The Ego vs. Self-Confidence

I really don't have a single topic today, but I did come across some interesting tag lines. Here is my favorite:

Egotism is the anesthetic for the pain of stupidity.

Just says it all, doesn't it? Think about it next time you are in a situation where somebody always has to one-up everyone else. These self-absorbed people that think they are the end-all/be-all of mankind blather on and say nothing of any importance. I do not like - no, I plain can't stand - when someone has to know everything about everything. They will just curl up into a little husk of a ball if they are not the center of attention.

Listen to others around you, you moronic boob!

It is through the art of listening that one gleans knowlege from their surroundings. Listening is the first step in learning. You will not be any less of an interesting person if you shut up and open your ears. In fact, you might be considered more interesting, because you will not show your ignorance by flapping your jaw.
And when you are caught in a lie or exaggeration while trying to be cool and in-the-know, just stop talking. You are busted - don't add to the humiliation of being proven a liar (exaggerator, at the very least) by trying to deny the statement. Suck it up and take it.

Perhaps next time you will stick to what you really know and you might find that others are a great deal more interested in hearing what you have to say.



(Added after an email response):
OK, let me break out the Crayons and explain. I just received a rather bitchy email from a fellow blogger. She has an interesting blog and I thought I would introduce myself. A couple of emails go by, not saying much, and then I get this last one. She says that a good ego is VERY attractive to her. Hmm. I will say that someone that has a good dose of SELF-CONFIDENCE can be attractive, but an ego is rather.....self-involved.
She went on to say that we did not have anything in common and would like to discontinue contact. That was the nice way of putting it, in deference to her. Also, she thought she would point out a typo and allude to it being indicative of my lack of intelligence.
Just kinda proves the theory.

Ever since 9/11

The coverage of news during 9/11 created a new irritant. At the bottom of the screen on TV, they used a scrolling text that updated the viewer to new developments. This technology wasn't new at that time, but this was the catalyst that launched into the mainstream. At that time, it was not an irritant. All-news broadcast stations used them and they were fine. But now we have it on every channel during the programs we choose to watch giving us nothing more than a commercial for other shows on that channel.
Wait a minute..... that doesn't seem so bad.
Hang on, friend, there's more!
It started getting bigger. Now it started taking up the lower 1/8th of the screen. Then it evolved to one corner or another, still taking up 1/8th.
I was watching a major network just the other day. One of those "free commercials", as I call them, for another show came on and took up damn near 1/2 the screen!
NOW it's an irritant!!
TV stations get paid money by the advertisers to air commercials for their products. It used to be that advertising the TV stations' other shows or news hooks cut into that advertising time. Now, the TV stations have found a way of advertising their shows without losing advertising time, hence making more money. They do this during every show!
I like period movies. Some of them will use subtitles. Guess what happens. Yup! The TV stations' 1/2 screen free commercial covers the subtitles and aids in ruining the movie event. The standard commercials already make it hard to get into the feel of a movie, but now it is just impossible.

Message to the TV stations:

We already know your line-up. We are intelligent consumers that have chosen your network to watch and do not need to be reminded of the network name or other shows that you air. If there is breaking news, a weather alert or major disaster, then let us know in any manner you wish, just knock off the free commercials for other shows.... at the VERY least, go back to the tiny, slightly less obtrusive scroll that all of this started with.

No habla espanol... I can't even TYPE it!

I read a newspapser story about a restaurant in Philadelphia that posted a sign saying, "This is America....when ordering speak English". Roberto Santiago, executive director of Philadelphia's Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations, was outraged. Of course he was! Look at the organization he works for! It comes down to this: If you move to a new country, you must adapt to the ways of that country. Don't move to England and expect to get a couple of paid days off in November for Thanksgiving. That holiday is strictly a North American holiday. I know several Asian people that have moved here, learned English, then actually speak it! At home, they use thier native tongue, but if they have visitors, they speak English out of respect for them.
Come to think of it, I have never heard of any group like this council for any other language. I wonder why that is?
But I digress.
First, the sign is a courtesy to let patrons know that languages other than English may not be able to be understood. So if you want to get a philly cheesesteak, you better know how to say it in English!
Second, owners and operators have the right to refuse service to anyone, regardless of the reason. And nobody can scream racism because if hispanic people can order in English, or even point to the item they want (as it states in the news article), they will be served.
I do not speak any languages other than English. I would like to learn, but I don't have the time nor the energy right now. If I moved to Mexico, I would have to make the time to learn Spanish. If I did know Spanish and I was talking to someone that didn't know English, I would utilize my knowlege out of respect for them. All I ask is the same, but more because you or your family made the decision to move here. Now you must learn to LIVE here. To do so, you must respect our culture. Our culture is NOT one that speaks Spanish, or Greek, or Italian, or German, or French, or anything but English.
I feel like when society placates a group or ethnic faction, that is an example of society being hospitable. When the ethnic factions demand that courtesy, that is rude laziness. You decided to live here, you learn to speak our language. That is your responsibility to this culture!
If you don't like it, try another country!

That's it!!
It just hit me..... It's all about repsect! I respect you, your love for your heritage, family, culture, etc., now it's your turn. Show that you respect America by speaking English if you move here. I respect people that visit America and do not know English. I will bend over backwards to try and understand and help you if you are one of those people. But if you come to America from Mexico, France, Italy or Mars to live as a citizen, you had better at least try to communicate in OUR language. Respect this country, this culture, these people! It is just that simple.