Pondering What Makes an Authority...

Miss J and I had an interesting conversation the other evening over coffee and a thunderstorm.  Coffee...conversation...thunderstorm...

does it get any better?  Anyway, among many other earth-shattering and enlightening topics, we discussed what it meant to become an authority? 

This got me to pondering...Hold onto to your seat belts!

Is it experience?  If I've done something long enough does that make me an authority?  But what is long enough?  Six months, two years, twenty years?  I guess it depends on the subject.  Baking cakes should take less time (in theory) to become an expert than, say...planning a robbery.  Unless of course, you've planted a gun inside the cake... Just kiddin'...

I'd definitely agree it takes longer to become an authority on certain things and it's certainly easier to tell if there is  mastery when I can make use of my five senses.  If I can see, taste, hear, touch or smell your talent or lack thereof then it is objective and can be measured quantitatively.  But...what about those pesky little matters that can't be so easily measured, like child-rearing or marriage?

Some things simply can't be measured precisely.  They are far more qualitative and not so straightforward.  In fact, I believe there can be so many variables involved that sometimes it's impossible to be sure about authority until the dastardly deed is done.  How many so-called great parents turn out horrid adult children?  How many supposed excellent marriages falter and fail? 

Would I dare to dub myself an expert on these type of things when my assessment could be ruinously wrong?  Well...maybe...  After all, authority doesn't necessarily mitigate the possibility of failure, does it?

What about age? How old does one need to be to become an authority?  Hmmm...  Again, I believe it depends on the subject.  A 20 something is most likely quite an expert on (everything) all that is trendy, cool, hip and all the rage...( I know, I know, outdated terminology, but I am OLD after all and obviously not an expert!)

Is it therefore, reasonable to expect it would take far more maturity to become an expert on aging gracefully?  Judging by some cranky old geezers, maybe not...

And of course, there are some folks who become authorities through formal education.  However, knowledge, although valuable, can be misleading.  Being "book smart" may sound expert-ish, but don't be fooled.  Knowledge without experience is not complete and can deceive those into thinking they "know it all" when in fact, they've just "heard or read it all".

Methinks it is all rather confus...ticating!!  And...

since I'm not an authority on becoming an authority (which is abundantly clear by my pondering), I thought I'd leave you with a few quotes... could there be truer words spoken...

• No statement should be believed because it is made by an authority.
  Hans Reichenbach
• Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.
  Charles De Gaulle
• “Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it.” 
  Henry David Thoreau
• “The disappearance of a sense of responsibility is the most far-reaching consequence of submission to authority.” 
  Stanley Milgram

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Ta Ta!

I May be Crazy, but.....

We live in a sad and crazy world! Literally!

How many disturbed people live untreated among us?  How many are capable of violence to either themselves, others or both?

How many of the mentally ill hide and try to cover up their illness out of  fear of judgement from...

you and I?

How many families help the cover up for the same reason?

I am glad that more and more folks are stepping up to the plate and openly admitting they have mental health problems.  It's good overall, that the media is educating the masses that a broken psyche is no different than a broken limb.  However...

I don't want to judge or cause a stir, but...

I really do wonder about some of the diagnosis's attached to certain people, especially so many children??  Are there really that many folks suffering from clinical depression, anxiety or stress disorders, bipolar, antisocial or personality syndromes, OCD, ADD. ADHD, etc??

I know that there are serious mental health disorders that are undeniable and severe.  I don't doubt the diagnosis or need for treatment in these cases.  Even a layman can often tell there is something dreadfully broken.  I also, realize that these individuals can require a lifetime of intervention, but...

here's the thing..

it might be only me...(don't throw rocks just yet)...but

by creating a society of acceptance for mental illness could we also, inadvertently be creating a vehicle for certain individuals to use a "mental illness" to justify poor behavior?  Could it become an defence for behaving irresponsibility, immaturely, thoughtlessly...

Could it be made easier to label our kids as having some kinda deficit rather than admit we dropped the parenting ball?

Before anyone does throw rocks at me, I do have a background of "crazy" in my very own dysfunctional family. On both my mother & father's side there is a truckload of ... well...

wing nuts

whack-a -doodles

bat-crap-crazies

nut cases!!

Some of which have "gone away" to the home or to "camp" and others that should be gone!!  But...

