This is a list I made after reading yet another news article about someone who had something bad happen because that person was doing something stupid (this news article was about someone who had a medical emergency at #1 below).
The article got me thinking about all the other things I wonder about, usually with my face screwed up into a position reminiscent of smelling something weird and not liking it.
THINGS I DON'T UNDERSTAND:
1. eating contests
2. bull-fighting
3. stunts that can only end badly
4. rock climbing
5. skiing on closed trails
6. keeping dangerous animals as "pets"
7. "practical jokes"
8. leaving pets in a vehicle on a hot day (I make a different face with this one. It's a very angry face and you wouldn't want to see it.)
What would be on your list of things you don't understand?
#8 is animal abuse. #1 thru #7 are natural selection in action.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I don't understand is people who try to fight the police. Yelling and screaming at the police when they pull you over for something relatively minor like speeding is a great way to get multiple serious charges.
Lots of the same things would be on my list. I can (sort of) understand the pleasure of rock climbing though.
ReplyDeleteI would add hunting for pleasure to that list.
I really, really don't understand the appeal of selfies either - particularly in dangerous places, but everywhere really.
People with family or friends and ignoring them for screen time.
ReplyDeleteInfidel753: Nice summary; you're exactly right. And a big yes to your addition to the list. What is WRONG with people??
ReplyDeleteElephant's Child: I don't do heights, maybe that's why that one's on my list :) I like your additions to the list and wish I'd thought of them myself!
Marie: Yes, definitely that one :)
Apparently the western and increasingly other worlds have obesity and diabetic issues. Eating contests don't encourage restraint.
ReplyDeleteStabbing and terrorising bulls for pleasure is wrong?
3, 4, 5 and perhaps 6 do seem like natural selection. I'd have to think more about 7.
If one sees a child or animal cooking in a car, may we all have the courage to smash a window.
Bull fights are awful. I always like watching videos of bulls at bull fights jumping the barrier and rampaging into the crowd. Also, if I remember correctly, in his book "Childhood's End" Arthur C. Clarke had the alien overlords block out the sunlight until the bullfights stopped. Even as a kid, I loved that part.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who used to race motorcycles in the dirt, I kind of understand risk taking, but only up to a certain point.
The main thing people do that I really don't understand is vote for Republicans.
Also, I never watch those videos of people's misfortune. Fails, I think they call them. Having "failed" a few dozen too many times to count (see above note on motorcycle racing) I take no pleasure in watching others painful mistakes.
-Doug in Sugar Pine
#8 is a baffling one and just so sad. Leave them home or don't go anywhere. It is also troubling that kids still get left in hot cars in this day and age.
ReplyDeleteTrump supporters.
ReplyDeleteCruelty of any and every kind.
ReplyDeletePoepl who forget they have small children in the car and leave them locked in there by "accident" When locking your car, surely you can see through the windows that your child is in the back seat or baby seat?? Pets also, though they shouldn't be in the car unless going to and from the vet.
ReplyDeleteI'll add to the list as well:
ReplyDelete- Boxing.
- really any sports that's just a "beat away at the opponenent"
- Drinking contests among teens.
- Driving uder influence.
- too loud music.
- Spam mails, most of all to me from "Russian ladies".
- people who don't care about spelling or grammar, because: "Well, you unnerstand what i ment , sure".
- FB (and similar) not letting people decide what/whom/in what order they want to view things.
I think I'll have to stop here, this list is just growing, unveiling me as the old, grumpy crone I have turned into lately.
I agree with most of the above comments. I don't understand people who take pleasure in coercive control. I also don't understand why no country seems able to choose honourable people to run their governments. Money talks, but is shouldn't.
ReplyDeleteBullfighting is a cultural ancient thing. Only people of that culture can undertand it.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I can't understand at all and keeps me thinking on that several times is how some people can live as if God doesn't exist. It's like watching someone running to a precipice.
