Isn't that how the old adage goes? It's bliss? People who don't know any better are happier? Who knows? Perhaps it's true for some people. But those same blissfully ignorant people tire me sometimes. They say completely idiotic things, perhaps to be witty, but they come across as jerks or just plain stupid.
Take, for example, the guy at the next table last night. For awhile after they were seated, I paid them no mind, because I was incredibly happy with who I was with. But conversation lulled at some point, which usually results in comfortable silence for us or maybe a pondering-pose moment. And that is when I heard this guy.
He was young, so I'll chalk his ignorance and cockiness up to that. But I'd like to complain a little bit about it while I can, because sometimes even the Dalai Lama can't put up with everything!!! Well...maybe he can, but I'm far from being that good! :)
So anyway, our pondering poses were disrupted by this guy at first just talking. And talking. And talking. To me, it was about nothing, other than to show off that he can use big words. Good for you! Do you want a cookie??? Fine. He doesn't want a cookie... Eventually, his big words start to get boring, so he changes tactics. Out of nowhere that I could follow, he starts up about this trip to Virginia. I mean, he didn't even take a breath between talking about some crazy structure that was against the point of the "art" to...oh wait, I just realized the connection. In his mind, ridiculousness was the connection.
So he's going on and on about some structure somewhere that's about a boat, but it's this huge building that's massive and would never float and blah blah blah. Again, I didn't really care too much. I'm not an eavesdropper, by the way...but it's difficult to ignore loud, obnoxious voices. (So true, in so many ways...) Anyway, so he switches gears, or so I thought, to this "ludicrous mega-church that he equated to Disneyland. Perhaps not everyone knows what I am referring to, but enough of you do.
If you take a gander down to Washington, DC on I-495, there's a curve and a hill, and then this magnificent white building appears before you. If you don't know what it is, fine. I can understand that it could look to an ignorant person a little like Disneyland. But stop that there. I have known more people besides this guy that took pictures because of it. But rather than make fun of it, or talk about its ridiculousness, why don't you actually figure out WHAT it is??? He called it a mega-church that was ridiculous in its whiteness with a gold statue on top. That's why my ears really perked up and my temper started to flare. Granted, I'm not faithful in the religion I grew up in. I'm not even very religious, though I am spiritual. But I think that every religion deserves respect for what it believes, even if it's not understood or even agreed with, because at least they HAVE beliefs. I do think I'm a pretty patient person (I know I've said this before), but I also have a temper. Mess with me or someone that I love, and I WILL put my dukes up (along with the bristles on my back). So next time you want to talk about a Mormon Temple, you do your homework about it. I don't go, but I certainly don't talk down about it, and I really don't tolerate other people disrespecting it. Of all the people who are getting in line to disrespect the religion, the people who do NOT get tickets are the ones that say whatever little thing comes to their mind, like a human gumball machine. It's not a fantastic freak-show, nor a magnificently-themed-attraction. It is an incredibly religious building that just so happens to be one of the most beautiful Mormon temples (in my mind). So many people disrespect things that they know nothing about, and that really must stop.
He was lucky we were in a semi-fancy restaurant or I would have called him out on his ignorance right there. (Yes, me...Ms. Usually-Mellow-Rarely-Confrontational Me.) But, Mr. Smarty-Pants-Fancy-Talker just showed how smart he actually was, so he didn't need a whole lot of public confrontation. No, instead I loudly commented that he had absolutely no idea what he was talking about and that he should stop talking about it... And thankfully he DID shut up for a little while. I'm pretty sure the silence was because the entire table went to whispers about me, because of the glares I got when we left, but I don't care. I've got killer-stares I can dish out too.
Maybe that seed I planted will stick. I hope so. But if not, people...please stick up for your beliefs and more importantly, for the people you love. Encourage respect and search for knowledge. If you don't, who will? Opinions are great to have, but senseless chatter just to get a laugh is just plain rude.
And so, because I detracted from the fun part of the blog for a few posts, I'm warning you I'm going to get back into it, full-force. To get away from all of the idiots, you really do need to just get away completely. Perhaps if we take a ride on our own personal spaceflights we can accomplish the getaway from idiocy. See you all there! (After we win the Powerball, of course!)
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