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It’s rather ironic that the very definition of common sense may be a bit challenging. Now, this may seem comical to those who already possess common sense, but this attempt is not for them anyway. After all, if you have common sense, you probably know what common sense is.
The
Merriam-Webster OnLine Dictionary lists two definitions
that compliment each other:
This helps, but I don’t think it actually gets right down to what common sense really is. Don’t look at me for a more accurate definition, because I don’t have one. You either know what common sense is, or you think you know what common sense is. An example of things that should be common sense are, “Never wash your face with a campfire.” No argument there. The favorite of a long ago friend of mine was “Never eat a roller skate.” That’s sound advice. But probably the most important piece of advice that should be common sense is “Don’t fuck with others.” That sounds simple, and painfully obvious, even more so then the campfire and roller skate one, right? Well, many people get a perverse pleasure from fucking with others. These are the people who lack common sense anyway. Prudent action/reaction requires reflective thought. Reflective thought leads to a higher understanding of the world around you. A higher understanding of the world around you leads to anger because you realize that most people lack common sense. Wow, how Yoda like… It seems common sense has been washing away little by little in this country over the last 50 years. Technology has let us relax, but too many folks have taken technology for granted. Like my nine year old niece, arguing why she should have to learn basic math when she can just use a calculator. Well, I guess most of us would understand that argument better if we were nine years old again, but more and more adults agree with her argument in this day and age. Do you know what they teach in NJ Public Schools now? Near math. You get partial credit for being close. I shit you not. They say that you are almost right if you answer 24 to “what is 5 x 5?” Where’s the common sense here? Is 24 less wrong then 42,594, or are they both equally wrong? Shouldn’t they teach “Near Time” too? Then I could say that this rant was completed and posted nearly on time, rather then eight days late. Why not “Near History?” That way, I can tell ya how Christopher Columbus, in 1776, founded New York City, but was later slaughtered by the Pilgrims. How about “Near English?” Oh wait, that’s Ebonics, actually taught in some schools. I know how “Near Math” probably came to be. Some fat ignorant asshole of a parent got bent out of shape when their moron kid got a few F’s in math. “But he/she wuz almost right! Pass my kid, or I’ll sue!” Whatever the catalyst was, the decision to teach “Near Math” had to come before the board of education, and these stupid motherfuckers thought “Near Math” was a good idea for some odd reason. Either that, or rubber stamping the idea got them out of work a bit sooner. What was it? A lack of common sense, apathy, or just laziness? Probably a combination of the three. Eh, who knows what to do now. The twits of the world easily out number the enlightened. I guess I’ll bow to the wisdom of Uncle George Carlin. “When you’re born, you get a ticket to the freak show. Just watch the show.” I’d love to meet him someday. Neither of us are going to be around much longer. Anyway… I watch the show, but the overall lack or disregard for common sense still pisses me off. I quote George again, “People are fucking stupid.” Just look at what happened last Tuesday.
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