The "it must mean something" club

I think we can all agree that knowledge is powerful. Ask any general who has led an army's efforts in battle, or any teacher who just wants the best for his/her students, a parent who has eyes in the back of their head, or a stock broker.

All of these people desire a certain outcome and know that the single edge that can tip the balance is one piece of information that can change lives.

Information is important to us. We spend billions of dollars on media of all kinds, on education, hiring specialists, consultants, advice columns, horoscopes, and Dr. Phil. I know that I personally pay for high speed internet because accessing or generally enjoying information is an essential part of my day.

So why is it that we buy into information that isn't true? What makes us so secure in the old wives' tales, psychics, and other crap that people are so fascinated with? We all have little signs and symptoms that we look for or otherwise notice that tell us a logically following conclusion. Tell me if any of these are familiar:

- White spots on the fingernails means a zinc deficiency.
- Frustration with a project means some sort of mental/emotional block.
- A woman getting snippy means she's hormonal for one reason or another.
- A red dawn means murder happened in the night.
- Thinning hair means [stress, eating disorder, lack of appropriate protein in diet]
- Great misfortune means someone has bad karma, wasn't religious enough, etc.

With all of the information available to us, wouldn't it make sense to only believe what is true? Wait, wait, no. That's hard to do. Since there is so much, it's almost impossible to sift through it all, research it, and make sure that everything that comes out of our mouths or every bit of advice and wisdom we live by is the “correct” way to be. There are sources that we sort of trust by default, sources who we know “must know” because that source has either been right in the past or has a demonstrated store of sense that we agree with. Some people are great salespersons who are great at sounding credible. Still others are just so tired of lies that they just stick with the ones that sounds the best.

But why? Why must everything have an opinion or judgment attached? Because prejudice is just easier. It feels safer. We gotta have knowledge so we either make it up or accept it semi-blindly. We feel important when we feel like we have knowledge. We feel that when someone asks us if we've heard of anything, we can say yes. If they ask for help, of course we can. But how, oh how can we do that? I don't know about you, but there are enough decisions to be made in this life that researching and deciding on a city vote is just about beneath my notice nowadays. It's easier to decide to be Conservative and then just vote Conservative on issues rather than understanding the truth of each decision. (I'm a registered Independent – don't haze me)

We've been sign seekers as a people for eons. Here are two examples that might be, and might not: A long time ago I asked God to help me overcome my addiction to reading on the internet. The next day, my computer broke. Then (years later) I told Him that the only thing really keeping me from having a fourth child was that our car wasn't large enough. About a month later it was totaled and we bought a van. Both of them are Signs!! Man said that I needed to quit praying for things to break.

Assumptions are one of my worst pet peeves. When people think they know me based on this or that behavior or physical trait, I get irritated. Prejudices bug me. I'm a 25 year old white female who lugs around 3 kids and their various accessories, I'm pregnant and my husband's in the Army. I'm Christian. What kind of person do you think I would be? Dubya supporter all the way? Nope. I respect the chair if not the man sitting on it.

I met a lady the other day from church who happened to be at our park. We got to chatting. She's a youngish mom of two and her husband's Air Force. She also served a mission, served a contract with the Air Force herself, and actually graduated from one of the most prestigious language programs in the country. And she likes sky diving. Needless to say, she's fun to talk to and because of my own assumptions and prejudices I was completely taken off guard to hear about her adventures, especially with how young she is.

But she has red hair. That means she has quite the temper. Ha!! Sure didn't seem like it.

I sent a lady some (solicited) crockpot advice for her son who is currently serving a mission. She wrote back saying that I would be “extra blessed” for helping a missionary. I've heard a few things more silly than that in my life, but it was pretty funny.

Don't worry, if you happen to preform one of these pet peeves while you talk to me chances are I either won't notice or care unless it's just so silly of an “it must mean something” moment that I have to laugh.

I really believe that this sort of comfort in signs diminishes my ability to choose correctly. And that's uncomfortable enough for me that I take just about everything with a salt lick. It's nice to be old – I'm allowed to be a skeptic. ;)

Game of phone:

PB: Mom, what's this?

A: Shitaake mushroom.

PB: [to Man and Tag] Mom says it's a talkie mushroom.

T: A talking mushroom?