Ignorant:
–adjective
1. lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned: an ignorant man.
2. lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact: ignorant of quantum physics.
3. uninformed; unaware.
4. due to or showing lack of knowledge or training: an ignorant statement.
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ignorant)
Today a former student of a teacher friend of mine approached him after school as the students were dismissing. I had no idea who she was and had no recognition of her from the past.
As she talked about her former teacher from first grade, they joked about what kind of teachers we were and I was labeled "mean." Honestly, it was a refreshing statement since I worry that I am too often the "nice" teacher. I didn't enter this profession to be their friends. So hearing that I was considered mean meant I haven't strayed too far to the easy going side of my profession.
In addition, "mean" is usually code for "the teacher didn't let me do what I wanted to do." When that means not letting them coast by without working, then hell yeah, I am a mean SOB.
But until these last moments of writing all of this, that aspect of the conversation was lost in the one word she used in describing me during the laughter. This one word stuck with me throughout the rest of the afternoon because it reminded me of how often I hear it used erroneously.
The word? Ignorant.
It has become a pet peeve of mine which I probably mentioned once or twice in this blog already.
The word, "ignorant" gets tossed about so incorrectly and so often that I sometimes I wonder if I am the one mistaken. I looked it up on dictionary.com just to confirm my understanding of its meaning.
I am right. They are wrong.
This child and so many other people use ignorant to mean rude. But even the context she used it in today made such little sense I am not sure she even meant rude. Maybe she thinks it means rude, but rude didn't fit the context of her use of ignorance in this particular case. So she lost me.
Even though she was never in my class. She said knew me from the lunchroom despite the fact I have never had lunch duty. Maybe it is mistaken identity, but that is irrelevant. The point here is that in her mind, I was "ignorant" for being mean to her in the lunchroom.
Maybe she meant I was rude.
But how is that demonstrating some lack of knowledge on my part? This is what ignorant means after all, right? A lack of knowledge.
In the end, it seems rather ironic that people who use the word ignorant in this fashion to describe someone else, are actually the ignorant ones.
As they speak of someone being ignorant, they are displaying that very description themselves.
And this particular girl not only demonstrated the correct meaning of the word without knowing it, she also displayed her incorrect meaning of the word in her rude treatment of someone she doesn't even know.
Seems awfully ignant to me.
Showing posts with label Pet Peeves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pet Peeves. Show all posts
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Honest Or Just Plain Rude?
I recently heard someone use this statement in response to someone objecting to something they said: "Well, if you don't like the answer then you shouldn't have asked the question!"
I have heard this statement several times in the past. It usually comes from loud mouths. More often than not, I hear people with little or no tact blurt out statements like this with a lack of concern of what other people think of them or their words.
First of all, if this guy knew what the answer was going to be, I don't think he would have asked it. The reason he asked was because he didn't know what the answer was in the first place. So how could he have stopped himself from asking it if he didn't know it would be something he didn't like?
It is a stupid statement. The lady came off as a rude, obnoxious blowhard in my opinion.
There is more to it than this though. I think the motivation behind statements like these is not always rudeness or disrespect. While I have not used this particular statement, I have used statements like it. I haven't intended on being rude most of the time, usually I have just tried to be frank and honest. So I imagine others who have said brash things like this had similar intentions. But sometimes efforts to be honest go too far.
Plus, I do not know what the whole context of that conversation was when that statement was said. For all I know the lady secretly felt bad that she received a disapproving reaction from the guy and tried to cover it with the shield of that statement. To her, it was his fault to react that way instead of her fault to answer his question that way.
But people like me put too much weight in what others think of us and what we say. Many times this is a bad thing because we lose sight of our needs and we don't protect our boundaries. We sacrifice too much for others when we don't need to.
But on the other side, there are people who have zero tact and lack consideration for others. It seems like more and more people fall in this category as the importance that was once put on manners and politeness is slowly disappearing. People take pride in their brash, no holds barred statements and attitude. It seems to be much more favorable to speak and act like this. But there is legitimate reason to be this way.
On one hand, we all should be polite and considerate towards others. But at the same time, we need to avoid going too far and compromising our own desires or intentions to be nice to someone else.
So where is that line between being honest with other people risking hurt feelings or feelings of disrespect and being rude and obnoxious showing little concern for another person's feelings?
I believe there is a way to assert you own interests and stand by what you want (within reason of course) without sounding rude or obnoxious. In fact there is a word for it. I used it earlier.
It is called tact.
