People that make you go..
Dude! What is your major malfunction!?
I'd like to thank a fellow baen barfly who's handle is Glad To Be Mom in advance for her permission to quote her story on my LJ. for brevity I think I'll just cut and paste the whole thing then comment afterwards. Oh since this is likely to run a little longish I'm gonna put it behind a cut to save my friends pages bandwith. :)
I've been told I'm pretty much a rotten mom twice, two groups of people. I'm not sure if I'm over reacting--heck no! I know I'm not over reacting.
It so happens that the Versailles to Lexington bus stops right in front of my house, and it's the last stop before it does an express the rest of the way. So whenever the kids and I are going downtown, we take the bus. The kids love the ride and I don't have to park. We do this maybe every other week when school's in session; twice a week or so when school's out. The library, movies, children's science museum, and a couple of really nice parks are downtown. In a pinch, DH can always come and get us.
My 8 year old son, David, is beginning to really like science fiction. He has read several of Heinlein's juveniles, John Christopher's books, and now he's wading through the Mars Diaries by Sigmund Brouwer (new to me). David has also been getting his dad to read him Kzin stories (because they are on the grownup shelves and he has to ask before reading them). He was asking me on the bus about stasis fields and faster than light travel. The buses have one way mirrored windows and he said he was imagining that we were in a stasis box traveling through space to the "downtown" planet. I encouraged him to continue, explaining that it was my belief that being in a stasis field woud be sort of like sleeping and that we couldn't remember the trip itself if we were in one. David maintained that the aliens that keep the zoo planet must be able to control the fields so that the different aliens in their spaces would be always populated in the right way. He said they could visit a planet and, "stock up on humans or whales or whatever other things they want."
A middle aged woman and man were sitting across from us. She asked David if he believed the aliens were real. His answer, "Real just not here yet. There are k-jillions of stars and planets, they're probably looking for us cause we're aliens to them too. Until they get here, we just pretend them . . . like they could look like Goofy, or Donald, or even be robots with flesh brains."
The husband leaned forward, "Why would God make anyone like that?"
David said, "Why not? God could've tried out lots of people. So maybe on his next world he made the smart guys to be cats. Maybe they have a different God--God's brother or sister might make smart bird people. When they get here, they might not like that we eat chickens."
At this point, Zoe (7) chimed in, "What about beautiful water people? Their space ships could have water and they could that talk by changing their colors." (She saw a special on sea snails yesterday.)
Then the man looked dagger eyed at me and said, "They're children. You're their mother, they'll pay with their souls and so will you."
I was apalled. David and Zoe were off in their own discussion (thank goodness) talking about a planet with fish people and cat people and what would their schools be like if they went to the same schools. (The hallways would be water tubes and air tubes and the classes would be half water and half dry of course). So they didn't process what was said because it was "grown-up talk" and not directed at them.
I didn't want to make a scene and really didn't think this was an opportunity for philosophical or theological discussion . . . so I just bit my tongue for the next five minutes till we got to the stop by the library.
The kids had a great time this afternoon at the library. Both kids came home with a pile of books.
On the way home, David and Zoe were pretending that when the doors are closed on the bus a stasis field is on, so they freeze. When it opens, they perk up and started talking and pointing out the aliens (cars, mailboxes, dogs on leashes, etc.). They tired of this after a few minutes.
Zoe asked me why God wouldn't let her be able to swim underwater like a mermaid. Since she was asking about God, I kept it in that frame and told her that God made us like him, and he made us to breathe air.
David asked me if we owned all the planets, did God give them all to us so we'd have someplace to go after earth. I told him that it seems that way, but I think he gave them to care for.
Zoe said we should turn the moon into a place to live. I said that would be great. David took off on an explanation of jumping on the moon and playing volleyball--how high the net would be and how the ball would act weird.
This pale guy with a bushy blonde afro and a pile of books on the seat next to him turned toward us. He said, "all life started in the oceans, so it's just dumb luck that we breathe air. If God is like us, then he must have come from the ocean too. Our blood is mostly just like seawater."
David looked at me, and I nodded and said that our blood did have the same salts that are in the sea and that we carry around a mineral solution in our blood that was very similar to sea water. Of course this took him in a different direction and he asked the guy if he thought dolfins are as smart as we are.
