted drinking problems seek them out for help. The is utterly ridiculous.
Im not trying to say that I am on one side of the fence or the other, even though I am. The purpose of this is not to show you one side is better than the other, this is intended to debunk a very stupid line of argumentation that is used by a very bigoted, hateful, and narrow minded selection of people.
Well, only one came out of his crusty, trash spewing hateful mouth. Exodus International.
So off I go, little old former Debate Captain, to do my research. I read up on Exodus International, and here is, word for word, a description of their company. Exodus International asserts that reorientation of same-sex attraction is possible,[1]but warns its members not to go to counselors who claim they can help eliminate all attractions to the same gender.[2] It does not conduct clinical treatment but holds the position that, "reparative therapy - a holistic, counselling approach to addressing unwanted same-sex attraction - can be a beneficial tool."[3]Techniques "can include abstinence, lessening of homosexual temptations, strengthening their sense of masculine or feminine identity, correcting distorted styles of relating with members of the same and opposite gender."
Are you kidding me? This is an organization that does NOT believe that clinical treatment is the answer. The also do NOT hold signs and spew hateful speech. Lets pull that one line out and highlight that here. It does not conduct clinical treatment but holds the position that, "reparative therapy - a holistic, counselling approach to addressing unwanted same-sex attraction - can be a beneficial tool."
Bear with me as we take a bite out of that last sentence, and just narrow this down a teeny bit farther.
"reparative therapy - a holistic, counselling approach to addressing unwanted same-sex attraction
And, one last time.
addressing unwanted same-sex attraction
Are we on the same page? Are you reading what I am reading? People who have same-sex attractions -- Homosexuals, have these desires, and find them unwanted. So they seek out Exodus International and ask them for assistance in the Reparative Therapy program.
So to call Exodus International a hate group, is like denigrating Alcoholics Anonymous because people who have unwanted drinking problems seek them out for help. The is utterly ridiculous.
Im not trying to say that I am on one side of the fence or the other, even though I am. The purpose of this is not to show you one side is better than the other, this is intended to debunk a very stupid line of argumentation that is used by a very bigoted, hateful, and narrow minded selection of people.
It can happen anytime, anywhere.
I grew up as a younger kid in the suburbs of Fayetteville, North Carolina. As a caucasian male, and being in the region I was, it wasn't unlikely to face a little bit of tension just looking at the wrong person. It became a habit for me to have a sense of lifestyle that incorporated self defense, situational awareness, and knowing where to and not to go at certain times of the day, and night. What kinds of people looked like what, how gang affiliated dressed, and simply what the local style was.
Some people would say I discriminated and judged. Others would say I paid attention to my surroundings, made observations, and took careful measures to ensure the safety of myself, and those around me. And thats what I did. This is something that has followed me today, something that has become a part of my daily life. To me, you just can not walk through the world, every single day, blindly ignoring the fact that there are people out there that legitimately want to do harm to you.
What people also need to think about is that these people are not the products of distant, massive cities like Chicago, Detroit, New York City, or Las Vegas. They exist all around us, and they are in every city. What is more, is that if you are a provider for a family, you have an obligation to operate against these forces so as to not only keep them from harming those you are responsible for, but preventing the possibility of such a situation occurring. Self Defense is something that everyone should think about, and situational awareness is very much key in how you operate in your day to day lives. It is for me.
This may or may not conflict with others personal views, but there is one thing that you should consider when you are walking out the door. "Okay...Keys, check...Wallet, phone, ID, got my to do list, door is locked..BRAIN." Yeah. Do a brain check before you walk out the door. In fact, do it now.
No seriously, lets do a brain check right this instant. Are you thinking? Are your doors locked? Are the windows? Do you have neighbors you can trust? Is your car lost? What would you do if someone came into the building you are in RIGHT NOW and started shooting, or a fire started, and you have to get out.
Stop. You should have already figured this out, so don't pretend to fool me by doing it while you read this. I already skipped ahead in time to while you are reading this, saw you do it, and then tried to fool me by continuing reading. Nice try though.
Look, the truth is that it can happen to anyone, anywhere. 70 people were killed or wounded not long ago because of something ridiculous that no one anticipated. But what is even more incredible, is that of those 70 people, none of them had a contingency plan. You know what no one had there that the criminal did have? A plan. Know what else? A gun.
Oh boy! Here we go!
