Watt's Gnus

Random rant on "Smart? I don't think so."

Smart? I don't think so
2008, June 24

Lawrence is smart? Gosh darn:

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/feb/21/lawrence_no_7_smart_cities_list/

I rather doubt that degrees = brains = smarts. They don't even know when to set the tornado sirens off around here and have been discussing a homeless shelter for nigh on 10 years with little progress.

I'd rather live among dumb, kind and tolerant people than smart heartless idiots.

In a recent on-line forum regarding a Cal Thomas editorial:

dandelion (Anonymous) says…

I've been reading this forum for a couple of months, then decided to jump in here and make comments recently, because this goes out all over the world. You would think that Lawrence is filled with mean nasty racists, but in realty this town is filled with people who accept others, even Christians like Cal [Thomas]. People visiting this site from across the country might decide not to visit here if they are gay, disabled, from a different race or ethnic group, because of the hatefulness. Many progressive, liberal people who post end up going away, because they are bullied by the right wing jerks. People like Merril keep posting and Bozo gives them some of their own medicine. and bullies back. So I decided to sink to their level and bully back too. Cal is a moron who should be a forum poster, not a columnist. Bring on more George Will types, at least he's not a bully.

I mostly agree. The on-line forums are vicious and personal attacks are common.

However, my problem is that sometimes folks NEED to be offended. PC and censorship have no place in an honest discussion about one's personal hurts or when the community is in crisis. With homelessness here or gay/racial/class issues, PC kills.

This is an impersonal town and sometimes I skewer folks with a stiletto just to see if they have any blood. A vampire would starve.

I seldom comment on-line though. And in person I usually preface strong comments with the warning that this is only my personal belief ... however, get me talking about what I personally went through and/or have personally watched others go through and I blast away.

This town is brainy, and there are many good folks as well, but mere degrees do not indicate intelligence and smarts doesn't make a place more livable.