Sometimes I wonder what is the point of sharing knowledge from my areas of expertise, degrees, and insane number of books I read instead of watching tv or scrolling facebook. I am the biggest history nerd I know with higher degrees as proof, and I have highly specialized science knowledge instilled in me from pretty much birth thanks to both my parents. Then there's my personal experiences from travel to 23 countries on most continents. And just being multiethnic brings with it a broader perspective in many ways.
And yet I repeatedly find myself in situations with strangers being immediately combative over things that aren't even controversial or intended for debate. I mean, people arguing with me about the flammability of sequoia sempervirens, for instance. Seriously why. I mentioned a little known fact about it because I grew up with trained licensed experts, and was met with "I don't where you heard that but..."
I keep facing resistance over the littlest things. I don't know if my diplomacy comes off as insecurity or what, but I keep getting challenged on things that might be useful knowledge if anyone wanted to actually trust these degrees on my wall and all the time I've spent prioritizing lifelong learning.
Then of course there was the drunk Oklahoman German 20-something egghead I had the misfortune of meeting. I spent years and a lot of hard work gaining post-graduate knowledge about my very own ethnic background, which he belligerently denied while assuming my friend and I were monoracial like himself, among other assumptions I'm sure. He seemed like a loose cannon so I just let him continue his impassioned speech because I shouldn't have to defend who I am to anyone -- and definitely didn't bother enlightening him. His beef was with himself and I don't fight with kids.
If I share something I know, I'm definitely not trying to make anyone feel dumb or start shit. I'm a grown woman.
It takes a lot of deep intense reflection and study to get to the point where I can confidently share dialogue with people. Then when I finally gather the ovaries to speak up I feel pounced on.
Teachers and professors must have so much patience! Allll the respect.
Also why are people so resistant to learning new things?
It's weird because people suggest I'm smart. "Super smart" even. But if so then why do they battle me at every opportunity when I'm waaaay too tired and anemic to engage in any of that juvenile behavior anymore. Maybe it's not intelligence necessarily but the wisdom and maturity to not engage with those who are more interested in provoking a fight than expanding their minds.
Still annoying though. Millionth reminder to self to actively seek out more social interactions with people on my intellectual maturity level so I don't have to keep playing teacher to morons. Probably why I became a historian instead of a teacher.
2:59 p.m. - 2019-09-21