Dealing with Ignorance

[Fit2BKilted]

He who smelt it dealt it. If they question us, then they must question themselves. Violence never solved anything that couldn't have been solved over a pint and a fine egg.

While I'm generally inclined to agree, I am steadfast in my belief that until all people are rational and therefore courteous (The Day of Judgement?), violence must remain an appropriate and necessary aspect of the vocabulary of social discourse, if for no other reason than to demonstrate the vagaries of poor manners to the uncouth. Just as capturing stones is not the object of a game of GO, the rules thereof shape the logic of efficient play. The absolute insulation of society (especially among the young) from violence is a feature of what I have termed "over-civilization", and it is a cancer on the face of the human race liable to condemn us, collectively, either to self-destruction or regression as a species.

[Nighthawk]

While I'm generally inclined to agree, I am steadfast in my belief that until all people are rational and therefore courteous (The Day of Judgement?), violence must remain an appropriate and necessary aspect of the vocabulary of social discourse, if for no other reason than to demonstrate the vagaries of poor manners to the uncouth. Just as capturing stones is not the object of a game of GO, the rules thereof shape the logic of efficient play. The absolute insulation of society (especially among the young) from violence is a feature of what I have termed "over-civilization", and it is a cancer on the face of the human race liable to condemn us, collectively, either to self-destruction or regression as a species.

Wow! I just think that you sometimes have to punch people in the face to get them to listen... You said it in a much more civilized way than I!

Oh, and I love your sig. "An armed society is a polite society." - Ben Franklin.

[Strings]

[thread veer]

Violence (actual physical force) should be an absolute last resort. If it isn't, if there are other options that you explore to resolving a problem after violence has been used, then you're using it wrong.

[/thread veer]

Just my three cents (inflation, you know)

[BroosterB1]

As much as I see the futility and down right heartbreak of violence, an armed society is a polite society. Every now and then the proper use of the right 2X4 will set the table for polite negotiations.ith:

[Strings]

See, I disagree there to an extent.

However, this might not be the place to get into a full-fledged discussion of use of force concepts (and the morality the governs them).

For myself, I will say this: someone simply SAYING something about my wearing a kilt isn't enough to earn a violent response. And, if words like that are enough in someone's view, perhaps they need professional help?

[Perldog007]

One of my best friends became forever young about a year ago. He left us at age 41 and was a Campbell. His Mom asked me to say a few words at his memorial service.

The Church was rather upset because the family was too poor for a burial and the man was Catholic. The service was pawned off on an immigrant priest who conveniently acted like he didn't speak english when I tried to identify myself as the person giving the eulogy.

I was of course in black watch tartan. ( StillWater Kilts Heavyweight, I have gotten so many compliments on that, including one from a kilt shop in Alexandria Virginia - they could tell it wasn't hand made but declared it amazing for a machine sewn article)

Later, I heard the man asking the bereaved mother if I was playing the bagpipes. Hearing the man speak English after the game he played with me was aggravating. The need to strangle somebody came rushing up all at once.

Rather than terminate a priest on Holy Ground, I clasped him on the shoulder and smiled saying ; "Padre, I lay pipe almost every day, let's not call your sister a bag though, OK?". He could only smile and pretend not to understand.

That's the last time I was gratuitously disrespected while kilted.

When I first started wearing a kilt I did take some grief for it. As confidence increases the ignorant tend to start keeping their distance. Sometimes I still hear remarks at a distance or from moving cars, but rarely does a confident man get disrespected at close range.

[Tobus]

For myself, I will say this: someone simply SAYING something about my wearing a kilt isn't enough to earn a violent response. And, if words like that are enough in someone's view, perhaps they need professional help?

I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment. I don't know how it is where most of you folks live, but here in Texas, many of us legally carry concealed handguns. And a certain responsibility goes with it. Should a violent situation arise where one has to use a weapon in self defense (or the defense of others), one must realize that the law will NOT be on one's side if he in any way elevated the situation to violence.

Plus, you never know if the person you initiate force against is well-armed. Simply put, the reason an armed society is a polite society is because every man assumes the other is well armed, and this creates a very real concern that any initiation of violence will end in the proverbial "mutually assured destruction".

Be careful, folks, if you decide to initiate aggression against someone who has done nothing but mouth off. You may be biting off more than you can chew!

[sathor]

I still just reply, "no, I play golf. " and I do it with a tone that really drives in just how dumb a question asking if I play the pipes really is. Granted, I havn't golfed since '01 or '02, but I still have the clubs.

Though, to be fair, among my natural talents is talking to people in such a way that it makes them cry. It takes effort not to use that talent.

[Nighthawk]

Be careful, folks, if you decide to initiate aggression against someone who has done nothing but mouth off. You may be biting off more than you can chew!

No one said anything about initiating. I would never- ever- initiate violence. I want to make that very clear about myself. I had someone actually throw something at me out of the window of his car, and I was doing noting but walking to the store. I simply won't tolerate it when it's directed at me.

[thread veer]

Violence (actual physical force) should be an absolute last resort. If it isn't, if there are other options that you explore to resolving a problem after violence has been used, then you're using it wrong.

[/thread veer]

Just my three cents (inflation, you know)

You are absolutely correct, and I could not agree more. It should only be used in self defense. Problem with ignorance is that when it turns into stupidity, you are occasionally put into a situation where defending yourself is a nessecity. (Stupidity being here defined as irrational and intentional ignorance- meaning a refusal to learn, and furthermore taking actions based on hatred and prejudice coupled with that refusal to learn- extreme cases to be sure, but not at all uncommon. Ignorance actually seems more and more to be regarded as a virtue in our society, sadly.)

[Nighthawk]

I still just reply, "no, I play golf. " and I do it with a tone that really drives in just how dumb a question asking if I play the pipes really is. Granted, I havn't golfed since '01 or '02, but I still have the clubs.

Though, to be fair, among my natural talents is talking to people in such a way that it makes them cry. It takes effort not to use that talent.

My grandfather used to say that Irish diplomacy means telling someone to go to hell and making him look forward to the journey. That's what I strive for.