I don't want to pollute the earth. I really don't. But I find that the environmental movement attracts people who are boorish, rude, and egotistical. In conversations they never have a clue that some of their dogma may be doubted or in error. Even if you have facts on your side, there is no disagreeing with them. If you raise an argument, they make you feel as if you alone are responsible for toxic waste, global warming, and the loss of the snail darter.
I encountered just such a person a few weeks ago at a Chamber of Commerce networking event. His second sentence after our introduction was a launching pad to a 5-minute monologue on the environment. When he got to the part of how wind and solar power was the future salvation of the planet I began looking for how to get away from him. His idea was that we'd all have wind and solar generators so we could be free from the evils of carbon emissions. Never mind that my house would have been dark and cold that day because of heavy overcast and no wind.
I didn't argue. I knew it would be useless. He was a true believer. He didn't care about my opinions. He really didn't care to learn anything about me. He only cared about himself and his cause. I noticed that other people avoided him as well. Perhaps they already knew what I was just discovering: this man was a conversational black hole.
The environmental movement seems to attract these kinds of people. They're devoted to their cause and believe it's their mission in life to make everyone agree with them.
Funny thing is that I've met Christians who were the same way.
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4 comments:
You know, I was just going to make a comment about how I know some people like you describe that give Christianity a bad name, and then I read your last sentence. It's a shame that this is the case, but I take it as one of my missions in life to give Christ a good name - although I'm not perfect, I can at least be polite and compassionate. I know the saying is old and worn out - but it's so true - you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. I pray that I'm Christ's "honey".
A conversational black hole. What a graphic description of some people who have an inflated sense of the importance of their own words. I'll remember that phrase.
Dad
I like the phrase "conversational black hole." I've met many of those types. Next time you meet one, try to ask him/her a question about something unrelated to his/her "cause." The response is a good indicator about how well-rounded they are in other subjects.
Love it. Great words.
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