Pajamation

I have once again...

been reminded why I am so terribly particular regarding the close company I keep. I encountered an individual tonight determined to loudly opine even if the subject matter is foreign. For ease we shall call this person Aunt Bea (this person is not necessarily a woman but I happen to like the use of this name in this situation – no explanation, just use your imagination). And so the debacle begins: Aunt Bea, while attempting to remember the term for a specific scientific effect normally seen in chemistry, utilizes three different examples to help her remember said term… the only drawback is the specific models Aunt Bea mentions fail to accurately illustrate the term for which she is so desperately searching. Each of the three examples are rightly known by a separate distinct term altogether and while I point out the term for one of those examples, she is adamant in refuting my claim (never mind the fact I have had two separate professors make use of the exact identical example when describing the same term) -- (“term” is used quite a bit and my apologies for doing so). In addition, when Aunt Bea finally experiences the light bulb effect and names the two words she is sweating bullets over, I feel an odd requirement to refute her claim the term even exists, though it does, primarily because it fails to properly associate with any of the cases she puts forth. Granted, I should have said something to acknowledge her submittal and possibly applaud her effort at contributing a term that most people are on unfamiliar ground, but I, over time, have grown tired with her constant “I’m so right” attitude and misinformation that she is somehow void of all errors. Allow me to defend my allegation: She will gladly talk way too loudly in your ear if you fail to play a video game how she sees fit. You will be innocently, and in my case for the first time, playing a new game and attempting to learn the style, layout, etc of the game. She will then proceed to voice her thoughts; you will attempt to inform her that yes, “It’s just a game… take it easy.” But as soon as you begin your sentence she responds with, “NO, NO!! ALL I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU IS: I SUCK! I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M DOING!” Now, correct me if I am wrong, but what sort of individual is this obnoxious on a regular basis… and with people he/she hardly knows? But I digress… As I indicated before, the term she submits is in fact a valid term within the world of chemistry, but she was horribly wrong in using it to label any of the examples she orates (loudly mind you). So, being the patient human I am I proceed to say I have never heard of such a term. Of course, I was hoping to see this person become even more irate but, much to her credit, she stuck to her guns and said the term was correct as she decides to exit the room in a rather dramatic fashion. Two parts: yes, her term is valid, but no, the term is incorrect in its use. (For obvious reasons I chose to edit out certain aspects of this story… like how Aunt Bea said she would call me and tell me the term when she remembers it – this took place during her “it’s on the tip of my tongue” phase).
So here we are now. What sort of mentality allows a person to justify such ridiculous actions? My approach is normally to respectfully engage in dialogue and intelligent conversation in an attempt to learn more about various subjects with which I may be unfamiliar. Of course, if the discussion pertains to subject matter in which I possess some knowledge I will gladly endeavor in elucidating such topics, all the while respecting my counterpart(s) and what they contribute to the exchange. Never will I practically yell in their face exclaiming that all I want to hear from them is an admission of wrongfulness.
Perhaps my encounter is further proof of the state of our society. We spend so much time talking, waiting for our turn to talk, and falsely listening we often forget the simplicity of natural respect and enjoyable discourse. Communication is extremely important in life (simply turn on any talk show to be amazingly disgusted at how much we lack doing so), but proper communication is even more so. At some point we may have to actually press our top lip firmly against our bottom lip and simply pay attention to what other individuals are verbally contributing to our lives (use this last suggestion with extreme discernment… some persons have nothing beneficial to offer).

Like normal...

I was reading my dailies on my news aggregator when I came across yet another disturbing article informing the American Public on the next McCarthy-minded action implemented by this so-called democratic government. I say so-called because the ideas and actions displayed in this article are straight from a time period of U.S. history when the mindsets of the people were so distorted America almost lost the very principles and motives spurring its establishment. Certainly, I am not to begin analyzing the intentions of the Founding Fathers (that’s another story all together), but I will venture to say McCathyism is not it. Those who have the slightest background in U.S. history will recognize the 50s as the breeding ground for what took place in the 60s: a time when our system was on the brink of complete collapse with social unrest reaching an apex (variety of factors playing their proportioned role of course); our society resembling the end times of a nuclear reactor approaching meltdown.
Perhaps the most disturbing portion of all this is the fact that I come across stories of the above described nature on a regular and unfortunate basis. Granted, measures must be taken to ensure the rights of all, but that’s just it – ensure the rights of all; not just the persons in agreement with your particular view. Establishing a medium to do so apparently is the most difficult venture simply because two sides in any dispute rarely play nice.
Note: I have refrained from using this site as a political outpost and am still in accord with my previous disposition, but I also am of the mind to point out fallacies when necessary. Of course, to be taken literal is to post all day and every day on the many discrepancies and injustices rampant in our system. Rather, I prefer to address items of political nature when I see fit or when my thoughts tangent to do so. Addressing holistically has always been my preference to over-individualistic recognition.

The glory of...

statistical analysis has once again shown to be a science in pursuit of continual self-perfection. Recently, Science News posted a story illustrating how coin tosses are not exactly the ideal 50/50 split-chance experiment we all became accustomed to back in mathematics and statistics classes. I find this of particular importance simply because so much of our world is based on probability... especially when taking into account economic, cosmological, and overall scientific analysis. How long before these "new results" actually show up in textbooks? I would expect college professors to elucidate their pupils as early as next semester (well, the professors actually paying attention to their field of study), but I would not be surprised if a good five years or more passed before high school and junior high are made aware. Why not... we might as well teach false information than expect our instructors to stay on the cutting-edge.