Well, the guy lauched into a long explaination about how dolfins and whales evolved from land animals and have parts left in their skeletons that prove it. So if they came out of the ocean, to land, then back to the sea . . . maybe, after billions of years.
Zoe said she thought she was a fish in her head and she liked swimming more than anything else (true, she swims like a little fish, it's amazing). He said that evolution always chooses what helps us survive.
The kids started going on about what if the trees started to get smart, or if Zoe stayed in the water all the time would she grow gills to breathe (sure hope she doesn't want to try this one!).
This guy turns to me, points his finger at me, and says, "You just can't shield them from science forever, you know. Kentucky may be the home of Creationism, but it's twaddle and even they know it. They just have to invent a story that makes their mythology consistent.
Weird huh!
Gladtobemom
Oh and here's an addendum she had to post seperately cuz it hit her after she'd posted this. here's a part of it.
Hell, I'm a professor, engineer, scientist, and I've already raised 4 kids to adulthood. And all four are responsible citizens now--not even any tattos or weird piercings. One is a hospital administrator, one is in the Air Force, one owns his own plant nursery and landscaping business, the other is still in college.
So exactly when did it get to be OK to just jump in and make judgements about people's children. And exactly when did children's imaginations start to become the fodder for judgemental religious or philosophical discussions. And exactly why are these people taking my kids so seriously . . . they're kids with healthy imaginations. And I encourage them to think and figure things out. To invent and create is a GOOD thing right?
Gladtobemom
*******************************************************************
Okay time for the wolf to rant, philosophize, and generally be cranky about stupid people.
1.I applaud her for using the bus...something I HATE and avoid doing.
2. both her younglings seem to be free thinkers...creativity and imagination are a GOOD thing in my book. Since if we suppressed it we wouldn't be where we are today. either as a people or a nation.
3. Her son has a SPLENDID point about the number of stars and systems out there...so it WOULD be a total waste of space if there were no other beings on other planets in other systems. Plus it's arrogance to assume there's no other races, beings out there. it's very human nature but arrogant none the less
4.The old couple if they'd wanted to engage in a spirited debate would have most likely been quite welcome. They however didn't want to debate. It's there way or the highway..i.e., your goin to hell. Nope don't think so you closed minded, hypocritical asses. To paraphrase a very old saying...if you live in a glass house, DO NOT be throwing rocks at me. You won't like the response one damn bit!
If they're really bible thumping twits I probalby would have thrown this one back in their face as well.."Judge not, lest ye be judged yourself" and "let he who is without sin cast the first fucking stone" Also with my temper I'd have had to sit on the urge to hurt them...badly. But as I pointed out to Mom when I asked her permission to reprint this and qoute her here.."Lady your a better person than I am." I have no idea what this couple was thinking...and no I'm not going to necessarily give them credit for having more than 4 brain cells between them to rub together and use.
People like this annoy the ever living hell out of me. What a bunch of sanctimonious, self righteous hypocrites. My uncle was one such...I've seriously contemplated killing his useless ass more than once. With all the hurt he's caused my family [and his own] he's got the nerve to wonder why no one wants anything to do with him. *headdesk* yet another person who makes you go..Dude! What is your major malfunction?!
5. The science dude caught her off guard [would have me for sure] with his parting shot about "You just can't shield them from science forever, you know. Kentucky may be the home of Creationism, but it's twaddle and even they know it. They just have to invent a story that makes their mythology consistent." Since he started off in earnest with an honest discussion and answering the kids as honestly as possible. I don't know...there MIGHT be hope for that one. That remains to be seen though.
I can NOT understand why people who should goddamn well know better take that kind of 'holier than thou' attitude. It boggles the mind. The science guy as I said I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt...he's so wrapped up in his scientific world he can't see past it.
I know I can be guilty of it myself sometimes [not seeing past end of my nose, being wrapped up in my own ideas] but I at least am willing to listen to other people...for the most part. Part of it as I've stated before is I've done enuff of my own stupid shit that I have a low tolerance for it in other people. It's a character flaw that I'll freely admit.
What's the solution to idiots like the ones mentioned in "Mom's" story? Hell if I know. Til then I'll just look at them and ask...Dude! What IS your major malfunction?!