Yep. You guessed it. You need to consider it, accept it, and conform. Right now. Figure out your state laws, and just do it. Get a Concealed Handgun License that is. You can complain about how you have young kids, or how its silly to think you need a gun. You can make excuses. You know, while you are at it, wool is a little itchy, why don't you just pull your shirt up over your face? You are already pulling the wool over your own eyes. And its a lousy, shameful, disgusting excuse that you are thinking of this very instant.
I don't mean to make you feel inferior for not wanting to get a concealed handgun and license, but I do hope you know that by not doing so, it is very irresponsible, and a disservice to those around you that you have an obligation to protect.
I was on my way home from the shooting range on Monday with a handgun I had recently acquired, and I had just practiced several drills. The targets I was shooting at were rigged to an electric system, and you punch in the numerical quantity of feet away from you desired, and hit enter. The target will then go out to that distance on a pulley system. I set it for 25 feet away. Then set it to zero, and practiced putting three well placed shots center mass into the target as it rushed towards me from 25 feet away.
WAIT! Before you call me paranoid, get this. I burned through 150 rounds of ammunition and decided to head home. And on the way, my internet station was interrupted. While listening to the radio I heard about a Police Officer down in College Station, Texas. Well, thats precisely where I was -- Moving into my apartment as I prepare for my next semester.
Moments later, my phone blew up with calls from family as they tried to make sure I was ok. The shooting was one street over from my usual path that I take to go to lunch, or for anything in town. It was one street over from where I go to church.
You can keep telling yourself it is a ridiculous thought. You can pretend that you have gone your entire life without needing it, but the point is completely different. The point is, you will only need it once. And when that one time comes, you aren't going to get any options, you can't talk someone out of something when you are looking down the barrel of a gun. It is up to you to take responsibility for YOUR safety. NOT the police. You vote don't you? You speak your mind? You go to the church your want to, or refuse to go at all, because you CAN! These are your rights. You exercise all of these rights everyday except one, the most important right at all.
Yes it is. Don't say its not. It is irrefutably the one right you have that can protect all the others. Use it, or you may lose them all quicker than you think. Its not about being a gun toting conservative. Its about being a responsible citizen. Learn the laws, follow them, and protect those around you.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
False Reality and the trifle of failing Integrity
It has got to be my biggest pet peeve when someone tells me something, a lie, and I discover the truth. Then, when confronted with the truth, I am lied to again. I just want to walk up to these people, (One in particular.) with a loudspeaker and scream "ARE YOU STUPID!!??!" It seriously irritates me.
The fakest, lamest, most disgusting thing a person can do is lie, and lie to cover it up when you have found the truth. You can be my best, closest friend...And you will be done the moment you prove to me that I cannot trust you. The only way to gain that trust back would literally be to slave my every command until I can see that you actually want to see me pleased, or secondly, take a bullet for me. In some cases, Id rather they try the second.
But dont you know what I mean? Like someone tells you something WAAAY ahead of time, they tip you off that someone is going to lie. So you wait...and wait....and wait...and then it comes. And you take it. You let it sit for a while, let the event follow the course of its path. Then you confront them with the truth. Like a sting, you have set them up and watched them do EXACTLY what you knew they would do. You gathered Human Intelligence, you analyzed the situation, witnessed it occur, confirmed the lie is indeed valid, and you confront the individual.
Then they pretend you are some sort of idiot. Some sort of gullible simpleton. I know many people like this, and I have kicked them all to the curb. Many of them have been very close friends, but when proven that I cannot trust them, I know the friendship and any bonds we had were completely fake. Completely and totally meaningless to the individual who lacks the integrity to tell the truth. It is disheartening when I look at some of these individuals, and the lives they lead. The places they go and the failures that trail with them as they go along. It is pathetic, sad, and amusing all at one.
I learned this through a very close friend of mine not long ago. At first I was sad that I had lost a friend. But when I stepped back to recap what had happened, I realized I should not be sad. I should be glad that trash is out of my life. And I am. But it doesnt change the fact that you could have such an excellent bond with someone (Or so you thought) and that they would deceive you in such a low, disgusting, unthinkable level. But what is worse, is when they apologize. They say "They're sorry", but not what for. They do not fess up to what they have done, and they do not spill their guts on the truth. They are trying to LIVE out the lie! They are convinced themselves of this lie!
