My husband tells me that I am unable to "dumb" things up. I can't just nod and say, "Oh yes, that's very interesting." I have to say, "Oh yes, I read about that in Smithsonian, however there is an interesting other view/side presented in Discover last month. It says.....". I think that I now see what he means. I decided this week, against my better judgement to participate in a little contest that a person I have known for some time created. It was simple enough, he asked who you would depants and when (if you had a time machine). Now, when I first saw the site only one entry was made. (George Bush) With my obvious nemesis chosen, my next thought was Hitler. No, I thought, too easy. My next thought went immediately to Al Gore. I don't know why, but it annoys me that he got the noble prize. I didn't make the entry then, because I knew that most people would misinterpret it. So, after thinking about it for a day, I couldn't come up with anyone else I'd like to pants. I can think of a few I wouldn't mind punching or cussing at, but none deserving a jovial, "I like you, but you need to take yourself less seriously" depantsing. At this point I thought, "Just don't enter at all, leave the contest to people who are capable of seeing pantsing as a real malice. Let them enjoy the passive aggressive expression of hate without your "literal" interpretations of everything." But, alas, I am learning to accept myself, and also trying to put myself out there before I become a recluse. And, maybe I love a little controversy. So, I entered.
I would depants Al Gore, right as he accepted the nobel prize. For three reasons. At least then the clip they played over and over again would have been entertaining. And, 20 years from now when he tries to say that he fixed global warming, we can all laugh again. Also, it might have taken that “I’m important and this matters” look off his face.
Of course, if your going to be controversial, you should expect opposition. I didn't expect any votes of support. But, my oversensitive "please like me" attitude was brought out by two votes against me. I had to explain myself better. So I added.
oh seriously, I “believe” in global warming. But, did his video really fix anything. If he really wanted to help he’d run for office again.
That only provoked further arguments supporting his efforts to inform the public. So, finally I said this.
I am a big Al Gore fan. I have read most of his books. However, his video has given lots of confused Oprah fans the misconception that they now understand global warming. Also, CO2 is not the only environmental concern needing everyone’s attention, and Gore knows that. Also, I only pants people I like. I would cuss at George Bush (and he was taken =)), and I couldn’t do anything to a POW, no matter how much I dislike his politics.
Now, at this point, what I really wanted to say was. Additionally his video used the least "provable" information about global warming and added a doomsday spin that even I found aggravating. If it had been made from a real scientist view there would have been studies about acidification of the ocean, other greenhouse gases, and possible real steps toward solutions, etc. Also, it is not hard to jump from CO2 pollution to toxic fertilizer to plastics in the ocean. I know because I have made those jumps. I am just saying that if you think global warming is bad, what about the 20 other problems that are going to cause major issues before we even get close to giving up fossil fuels.
At any rate, now I know why my husband just tells our neighbors I am antisocial, rather than telling them, "You can meet her, but you'll regret it." I do agree that sometimes I should just nod and smile. But, that's what people used to do to me, and I never learned anything from it. I was "dumbing it up" for real for years, because I didn't know anything about anything. Now, if someone 10 years ago had told me, "You know, I read in Discover that "warming" isn't the only threat of global warming." I would have thought Hmmm, what are the other threats. That would have led me to "oh, no I better not eat that." And, I might not have gained the 100 lbs I am struggling to lose now. Sometimes, people want the truth even if it shocks them. I know I didn't give any "truth" in the contest, but that is always my motive. The whole truth; I am always hopeful I will find someone who knows something I don't about the subject and then, I will learn more. Ahh, the circle of learning.
At any rate, it was fun to enter, check out the
contest yourself. The new site is MentalMagma.com. Oh, and vote for me!
1 comments:
Gabriel said...
Thanks for the link, Dana, I'm glad you like the site. I agree with you about global warming, it has gotten disproportionate press. Anyway, your post made me laugh, when I made the contest I knew Hitler would be mentioned several times. Gore's a more interesting answer, but yes, it looks like you will pay the price (not winning the contest) because I think there is a sentiment that anti-Gore = pro-Bush. Oh well, there's always next week's contest. :)
July 1, 2008 11:42 AM
sister get the sheets, I'll get the curtains. I don't know if they were trying to pack, or just "learning" something.
The boys built a "spider web".
Taylor started the week with new yoyo skills...
accidental wack
good big brother!!
escapees...
"catch the dad"
Oh, dear, look how cute they are. See those smiles. Your not telling me that they have more energy than you. They're so little, where would they even keep it. Poor daddy, eventually it is just easier to hide, but, I think that you need to do better than that to escape the horrors. I think that it took a lot of courage not to assume the "fetal" position. Maybe they are like grizzlies, if you just play dead, they will go away. Just be glad it wasn't "hop on pop" day. Oh no, did they hear me? AAAAH run for your life.