I'd like to thank a fellow baen barfly who's handle is Glad To Be Mom in advance for her permission to quote her story on my LJ. for brevity I think I'll just cut and paste the whole thing then comment afterwards. Oh since this is likely to run a little longish I'm gonna put it behind a cut to save my friends pages bandwith. :)
I've been told I'm pretty much a rotten mom twice, two groups of people. I'm not sure if I'm over reacting--heck no! I know I'm not over reacting.
It so happens that the Versailles to Lexington bus stops right in front of my house, and it's the last stop before it does an express the rest of the way. So whenever the kids and I are going downtown, we take the bus. The kids love the ride and I don't have to park. We do this maybe every other week when school's in session; twice a week or so when school's out. The library, movies, children's science museum, and a couple of really nice parks are downtown. In a pinch, DH can always come and get us.
My 8 year old son, David, is beginning to really like science fiction. He has read several of Heinlein's juveniles, John Christopher's books, and now he's wading through the Mars Diaries by Sigmund Brouwer (new to me). David has also been getting his dad to read him Kzin stories (because they are on the grownup shelves and he has to ask before reading them). He was asking me on the bus about stasis fields and faster than light travel. The buses have one way mirrored windows and he said he was imagining that we were in a stasis box traveling through space to the "downtown" planet. I encouraged him to continue, explaining that it was my belief that being in a stasis field woud be sort of like sleeping and that we couldn't remember the trip itself if we were in one. David maintained that the aliens that keep the zoo planet must be able to control the fields so that the different aliens in their spaces would be always populated in the right way. He said they could visit a planet and, "stock up on humans or whales or whatever other things they want."
A middle aged woman and man were sitting across from us. She asked David if he believed the aliens were real. His answer, "Real just not here yet. There are k-jillions of stars and planets, they're probably looking for us cause we're aliens to them too. Until they get here, we just pretend them . . . like they could look like Goofy, or Donald, or even be robots with flesh brains."
The husband leaned forward, "Why would God make anyone like that?"
David said, "Why not? God could've tried out lots of people. So maybe on his next world he made the smart guys to be cats. Maybe they have a different God--God's brother or sister might make smart bird people. When they get here, they might not like that we eat chickens."
At this point, Zoe (7) chimed in, "What about beautiful water people? Their space ships could have water and they could that talk by changing their colors." (She saw a special on sea snails yesterday.)
Then the man looked dagger eyed at me and said, "They're children. You're their mother, they'll pay with their souls and so will you."
I was apalled. David and Zoe were off in their own discussion (thank goodness) talking about a planet with fish people and cat people and what would their schools be like if they went to the same schools. (The hallways would be water tubes and air tubes and the classes would be half water and half dry of course). So they didn't process what was said because it was "grown-up talk" and not directed at them.
I didn't want to make a scene and really didn't think this was an opportunity for philosophical or theological discussion . . . so I just bit my tongue for the next five minutes till we got to the stop by the library.
The kids had a great time this afternoon at the library. Both kids came home with a pile of books.
On the way home, David and Zoe were pretending that when the doors are closed on the bus a stasis field is on, so they freeze. When it opens, they perk up and started talking and pointing out the aliens (cars, mailboxes, dogs on leashes, etc.). They tired of this after a few minutes.
Zoe asked me why God wouldn't let her be able to swim underwater like a mermaid. Since she was asking about God, I kept it in that frame and told her that God made us like him, and he made us to breathe air.
David asked me if we owned all the planets, did God give them all to us so we'd have someplace to go after earth. I told him that it seems that way, but I think he gave them to care for.
Zoe said we should turn the moon into a place to live. I said that would be great. David took off on an explanation of jumping on the moon and playing volleyball--how high the net would be and how the ball would act weird.
This pale guy with a bushy blonde afro and a pile of books on the seat next to him turned toward us. He said, "all life started in the oceans, so it's just dumb luck that we breathe air. If God is like us, then he must have come from the ocean too. Our blood is mostly just like seawater."
David looked at me, and I nodded and said that our blood did have the same salts that are in the sea and that we carry around a mineral solution in our blood that was very similar to sea water. Of course this took him in a different direction and he asked the guy if he thought dolfins are as smart as we are.