Dictionary.com defines it as: "a keen sense of what is appropriate, tasteful, or aesthetically pleasing; taste; discrimination."
I recommend more people use it. Just because you say things in a particular way, with class, it doesn't mean you are being too nonconfrontational, passive or weak. It means you are standing your ground while showing class.
I have heard this statement several times in the past. It usually comes from loud mouths. More often than not, I hear people with little or no tact blurt out statements like this with a lack of concern of what other people think of them or their words.
First of all, if this guy knew what the answer was going to be, I don't think he would have asked it. The reason he asked was because he didn't know what the answer was in the first place. So how could he have stopped himself from asking it if he didn't know it would be something he didn't like?
It is a stupid statement. The lady came off as a rude, obnoxious blowhard in my opinion.
There is more to it than this though. I think the motivation behind statements like these is not always rudeness or disrespect. While I have not used this particular statement, I have used statements like it. I haven't intended on being rude most of the time, usually I have just tried to be frank and honest. So I imagine others who have said brash things like this had similar intentions. But sometimes efforts to be honest go too far.
Plus, I do not know what the whole context of that conversation was when that statement was said. For all I know the lady secretly felt bad that she received a disapproving reaction from the guy and tried to cover it with the shield of that statement. To her, it was his fault to react that way instead of her fault to answer his question that way.
But people like me put too much weight in what others think of us and what we say. Many times this is a bad thing because we lose sight of our needs and we don't protect our boundaries. We sacrifice too much for others when we don't need to.
But on the other side, there are people who have zero tact and lack consideration for others. It seems like more and more people fall in this category as the importance that was once put on manners and politeness is slowly disappearing. People take pride in their brash, no holds barred statements and attitude. It seems to be much more favorable to speak and act like this. But there is legitimate reason to be this way.
On one hand, we all should be polite and considerate towards others. But at the same time, we need to avoid going too far and compromising our own desires or intentions to be nice to someone else.
So where is that line between being honest with other people risking hurt feelings or feelings of disrespect and being rude and obnoxious showing little concern for another person's feelings?
I believe there is a way to assert you own interests and stand by what you want (within reason of course) without sounding rude or obnoxious. In fact there is a word for it. I used it earlier.
It is called tact.
Dictionary.com defines it as: "a keen sense of what is appropriate, tasteful, or aesthetically pleasing; taste; discrimination."
I recommend more people use it. Just because you say things in a particular way, with class, it doesn't mean you are being too nonconfrontational, passive or weak. It means you are standing your ground while showing class.
Friday, May 8, 2009
No Excuses
I often hear members of the Cleveland Cavaliers say they are a "no excuse team." This means that they will not come up with some reason why they lose a game or make mistakes other than the fact that they were outplayed or did not get the job done.
It is refreshing to see and hear this. Instead of passing the buck or blaming someone or something else, these players and coaches answer to a self-accountable agenda and own their mistakes in an era and culture that does the opposite.
This is where my sports reference stops.
Whether it is in my classroom or in the general public, I consistently hear people avoid any kind of ownership in their own actions. Mistakes are inevitably followed by what somebody else did or some other factor that led to their mistake.
I have heard it a million times. "I didn't make the team because the coach is a jerk." "It's all politics. I'm as good as anybody on that team." "The refs had it out for us. You can't beat your opponent AND the refs."
"He was talking too. Why are you mad at me?" "He hit me first." "She was talking about my mama!" "You always pick on me." All of this as they watch me watching them doing something wrong.
I have heard people who can't keep jobs (or drag their feet looking for a jobs) explain every time that it was their boss' fault or a problem with the business itself or the people they worked with at the place of employment. Never do they admit that they didn't perform the way that was required.
I am a culprit as well. This is not an attempt to point my finger at anybody in particular or to ignore my share in this tendency. At some point, we need to toughen up and admit our mistakes and focus on fixing them or moving on from them.
Personally, I have consciously made an effort to avoid this type of behavior. But these attempts are just looked at as pessimism or negative thinking. Sometimes, people make comments that I am too hard on myself.
It is a difficult line to walk. Balancing between self-accountability and pessimism is not easy.
This past week I made two bad throws during double play attempts. It wasn't the runner coming at me, it wasn't the sun, it wasn't a bad throw from my teammate, it was purely, 100% my inability to make that throw well enough.
When I get upset with myself and later make a comment that I can't make that throw, I come off as pessimistic.
I understand my personal issue here. I generally make numerous negative comments about things before they happen. I also go overboard in my negative talk and overtones. So I am seen as a pessimistic person. The Huey Karma is a perfect example.
