Enough is Enough: The Garner Verdict

I have long tried to stay my hand from the cries of police brutality, of officers overstepping their bounds and wielding their authority as a weapon. I have long tried to stay away from using that argument, from feeding the often times ill-found accusatory hysteria we see so frequently from uninformed people with a brooding hatred for police officers of any kind that are jumping at the chance to attack the authorities through whatever means possible. 

But today, it was announced that Officer David Pantaleo, who killed a man named Eric Garner by way of an unauthorized chokehold, would not answer for his unarguably negligent and excessive actions.

Don't Thank Me on Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day and I am a veteran. Do not thank me for my service.

No, seriously--don't.

Conversational Narcissism

It's becoming more and more incorrect and misleading in my mind to view antisocial behavior or sociopathy as a psychological disorder. I mean, look around--it's everywhere. Maybe it's not a problem with the individual. Perhaps we live in a society where institutions and entities permit--nay, encourage--antisocial behaviors. Humans are a product of their environments. Maybe we're bred and imbued with these dispassionate characteristics from the get-go. Simply put, it seems likely to me that this outgrowth is predetermined. 

For just a few examples, people don't have a problem with cheating on tests or spouses, lying to their friends, or monopolizing the conversation and not listening at all. For more specificity, we can further examine infidelity: we have all seen circumstances in which people think nothing of cheating on their so-called loved ones, rationalizing and defending themselves to no end in support of their deplorable actions. "He made me do it, he hasn't been giving me enough attention", "she probably already cheated on me anyway", etc. Sometimes they outright deflect blame or try to turn it on the other person. We've all seen this.

I find one of those examples especially annoying and even more common: the domination of conversation. People love to talk about themselves and seem only interested in the conversation if it's about them. For the love of God, sometimes I feel lucky just to be asked how I'm doing. You can't even imagine how much I light up when I'm talking to someone and I realize they actually care. It's so rare that I cherish it. But you'll all be able to identify that one person, that conversational narcissist. Look for what are called 'shift responses'. You'll say something, and instead of providing further conversational material, the individual will say something that redirects the conversation towards themselves.

"I'm Thinking of Joining the Military..."

This is a question I'm asked all too often. Volumes of friends and strangers alike have bombarded me with question after question about what the military has to offer, what it's like, if it's worth it, etc. And rightfully so, I might add--if someone wants information about something, they should go to someone who knows about it. But when I respond to these interrogatives, I usually throw them a novel of knowledge they really need to digest before making any decision about service. This is because something like the military is no small ordeal and needs to be afforded every consideration before joining.

So, you're thinking of joining the military, hmm? "What a noble choice!", "You're so brave!", "Good for you!" is what everyone who doesn't know what the military is like is going to tell you if you inform them of your interest in serving. However, I'd wager that the majority--say, maybe 6 or 7 out of 10 people our age serving right now--will tell you the same thing, "It's not all that great, don't do it if you don't have to."

I would be flat out lying if I said I disagree.