okay, bitchslapping time
In my personal life and in blogging, I regularly run across people who, having arrived at a specific conclusion by whatever manner, will not let go of it no matter what.
You know the type. In the face of any evidence to the contrary, their idea/belief is the only one, and everyone else is of an inferior intellect.
So I just let them alone and let them head off in their own misguided direction, because for whatever reason, they are unwilling to accept that they might have something to learn. >.
I have been through a lot of shit in my life, and one thing I’ve learned, is that I always have something to learn. And I’m always trying very hard to keep that mind open. Not always an easy thing, and not always completely possible. It boggles me that people ostensibly much brighter and more learned than I, have such a death grip on some of their conceptions, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary (which they don’t even seem to hear)
Liberals are another story altogether.
Again, if i started bitchslapping all the people who so desperately need it, my right arm would start windmilling around like Pete Townshend’s, and I might never be able to stop.
Better have another coffee and go to work.

Can’t blame you a bit.
I’m an engineer’s son. I can’t ever remember a time before I divided the universe into “works” and “don’t work.” By this accident of my upbringing science was something that came easy.
Back circa 1980, when I was a student at Cal State Long Beach, I defended evolution and the geological time scale in assorted debates. It was similiar to hitting one’s head against the wall.
There were a few bright spots, like when they would parrot the refrain, “Evolution is JUST a theory.”
I loved that one because I could respond, “Yea, so’s electromagnetism. That mean you don’t believe in a light bulb?”
But mostly it was just an exercise in futility. Two quotes actually made me feel better when I was faced with this.
“You can’t reason somebody out of something they were not reasoned into to begin with.”
and…
“Argument with those who have renounced reason is like feeding medicine to the dead.”
Nicely put, Charles.
The surface streets of Chicago are filled with people that need a tuneup. Their behavior goes beyond driver (dis)courtesy. I should moonlight as a client spotter for a Proctologist.
How hard is it to show courtesy when somebody is getting off an elevator? I am 6’4″ and chunky. My tool cart and box weigh close to 100#. I always hesitate when I get on/off elevators and turn corners, because if I run into you, it is going to hurt. Recently, I was getting off the elevator at a Chicagoland Hospital, and a 4’10” babushka ran into me.
Oh well. I guess that is why I am a service tech
(servile…) instead of a slap-happy attitude adjustor.
You, you, you… It’s always about you.
machete, who ELSE would it be about?