I’ve been involved in market research for over 30 years. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in that time, it’s that people like to think that everyone is like them. When I hear people talk about how we’re all racist, we don’t care about others, we’re too materialistic and we have to think of future generations, I wonder if they’re telling everyone else these things because they see them as their own personal obstacles. When I hear people espouse the belief that rich people all stole or cheated to get there, I can’t help but think the people saying…
I’m an idiot, and I vote
I was just on my way home from the dentist when I ended up waiting in line at a stop light. It was two lanes going each way, so there was a line of cars next to me as long as the line I was in. There were eight cars in each line. I was the eighth car in the left lane. Mine was also a turning lane, and it was difficult to tell which of the cars in front of me were going to be waiting to turn left. When the light changed, we didn’t move, which told…
When your voting base is the uninformed
It’s hard to quantify these things, but it would seem the “get out the vote” effort is greater this election than any other I’ve lived through. Now, is it a fair assumption that most get out the vote efforts are driven by left-leaning activists? And, is it also fair to say that their target audience are those who are otherwise not inclined to vote because they’re not following the election, they don’t really pay attention to the news, or they simply don’t care? If there’s truth to the first two questions, then isn’t it fair to say that left-leaning…
1+1=74
I was skipping through the news and saw a clip of Joe Biden on BBC America telling a rally that we must not let the Republican Party divide us. I couldn’t help but think: “Which party continually talks only in terms of blacks, transgenders, women, gays, Hispanics, white males, etc?” Democrat politicians and activists consistently “celebrate diversity” and frame every political topic according to what slice of America is getting hurt by it and who’s benefitting. You will seldom hear a Democrat refer to all Americans. Sometimes I’m stunned by the brazen projection that goes on.
Do we still believe in winning?
I was having lunch with a friend last week when we started talking about Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign. Trump’s campaign is centered on casting events as competition that America is either going to win or lose. Economically, America is either going to beat China or lose to China. In the “war on terror,” we are either going to beat Islamofascists or lose to them. And so on… In our conversation, I asked my friend the question, “Do you think Americans still believe in winning?” What I meant was, are we still a nation of competitors who…
Spatial relations
Part of being respectful of others is respecting their space. Most people do this, but I sometimes wonder if it’s regional. I’ve lived in many place in the US, and in places like the Midwest, people seem pretty aware of their surroundings. During my last visit to Up North, every time I walked, ran, or biked on the main roads, every car that passed moved over into the other lane to give me some space. It was similar living in other parts of the Midwest. Contrast that to my last time in the Pacific Northwest, where cars militantly drove…
Who would you drop everything to go see?
Someone recently told me if Tony Robbins is ever in town, I have to go and see him. Which got me thinking… Wouldn’t it be cool if people felt that way about you? “If Face House is ever in town, drop what you’re doing to make sure you see him.” What would it take for people to say that about you? If you visited a city where you had friends, and they knew you were coming to town, how many would put aside other plans to make sure they saw you while you were there? What kind of person…
Always mad at the consequence, never the action
Want to know how to avoid police brutality? Cooperate with a police officer. Want to know how to avoid being separated from your children when you’re in the country illegally? Don’t be in the country illegally. Trying to stay out of jail? Don’t break laws. Want to keep your right to vote? Avoid committing felonies. Don’t want to deal with road rage? Perhaps stop giving people the finger. Want to find a safe place to inject heroin? Don’t inject heroin. It’s the only safe way to deal with heroin. Don’t want to have to choose between an abortion and…
Heard on the elevator
I was riding the elevator this morning and two women got in and moved behind me, between me and the door. I was facing the door, so I couldn’t really see what was going on, but this is what I heard: “Your toes look so good today.” “Heh… thanks.” (Said sheepishly…) “They’re *ucking amazing!” (Said with an insane amount of enthusiasm.) The door opened on my floor before I was able to sneak a peak, but I’m going to take her word for it.
Island of misfit professionals
We can debate whether things are getting better or worse as a society. But one thing we can all agree on: people are becoming more charitable with their time and money than ever before. With school systems and some colleges requiring community service hours, and corporations getting more involved, it’s becoming part of the culture. The Bubbler is doing our part by announcing the Bubbler Home for Bad Businesspeople House (BHBBH). We’ve all experienced it. We’ve all worked in places where there was plenty of talent, but just a few key people who’s presence insured that the company would…