Cease To Suck
Why is everyone so damn stupid? Really. I'm a firm believer in the truth of Sturgeon's Law: 90% of everything is crap. When applied to people, the majority are unbearably incompetent. That, or they are comprised of defecation. I may like the maxim, but that doesn't mean I take it literally.
Recently, or months ago, I rarely bother separating which, I had a forum on such with my friends. What? Me? Friends? Never! Yeah, okay, you got me. It was my brother, an acquaintance, and his drunken, sexist, racist, bigot uncle. Sadly, even though he's intoxicated anytime I meet with him, he still musters more brain power than most folks I know. I'm not sure if that's a dilemma centered on Ohio or if the world really is in that much trouble, but it's the truth.
Anyhoo, back to our topics. Well, they were many. Most began as, "Tell me this, why do stupid people..." You'd be surprised how many things can hold that starter. Quite a good number, really. Discussion ranged through many, including, "... speed twenty-plus miles over the limit and bitch when they get a ticket," or, "... drive so fast to get somewhere, but, when they're out of the car, walk so damn slow?"
But the general consensus came in as such: there's a thick line between people and sheep-le, and no one is standing on it. You're either one of those cursing the other side or you're too damn brain damaged to realize which part of the divide you're standing on. This all got my noggin clankin' around to spout out other fine examples of the IQ cleft in society since, well, repeating those conversations would just be boring to me.
Technology is always moving forward. Processes improve to take advantage of the latest and most effective way to perform a given action and society adopts it when it becomes acceptable. That's something we can all agree is true with, right? For example, communication. Written word really took off at the development of the printing press. Easy duplication of identical words? Let's take advantage of that mug! This allowed communications to travel far and wide, but this could only travel as fast as, well, travel.
That's where further technology comes into play. Look out, here's the telegraph. Boy, howdy, that speeds things up. Now them words are shooting down lines faster than a wagon can roll. What's better than sending words? How about speech! Bam! Telephone. Get your vocals on. How can that improve any more? Well, cell phones? Sure, why not.
Also gaining steam at this time, internet communications. Now, being more technologically limited, this means has to hopscotch back a step to the nonaudible sector since most computers can't process, download, or handle voice messages to handily. Understandable. However, that's fast changing as high speed ISP take the reigns. In fact, video is pairing up with it, so that's the combo of sight and sound. Wow, what advancement.
Say, what's happening on the other side of things? I think we left off with good ol' phones at the cellular era. Jee, if the e-com has gone audiovisual, surely the phone has to have some great advancement, too, right? NO. Hell's no. Not a chance. Rather than improve, they decided to go back a step. "Hey, do you know what's better than simply speaking? Manually inputting your message letter by letter through a complex code system that takes forever. Yep, that sure is an awesome idea that everyone will love." Phones actually managed to time travel to the retro-times of the Ol' West, for text messaging is essential a telegram with a phone.
Now, I know there are some uses to the silent messaging. For example, if you can't talk or don't want to, sure, that makes sense. However, if you used text messaging in any of the following conditions, shoot yourself now to spare the world you stupidity:
- You are currently not doing anything and could easily talk on the phone.
- Your cell phone plan would allow you to make a call at any time for less cost than the text message.
- Your vocal cords currently are functioning at or nearly at regular levels.
- Both you and the recipient of the message are on-line and signed on to an instant messenger service.
I didn't hear a gun shot, so I pray you were one of the smarter few. That, or you are in denial of your stupidity. Either way, I'll go on, hopefully belittling you to that point eventually (yay!).
Now, I have a theory about why text messaging exists. I truly believe that fifty percent of the people who use the service can actually get a message out at a reasonable word speed, say thirty words per minute? Sadly, probably better than most folks' key board skills. Ew, sad. Anywise, yes, they can accomplish this comparatively blinding speed on a crappy cell phone. They just don't.
Ever run into someone you just don't really want to talk to? Does this sound familiar? "Uh, yeah, dude, I'll... uh, text you later. Yeah, that's it." Pretty clever, Steve, pretty clever. Why talk to some total douche bag at the speed of speak when you can horribly delay any communications with the unnecessary hurtles presented by text message! Spend a few seconds to hack out a line and then sit there a few minutes before sending it to carry on with whatever it was you were doing. Rather than endure an hour or two of unbearable conversation with the social blunder, use that time to only suffer five or six lines of horribly abbreviated words and incomplete sentences. Talk about a win.
But, wait, fifty percent of people? Yep, that's my claim. So, if you aren't the one holding back your blazing fingers, that means the schmuck on the receiving end wishes they were caught on the hook.
You know it's true.
