Stupid Is As Stupid Does

I haven't had a chance to write anything for awhile as I was away at a professional conference brushing up on some new "stuff" and garnishing some required education credit.  I find these national conferences comforting as you listen to the experts in your field tell of things that work and things that do not work and things that are around the corner; none of which is "new" to you as you have either heard or read about it previously.  In other words it is good to know that you are up to speed.  However through the years I have come to the conclusion that the more educated you are, the stupider you get.......at least in the areas of common sense or social skills.  While sitting through an interesting lecture being given by an individual who is either the world expert in the subject at hand OR the one who actually invented or discovered a particular device or disease, here is what I observed.  Despite the fact that there are hundreds of people with you in this auditorium, all of whom are interested in what this person has to say, you have these learned professionals who are your peers, that walk into the lecture late,  allow the door to slam after them (only to have it open again in seconds for another learned professional) then walk in front of the speaker slowly while looking up at the audience, completely oblivious to the fact that the lecture has stopped and everyone is staring at them, to either find a seat or to find someone they were meeting there and then meander to that seat or wander around like a lost puppy and eventually decide to stand in front of somebody who actually got there on time.  A cell phone goes off during the lecture and instead of quieting the device or walking out and taking the obviously very important phone call outside....they answer the phone like they were sitting in their own homes.  How self centered, how rude.  If someone came to their office and pulled any of these stunts, those particular individuals would be incensed.  "How dare you treat me like that....don't you know who I am?", is what they would be thinking.  However here, during this conference....no...the world revolves around them, they are the only ones that matter and they are so self-absorbed they don't even know it.

The other interesting observation is the post-lecture "dance."  I am sure it is the same thing in almost every profession.  Someone delivers a lecture or address or whatever and the first thing they say at the end of their delivery?  C'mon, you all know it......."Are there any questions?"  I would LOVE it if, as usual, the group of people who always have questions (and you all know those "type" of people) came up to the microphone only to have the moderator of the presentation say, "sit down folks, it was only a rhetorical question.....nobody cares what you have to ask.  If it is that important, come up afterwards and ask your question."  Unfortunately, that will never happen.  What does happen follows like a dance lesson; there are steps that need to be followed to perform the dance correctly.  The first step is that you ingratiate yourself to the speaker; "Oh Doctor "such and such" that was a wonderful lecture and I appreciate your passion to this subject and...blah, blah, blah."  That usually takes about the first one to three minutes of their "question."  The second step of the dance is to make sure that everyone knows of the particular and "unique" qualifications that makes the person asking the question feel on par with the presenter; "I am "such and such" and after having doing this particular thing for thirty years I have found in my vast experience that......".  The final step in the dance is interesting.....the person asking the question actually never has a question....it is usually a statement that the presenter finds himself just commenting on and not answering an actual question.  Now there is an add on here at times which I call the final dip; that is where after the presenter finishes his comments on the "question" (as there really is no answer as a question was never offered) the person that asked the "question" argues with that expert who is world renowned in his field of study.  That final move sums up the character of the person asking the question....a dip.

It is frustrating that the vast majority of people in my profession are self-absorbed narcissists who although have good intentions cannot see beyond their own egos......and I get to be one of them.  Maybe everyone in my profession should learn the scout law......it would help.

Meanwhile, back on the camp front, work continues on at the new Trading Post.  A "special" work party was held this past weekend as the concrete was poured for the TP.  Volunteers from Mowat Construction were on hand as were many of our stalwart AWP veterans.  There was a little concrete left over so it was put to good use and a real basketball court was poured where the basket ball hoop is today.  That should help for those errant rocks that send a ball off that will benefit an activity and we didn't even plan for it.  Work continues on with the TP but it should be up and running fairly soon.