About half way through my life I realized I had spent most of it trying to figure out who to believe. In fact, I still spend an inordinate amount of time on this. I have never required someone to agree with me to find them believable, trustworthy and interesting. Actually, I find relief in surrounding myself with people who challenge my thinking. If they are willing to do that, then they are willing to tell me the truth.
But I have come to some red flags, so to speak, which have saved me from a number of those who I call Elitists. These are the people who most often don’t tell you the truth because they don’t know what it is. However, they know whats best for you. And you can’t trust them because they will do whatever they think they have to for your own good. “The best of intentions” crowd. They should all have tattoo’s on their foreheads reading “You need us.”
I don’t subscribe to the idea that there are a ton of truly sinister people out there purposefully lying directly to your face… why risk that when they can get the intellectually lazy Elitists to do it for them? The genuine Leftists search out those people fitting certain criteria and then fill their heads with crap which they promptly go and spew on you with righteous entitlement. We all know these people… they are the ones who are full of opinions they can’t defend and most importantly don’t think they should have to. When asked, they resort to a myriad of rhetorical devices to make you feel ignorant, mean-spirited or both.
After decades of in-depth clinical research I have found these individuals can be grouped roughly as follows:
The genius by virtue of Geography. When I grew up/lived in/traveled to (fill in the blank) it makes me smarter than you. – We all know this guy. (By the way, I type in gender neutral.) Simply due to the fact that he was born, lived or traveled through a specific place he is the most informed person on every issue regardless of topic. The coastal areas of the U.S. supply us with a large number of these types.
The genius by virtue of Profession. – You can’t possibly teach me anything. Many of us know these guys as well… often they are professional in their field. Stock Brokers, Doctors, Lawyers, Scientists, Cowboys whatever. Since they have genuinely mastered a very specific area of complexity, they are geniuses in all things. Often these types will view you as ridiculously uninformed while they themselves establish barricades to challenging information. They interpret your respect of their accomplishments in their area of expertise as validation of their genius in all things. I must disclose that a great many of my best friends are professionals but they do not suffer from this elitist mentality else they would not be my friends. So don’t take offense you guys… you know who you are.
The genius by virtue of Caring. – There is nothing for me to learn that my heart doesn’t tell me and you are mean… and just dumb you dummy dumb-dumb… These are the people we typically see at demonstrations of various types holding the peace signs… with flowers… and rainbows. We can usually find nine or ten of these people occupying a park we don’t use or walking down a road with a sign which makes no sense. You know them. They are out there saving people from themselves or saving those who have not asked to be saved. They chant slogans in the hopes of being acknowledged. Simply put, they care more about everything than you do so they do not need to educate themselves on issues, particularly the ones they are currently championing. The only knowledge they need is the deep pain they feel in their hearts over everything humans do. This “feeling” is how they know that they are doing something meaningful… and you are stupid and mean. And, because you work, bathe and cut your hair it’s clear you don’t care.
The genius by virtue of Inheritance. – I have money therefore I am. I actually find these types entertaining and will engage them every once in a while. These are the guys that inherited a ton of money and have no idea how it was made. Sure, they were around when their parents created the wealth (unless of course their parents fit into this definition as well) but were not involved in the business even though they FEEL like they were. As an aside, if their parents fit into this category it is astonishing to me these guys have anything left over as it usually gets spent before the kids see any of it. Anyway, these are the fun drunks. They buy all the drinks and agree with any idea ever put in front of them… like “it would be a good idea to open up a sequin mine… or become professional cat waxers”. All they have had to do is be semi-tolerable and act like they’re brilliant… the money is already there whenever they want it, they just need “friends”.
The genius by virtue of being Alive. – I’m fabulous and you’re stupid for not agreeing with me. These folks are everywhere! They are prolific! There is no required age, or income, or for that matter intelligence. They recognize their own brilliance because they are ALIVE! They have the latest cell phone, but they can’t tell you how it’s made. They saw the latest movies but cannot tell you who is running for President and why. They have the latest laptop but have no idea what makes it run… hell, they don’t need too! They’re cool just because! They can give you a 20 minute dissertation on Kim Kardashian’s rear end and its societal significance but can’t tell you how a policeman gets paid. They have never read a book but update their Facebook page five times a day. They consider the ability to download music a “skill”. They think texting while driving should be outlawed… for other people. (Same with guns, and “mean” dogs, and food that makes you fat, etc.)
So… Why do we need to identify these folks?
Because they VOTE, which directly effects us… and we run the risk of them having influence over others who vote as well. It’s our job as individuals to recognize and clean up the intellectual mess they leave behind.
It also goes a long way in QUICKLY determining who you can trust.