It still irritates the heck out of me when I hear someone say something, seemingly from a place of authority, which is either quite patently false, or with which I utterly disagree. This irritation tips over into mild fury when it concerns a topic in which I fancy myself (sometimes in error, I admit) to be reasonably well versed. The mitigating factor when face-to-face, however, is that one can look the person in the eye and remember that they, like oneself, are just finite flesh and blood, with a family, and bodily functions, and probably some decency.
This mitigating factor dissolves when such interactions occur on the internet, when one usually finds oneself in the presence of nothing but letters on a screen – and often quite stupid letters, forming even more stupid words, forming idiotic sentences. On these occasions, there is little chance of calming the fires of one’s righteous anger; indeed, if a picture of the individual in question accompanies these sentences, in light of the nonsense they have just spouted, the picture will take on an overall resonance of ignorant smugness… the general result being a profound impulse to want to punch the picture in the face.
Just such an occasion presented itself this morning while I was perusing Facebook, and it ruined my breakfast. I learnt a while ago that the internet is awash with idiocy, and have elected not to hang around on sites or blogs that represent perspectives on life that I deem to be obviously stupid. Facebook is different, however, insofar as people’s views, when spouted, rather invade one’s personal (virtual) space. When those views are disagreeable, they reveal themselves as an army of marauding barbarians who wish to rape and pillage the righteous townspeople of one’s mind. It seems plain wrong to let such things lie. I have, however, learnt that it usually makes things worse to enter into a dialogue, and so I am getting into the habit of refraining, mainly for my own sanity and mood. I have learnt that I become a bad husband when I do otherwise. The job of policing such intellectual crimes will have to be left to someone with more patience. I have retired.
(I am aware that my own views probably irritate people too. The difference, of course, is that I’m right).
You are right Mr. Ravenscroft. And since my life’s work was to provide an intellectual framework for invoking the “otherness” which, like Shiva, is the creator and destroyer of worlds, I too must concur. Please keep your wonderful thoughts in a safe place for your posthumous posterity.
Martin
Laughing ! You go be a good husband !
You’re right Simon most people can take what is written out of context until they really get to know someone it is really difficult to understand why they write sometimes even say the things they do. Good reminder to be more careful of what I say and write. Sabio, I agree with you go be a good husband and don’t forget you have two children of your own. Laughing too!