Closet Extremist

I'm an Elitist

Strangely enough, I didn't know it until just a little while ago, but after careful consideration of my interactions with other human beings over the last couple of weeks, I've got to say that I'm nothing more than an elitist.

Part of it comes from my profession you see. The term "Elevator Man" has a complicated history of elitism. I was recently regaled with the tale of a drunken escapade that was undertaken many moons ago by a group of elevator guy's. They were working out in the middle of North Carolina somewhere, and decided that they needed a beer. They had to drive forty miles or so to get one, but undounted they persisted. After much imbibing of malted adult libations, they struck back toward their lodgings in order to get some shut-eye. As it happens, they were pulled over by the local constabulary on the trek back, and the "Man" proceeded to give them down the road about every little thing. After a short time of hearing the officer lecture, one of the more innebriated of the bunch chimed in from the back seat "We're Elevator Men, Goddamnit!" For some reason, the officer was unimpressed, but the example still stands.

I was havign a conversation about religion the other week, and my rants here about Atheism came up. I thought that I had gone out of my way to couch my point of view in such a way as to not overtly offend anyone, but I never even thought about how elitist I come across when discussing that subject. At first, I was a bit offended at the remark, but as is my custom, I gave a few days to look at it from all sides. After careful study, I found that indeed I am an elitist when it comes to religion, and here's why: The reaction that I get from most people when they hear that I'm an athiest is a mish-mash of disbelief and pity. My reaction to them is roughly the same. It starts with disbelief that they haven't figured it out yet, and then I realize that their perception is not the same as mine, and then I pity them their ignorance. If that ain't elitist, then I don't know what is.

It's something I'm working on, but obviously I haven't got it down yet. Alas, I'm an elitist.

One of the things that I lack, is the ability to impart ideas on a common ground. I used to think that I could "dumb down" a concept to a level that everyone could comprehend, but apparrently that's not so. I can't even bring it down to the level of your average college graduate, and that should be no "mean feat", but apparrently it's a mountain higher than Everest. I've tried to bring it down, but all it does is bring me down, and I'm not going to accept that.

Henceforth, it'll be the "Closet Elitist", and I'm not going to budge for anybody. If you'd like an extended explanation, than I'll be happy to give one, but I'll not do it without a direct request. Might as well take this whole "Elitist" thing to the extreme.

Posted by Johnny - Oh at August 15, 2005 11:18 PM | TrackBack