I'll own this.
In my case, I need to better balance the accountability and pessimism by forcing myself to be more positive in general.
But people in general need to quit coming up with excuses. Call it what it is. If you are lazy, you are lazy. If you don't like it....change it. If you don't want to change it, then realize you are what you are and quit coming up with excuses about why you are that way. The reason is that you have chosen to be that way.
I am pessimistic. I am trying to be more positive. No excuses. That is what I am. Hopefully, I won't be in the future.
Man up and deal with your shortcomings in honest way. Nobody expects you to be perfect and if they do, that is their problem not yours.
It is refreshing to see and hear this. Instead of passing the buck or blaming someone or something else, these players and coaches answer to a self-accountable agenda and own their mistakes in an era and culture that does the opposite.
This is where my sports reference stops.
Whether it is in my classroom or in the general public, I consistently hear people avoid any kind of ownership in their own actions. Mistakes are inevitably followed by what somebody else did or some other factor that led to their mistake.
I have heard it a million times. "I didn't make the team because the coach is a jerk." "It's all politics. I'm as good as anybody on that team." "The refs had it out for us. You can't beat your opponent AND the refs."
"He was talking too. Why are you mad at me?" "He hit me first." "She was talking about my mama!" "You always pick on me." All of this as they watch me watching them doing something wrong.
I have heard people who can't keep jobs (or drag their feet looking for a jobs) explain every time that it was their boss' fault or a problem with the business itself or the people they worked with at the place of employment. Never do they admit that they didn't perform the way that was required.
I am a culprit as well. This is not an attempt to point my finger at anybody in particular or to ignore my share in this tendency. At some point, we need to toughen up and admit our mistakes and focus on fixing them or moving on from them.
Personally, I have consciously made an effort to avoid this type of behavior. But these attempts are just looked at as pessimism or negative thinking. Sometimes, people make comments that I am too hard on myself.
It is a difficult line to walk. Balancing between self-accountability and pessimism is not easy.
This past week I made two bad throws during double play attempts. It wasn't the runner coming at me, it wasn't the sun, it wasn't a bad throw from my teammate, it was purely, 100% my inability to make that throw well enough.
When I get upset with myself and later make a comment that I can't make that throw, I come off as pessimistic.
I understand my personal issue here. I generally make numerous negative comments about things before they happen. I also go overboard in my negative talk and overtones. So I am seen as a pessimistic person. The Huey Karma is a perfect example.
I'll own this.
In my case, I need to better balance the accountability and pessimism by forcing myself to be more positive in general.
But people in general need to quit coming up with excuses. Call it what it is. If you are lazy, you are lazy. If you don't like it....change it. If you don't want to change it, then realize you are what you are and quit coming up with excuses about why you are that way. The reason is that you have chosen to be that way.
I am pessimistic. I am trying to be more positive. No excuses. That is what I am. Hopefully, I won't be in the future.
Man up and deal with your shortcomings in honest way. Nobody expects you to be perfect and if they do, that is their problem not yours.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Observations on an average football Saturday
I attended the Ohio St. versus Troy game today with a friend of mine and enjoyed it thoroughly. Once again, I was able to take in the sights and events of gameday on OSU's campus. I still love the sound of the band, the electricity of the crowd, the annoying OH-IO cheer, the radio stations broadcasting live, the flags waving atop the stadium, the roar of the crowd, the ringing of the victory bell after we won, the traditional singing of "Carmen Ohio" at the end of the game and all the stadium food and snacks.
One thing I learned today was that Terrelle Pryor is the future of this football team and shows a ton of promise. Granted, that is probably the kiss of death coming from my lips but he looked pretty darn good. There were numerous freshman mistakes mixed in with some Houdini like escapes and nice throws, but nothing he can't learn from after some tutoring and film study. A couple calls to Craig Krenzel may help too so that he can learn how to throw the ball away at certain times.
What impressed me the most is how he was able to escape pressure and maintain his view down field to get to the open receiver. Obviously he can run well, we already knew that. His leadership and the uncoachable ability to get your players to rally behind you (A trait that separated Troy Smith from Justin Zwick from the get go), are things that I was curious to see. Also, I wanted to see how strong of an arm he had and how accurate he would be with it. Accuracy is still a question mark but arm strength isn't. These are things that can be shored up as he plays out this year and learns on the job. Playing through the Big Ten season will be invaluable as he works on reading defenses and making adjustments. Mistakes will come, but I can deal with these growing pains this year.
I mean would that be much different than Todd Boeckman making mistakes back there?
