Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Saturday, April 16, 2011
No, not the Smart Man. We've already decided we'll never break up, because it would be too hard to find anyone else who would put up with us. Plus doing so would just be too fucking annoying to tolerate. So we're stuck with each other.

What I've been thinking about is breaking up with casual friends whose political point of view is so repugnant that I simply can't tolerate them. You know - Ayn Rand apologists. Paul Ryan fans. Sarah Palin sycophants. The older I get, the less tolerant I become of people who so clearly lack the capacity for a little thing I like to call "mature, rational thought."

Now I'm not talking about smart conservatives with whom I disagree. Rational debate is supposed to be the cornerstone of our republic, and I fully recognize that just because someone disagrees with me doesn't necessarily make them a dumbass. What I'm talking about is those who deliberately ignore, you know, THE FACTS in order to hold onto their cherished beliefs. Or my other personal favorite - sticking it to those who are less fortunate than you in order to prevent your own ox from getting gored.

Is being less than married to reality or having less than moral political positions grounds for a break up? I'm beginning to think so, although I've been wrong before.

15 comments:

Karen said...

Well, having checked the latest post to my nieces blog I was just browsing when I hit this page. I have to say it is not every day that I find someone who has noticed the massive disconnect between what the voter thinks is going on and what is really going on AND introduces me a SCI FI 5 star book I have never heard of altho I have been reading a long time. Thanks, I no longer feel alone in the universe. Karen in Missouri

Juan Federico said...

Maybe you should take up rock climbing or skydiving or extreme skateboarding or skin diving with sharks.

For me, after the first couple of times that I almost bought the farm, I realized, that people who do that to my psyche can be cut adrift. The beauty is that because they are who they are, there are usually no hard feelings either. They don't know why they do not receive more than a "Hi." From me in public nor do they wonder why I won't meaningfully speak with them. Thankfully, they are so full of their own delusions that they go on doing their thing. Then, I am free for other shit to play with.

Seriously, Fuck'em.

I suggest an extreme sport because it may just give you enough of a fear jolt that you won't have to waffle over these cretins.

Love ya,
J

Janiece said...

Welcome, Karen. Newcomers are always welcome here, as long as they have a firm grasp on reality-as-we-know-it. That's the only level we don't support around here - reality is not optional. It sounds like we'll get along just fine, but I am curious - is the book A Fire Upon the Deep? It was excellent.

Juan, I'm not doing any of that crap. Seriously, dude - have you met me? Now, if you had suggested a spa...

Shawn Powers said...

As someone who often disagrees with your viewpoints, I'm just as frustrated with idiots as you are. They make any semblance of "intelligent conservative" into a punchline.

Even if you have wacky views and beliefs, at least understand those beliefs aren't founded on anything rational. If you admit that, I'm much more likely to simply agree to disagree. It's the crazy people that don't see the crazy that drive me nuts.

Janiece said...

Shawn, you count as a "smart conservative." ;-)

Karen said...

Janiece, the book was Armor by Steakley. We have alot in common, I am just retired from forty years in various areas of IT and telecommunications. I have no armed forces back ground but my husband ( a very smart guy), who passed last summer was in the Navy for four years. I am originally from Kansas and spent many a vacation in Colorado.

Janiece said...

Ah, that makes sense. The Mad Cow had stolen that mention from my sieve-like brain. A really stunning book - it's too bad he wasn't more prolific.

I'm sorry for your loss. It's never easy.

Teacher and Learner said...

There is a woman that once I called friend. She has fallen in with the brainwashing of a particular political group and it has sucked out what little rational individual thought she ever had out or her. (If she ever had one because I am starting to wonder now in middle age)

I completely understand your decision. It is unfortunate that we can not discuss anything with the people we call friend or family. There is a freedom in being able to talk and accept the fact that neither of us are right while accepting that neither of us are wrong.

Juan Federico said...

Janiece, there is nothing on that list that you cannot do....I admit that we are getting a bit long in the tooth for that kind of action.

I still don't know why it bugs you though, it's like taking out the trash or, cleaning your teeth. Life has some strange enough twists without the extra baggage.

Janiece said...

Juan, it's not that I'm not physically capable - I'm fit and metabolically healthy (if overweight). I just don't see why I'd want to.

And I'm not happy if I'm not ranting about the dumbasses. You know that.

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The Mechanicky Gal said...

Yes, think of 3 ill-mannered dogs.
The complete lack of curiosity is what slays me. The willingness to just accept at face value that "vaccinations could cause autism, my nephew started showing signs just after he got his shots, so who am I to say the vaccinations didn't cause it" makes me want to throttle a person.

Janiece said...

*TONG*

Tom said...

I didn't know you liked A Fire Upon the Deep. I loved it. I also enjoyed the next one, A Deepness in the Sky. And I wanted Vinge to write a third, with a title like Sky Full of Fire, to complete a circle of titles.

As to full-on Tea Baggers, who think argument is sticking their tongue out and chanting "I know you are, but what am I?" Cut 'em loose like a fouled anchor. They won't ever be anything but a drag on you.

Excuse the deletion. Darn typos!

Beatrice Desper said...

Thank you, Juan, and the rest. I knew a guy for three YEARS before I found out that he was a wacko Libeterian. I'm not making the argument here that all Libs are wacko... that's for another day. Just saying that this guy thinks that the redistribution of wealth in practically any form is "Soviet." He'd be kicked out of the John Birch society. This post makes me think about where this friendship is going.