Entry #528810, added on 08-17-07 @ 8:19 pm EDT
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| Hypocrisy and other pet peeves... | Entry #528810 |
Not long ago, I and a woman I work with who I've often heard state, "smoking is a filthy habit" happened to be in the Ladies Room at the same time. Having arrived there moments before she did, I was already inside a stall when she entered. I saw her through the crack between the door and the stall wall, and, not in the mood for an encounter with her that particular day, decided to "wait her out" so that she'd leave before me... problem solved. (I can be so brilliant at times it scares me ~  ). Much to my surprise and dismay, she utilized the potty, flushed... and then walked right out the door, sans washing her hands or so much as even pausing at the sinks. Now THAT'S what I call a filthy habit.... YIKES !!!
Yes, I am a smoker and yes, her "smoking is a filthy habit" commentary has at times been uttered in my direction as she exited the building, passing the outdoor "smoking area" on her way to jump in and fire up her honkin' huge Ford pick-up truck. (belching out about ten cartons of cigarettes' worth of carbon monoxide every time she decides to drive less than a block or two and back to get her lunch). It's not that she is anti-smoking that bothers me about this gal ~ it's the hypocrisy she demonstrates in this and other circumstances. I think the reason I just don't care to be around her is that she is the type of professed-to-anyone-within-earshot "Christian" lady who is consistently, utterly intolerant of any interpretations of the Bible and God's purpose for our lives that divert in any way from her own. Apparently, her version of the Good Book is non-inclusive of the admonishment, "Judge not, lest ye be judged". But I digress...
Smoking is dangerous to your health, and inconsiderate smoking is a hazard to others, as well. That I grant you. But non-smokers are of absolutely no help whatsoever when they make snide remarks or asides ~ generally as they pass smokers who are ALREADY standing outside in the heat/rain/sleet/snow in compliance with rules that are enforced to protect non-smokers from second hand smoke. You will never inspire a smoker to quit smoking by demeaning them; you will, however, create a sizable risk of having them dig in their heels and vow to CONTINUE smoking as a result of such treatment being directed at them.
I am not "defending" smoking ~ I never started until I was 21, and it was the dumbest thing I ever did (out of a veritable plethora of contenders). I once quit for 6 months, but resumed because I was gaining weight. I will quit again and soon, having realized that middle age and menopause were the far more likely reasons for the weight gain than smoking cessation was. But when I do, I know from experience that I will NOT embrace the same judgmental, "I quit and so can you" attitude with which so many former smokers bombard current smokers. As to smoking being a "filthy habit", I have never fully understood the assertion, given that cigarettes are clean before smoked ~ and after they have been smoked, the remaining ashes are sterile from the heat. The cigarette butts, when PROPERLY disposed of, present no health risks to others whatsoever. And if you do come in some kind of accidental contact with a cigarette butt, you've only been exposed to the saliva of a single other individual ~ not that of hundreds and perhaps thousands of others, as in cases of using public phones, drinking fountains, attending public events ~ and even handling money. Not to mention contact with ANYTHING that post-bathroom-use, non-handwashers have touched. Therefore, to my way of thinking, INCONSIDERATE smoking can be "filthy" - i.e., smoking in non-smoking designated areas and/or discarding the butts out your car window, on the ground, etc. But those same inconsiderate smokers most likely share a kinship with THRONGS of non-smokers who think nothing of tossing everything from McDonald's wrappers to beer bottles to used condoms and/or hypodermic needles/crack pipes out of their car windows and absolutely strangling our earth via illegal dumping, both on land and in our waters.
Hypocrisy ~ thou art the child of ignorance and ego.
And while I'm griping, I don't want to miss an opportunity to beef about writing these days. For starters, when you rate someone's work with a less than average score, have the courtesy to pass your reasoning and/or suggestions along with your Rating score ~ this business of rating a piece with a " 1 " or " 2 ", accompanied by absolutely no commentary or explanation of how the writer could improve it, amounts to little more than a cheap shot. You don't have to identify yourself to Rate and critique here at WDC; therefore, no excuse exists for sending writers the message that a piece is badly flawed without suggesting how it could be improved. Rate AND Review insightfully and earnestly ~ or don't R & R at all.
Another pet peeve of mine is writing demonstrative of laziness/sloppiness in terms of spelling/grammar/punctuation. I know that typos happen ~ in my case, constantly, often due to my cat being so fond of walking on my keyboard ~ but c'mon, people! I'm not the greatest speller in the world, either, but Writing.com DOES supply us with Spell Check, and if something shows up in big red letters, you can then proceed to Dictionary.com and determine the appropriate spelling. Mis-spelling and sub-standard grammar and/or punctuation in Blog entries is one thing, because Blogs are a far less structured "environment" in terms of writing... more a personal journal or diary that one can chose to chare or not to share with others. But in finished pieces that you want others to see and share, blatant mis-spelled words, flawed punctuation, and abysmal grammar ~ particularly when included in the Intro, for heaven's sake, is like showing up to compete in a beauty pageant in dirty clothes and un-showered since a week ago Friday. An Intro or content such as (I am making one up here, but it is a good example of some I've seen) "My gurney into self discovery and other righting Im into" is distracting and likely to cause "readus interruptis" very early on in the agonized process of trying to wade through your piece. Speaking only for myself, when I see this type of highly flawed Intro information, even if Sponsored, etc... I'm not at all likely to click on its link and check it out. In other words, you can paint the most beautiful concepts imaginable on canvas ~ but it will still be difficult to appreciate if painted with pig poop.
And finally... about all the people pedaling maniacally about on their Snit City Huffy bikes because of a WDC Staff/Moderator notice of a "Change of Intro/Content Rating. Since my fingers are exhausted from typing the preceding bodice-renting rants, I'm gonna copy and paste an earlier post I made a few days ago in response to one I received:
Just wanted to stop by and thank the WDC Staff for the heads-up on my tribute sig for Army Cpt. Maria Ortiz, USANC ~ I'd otherwise never have been cognizant of the term, "Killed in Action" violating an "E" Intro rating.
The rule makes perfect sense, and if those who get upset about Rating Adjustments by WDC Staff would stop and think for a moment, it is perfectly logical. Even if you don't initially see why a particular word or phrase requires a certain disclaimer or rating, consider your overall experience at Writing.com and how wondrous an oasis it is for us all. Bearing that and the immense number of insightfully inspired, meticulously created resources made available to us at WDC in mind, you can be certain that any Rating Adjustments and/or Rules the Staff sets forth are foundationally sound ~ and the product of experience and insight far surpassing our own.
For those grousing, "I PAY to belong to Writing.com ~ how DARE they "censor" my work !" ~ first of all, READ the ENTIRE notice they send you, including the links therein contained. Secondly... if, even after you're fully informed by the latter, you're still holding a grudge, consider this: you also pay to obtain a driver's license, own a car, and maintain our roadways ~ but that doesn't entitle you to break the rules while using them.
Thanks, WDC Staff, for all you do for so many!
In summary (and applicable to each and all of the above situations), "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Before you "open your mouth" ~ literally and/or in print, THINK. If, after serious contemplation, you stand by what you state and feel it represents you well in terms of content (i.e. grammar, spelling, punctuation), then by all means, see it through. But remember, too, that others have just as much right to disagree or object to what you say or write as you do to set it forth and defend it.
I feel MUCH better now... time for me to go "Spell heck" this Blog entry...
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