How do you argue with someone who knows everything?

Phantasm aged and unmasked with Amanda Waller. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I guess the real question should be why do you try to argue with someone who knows everything?  I’m sure you’ve met people like that…maybe you are a person like that…heck, maybe I’m a person like that.  I don’t think I am though.  I think I tend to let people believe whatever they want with no (or at least very little) interference from me.  Maybe that’s not how others view me though…food for thought, huh?

I know people who are of certain religious denominations who believe the existence of dinosaurs is some kind of hoax…because, according to the Bible, the world is only 6,000 years old (or however old, I’m not sure about that one because my mind kind of shuts off when you get into the literal interpretation of the Bible versus science).  I’m not going to argue this with anyone.  You can believe whatever you want. What someone else believes really has no effect on me.  I guess I fail to see that science and the Bible have to be mutually exclusive.  If you believe in an all-powerful, existing-forever God then why is it any more of a stretch to believe that He (or She) put dinosaurs on the earth millions of years ago?  After all, who’s to say what the measure of time is to a being who has been around forever?

Or politics?  Holy moly!  Honestly, is there even a reason to argue this with anyone?  Do you think you’ll ever change anyone’s mind?  Are they going to suddenly see the light and exclaim, “Now I get it!  Thank you for opening my eyes to how things really are!”?  Of course not.  I’m a liberal, no apologies, no explanations…that’s who I am.  I have friends who are apolitical and friends who are ultra-conservative.  That doesn’t make them wrong.  It just means we disagree about the direction we think our country should move forward in.  Do I think I’m right?  Of course.  Does that mean I can force others to abide by my beliefs and views?  Nope.  But it sure does seem like there are a lot of people (on both sides of the political spectrum) who think they should be allowed to force their opinions on everyone else.  Come on, people, live your life and allow others to do the same.

I have a brother who tends to be very forceful with his opinions.  (Think Rush Limbaugh) He implies that you’re stupid if you disagree with him.  Needless to say, his views don’t coincide with mine.  How do I deal with this?  Well, we don’t see each other very often, so that’s one thing.  I also no longer allow myself to be drawn into any kind of social, religious, or political discussions with him.  You know, if you continuously participate in something that ends up upsetting you, maybe you should take part of the blame.  I simply tell him “I won’t discuss this you.” Again, nothing either of us says will change the other’s mind.  Just let it go…

I guess part of learning to take  care of yourself is knowing when to refuse to do things that do you harm.  That’s kind of how I see getting involved in these types of arguments…they upset both parties (well, not always…I think some people delight in denigrating others), they serve no positive purpose (unless you’re both the type of person who enjoys vigorous, spirited debate) because you have to know nothing will be changed by having these types of discussions.

The best way to deal with someone who knows everything?  Let them revel in their knowledge…then you just keep on believing what you believe…live your life in adherence with your beliefs…live and let live!

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Run from the darkness

fear (Photo credit: siette)

“Please, please, please, don’t let him find me.  Don’t let the monster get me.  I be good.  I promise I be good.”  The little boy, cowering in the back of the dark closet, kept whispering this as he tried to become invisible by closing his eyes and covering his face with his hands.  He heard the monster roaring, knew he was coming for him, just like he’d come for him all those times before.

The monster was getting closer.  His monster feet were pounding against the floor, shaking the entire house.  He was slamming doors as he looked in each room for the scared little boy.  With every minute that passed, the monster’s shouts became louder and scarier.  “You better get your ass out here now!  Get out here and take it like a man, you damn little brat!”

The door banged against the wall causing the little boy to jump in fear.  “No, no, no…please don’t let him find me…please.”  The closet door was wrenched open so fast it almost came off the hinges.  The boy tried to move further back into the dark corner of the closet, tried to silence the whimpers escaping from him.

The monster stepped into the closet, shoving clothes around.  “I know you’re in here, you little bastard.  I can smell you.  Did you piss yourself again?  You’re nothing but a nasty, filthy little thief.”

The little boy gasped as the monster’s face appeared right before him.  Then he felt the monster grab him and yank him from his hiding place.  He knew there was no escaping the monster now.  The monster stood there in the middle of the room, roughly holding the boy at arm’s length, several feet off the floor.  Shaking the boy so violently that his body went limp, the monster yelled in his face, “I know you took it!  I know you did! What have I told you about taking things that don’t belong to you?”

Tears were running down the boy’s cheeks, his mouth open in a silent scream.  The monster shook him again then threw him against the wall.  The monster walked up to the crumpled little body, then stood there with his hands on his hips.  The boy’s dark brown eyes looked up at the monster in fear.  He whispered, “I sorry.  I be a good boy.”

The monster pulled his leg back and kicked the little boy in the stomach.  “You’ll never be a good boy.  You’re nothing but a piece of crap.  I wish to hell you’d never been born.”  Then the monster squatted down, putting his monster face right in the boy’s face, his monster breath washing over the boy.  “You stay right here.  Don’t you try to hide from me again.  It’s time for your punishment, you little thief.”