What do you all have to talk about?

What do you all have to talk about?Come on, Ed - everyone who's a fan of the Night Cabbie is also a fan of generalizations. (Note: "Kate" is aware that the previous sentence is also a generalization, in case Mike wants to "pick up on" some more obvious SATIRE). I simply argued that the Admiral's generalization was incorrect. And I'm so glad Mike weighed in with that rigorous analysis. I, too, believe that the best way to prove your point is always to insult the other person's intelligence without making any arguments of your own. —kate

 

What do you all have to talk about?Night Cabbie, you are so COOL!—woodsy

 

What do you all have to talk about?I think a more accurate quote might have been "Better to keep silent and have people merely suspect you're a fool, than to open your mouth and prove them right." I have already long given up hope that perhaps after the initial explosion in cellphone use, people might be guided by polite manners and/or etiquette. But Nooooo; day after day we have to put up with a near-constant chattering stream of moronic and discourteous cellphone users and their inane conversations on the bus, at the library,in the gym, video or grocery stores, walking through Powells, etc. Yes, I admit that I have become more of a curmudgeon as I've aged, but there is no one, repeat, NO ONE that I need to talk to that urgently to be so connected all the time. Like the numerical pagers, original clunky cellphones, and more recently Blackberries and other text-messenging devices, wireless headsets were first embraced by the business community, often for no other reason than to show off the latest technology as a way to demonstrate their status (real or perceived), self-importance and prosperity. And, just as those earlier fad devices did, wireless headsets have trickled down to widespread use by the general public. They're not necessary, but rather the latest toy or bling in our raging, rampant capitalist consumer society.—NJGuyInPDX

 

Gossip is underrated.I think that quote is totally wrong. In my experience, only stoners and arrogant people with inaccurate perceptions of themselves limit themselves to discussions of "ideas." On the other hand, I can think of few subjects more fascinating than "people," particularly the people one knows and cares about. Seems to me that people who would generalize that only small minds discuss "people" must only know people with small minds. Besides, that quote is oozing with classic military simple-mindedness and chavinism. Can't you just hear his next sentence at the cocktail party? "Just look at these dumb hussies, gossipping like a bunch of damn chickens." I know you didn't explicitly endorse his sentiments, but it still pissed me off. I'm with you on the cell-phone-attached-to-head phenomenon, though. I think it indicates that we're all really, really afraid to be alone. —kate

 

What do you all have to talk about?It's interesting how "kate" assumes the "great minds" quote is chauvinistic when there is simply no indication that the "small minds" contention is directed at women.Kate doesn't like it when other people generalize but apparently believes it's okay if the generalization is her own. Her bigoted attack on "stoners" and anyone else she perceives as a purveyor of ideas only ("arrogant people with inaccurate perceptions of themselves") illustrates this. It's no wonder poor Kate can think of "few subjects more fascinating than people".Kate's post definitely lends credence to the quote. Anyway, thanks for another interesting read Nightcabbie.—Ed