The Weekly Rant with Gary Patella

Thoughts and ideas on various grievances that are relevant to everyday life.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

On Text Messaging

In today's modern age, practically everybody has a cell phone. And even the most primitive cell phones around have some sort of text messaging feature. This feature is extremely useful when only a single sentence needs to be sent. When a question requiring only a one word answer needs to be asked, it is also good to use a text message. But can texting be taken too far? I not only believe that it can, I believe that it already has.

In my opinion, people have become so obsessed with texting that the cell phone is now rarely used as an actual phone. I know of many people that try to have entire conversations via text. For me, this simply doesn't work. After three back and forths, I call the person. The frustrating thing is that far too many people now completely avoid talking on the phone. These people don't even respond to a phone call, and simply let it go to voicemail. Yet a text message is answered anon. I don't get it.

Some people are so stupid that they try to text message and drive at the same time. When one of these idiots dies, I never feel bad. I just consider it social Darwinism. Those stupid genes will thankfully not be passed on. But here's the problem: it is not only the texting idiots that die. Innocent people in that moron's vicinity are also put in danger. So states had to come up with laws to prevent texting and driving. Unfortunately, people have become too stupid to realize that they can't both observe the road and the cell phone screen at the same time. Hence the laws.

Also in the world of text messaging retardation, we have those that text each other while being right next to each other!! Maybe this can be used if you don't want to convey the message to a third party that is present, but that is about it. If the person is next to you, then you should speak!

In summary, text messaging has gotten way too out of hand. Although everyone, including myself, uses texting as a form of communication, it is certainly not the only form of communication. Unless you have laryngitis, pick up a phone every now and then. Texting an entire conversation is just plain stupid. As is texting while driving and texting a person next to you. Be conservative with your text messages. Other forms of communication still exist.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Can I Have Some Beverage With That Ice?

People often eat somewhere other than home. Sometimes this entails going to a nice restaurant for a night out. Other times, it is grabbing something quickly during a lunch break at work. Regardless of the circumstances, the concept of eating a meal away from home is a very familiar one.

In many places, with varying degrees of quality, there is a disturbing trend. A beverage is ordered with the meal (e.g. an iced tea, a soft drink), and this beverage is shockingly consumed in only a few sips. Immediately, the main culprit is detected. The amount of ice cubes in the cup or glass far exceeded what would be considered a reasonable amount.*

The extremely ridiculous number of ice cubes has always bugged me. Although this practice is often associated only with fast food places, it definitely occurs elsewhere. Many diners and restaurants fill the cups with an unnecessary amount of ice as well. And the motive for doing such a thing is questionable at best.

Certainly, in a very short-sighted view, the establishment is saving a few cents per order by giving less drink. Keep in mind that it may even be less than one cent per order, since the beverages are bought in bulk and therefore the amount saved is very minimal. And I say that the view is short-sighted, because it does not account for repeat business. It may take a while, but customers will eventually associate a place with hardly getting anything to drink. At that point, the customer takes his or her business elsewhere. So in the long run, the practice may actually be detrimental, despite the immediate savings of a penny or two.

In some cases, I have seen the cup filled completely with ice. In diners and certain restaurants, the ice is sometimes stacked higher than the rim of the glass! It is absolutely ridiculous, and it makes me less inclined to visit the place again.

In summary, these places need to stop using so much ice. It has gotten way too out of hand. If I pay for a drink, I think I'm entitled to more than two sips!

*Apologies to my European readers. I know this is a problem that does not exist in Europe. Simply be grateful that you don't have to deal with such nonsense.

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

On Selfishness

It is completely normal for everyone to have some self interest. And sometimes being concerned only with oneself is perfectly acceptable. But selfishness can go too far, and there are too many people that don't know when to draw the line.

In Ayn Rand's works, she constantly emphasises her view that it is good to be selfish. Her philosophy is probably best summed up by quoting John Galt from Atlas Shrugged: "I swear by my life, and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine."

I have no problem with those few individuals that live by this quote. But Ayn Rand was clearly delusional if she felt that this is the type of selfishness existing in the world. Selfish people are not following a life philosophy, and they are nothing at all like Rand's protagonists. When it comes to the real world, selfish people follow the quote only up to the point where they vow to never live for the sake of another. But the remainder of the quote is clearly thrown out the window.

The problem with selfish individuals is that they constantly ask others to live for them. These people will constantly burden others by asking for favours. They will stab people in the back, stick others with a bill at a restaurant, and try to take as much as they can. The selfish people that we encounter in everyday life are nothing like the John Galts and Howard Roarks that Rand created. They are outright human parasites!

Trying to get as much as you can out of others is simply wrong. People are not around to serve you. This doesn't mean that you can never ask another for a favour. But it does mean that you can't live your life relying on others, and never giving anything in return. Constantly taking and never giving is a very poor trait. There comes a point where you have to either give something back, or start learning a little self-reliance.

In summary, if you are selfish, try following the quote. Although, changing your parasitic nature at this point is probably close to impossible, so in that case use someone else. I have no desire to be sucked dry, so leave me the hell alone. As it says in the Nirvana song, "If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to ask someone else first."

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

On Pointless Traffic Direction

There is a job market trend that has always frightened a number of workers. Improved technology sometimes leads to a situation where the technology can replace a human. Supermarkets now have self-service checkouts, eliminating the need for cashiers. Airlines and movie theatres have kiosks that eliminate ticket agents, and factories obtain machines that assemble parts. Whether this trend is ultimately positive or negative is something I will not discuss. The trend is what it is, and most people believe it to be inevitable.

But there is a case where the trend is going in reverse. Something that has always been carried out by machines now is being replaced by humans. And in many ways, it is completely absurd. I am referring to police officers directing traffic.

There are now many areas where a police officer stands in the middle of the street and directs traffic. This used to be a rare occurrence that would take place when the street light was broken. Now it seems to take place where there is a fully operational street light! Are we completely free of crime? Aren't there still plenty of dangerous areas? It's bad enough that we have serious crimes occurring while officers are busy violating the fourth amendment, rifling through people's bags. Now we get even more wasteful by having officers direct traffic.

And if you have ever observed this traffic direction, you would see that it is completely stupid and unnecessary. The fully functional traffic light turns green, and the officer starts waving traffic through the green light. The light turns red, and the officer holds up his or her hand telling cars to stop. If people need a human to tell them that a green light means go, and a red light means stop, then that person should not have a driver's licence.

It is true that, every now and then, the officer will wave an extra car through a red light (consequently having another car wait for a few seconds at a green light). But this pitiful attempt to justify the assignment has no effect. Everyone can plainly see that the police officer is a wasted resource in this scenario. Perhaps I shouldn't really care. It doesn't actually affect me (other than the tax dollars paying for it). But stupidity in any situation always gets to me. And using an officer to mimic the traffic light is definitely stupid!

I think it's time that the decision makers in high positions stop making such retarded decisions. I would bet that many of the officers directing traffic also think the assignment is stupid. But if a cop is ordered to stand in the street, wave people through a green light, and hold up a hand to stop people at a red light, that cop has no choice. It is a completely useless assignment. But the brilliant minds that make the decisions seem to think otherwise. Perhaps it's time for some new decision makers.