Well, the guy lauched into a long explaination about how dolfins and whales evolved from land animals and have parts left in their skeletons that prove it. So if they came out of the ocean, to land, then back to the sea . . . maybe, after billions of years.
Zoe said she thought she was a fish in her head and she liked swimming more than anything else (true, she swims like a little fish, it's amazing). He said that evolution always chooses what helps us survive.
The kids started going on about what if the trees started to get smart, or if Zoe stayed in the water all the time would she grow gills to breathe (sure hope she doesn't want to try this one!).
This guy turns to me, points his finger at me, and says, "You just can't shield them from science forever, you know. Kentucky may be the home of Creationism, but it's twaddle and even they know it. They just have to invent a story that makes their mythology consistent.
Weird huh!
Gladtobemom
Oh and here's an addendum she had to post seperately cuz it hit her after she'd posted this. here's a part of it.
Hell, I'm a professor, engineer, scientist, and I've already raised 4 kids to adulthood. And all four are responsible citizens now--not even any tattos or weird piercings. One is a hospital administrator, one is in the Air Force, one owns his own plant nursery and landscaping business, the other is still in college.
So exactly when did it get to be OK to just jump in and make judgements about people's children. And exactly when did children's imaginations start to become the fodder for judgemental religious or philosophical discussions. And exactly why are these people taking my kids so seriously . . . they're kids with healthy imaginations. And I encourage them to think and figure things out. To invent and create is a GOOD thing right?
Gladtobemom
*******************************************************************
Okay time for the wolf to rant, philosophize, and generally be cranky about stupid people.
1.I applaud her for using the bus...something I HATE and avoid doing.
2. both her younglings seem to be free thinkers...creativity and imagination are a GOOD thing in my book. Since if we suppressed it we wouldn't be where we are today. either as a people or a nation.
3. Her son has a SPLENDID point about the number of stars and systems out there...so it WOULD be a total waste of space if there were no other beings on other planets in other systems. Plus it's arrogance to assume there's no other races, beings out there. it's very human nature but arrogant none the less
4.The old couple if they'd wanted to engage in a spirited debate would have most likely been quite welcome. They however didn't want to debate. It's there way or the highway..i.e., your goin to hell. Nope don't think so you closed minded, hypocritical asses. To paraphrase a very old saying...if you live in a glass house, DO NOT be throwing rocks at me. You won't like the response one damn bit!
If they're really bible thumping twits I probalby would have thrown this one back in their face as well.."Judge not, lest ye be judged yourself" and "let he who is without sin cast the first fucking stone" Also with my temper I'd have had to sit on the urge to hurt them...badly. But as I pointed out to Mom when I asked her permission to reprint this and qoute her here.."Lady your a better person than I am." I have no idea what this couple was thinking...and no I'm not going to necessarily give them credit for having more than 4 brain cells between them to rub together and use.
People like this annoy the ever living hell out of me. What a bunch of sanctimonious, self righteous hypocrites. My uncle was one such...I've seriously contemplated killing his useless ass more than once. With all the hurt he's caused my family [and his own] he's got the nerve to wonder why no one wants anything to do with him. *headdesk* yet another person who makes you go..Dude! What is your major malfunction?!
5. The science dude caught her off guard [would have me for sure] with his parting shot about "You just can't shield them from science forever, you know. Kentucky may be the home of Creationism, but it's twaddle and even they know it. They just have to invent a story that makes their mythology consistent." Since he started off in earnest with an honest discussion and answering the kids as honestly as possible. I don't know...there MIGHT be hope for that one. That remains to be seen though.
I can NOT understand why people who should goddamn well know better take that kind of 'holier than thou' attitude. It boggles the mind. The science guy as I said I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt...he's so wrapped up in his scientific world he can't see past it.
I know I can be guilty of it myself sometimes [not seeing past end of my nose, being wrapped up in my own ideas] but I at least am willing to listen to other people...for the most part. Part of it as I've stated before is I've done enuff of my own stupid shit that I have a low tolerance for it in other people. It's a character flaw that I'll freely admit.
What's the solution to idiots like the ones mentioned in "Mom's" story? Hell if I know. Til then I'll just look at them and ask...Dude! What IS your major malfunction?!