Keep It Simple, Stupid.

I've got some adapting to do, and I just can't figure out which way I wanna adapt. But when dealing with tons of people on a daily basis, one really must have a plan...because chances are, each day, you're gonna run into an idiot. 

COMMON SENSE IS RARE.
Personally, when someone feels the need to explain shit to me that I'm smart enough to already understand on my own, I find it condescending - so I try not to be that way to others.

Like, who the fuck do you think you are trying to explain to me what a fitted sheet is at 21 years old? And yes, I actually can figure out by the words that are printed on the water bottle label that one is purified water and one is water from a spring. And believe it or not, I can chew gum and walk at the same time too! 

But I'm starting to realize that when that happens to me, it's not because people think that I'm stupid, it's because people have adapted and accepted the fact that most people are stupid, and it becomes a habit to explain normal, simple, common sense things that shouldn't need an explanation. 

I DON'T WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND.
I, on the other hand, have not adapted or accepted this but I might have to....because it never fails, every time I give someone the benefit of the doubt and think, Nah, surely they got this...I'm wrong, and they most definitely do not have it.  

For example, I sent a list of information out via email today to a committee leader (who is way further up the ladder and makes way more money than I do, mind you.) with two items highlighted that were in question. I explained to him that I had requested the information that we needed to verify those last two items, and once it was received the list would be good to go. The person I requested the information from replied back to both of us shortly after, with the information we needed. I assumed that the committee leader would put 2 and 2 together at that point and go with it, so I did nothing further. Some time later the committee leader sends an email to the rest of the committee that says, "we have everything we need except for the information we are waiting on from Jessica, it should come sometime today." Fuckin' really? Do I really need to hold your adult hand, right now? You got the same email that I did. The same information. Use. Your. Brain. 

I know that I would spend less of my time shaking my damn head at the world if I could just revert back to the old school days of Mr. Seibert and make the KISS method a part of my everyday living pattern. You know...KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID - and never ever assume that anyone is going use their brain, ever. 

THE EASY WAY OUT. 
Knowing that you can lead an idiot to knowledge, but you can't make him think - it seems that sometimes it's easier to not assume, to not explain, but to just do shit yourself so you know it's done right. My trouble with this is that it makes shit too easy for people - it allows them to continue being stupid and requires more effort outta me. Why should they get to stay lost in left field and not even attempt to use their thought processes, when they are the ones lacking? I know that I can't save the world but I don't think I'm okay with putting forth extra effort to enable stupidity, either.

Example: A supervisor told a staff member here at headquarters today that they don't make overhead pages correctly, so they need to have me do their pages from now on. As opposed to? Say, teaching them how to do it right? Like I don't already page enough? Negative, that's just not gonna work for me.


I really don't know which way is the best way to go, here - it pisses me off when people are dumb and you can't count on them, it takes a lot of my effort to try and improve their ignorance, and it takes a lot of my effort to pick up their slack if I don't...I'm just like, what the hell? All options seem kind of fucky to me but I guess that's the price you pay to be a smart ass in a world full of dumb asses.

...and they say that being brilliant is a blessing. hmph.