Andrew: Right on all counts. And it does take courage to do something about a child or animal in a hot car. I've waited by cars with animals inside in the heat, quivering like jelly at the thought of taking action but unable to leave before the owners return or someone else calls the police. Here we are told not to interfere with an animal in a hot car unless they are in distress, not even just to call authorities. But distress has different degrees. Why wait until they are near death? Why not intervene while they are still able to recover from the heat?
ReplyDeleteDoug: It is indeed satisfying to see animals get the upper hand in a situation like that. I do understand that many people require more thrills than I do and get them from risk-taking, but I can't actually understand the need, only that it exists! But rock-climbing and mountain-climbing and many other extreme sports can end in tragedy that affects not just the person involved but their family, friends, and rescue agencies, not to mention the cost to taxpayers of such rescues. Racing motorbikes seems downright tame compared to that :) And yes, I also wonder why people are still voting Republican when the party has accepted such disgraceful people to represent it. We are starting to see that in Canada, too, unfortunately, with our Conservative representatives. Fiscal restraint is one thing but we are in a whole other world of "conservative values" now.
Mr. Shife: Yes indeed - I should have remembered that one and added it to the list. It's heartbreaking.
DB Stewart: Yes, a huge YES.
Mimi: Exactly, that's it in a nutshell.
River: Yes, I don't know how I missed that on my list. I can kind of imagine how a child could get left behind, though - I don't look in my back seat every time I get out of the car. And if each parent thinks the other one took the child with them, it wouldn't be hard to see a child getting forgotten. What a horrible situation all around.
Charlotte: It's impossible not to be grumpy at some of those things! I think when we're going through a hard time, everything can seem worse, including others' behavior and actions. Hang in there, my friend.
jabblog: Yes, especially to your final sentence. The political system seems set up to fail in a lot of cases. And as far as honourable people in politics, I think many good candidates are put off by the seeming impossibility of doing a good and effective job, particularly within the current political climate. Still, there are many backbenchers who toil away, doing their best - but lack the influence to change things. There's no easy answer, it seems.
P.: I don't understand how cultural beliefs justify cruelty.
Nice to see a post from you, keep them coming. My big peeve-governments spending money on vanity projects, jaunts, weapons etc and not on eradicating poverty, lack of safe drinking water, better care of the elderly. I don't have an issue with paying taxes but I wishI could direct where the money was used. I think if we all did it and the government was legally obligated to allocate money as directed their priorities would have to change.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great list.
ReplyDeleteMy disability means I sometimes see people do normal physical activities and wonder how they do it.
I wonder how people live without any care for environment.
I don't understand animal cruelty.
And I wonder why some bloggers are outright antagonistic to the Christian idea of God but wouldn't make the same criticisms of any other religion.
I'm with you on all counts, and with Charlotte (above) on boxing, too!
ReplyDeleteThe longer I live, the less I understand what motivates people to do things that seem bone-headed to me. Granted, I did a few bone-headed things when I was young; but I like to think I've learned from my mistakes. (But now I feel a doom-laden sense of impending stupidity: Having just passed judgement on others, any day now I'll do something that makes everyone else facepalm.)
ReplyDeleteString theory
ReplyDeleteSusan: Thank you. And good point about making the government accountable to spend as directed. I would hope we would see more spent on social causes if that was the case.
ReplyDeletekylie: Good additions!
Steve: Yes, I missed a lot of good ideas that others have, fortunately, raised :)
Diane: LOL! Nah, I think you're growed up now :)
Anon: Good one!
I don't understand dog fighting. How anyone can find pleasure in watching two dogs tear each other to pieces is beyond belief
ReplyDeleteCherie: Yes, how cruel is that practice. I don't know what kind of a life someone had to have to do that.
ReplyDeletebaili: I know you left a comment here but I accidentally deleted it instead of posting it to the blog! Sorry, and thank you for taking the time to comment :)
The list of things I don't understand is a lot longer than the list of things I do understand.
ReplyDeleteb.o.b.: lol!! Thanks for dropping by :)
ReplyDelete