I spent part of Father’s Day at the movie theater with my son where I was reminded again about how intolerant people have become of things they don’t want to hear/see/smell/experience.
While waiting for the guy behind the counter to bring over our ridiculously overpriced popcorn I got to listen to the guy next to me complain about reality television and rail on about how many bad episodes he had been forced to watch.
I was very curious to find out who forced him to watch these bad episodes because everyone knows that being forewarned is forearmed.
But since I wasn’t certain he was being honest I didn’t ask him for details so I suppose I ought to apologize to my family and friends in advance.
If the bad people come and force you to watch Duck Dynasty, The Kardashians or any other bad reality television I am sorry. I should have asked this guy to tell me about it so that I could have done a better job of protecting you.
The Second Incident
While we were were waiting for the trailers to begin some people in the row behind us started to talk about Game of Thrones.
They were interrupted by the guy sitting next to my son who told them they couldn’t talk about it because he was three episodes behind.
It never would occur to me to go out in public and ask, let alone tell people they couldn’t talk about a particular topic because it would wreck the show for them.
When I heard his request I couldn’t help myself, I told him everyone dies.
It is Better To Be Offended
What these moments made me think of is how we seem to have reached a point in time where people think they they are entitled to never be upset or offended by anything.
Let’s ignore how shallow and sad that is for a moment and move over to this, it is better to be offended.
Why?
I like asking hard questions and thinking about why we do what we do and how we do it.
I like challenging beliefs because it is how we grow as people. That doesn’t mean we have to offend people to do so because that is not true, but there is something to be said about growth coming through discomfort too.
Progress comes because people see opportunity to improve a situation/circumstances or because it is too uncomfortable or painful to continue doing things a certain way.
If you want to fight inertia it is better to be offended than to live in a world that is sterile and sanitized.
What do you think?
Larry June 23, 2015 at 5:59 pm
Great line here, inspiring even: Progress comes because people see opportunity to improve a situation/circumstances or because it is too uncomfortable or painful to continue doing things a certain way.
Love it!
We have to see and take those opportunities.
Joshua June 24, 2015 at 6:25 pm
Sometimes it is scary to reach for the brass ring and take that chance, but to me it is scarier to let fear of failure win. That is where I see real regret having an impact.
jens June 22, 2015 at 5:10 am
I agree, but at the same time I’m thinking of the last time I was at the movie theatre and it was hard to keep watching the movie while listening to the people next to me talking and eating. When this happens, I do get annoyed for a few minutes first, then I start thinking about how different people are and how different experiences we enjoy. I like to sit quiet and watch movies without any sounds other than from the movie, while others like to talk during the movie and doesn’t care much what happens around them.
Joshua June 22, 2015 at 9:40 am
It makes me a little crazy when people can’t still or be quiet during a movie. There is a balance between doing things to make yourself comfortable and recognizing there are limits to that while in public.