My brother and I were talking this evening about the LSU v. Auburn game taking place as I write this. The atmosphere of a SEC night game is phenomenal. We thought back how every Saturday night there is a great SEC game on tv. How awesome is that conference? I hate them for dominating my team but that doesn't mean I can't respect and appreciate what they have down there. Man, to be at a game like that. You just don't get that in the Big Ten that often. OSU v. Michigan is the closest the Big Ten has to this type of game I suppose, but even that is cold and in the early afternoon. I do recall the OSU v. Texas game which was early in the year and at night was similar too. But over the whole Big Ten? It doesn't really happen.
I am recovering nicely from the USC embarrassment I think. It is like having your balloon burst as a little kid. The initial shock sucks. We knew this was coming, but I was hoping it wouldn't come yet. Let's face it, this defense is overrated and the offense, especially with Boeckman, is not very good (Beanie or no Beanie). But now that the balloon has burst and reality has set in, I kind of feel relieved. I can relax now. I can just sit back and enjoy football without the nervous anxiety over my team. The reality has been for a good two or more seasons that watching Buckeye games has been hard work. The fun was gone. I mean it was a no win situation really. Think about it. We needed the Buckeyes to win EVERY game. If they lost it was disaster. Shoot, even if they won sometimes you felt like we lost when the win wasn't convincing enough. The optimal result, a convincing win, wasn't even that satisfying because it was what was supposed to happen. It was like shooting par. All it meant was we lived to see another day. That is hard to do for two plus seasons. Now we can just sit back at 13 and quietly go about our season while the national media hones their ultra critical, anti-Buckeye spotlight on other programs out there. (Well, maybe. They still enjoy poking fun at us any chance they get) We can still play for another Big Ten title and a BCS bowl which is cool. Like my brother said, maybe we could get a shot at another SEC team and an opportunity to shut up all those fans. Then next year, a seasoned Pryor and fresh defense (hopefully new defensive coordinator) can come out and put the rest if our demons to rest with some big wins.
Here is another annoying pet peeve I have: girls that say "Ohhhhhhh my God you guys." Or sometimes it may go, "Oh my Goooooooood, you guys."
Have you noticed a negative tone in my posts of late? I have not been feeling positive at all. That is probably a really bad thing. I am only making things worse but I swear I am just ticked off. Sigh.
One thing I learned today was that Terrelle Pryor is the future of this football team and shows a ton of promise. Granted, that is probably the kiss of death coming from my lips but he looked pretty darn good. There were numerous freshman mistakes mixed in with some Houdini like escapes and nice throws, but nothing he can't learn from after some tutoring and film study. A couple calls to Craig Krenzel may help too so that he can learn how to throw the ball away at certain times.
What impressed me the most is how he was able to escape pressure and maintain his view down field to get to the open receiver. Obviously he can run well, we already knew that. His leadership and the uncoachable ability to get your players to rally behind you (A trait that separated Troy Smith from Justin Zwick from the get go), are things that I was curious to see. Also, I wanted to see how strong of an arm he had and how accurate he would be with it. Accuracy is still a question mark but arm strength isn't. These are things that can be shored up as he plays out this year and learns on the job. Playing through the Big Ten season will be invaluable as he works on reading defenses and making adjustments. Mistakes will come, but I can deal with these growing pains this year.
I mean would that be much different than Todd Boeckman making mistakes back there?
My brother and I were talking this evening about the LSU v. Auburn game taking place as I write this. The atmosphere of a SEC night game is phenomenal. We thought back how every Saturday night there is a great SEC game on tv. How awesome is that conference? I hate them for dominating my team but that doesn't mean I can't respect and appreciate what they have down there. Man, to be at a game like that. You just don't get that in the Big Ten that often. OSU v. Michigan is the closest the Big Ten has to this type of game I suppose, but even that is cold and in the early afternoon. I do recall the OSU v. Texas game which was early in the year and at night was similar too. But over the whole Big Ten? It doesn't really happen.
