So, I'm riding the SLUT (South Lake Union Trolley), and this woman looks right at me and says, "I don't like your t-shirt."
I look down at my shirt. It reads, "Knowledge is power. Power Corrupts. Study Hard. BE EVIL." I looked back up at her. "Why not?" I said.
"It says that smart people ought to crush the little people."
Now, I'm not sure why little people are supposed to be dumb. Or why smart people are supposed to have the power to crush those who oppose us. I said, "That's not what it means. It's a syllogism. A logical argument. We teach kids both of these things. If they're both true, then 'being evil' is the logical outcome of studying."
"Well, I don't like it," she said, and turned her back on me.
Well, at least I had a charming conversation with a very young boy on the train who wanted to show me his new Monopoly set.
I look down at my shirt. It reads, "Knowledge is power. Power Corrupts. Study Hard. BE EVIL." I looked back up at her. "Why not?" I said.
"It says that smart people ought to crush the little people."
Now, I'm not sure why little people are supposed to be dumb. Or why smart people are supposed to have the power to crush those who oppose us. I said, "That's not what it means. It's a syllogism. A logical argument. We teach kids both of these things. If they're both true, then 'being evil' is the logical outcome of studying."
"Well, I don't like it," she said, and turned her back on me.
Well, at least I had a charming conversation with a very young boy on the train who wanted to show me his new Monopoly set.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-17 09:26 am (UTC)(Some people cannot handle statements that are not simple descriptions of reality. Or humour. In my experience they often turn out to be religious fundamentalists, too: "if it says something in this book, then it must be literally true!")