They say they dont want the friendship to end, but you realize, it NEVER even EXISTED! It was a predication constructed around smoke and mirrors! They set up an image of loyalty and friendship. What the individuals in my case didnt count on is not only that I knew, not only am I a billion times smarter than them when it comes to analytical problem solving and putting together the truth, but when THEIR best friends, people THEY have trusted and entrusted the secrets to realize how low they have become, they realize how terrible their friend has been to someone, and they call you. Like they called me. Like several people that person had trusted called me.
They admit they knew, and that they didnt do anything. They confess to being afraid to confront this individual about their lies. However, they cannot live with the fact that they are continuing on this trail of lies, and know that for the sake of their conscience and the truth, as well as doing the right thing for their friend, they tell on their friends. They arent snitches, they are people who have Integrity. And they hate to see their friends go down a path of self destruction. I hate to see it too, and it is terrible when you once cared for this person a great deal.
You get the satisfaction of knowing this person lives in a box, a little box where they have created a false reality only they can see. The real amusement is when you watch these people, you notice that the people who came to you with the truth, that individuals friends, they still associate with them. They still hang around them. And you, you get to sit and watch as this person pretends they have covered their loose ends, when in reality their lies are as naked and plain to see as the sky.
The fakest, lamest, most disgusting thing a person can do is lie, and lie to cover it up when you have found the truth. You can be my best, closest friend...And you will be done the moment you prove to me that I cannot trust you. The only way to gain that trust back would literally be to slave my every command until I can see that you actually want to see me pleased, or secondly, take a bullet for me. In some cases, Id rather they try the second.
But dont you know what I mean? Like someone tells you something WAAAY ahead of time, they tip you off that someone is going to lie. So you wait...and wait....and wait...and then it comes. And you take it. You let it sit for a while, let the event follow the course of its path. Then you confront them with the truth. Like a sting, you have set them up and watched them do EXACTLY what you knew they would do. You gathered Human Intelligence, you analyzed the situation, witnessed it occur, confirmed the lie is indeed valid, and you confront the individual.
Then they pretend you are some sort of idiot. Some sort of gullible simpleton. I know many people like this, and I have kicked them all to the curb. Many of them have been very close friends, but when proven that I cannot trust them, I know the friendship and any bonds we had were completely fake. Completely and totally meaningless to the individual who lacks the integrity to tell the truth. It is disheartening when I look at some of these individuals, and the lives they lead. The places they go and the failures that trail with them as they go along. It is pathetic, sad, and amusing all at one.
I learned this through a very close friend of mine not long ago. At first I was sad that I had lost a friend. But when I stepped back to recap what had happened, I realized I should not be sad. I should be glad that trash is out of my life. And I am. But it doesnt change the fact that you could have such an excellent bond with someone (Or so you thought) and that they would deceive you in such a low, disgusting, unthinkable level. But what is worse, is when they apologize. They say "They're sorry", but not what for. They do not fess up to what they have done, and they do not spill their guts on the truth. They are trying to LIVE out the lie! They are convinced themselves of this lie!
They say they dont want the friendship to end, but you realize, it NEVER even EXISTED! It was a predication constructed around smoke and mirrors! They set up an image of loyalty and friendship. What the individuals in my case didnt count on is not only that I knew, not only am I a billion times smarter than them when it comes to analytical problem solving and putting together the truth, but when THEIR best friends, people THEY have trusted and entrusted the secrets to realize how low they have become, they realize how terrible their friend has been to someone, and they call you. Like they called me. Like several people that person had trusted called me.
They admit they knew, and that they didnt do anything. They confess to being afraid to confront this individual about their lies. However, they cannot live with the fact that they are continuing on this trail of lies, and know that for the sake of their conscience and the truth, as well as doing the right thing for their friend, they tell on their friends. They arent snitches, they are people who have Integrity. And they hate to see their friends go down a path of self destruction. I hate to see it too, and it is terrible when you once cared for this person a great deal.
You get the satisfaction of knowing this person lives in a box, a little box where they have created a false reality only they can see. The real amusement is when you watch these people, you notice that the people who came to you with the truth, that individuals friends, they still associate with them. They still hang around them. And you, you get to sit and watch as this person pretends they have covered their loose ends, when in reality their lies are as naked and plain to see as the sky.
Generation Swag.