I am recovering nicely from the USC embarrassment I think. It is like having your balloon burst as a little kid. The initial shock sucks. We knew this was coming, but I was hoping it wouldn't come yet. Let's face it, this defense is overrated and the offense, especially with Boeckman, is not very good (Beanie or no Beanie). But now that the balloon has burst and reality has set in, I kind of feel relieved. I can relax now. I can just sit back and enjoy football without the nervous anxiety over my team. The reality has been for a good two or more seasons that watching Buckeye games has been hard work. The fun was gone. I mean it was a no win situation really. Think about it. We needed the Buckeyes to win EVERY game. If they lost it was disaster. Shoot, even if they won sometimes you felt like we lost when the win wasn't convincing enough. The optimal result, a convincing win, wasn't even that satisfying because it was what was supposed to happen. It was like shooting par. All it meant was we lived to see another day. That is hard to do for two plus seasons. Now we can just sit back at 13 and quietly go about our season while the national media hones their ultra critical, anti-Buckeye spotlight on other programs out there. (Well, maybe. They still enjoy poking fun at us any chance they get) We can still play for another Big Ten title and a BCS bowl which is cool. Like my brother said, maybe we could get a shot at another SEC team and an opportunity to shut up all those fans. Then next year, a seasoned Pryor and fresh defense (hopefully new defensive coordinator) can come out and put the rest if our demons to rest with some big wins.
Here is another annoying pet peeve I have: girls that say "Ohhhhhhh my God you guys." Or sometimes it may go, "Oh my Goooooooood, you guys."
Have you noticed a negative tone in my posts of late? I have not been feeling positive at all. That is probably a really bad thing. I am only making things worse but I swear I am just ticked off. Sigh.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Me
I was reminded today that I "always" have a problem with women who show strength. Then I was reminded that actually, I have a problem with a lot of things that a lot of people do and that is just one of many. They are right. I do. I have a lot of anger in me. Where has that come from? Why am I so angry with the things so many people do? Is there one underlying reason or does each "issue" have its own source of bitterness?
The annoyances are varied. Here is a sampling of my pet peeves to show that I am not biased against one particular group. Also, I do some of these things myself. So sometimes I hate them because I do them and wish I didn't.
1) Talking about how many women you have been with. The women are always "so hot" and that is the most important part of the stories or conversation. Most of the people I associate with that are my age are long over this. I think it is more of an age thing.
2) Talking about how much happier you are in a different situation to prove that you are over an old situation. This could be a relationship or a job or a school or whatever. But people cover up all their pain over losing this by broadcasting how much better things are now and how "over it" they are or how horrible it was back then and isn't now. The whole time it is obvious they are hurting inside. They are in denial and not admitting the grieving.
I mean if they need to keep proving how much better things are now they probably are not that great. Or they still have regrets over losing what they had. If they were really in a better place they would feel no need to keep talking about how much better things are now compared to then. They would just talk about how good things are now as they are without need for comparison.
3) Trying to do things against the mainstream just for the sake to be against the mainstream and not for the pure reason of doing it. This actually puts you in the mainstream because it is mainstream to want to be anti-establishment. I have so much more interest in people who do what they do for the purity of what it is as opposed to it being something different.
4) The inability to see other perspectives than your own.
5) Thinking fans who get mad at their sports teams are not "true fans." There is a group of people out there that think true fans stand by their teams by never saying a bad word about them no matter the quality that is put o the field. They believe you should wear your team colored glasses and blinders all the time and never admit the shortcomings. They don't realize the fans that are opening their eyes and looking at the team as it is and not shying away from claiming they suck when they really do are the fans that know more and feel more and hurt more than any other fans. In fact these fans that are complaining and speaking negatively about their team are the ones that still go to games no matter the weather or success of the team while those so called "true fans" are ignoring the team until they get good again.
I take this personally because I am one of them. I constantly complain about my teams. But where was I for the last Browns' game of the season for three seasons when there was nothing for them to play for and the weather was so nasty you couldn't pay people hundreds of dollars to be out in it for more than 20 minutes? I was at the games. So if you wanna question my fan hood when I am crying a storm over how much my team stinks.....SHUT UP!
6) Loving teams that are currently good and acting like you were always a fan. Then sporting the jersey of the most well known player from said team until they stink.
Common offenders:
Lakers/Kobe Bryant fans....
Shia Lebouf who sported a LeBron jersey on the Best Damn Sports Show Period a during James rookie year and even SAID he wasn't a Cavs fan but a LeBron fan!!!!!!!! Jerk. I loved Transformers, but forget him.
Yankees/Derk Jeter fans.....
Red Sox/Celtics...well I just hate Boston fans period. Cry me a river.
7) Big guys that think they can do whatever they want just because of their size and the rest of us are supposed to be scared of them. I would love one day to put some meat head in his place. But I never will. That is precisely why they get away with it. They know scrawny little knuckleheads like myself couldn't do anything about it.
8) Chesters walking around with their designer shoes, collared shirts unbuttoned down with a necklace hanging down and expensive sunglasses on chomping on gum and wearing their highlighted hair in some fancy style thinking they are cooler and better than everyone else, in particular me.