Who doesn't have these "particular" family flakes?   Maybe Aunt Mary truly is loopy and Uncle Joe  a bonafide whack job, but aren't most of us...well...normal "crazy"??  Haven't most of us experienced some sort of dysfunction in our life's?  Haven't most of us learned to cope with the craziness and grow up to be valuable, contributing and reasonably happy adults? 

Whether you agree with me or not, I believe, far too many (these days) allow their dysfunctional backgrounds to cripple them and don't even try to cope.  We've unintentionally made it easy to cop out. It is a byproduct of dragging mental illness out of the attic, but...

having said that... I do believe that mental health experts will learn to discern between those folks who really cannot function in this world, and those who are disguising their unsupported, immature, selfish behavior as mental illness.  Then they will give these folks a swift kick and tell them to...

GROW UP AND HANDLE IT!!

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Just sayin'...

Come Hell or High Water...

 

 

This is a picture of Stampede Park in Calgary after the June floods in Southern Alberta.  Many areas in and around Calgary were devastated.  But...

 

because of the thousands of volunteers, neighbours helping neighbours and the sheer determination of gritty folks to overcome this sodden disaster, Calgary is slowly returning to normal.

 Because of so many dedicated individuals, this is what Stampede Park looks like today...

Isn't it great?! Isn't it a miracle?!

There has been some criticism over the quick clean-up of Stampede Park so that the "The Greatest Show on Earth" could proceed as scheduled.  Some individuals were appalled when there are so many folks left without homes or businesses.  This is true and...

undeniably, thousands of people were affected by this tragedy and it could be argued that the restoration of Stampede Park should be put on hold.  But, I agree with the decision to do everything possible to carry on with the biggest party in Cowtown! 

People need this shindig...vacations are planned around the Stampede...folks become exuberant and excited...the city opens their welcoming arms to Stampede visitors all over the world.

This year Calgary needed to not only celebrate the Stampede, but pay tribute to every neighbour, friend and stranger whose tenacity, determination and sheer doggedness stood up to and tackled the floods headfirst.  It will still be an extensive recovery for Calgarians long after the Stampede celebrations are over, but...

donja think it's a heck of a way to get started?

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Tha..tha...that's all folks!

Airing My Dirty Laundry...

I received a FREE  "Downy Unstopables" in-wash scent booster to try with my laundry. 
I mean...

a full sized bottle! How great is that?  Anyway, before I divulge my opinion of "Downy Unstopables" I'd like to air a little bit of my dirty laundry.

After all, since "Downy Unstopables" is meant to enhance, improve and in all ways boost the foulness out of our laundry, confession of my smelly secrets should work the same for cleansing my soul!  Whadja think??

Here goes nothing...airing my dirty laundry!

1. I do try to be environmentally conscious but, I really don't like doing piles of laundry.  I sometimes wash only a partial load so, it doesn't stack up.  I know, I know...  It's wasting water etc., etc., but, I own a HE washing machine.  I'd like to think it does it's job and uses just the right amount of H20!
2. Sometimes I "forget" a load of laundry in the dryer, in which case, I rewash if clothes are wrinkled.  Hmmm...another waste of water...
3. Let's see, what other laundry crimes do I commit... I have been known NOT to read labels and wash things like wool and cashmere; much to my family's dismay.  You may ask how could I not realize that you never, ever wash wool or cashmere?  Well...the thing is I do know!  This is a perfect example of mindlessness; a subject for yet, another blog.

I'm sure if I thought hard enough I could come up with many more transgressions, after all, I have been doing laundry for almost 40 years.  Egad!  That is a loooo...ng time and I've tried lots of new laundry aids throughout those 40 years, but I have to say "Downy Unstopables" is one of the best new washing helps I've ever used.

It not only boosts the scent of the fabric softener, but it increases how long the aroma lasts.  It's dee...lightful to pull out an article of clothing after 2 weeks and still whiff the pleasant smell.  So, although "Downy Unstopables" may not bring an end to your laundry faux pas, it will definitely enhance the excellence of it!  I highly recommend giving "Downy Unstopables" a whirl around the dance floor!

 

The only compensation paid to me was receiving the Free "Downy Unstopables".

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I feel just ducky today...