IJCH - Inside JaiChai's Head (Meaning: My Warped, Personal Opinions and Musings)
From the Author:
Salutations.
I am JaiChai.
And if I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you before, I'm delighted to make your acquaintance now.
I invite you to interact with everyone, learn, and have as much fun as possible!
For my returning online friends, "It's always great to see you again!"
Stupidity vs. Ignorance
Most people use the word "stupid", when they really should be using the word "ignorant".
This is due to the common tendency to confuse "ignorance" with "stupidity" and erroneously thinking that the two terms are synonymous.
That's wrong.
There's a big difference between the two words.
An ignorant person is someone who lacks knowledge; while a stupid person has the knowledge, but chooses to act contrary to it.
In other words, ignorance is by chance; while stupidity is by choice!
Who Knows?
“He who thinks he knows, doesn't know. He who knows that he doesn't know, knows.” - Joseph Campbell
Let's face it, smug "Know It All's" really suck to be around!
When I'm stuck in that kind of situation, I immediately think, "If they were really THAT smart, they would've already figured out that the more you know, the more you don't know; meaning, for every new learning there is more to learn."
It's kind of like hunting down the square root of the number "2" - an infinite journey to an irrational number (props to Hippasus from the Pythagorean School of Ancient Greece for that significant discovery).
Sarcasm - An Old Habit
I've always been a wise-ass; but not the malevolent type.
I didn't go around intentionally hurting people's feelings.
My brand of sarcasm was all in good fun and always targeted on those who knew that I was being sarcastic.
(Side Note: Writers Beware - Sarcasm is very difficult to effectively convey in writing. Use it sparingly or invite multiple misunderstandings into your life!)
It's ironic.
In some circles, sarcasm can be a great tool for bonding and is an outward sign of camaraderie within a group.
For example, "asshole" can actually be a term of endearment between too close friends.
In contrast, when I had to deal with blatantly stupid people, I had a habit of saying:
Or something like:
Was I just being polite?
Nah!
In a roundabout way, what I was really saying was this:
"Obviously, I am no match for your level of ignorance..."
Not Giving a Shit Anymore...
I have long since dispensed with the aforementioned, unnecessary faux apologies.
These days, I really don't give a shit if I sound stupid - especially when I'm forced to engage in debate with a stupid person.
My attitude is simple:
"Ok. If you think I'm an idiot. Please tell me why?"
A less subtle way of saying "Not Giving a Shit" is "Not Giving a F*ck".
There's an excellent book called "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" by Mark Manson.
I highly recommend reading this book.
(Spoiler: It's not what you think. Don't let the title fool you.)
Here's a thorough video book review about it -
"The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k - Summary and Application [Part 1/2]"
"The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k - Summary and Application [Part 2/2]"
Embracing My Ignorance
Over the years, I've come to cherish my ignorance.
Why?
Because it fuels two of my passions in life: learning and writing.
Message to all writers:
For the love of Buddha, write about it! Write! Write! Write! No matter what, write about it!
You never know if other people know what you've just learned (or even if they care to know about it).
So, write about it!
The worse thing that could happen is that they brush you off, and totally ignore you.
That's OK.
Don't take it personally.
Everyone has different intellectual tastes and personal interests. The best that could happen is for them to actually teach you something.
Note:
Hecklers and trolls are especially valuable for learning.
Why is this? Because they disagree.
Stated differently:
You'll never learn anything from people who always agree with you. If that is your goal (to NOT learn anything), simply surround yourself with "Yes" men.
Living Up to My Own Standards
Of course, when writing something for publication, I do my research.
I wouldn't want anyone reading my work to immediately think I was pulling stuff out of my ass; basically slinging unsupported bullshit and touting it as fact.
IMHO, writing that is poorly researched or intentionally misleading is an unacceptable breach of trust between the author and the reader.
Inevitably, this unethical behavior results in feelings of betrayal, distrust and animosity in the readers.
Malicious ambiguity breeds contempt.
I believe that every author has an obligation to clearly state when something is fiction and opinion.
If not, readers will feel cheated and vote with their eyeballs elsewhere!
Parting Shot
Persian Proverb
He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool - shun him.
He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child - teach him.
He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep - wake him.
He who knows, and knows that he knows, is a wise man - follow him.
By JaiChai
Really Appreciate You Stopping By.
Truly hope to see you again!
About the Author -
Believing that school was too boring, he dropped out of High School early; only to earn an AA, BS and MBA in less than 4 years much later in life – while working full-time as a Navy/Marine Corps Medic.
In spite of a fear of heights and deep water, he performed high altitude, free-fall parachute jumps and hazardous diving ops in deep, open ocean water.
After 24 years of active duty, he retired in Asia.
Since then, he's been a full-time, single papa and actively pursuing his varied passions (Writing, Disruptive Technology, Computer Science and Cryptocurrency - plus more hobbies too boring or bizarre for most folk).
He lives on an island paradise with his teenage daughter, long-term girlfriend and three dogs.