9) Thinking teachers leave the same time the students do and have cake walk jobs.
10) Acting like softball is some sort of important sport. I love playing softball. I thoroughly enjoy it because I can hang out with my friends, compete, exercise and enjoy the nuances of the game. But I never think anyone other than me and the other players give a darn about it. I also don't believe anyone, including myself, are any kind of an athlete out there. Guys who waltz in there with their brand new bags loaded with powder, eye makeup, Oakley sunglasses, elbow and wristbands, metal cleats, two mega bats that cost hundreds of dollars, several high quality balls, a dry erase board for the lineups and talking of the 42 cork balls vs the 44s and then act like they are God's gift to the softball world just to have an excuse every time they don't hit a home run as they swing as hard as they can for the fences every at bat, just make me laugh. Usually they are so freaking hillbilly here in Ohio that it is even funnier. I just can't believe how serious they take everything.
11) Doing the OH! IO! cheer all the freaking time. Or at the wrong time. Listen, I love my Buckeyes and I like that cheer as much as the next guy but for crying out loud can we let it rest a bit? It has reached the point of overkill that even Buckeye fans like myself find it obnoxious. When we are down 21 points and mounting a drive that could get us back in it, DON'T break that out! Especially at a bar hundreds of miles away from the game. I'm trying to concentrate on the game. Or at a time when we are obviously destroying the other team.
12) Calling me "Big Kat" when I wear the #45 jersey. For some reason when I wore that jersey complete strangers would always call out "Hey Big Kat" to me in a mocking tone like I thought I was Andy Katzemoyer when I wore it. It never happens with any other jersey I have ever worn. I never heard anyone else get called that when they wore the same jersey. What in the world was going on there? I know I am a scrawny guy that would never be mistaken for a football player so why did I get so much crap for wearing it? There were plenty of other people just as skinny as me wearing that same jersey at that same time. Why me?
13) Talking about how bad your local team when you obviously don't know what you are talking about. This is different than talking about how bad your team is because you just love them too much. This is that naive fan who tries to look like they know something and jumps on the bandwagon of ripping on the team like the angst ridden fans like myself when they have no clue. They pull out general comments about how bad they are when actually the team is pretty good. It is about the gerneral v. specific. Those of us who love the team so much are negative about specific aspects like the Offensive Line or the passing game or particular game plans or play calls whereas the ignorant poser fan just says the team sucks because they are said team and "always suck."
14) Nitpicking things that are going on in front of you that you are in charge of as though you can't see they are happening. This comes when you are teaching or parenting or dealing with other people whose behavior or job is under your watch. Ususally the observer will make comments like "didn't you see that?" or "Are you going to do something about that?" "So and so is doing this or that." They have this nasty tone of disgust or judgement towards you while you are trying to handle things as best you can as quickly as you can. Or maybe they are observing from a distance with little or no "real" experience int he situation you are currently in. But somehow they know how it should be. It's like those people born on third thinking they hit a triple. While you busted your rear end to get a single against a 100 mph pitcher and sit two bases behind them on first.
I see this on tv as well and it ticks me off so much. Kill the attitude. The person was set up to fail and you sit there and start picking out every little thing that isn't working right just as they happen. I think it was a commercial for Dr. 90210 when the dad was supposed to take care of the kids and they weren't listening to him so his wife immediately points out they weren't listening to him at all. REALLY? Well, thank you because I couldn't see that for my freaking self!
I had a really rough class during my student teaching and had to come up with something to use when I when full board on my own late in the year to keep them under control and attentive when I taught. So I came up with a behavior plan. It is one I use to this day and have had tons of success with. In fact people have come in to take pictures of it to publish throughout the district. Parents love it, other teachers have incorporated it and most importantly students LOVE it. It works. But I had this professor who totally tore it apart and threw educational theory after educational theory down my throat as to how bad an idea it was and how I shouldn't be using it. I felt like complete crap because I was very proud of it. My mentor teacher even thought it was a good idea. I mean it was his class. He knew what I was up against. This professor who was so out of touch and spent her time in Upper Arlington had no idea but everyone thought she did. When she came in to observe my use of it, she nitpicked every little thing the kids did like I didn't realize they were doing it. If she only knew what they would do to substitute teachers and to me in the beginning of the year. Maybe Johnny was looking the other way or playing with his eraser while I was demonstrating something but he wasn't throwing that eraser at Suzy two rows to his left.
