Dumasaphobia

It’s so truly sad people act this way. What you’ll see in the video is as close to the truth as you can get without paying real people.

Henry Rollins says it all from his episode 217 of the Henry Rollins Show.  A segment titled “Teeing Off”.

Two words that are what I blame for today’s society and the dramatic increase of crime and idiocy. Well, actually ‘the lack there of’ education and discipline.

While Discipline is clearly the larger of the 2 issues, there is almost as much to be said about Education.

Education in this country is at an all time low. With the governments attempts to improve using things like SOL’s (Standards of Learning), all they really do is focus on the schools ability to teach the barely teachable.  Many schools will simply cut the weak students in order to increase the overall scores.  This is unfair and isn’t very helpful to those in need of education but lack direction.

Government has removed funding over the past 2 decades, forcing schools to remove valuable programs like Art, Choir, Music, Woodshop, Autoshop and Drama.  These programs are essential for many reasons.  It gives the children creative outlet.  It helps them focus on reality.  It gives them opportunity they may not actually have until they discover a hidden talent or trait.

I could go on for several pages, but this won’t really cover more than the basic points I’m trying to make.

Discipline is the biggest part of the issues of today.  Crime has blown out of control.  Yet, 90% of these crimes are now being committed by very young adults and teenagers.  Children killing children over depression or hatred.  Parents being abused by their children.  Children stealing, carjacking and dealing drugs.  I wish I were not living in this time period honestly.  It’s frightening to have lived among a several neighborhoods where these children run the streets and their parents lives.

This is due to roughly 15 years ago or so, they stopped physical punishment in the home to try to stop physical abuse to children.  A.K.A. no more spankings.  Did they really think that would honestly stop abusive parents?  Their children live in fear.  There should be better programs in place in schools and businesses for safe harboring children of abusive families.  However, a spanking (properly given) teaches a child to have a fear and respect of reprisal.  Children today have little fear of reprisal, and do pretty much as they please, because this new idea that if Daddy or Mommy gets mad, a child simply threatens to have them put in jail for abuse.

This compiled with the gang violence that started in the streets of many major cities over racial and territorial disputes on both the west coast and east coast of America.  The glorification of violence in music and music videos.  Many of todays teens and young adults find it a badge of honor to have killed or be involved in some sort of crime.

Due to this glorification of Gang Violence, many teachers in the school systems have given up on the children either through lack of caring or fear for their own lives.  Leaving us in a vicious circle of spiraling around an endlessness of lacking Education and Discipline.

The question remains, how do we reverse this?  Is it even possible?  Or are we doomed to have these kids grow up and run our country, our lives, our future into the ground…

Probably one of the biggest signs of the decline of the intelligence of the world are warning labels found on everyday products.  This is also when I realize just how severe a problem Dumasaphobia was going to be.  These are the very people I fear.  People who need these labels on such products, because they are so stupid, that they can’t handle even the simplest of things properly.

No one will ever forget the famous “Hot Coffee” case against McDonalds.  Now when you order your hot cup of morning bliss, you get a lid that tells you the “contents may be hot”.

I’ve even seen a warning label telling you to remove your child from the stroller before folding it up.  If you need this kind of warning, your children should be removed from your custody and placed with a family that has a much higher I.Q. than you.  You aren’t fit to be a parent.  You’re not even fit to be in society.

Sure some lines have been blurred.  It used to be no metal in microwave ovens, but now there are special metals that can be placed.  I was shocked when my soup container asked me to remove the pull-tab metal lid and place in microwave when there is still a metal ring around the container.

Yes warning labels are important for the most part.   Any smart person would read all warning labels carefully before using any product.  Even if they are ridiculous.  Such as:

• iPod Shuffle - Do Not Eat
• Jar of Peanuts - Warning Contains Nuts
• Poison - Do Not Injest

This list could go on for years.  Which is truly sad as this generally means some idiot did just what the warning says not to do.  (most likely prior to the need of such a label)  In all honesty none of these kind of labels should be necessary.  Even for the average Joe.  Which apparently is still dumber than dirt.

Here’s some more goodies for you to enjoy.

It never ceases to amaze me.  Everyday I run into someone who is afraid of their computer or technology in general.  They freak out, and either don’t bother reading the instructions or can’t read them with any real intent.  So they are immediately on the phone or in my office crying about how difficult things are.  When I break it down for them, they still don’t realize how simple things really are.  Makes me wonder how they get through the day at all with everything else they own.

If you own a refrigerator you know that:

• It’s powered by an electrical outlet and must be plugged in.
• That it needs to be cleaned regularly from spills otherwise you’ll have a mold problem.
• How to set the temperature to keep your food fresh longer.
• How to replace the light bulb should it burn out.

If you own a washer/dryer you know that:

• They are powered by electricity and must be plugged in.
• The filters need to be cleaned or replaced regularly.
• The drains for vent must be cleaned regularly to prevent flood or fire.
• That the hot and cold hoses must be connected securely.
• How to set them properly to make sure your clothing is not damaged during use.

If you own a home you know that:

• The roofing needs to be redone every so often to prevent leaks.
• The plumbing and fixtures need to be cleaned to run smoothly.
• Gutters need to be cleared each spring to prevent clogging or weight issues that will ruin them.
• The list goes on.

If you own a car you know that:

• The oil needs to be changed every 3000 miles.
• You need a tune up every 6-12 months.
• Your brakes and tires need to be inspected every year.
• You need to follow the rules of the road.
• The list goes on.

This is pretty much the same about anything you own.  If you own it, you need to learn about it and be able to properly use and maintain it.  If not, then you don’t need to own it at all as you’ll be a danger to yourself and possibly others.  (example: dryer fire, roof caving in, brakes on car go out and you kill someone, food poisoning, etc..)

Then you should also learn about your computer and it’s basic needs:

• How to update your software to prevent security holes (most have an update option built in).
• Keep your Security Software updated daily (built in options).
• How to run Defrag to keep your computer running smoothly at least once a month.
• How to operate the software you frequently use (Word, Email, Browser).
• The list goes on.

I’m here for technical issues.  Something has gone wrong.  I’m ever so tired of teaching people of how to click into the address bar to surf the web (it amazes me how many people think you have to use Google to get to the banking site they go to every single day), or showing someone how to connect a DSL filter to their telephone.  These are remedial things you should already know how to do and be able to easily follow the pictured instructions.

The whole statement I get just about everyday “I don’t care how it works, I just want it to work” tells me you are lazy and inconsiderate to your support personnel.  You want us to do it for you.  That is NOT our job.  We are here to troubleshoot errors and connection issues.  Not tell you where you control panel icon is.  You’ve owned your computer for several months or years, you should know exactly where that icon is.  You should also by now have seen the giant splash screen that comes on every time you turn on your computer telling you what version of Windows (or Mac, Linux, Etc) you are using.  If you don’t know and have owned the computer more than 3 months, then sell it!!  Get off the internet and stop wasting my time.  There are other people out there who could seriously use my help for real problems.

I leave you with 2 valuable pieces of advice when it comes to your computer.

1. Right Clicking is your friend.
2. Press F1 in the application you are in if you need help.

And one more thing, if you call me without the exact error message either written down exactly or on your screen, I will tell you to call back when you do!