Rants and Raves of an Old Fart

by Irwin Lengel
(Florida)

One Man’s Opinion

What follows are various thoughts that ran through my head as I was sitting here at the computer deciding on what it is I wanted to rant and rave about today. Problem is that what follows is merely the opinion of an old fart (or cranky individual if that describes me better while you are reading this) and is based on years of holding back discussing things that get in my craw.

But with all that is happening on the world stage today and how people react to it, one has to wonder why some people find it hard to come up with simple words that will also be the right words when describing what is happening.

The more I see what is happening in the news today and what people are saying about it – the more I become confused as to why we have a pair of ears but only one mouth. With this distribution of body parts, one would think that we would speak less and listen more.

But, as can be evidenced by some of the remarks made in response to whatever is appearing in today’s news, one sees firsthand that such is not the usual case when applicable to everyday human interactions. One might say that the only reason some people even listen to what is being said is so that they can reply. But just because they reply does not necessarily mean they understand. How does that old adage go – “CAUTION – be sure BRAIN is engaged before putting MOUTH IN GEAR!”

Why do I say this – it is apparent based on what comes out of some people’s mouths in response to what is happening today in our world that over the years there has been a lack of effective communication not only at home, but in the workplace as well and in our social gatherings too. Such outbursts are truly damaging human relations (in this writer’s humble opinion) on many fronts.

Believe me when I say that being married almost 54 years is in and of itself a good example of not only how true communication works but that it is necessary in today’s world. For that matter when it comes right down to it, the greatest distance between two people is misunderstanding.

All too often it seems to me that ineffective communication is the main source of many of our problems in life. One could say that simplicity is the key to effective communication, and here again I could use the acronym KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) but rather than do that, instead, I will quote Albert Einstein who said: “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”

What does that leave us with? We need to be more succinct, honest and direct with our comments when we make them. Not only that, when speaking, our comments should also be phrased in such a way that our overall motives are clear as well. Bottom line is that if we understand the subject matter in question, it is okay to speak to the topic at hand. But if we don’t understand, then we shouldn’t speak at all.

That is all I will write on this subject as I truly prefer writing about wild and crazy stuff that either happened to us or I read about. You know, the stuff that will have you laughing so hard you will be spurting coffee out your nose while reading my rants as you never know what I will come up with nor will you expect it ‘til you get to that part of the post.

In conclusion please accept this posting as merely the opinion of a cranky old fart and not the handsome, debonair, charismatic individual I truly am in real life. Yeah right, and I am also the guy that will try and sell you part of the Brooklyn Bridge or some really nice swamp land in Florida!

Until next time!

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