The annoyances are varied. Here is a sampling of my pet peeves to show that I am not biased against one particular group. Also, I do some of these things myself. So sometimes I hate them because I do them and wish I didn't.
1) Talking about how many women you have been with. The women are always "so hot" and that is the most important part of the stories or conversation. Most of the people I associate with that are my age are long over this. I think it is more of an age thing.
2) Talking about how much happier you are in a different situation to prove that you are over an old situation. This could be a relationship or a job or a school or whatever. But people cover up all their pain over losing this by broadcasting how much better things are now and how "over it" they are or how horrible it was back then and isn't now. The whole time it is obvious they are hurting inside. They are in denial and not admitting the grieving.
I mean if they need to keep proving how much better things are now they probably are not that great. Or they still have regrets over losing what they had. If they were really in a better place they would feel no need to keep talking about how much better things are now compared to then. They would just talk about how good things are now as they are without need for comparison.
3) Trying to do things against the mainstream just for the sake to be against the mainstream and not for the pure reason of doing it. This actually puts you in the mainstream because it is mainstream to want to be anti-establishment. I have so much more interest in people who do what they do for the purity of what it is as opposed to it being something different.
4) The inability to see other perspectives than your own.
5) Thinking fans who get mad at their sports teams are not "true fans." There is a group of people out there that think true fans stand by their teams by never saying a bad word about them no matter the quality that is put o the field. They believe you should wear your team colored glasses and blinders all the time and never admit the shortcomings. They don't realize the fans that are opening their eyes and looking at the team as it is and not shying away from claiming they suck when they really do are the fans that know more and feel more and hurt more than any other fans. In fact these fans that are complaining and speaking negatively about their team are the ones that still go to games no matter the weather or success of the team while those so called "true fans" are ignoring the team until they get good again.
I take this personally because I am one of them. I constantly complain about my teams. But where was I for the last Browns' game of the season for three seasons when there was nothing for them to play for and the weather was so nasty you couldn't pay people hundreds of dollars to be out in it for more than 20 minutes? I was at the games. So if you wanna question my fan hood when I am crying a storm over how much my team stinks.....SHUT UP!
6) Loving teams that are currently good and acting like you were always a fan. Then sporting the jersey of the most well known player from said team until they stink.
Common offenders:
Lakers/Kobe Bryant fans....
Shia Lebouf who sported a LeBron jersey on the Best Damn Sports Show Period a during James rookie year and even SAID he wasn't a Cavs fan but a LeBron fan!!!!!!!! Jerk. I loved Transformers, but forget him.
Yankees/Derk Jeter fans.....
Red Sox/Celtics...well I just hate Boston fans period. Cry me a river.
7) Big guys that think they can do whatever they want just because of their size and the rest of us are supposed to be scared of them. I would love one day to put some meat head in his place. But I never will. That is precisely why they get away with it. They know scrawny little knuckleheads like myself couldn't do anything about it.
8) Chesters walking around with their designer shoes, collared shirts unbuttoned down with a necklace hanging down and expensive sunglasses on chomping on gum and wearing their highlighted hair in some fancy style thinking they are cooler and better than everyone else, in particular me.
9) Thinking teachers leave the same time the students do and have cake walk jobs.
10) Acting like softball is some sort of important sport. I love playing softball. I thoroughly enjoy it because I can hang out with my friends, compete, exercise and enjoy the nuances of the game. But I never think anyone other than me and the other players give a darn about it. I also don't believe anyone, including myself, are any kind of an athlete out there. Guys who waltz in there with their brand new bags loaded with powder, eye makeup, Oakley sunglasses, elbow and wristbands, metal cleats, two mega bats that cost hundreds of dollars, several high quality balls, a dry erase board for the lineups and talking of the 42 cork balls vs the 44s and then act like they are God's gift to the softball world just to have an excuse every time they don't hit a home run as they swing as hard as they can for the fences every at bat, just make me laugh. Usually they are so freaking hillbilly here in Ohio that it is even funnier. I just can't believe how serious they take everything.
11) Doing the OH! IO! cheer all the freaking time. Or at the wrong time. Listen, I love my Buckeyes and I like that cheer as much as the next guy but for crying out loud can we let it rest a bit? It has reached the point of overkill that even Buckeye fans like myself find it obnoxious. When we are down 21 points and mounting a drive that could get us back in it, DON'T break that out! Especially at a bar hundreds of miles away from the game. I'm trying to concentrate on the game. Or at a time when we are obviously destroying the other team.
