It's not often that I take the time to rant about smaller issues that most people would ignore or treat as fodder. I am a very loyal, dedicated individual and there are some things in life that upset me that would not upset other folks.
For example, before we can declare "war" on ignorance, we have to understand what ignorance is.
Webster's defines ignorance as:
Main Entry: ig·no·rance
Pronunciation: \ˈig-n(ə-)rən(t)s\
Function: noun
Date: 13th century
: the state or fact of being ignorant : lack of knowledge, education, or awareness
As stated, an ignorant person is someone with a lack of any of the three mentioned traits: knowledge, education and awareness.
So, here's a few things that irritate me in life:
- People who litter.
While shoveling snow today, I noticed that someone had left a McDonald's bag in the snow by a sidewalk. If they had walked in the building, they would find a trash can. But, because they don't seem to care enough about the environment to do so, it makes them ignorant. People should know better by now.
- People who trash public bathrooms.
It should be common sense for people to use courtesy when they are using public bathrooms to not make such a horrible mess. If you wouldn't mess up your bathroom at home, don't do it in public either.
- People who use their cell phones in public.
People should know better to respect the privacy of others and turn off their cell phones in public places where there are large groups. There's nothing more annoying than browsing magazines in a bookstore and the person next to you just has to answer that phone call without taking it outside.
Politics
- The "Obama-Osama", "Obama is a Muslim" myth.
Usually perpetuated by people with a lack of higher education, this myth is slanderous, disgusting and unfair to Barack Obama. While I do not plan to vote for Obama, I think that this myth could hurt him unless he were to clear it up with the public. It's pathetic how people do not know how to check sources and blindly pass on myths as truth.
- John Edwards' haircut
Again, another example of a pointless "fact" about Edwards bandied about to rile up potential supporters. Surely, a man who spends $400 on a haircut wouldn't care about a working family. A candidate's grooming habits should have no bearing on whether or not he/she is qualified to lead. It's too bad that some people continue to spread this crap.
- Hillary's shrillness and sexist attitudes towards Hillary
Yet another example of something that is so irrevelant and yet present in our media. The tone of someone's voice should have no bearing on their qualifications to lead. People who think it's amusing to dismiss her by using sexist language really annoy the hell out of me.
We can't completely eliminate ignorance in society. However, people have got to realize that if they are going to talk about someone or do something, that they need to use their heads for once. Don't spread stories unless you have checked out the sources. A good resource for debunking/fact-checking urban legends and rumors is Snopes.