YOU KNOW WHAT REALLY BRISTLES MY BEARD? EPISODE ONE

We live in an age unlike any other. Never in the history of man has collecting, analyzing, and redistribution of information been so easily available to all walks of life. The internet, in many ways, has replaced the traditional way that we, as a society, educate ourselves, and share our views with the masses. Yet, with all this power available to anyone with an IP address, we have legions of people contributing in the relentless spreading of misinformation.

Rather than research a topic, or obtain exact wording of a law, we rely on the ramblings of tin hat wearing conspiracy theorists for our daily dose of factually incorrect information. Had my father not been so stubborn and learned how to turn on a computer, he would be in all his glory among the brotherhood of the wrong. “A speeding ticket would be null and void in the area between the population sign of a town and the actual geographic boundary of said town.” My father was a boss of misguided truths even before my brother and I rocked dial-up ICQ conversations.

We are a strange bunch. If what we want to hear fits our beliefs, we can easily pass it on to the next minion as verified truth. Don’t like something that you’ve just read? Give it a few more clicks, go down a few more rabbit holes, and you’ll find a truth that fits your agenda. Let your Facebook friends know, post it on your wall, and argue your point by ridiculing anyone that questions the authenticity!

Personally, I’d rather be an Informed Ian. I’ll take the extra 2 minutes to read legislation, dig into a free legal resource, or contact someone who is educated on the matter. I’d rather find out the legal ramifications of cutting a tree branch on my neighbours property before I trust the “fact” of what someone thinks should be legal.

Call me an arrogant know it all. But don’t hold your breath waiting for me to share your “Scientologist anti-vaxxing Syrians are going to take over this country” nonsense. I’ve got more interesting things to do, like not having to backpedal my way out of a conversation because I was called out on my terribly guided and unevolved mindset.

For instance, I’ve never had a transgendered friend, not one that I know of anyway. I’m still perplexed about the whole ideology of transsexual nature, but as it has no bearing on my life, I’ve left my judging of this at the door. That’s not to say I wasn’t very opinionated on this – from what I used to think – psychological breakdown of gender identity. I’ve always tried to prove to my children that change is always possible, and I believe I’ve come quite far over the years in terms of not only acceptance, but just simply breaking my Neanderthal shell.

I don’t think I can make it through another gender identity washroom debate. I can’t be bothered to entertain the thought process of someone so insecure with their own sexuality that they feel the need to oppress another. I find it especially disturbing, and disgusting, when the argument is anchored on the fear that the children will be scarred, or fall victim to a predator.

I’m all for you being an uneducated bigot as long as you don’t leave your cave, but when you cast your fears and your ignorance to the world – or worse yet – to your child, that’s when it becomes substantially unacceptable. We’ve come so far in accepting each individual human choices, our children have been shown that being different isn’t something that is wrong, but arguments over issues like this are sure to set us back as a whole.

We live in an age unlike any other and this should be a positive experience.

So get off your ass and use google to find a good psychiatrist if you can’t get over your own crippling fears.

Nick Tountas, DCL Member