12) Calling me "Big Kat" when I wear the #45 jersey. For some reason when I wore that jersey complete strangers would always call out "Hey Big Kat" to me in a mocking tone like I thought I was Andy Katzemoyer when I wore it. It never happens with any other jersey I have ever worn. I never heard anyone else get called that when they wore the same jersey. What in the world was going on there? I know I am a scrawny guy that would never be mistaken for a football player so why did I get so much crap for wearing it? There were plenty of other people just as skinny as me wearing that same jersey at that same time. Why me?
13) Talking about how bad your local team when you obviously don't know what you are talking about. This is different than talking about how bad your team is because you just love them too much. This is that naive fan who tries to look like they know something and jumps on the bandwagon of ripping on the team like the angst ridden fans like myself when they have no clue. They pull out general comments about how bad they are when actually the team is pretty good. It is about the gerneral v. specific. Those of us who love the team so much are negative about specific aspects like the Offensive Line or the passing game or particular game plans or play calls whereas the ignorant poser fan just says the team sucks because they are said team and "always suck."
14) Nitpicking things that are going on in front of you that you are in charge of as though you can't see they are happening. This comes when you are teaching or parenting or dealing with other people whose behavior or job is under your watch. Ususally the observer will make comments like "didn't you see that?" or "Are you going to do something about that?" "So and so is doing this or that." They have this nasty tone of disgust or judgement towards you while you are trying to handle things as best you can as quickly as you can. Or maybe they are observing from a distance with little or no "real" experience int he situation you are currently in. But somehow they know how it should be. It's like those people born on third thinking they hit a triple. While you busted your rear end to get a single against a 100 mph pitcher and sit two bases behind them on first.
I see this on tv as well and it ticks me off so much. Kill the attitude. The person was set up to fail and you sit there and start picking out every little thing that isn't working right just as they happen. I think it was a commercial for Dr. 90210 when the dad was supposed to take care of the kids and they weren't listening to him so his wife immediately points out they weren't listening to him at all. REALLY? Well, thank you because I couldn't see that for my freaking self!
I had a really rough class during my student teaching and had to come up with something to use when I when full board on my own late in the year to keep them under control and attentive when I taught. So I came up with a behavior plan. It is one I use to this day and have had tons of success with. In fact people have come in to take pictures of it to publish throughout the district. Parents love it, other teachers have incorporated it and most importantly students LOVE it. It works. But I had this professor who totally tore it apart and threw educational theory after educational theory down my throat as to how bad an idea it was and how I shouldn't be using it. I felt like complete crap because I was very proud of it. My mentor teacher even thought it was a good idea. I mean it was his class. He knew what I was up against. This professor who was so out of touch and spent her time in Upper Arlington had no idea but everyone thought she did. When she came in to observe my use of it, she nitpicked every little thing the kids did like I didn't realize they were doing it. If she only knew what they would do to substitute teachers and to me in the beginning of the year. Maybe Johnny was looking the other way or playing with his eraser while I was demonstrating something but he wasn't throwing that eraser at Suzy two rows to his left.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Slices of Pizza
I like my pizza sliced in triangles. I consider this the proper way to slice a pizza. But about 15 years ago when I moved to Columbus from Mentor (Cleveland area), I noticed that a popular pizza establishment called Donatos was cutting their pizzas in squares or rectangles.
At first I thought it was just their unique deal but other establishments were doing the same thing. It got to the point where I couldn't find a regular sliced pizza pie anywhere!!!
I dealt with the situation but soon grew weary of the crustless pizzas and the constant grabbing for another tiny piece. I sought out pizza joints with the properly sliced zas.
During my visits back home I knew I could get the traditionally sliced pies and began to wonder. Is it a Columbus, Ohio thing to have so many four sided slices of pizzas? Or is it a development whose timing just coincided with my move to Cbus?
Let me know...how are most of the pizza joints slicing pizzas where you reside? If quadrilaterally, how long has this been going on? What do you prefer and why?
At first I thought it was just their unique deal but other establishments were doing the same thing. It got to the point where I couldn't find a regular sliced pizza pie anywhere!!!
I dealt with the situation but soon grew weary of the crustless pizzas and the constant grabbing for another tiny piece. I sought out pizza joints with the properly sliced zas.
During my visits back home I knew I could get the traditionally sliced pies and began to wonder. Is it a Columbus, Ohio thing to have so many four sided slices of pizzas? Or is it a development whose timing just coincided with my move to Cbus?
Let me know...how are most of the pizza joints slicing pizzas where you reside? If quadrilaterally, how long has this been going on? What do you prefer and why?
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