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Nov. 15th, 2002
(no subject)
Nov. 15th, 2002 10:33 amAssume you have a friend who continues on making a very bad mistake. You see this, and the price the mistake extracts from your friend, and many with whom your friend comes into contact with. However, you suspect/know that your friend can not only not stand to be wrong, but is probably working very hard not to see this mistake, for fear of the consequences such knowledge might bring. You have every reason to suspect that, if you force your friend to confront this issue, it will cost you the friendship, at the very least. But the damage, to your friend and others, keeps growing. What do you do?
(no subject)
Nov. 15th, 2002 11:19 amOne of my stupid bosses has shown even more idiocy lately.
Some background: he's the father of three children (a newborn, and two year old twins). He's an assistant manager of a retail computer outlet (which means not a huge amount of money), and his wife is the assistant manager of an auto parts store (again, not a huge amount of money).
So, with that, he's all excited now about having bought a shiny new Excursion. The thing will seat about a dozen heft adults, and gets maybe 10 miles to the gallon. I asked him what he thought about making a longterm commitment to fund terrorists and anti-American zealots, and he looked at me blankly. So, I connected the dots: "Where does most of the oil come from? The Middle East, specifically Saudi Arabia. Saudi schools teach a very conservative, very anti-American view of the world; many of the terrorist organizations are based in, and/or funded by, Saudi oil money".
Still a blank look, so I try again: "Also, by choosing to drive a high emissions, low economy vehicle, you're having quite the negative impact on the environment. Some of the negative impacts of such behavior will happen in your lifetime, but more will happen in the lives of your children. The impending wars over diminishing resources will probably grow to feed oil hunger, as well." Again, the blank look.
Sigh. I don't see how any parent can feel comfortable with a decision like that, but apparently I'm in quite the minority.
Some background: he's the father of three children (a newborn, and two year old twins). He's an assistant manager of a retail computer outlet (which means not a huge amount of money), and his wife is the assistant manager of an auto parts store (again, not a huge amount of money).
So, with that, he's all excited now about having bought a shiny new Excursion. The thing will seat about a dozen heft adults, and gets maybe 10 miles to the gallon. I asked him what he thought about making a longterm commitment to fund terrorists and anti-American zealots, and he looked at me blankly. So, I connected the dots: "Where does most of the oil come from? The Middle East, specifically Saudi Arabia. Saudi schools teach a very conservative, very anti-American view of the world; many of the terrorist organizations are based in, and/or funded by, Saudi oil money".
Still a blank look, so I try again: "Also, by choosing to drive a high emissions, low economy vehicle, you're having quite the negative impact on the environment. Some of the negative impacts of such behavior will happen in your lifetime, but more will happen in the lives of your children. The impending wars over diminishing resources will probably grow to feed oil hunger, as well." Again, the blank look.
Sigh. I don't see how any parent can feel comfortable with a decision like that, but apparently I'm in quite the minority.