Lets grab a handful of sanity and splash our first topic with something we can all relate to. My generation has been puzzling me more and more as we dip in and out of different trends. The truth is, I do not understand the direction of the youth I am forced to call my peers.
When I was in middle school, I remember the style was punk rock and hard rock, and we wore cargo pants and tee shirts, occasionally a backwards ball cap and we would skateboard to school. Our obsessions would be over DC, Fallen, Vans, Etnies, or some other skater shoes, buying the latest board or seeing the next Green Day concert.
From this, it quickly spiraled downward to Nikki Minaj, Drake, Wiz Khalifa, and these other ridiculous artists. The trends have quickly dived to flat brim hats, sagging nautical jeans, six-size oversize shirts, calf socks, skinny jeans, and a host of other styles I am still trying to wrap my brain around.
Now please do not misunderstand me -- I was a punk skater, and still hold the style as best I can. I even wore cargo pants and quicksilver shirts on a nearly daily basis until my last set of hand me down 90's cargo pants were retired. I do, however, take pride in continuing to wear some cut off shorts made from my 6th grade cargo pants (They were super baggy then). Again though, styles come and go, and this is understandable. Look back at what our parents wore. Strangler jeans, huge thick framed glasses, and everyone combed their hair to the side and all this... You get the point. It was cool once upon a time.
But one thing I cannot wrap my head around is the vocabulary. I mean, when my parents were kids they used words like "mental", or "mad". When I was in school, we stilled called stuff "Rad", "Killer", and "Wicked".
Now, however, we are using terminology such as "Swag" and this new acronym..."YOLO". Seriously?...I am afraid so. To the left is a picture I came across on FaceBook and shared. Thinking about it , I feel as if this is an excellent example of what I am trying to portray.
The terminology "Mental" and "Mad" actually make sense when applied to their usage. If you were to ask someone "Are you mental?" It would refer to their state of mental health, their sanity, or their ability to make a comprehensive, intelligible decision. Asking someone "Are you mad?" would be equally sensical, as it has the same reference as "mental" would, like a Mad Hatter sort of Mad.
Now "Killer" would be another easy one. Something that is awesome would "Kill", it would refer in context to its awesomeness, as would the term "Wicked", as in saying something is "Wicked Cool". It is a level of cool, it is a level of awesome.
But Swag? Seriously? I know Radical and Wicked was getting a little close to crazy, but "swag"? The term refers to some indescribable level of "Cool" that is supposedly only understood in some non-existent thug life.
And YOLO? Please. I have but one response for those who say "YOLO".
Did you seriously think you were going to live twice? Did you think reincarnation was right around the corner? Some sort of XBox controller reset button? Just hold Control+Z, you can redo anything! Live Twice!!! Well, there is a response for that too...
Dwight is a very philosophical intellectual. We will likely ask for his input and analysis quite often here. But next time you have the irresistible urge to say "Swag" or "YOLO", take a bit of advice from Dwight.
Well, that concludes our first Splash of Sanity as we touch base on our first topic. Stay tuned, and feel free to leave feedback, suggestions, and insight. I am also happy to analyze or discuss any other topics you may find relevant, so please utilize the comments section, subscribe, and hope to hear from YOU as well!
Reality Prescribed
As a Communications Student I have found myself more and more drawn to the idea of blogging, some form of outlet for feelings, expressions, views, ideas, theories, and much more. If you are one who enjoys writing, you probably know how I feel. On this blog I hope to express some very original ideas, host a forum of knowledge on a broad range of topics, and harvest readership that entails a sense of thirst for something interesting.
I cannot promise you that I will write every day, but I can assure you I will give my best to these efforts in a mission that I have for myself to create a network where readers can digest different topics, enjoy interesting literature, and become free of the pontifications of political blowhards of the television media. On this topic, however, I can say that I will assess many political topics that arise in our modern world from state, federal, and world levels as they concern our lives. I hope to provide informational analysis, as well as an effort to understand both sides. I cannot promise an absence of bias, and Im sure you may come to sense my true feelings.
On any topic on which I write, I hope that you take this for what it is: the opinions and expressions of a single individual. Should you decide to disagree with me, I will invite deliberation at an intelligent and tamed level, as expression is my end goal, and I think our first amendment is something that we not only have a right to, but an obligation to utilize in more intellectual and practical modes.
I hope to gain many subscribers and followers, and look forward to the days ahead!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)