Accepted Beliefs are not the same as Logic

The reasoning power of humanity pisses me off. Because something is so, does not mean that it is right. Because something is happening everywhere does not mean that it should. Because lots of people have done something and survived without harm does not prove an activity is safe. My mom once pointed that out to me saying she had run out into the road without looking many times as a child and never once got hurt--yet few of us would encourage that behavior. And finally, and this one particularly irritates the crazy nerves in my brain, because something is "natural" does not make it good. Arsenic is natural, people.

I've had people tell me they refuse to take drugs, even over the counter drugs, in favor of "all-natural" homeopathic medicines. In other words, such a person would not take morphine (which is an opiate that comes from the poppy flower) but would take chamomile, st john's wort, or Valerian root (which comes from other flowers.) I can only assume that poppies are less "natural" than chamomile. People will defend their drugs of choice, explaining pot is natural whereas meth is a manufactured poison, and I agree I'd certainly wish people chose pot over meth, however, the terms poison and natural are not antonyms. Hemlock, belladonna, arsenic--yep all natural.

Now where this really gets me is in defending and defining human behavior. We need to learn that because a behavior is natural, it does not defend its social, moral or ethical righteousness. If you wish to defend or define a behavior as good or bad, beneficial or not, then please do so without using the word "natural." I'm seriously begging here.

The Example Conversation:
"My significant other has cheated on me and I'm devastated."
"Oh, well that's only natural that the significant other would want to sleep with other attractive people. Sex is a powerful, natural, human drive."
"I guess you are right. I feel so stupid for feeling devastated now."

I don't think many of us would argue that sex is a powerful, natural, human drive. And certainly given that, it is natural to have sexual attraction to people throughout your life whether or not you are currently in a relationship. However, few of us would vehemently argue that therefore adultery is an "all natural goodness" included for your benefit in your life diet. The urge behind adultery is indeed natural; however, that does not make it right. This is a point we've agreed on as a culture because we don't like it happening to us. We think its bad because its hurts like hell; it can be devastating. This is also true of the natural urges to punch some one's face through the back of the skull, the urge to steal the pretty sweater we cannot afford, and certainly we agree that the urge to kill or rape (although some argue that those are not a natural urge) are also bad.

Where I'm personally stuck, and although I seem to be in the minority, I'm not alone, is that I have a similar problem with a natural human behavioral drive, but unlike something like adultery or theft, most of the modern western world thinks it's ok. But not one single person has ever given me a reason other than "its natural--everybody agrees--so just get over it."

I never talk about it with other people anymore. Everyone looks at me with surprise, then they say, as if I'm stupidly unaware, "It's natural." I'm not disagreeing with that point, I'm just saying I don't think that one point can justify the argument as a whole. And for me, this issue can be devastating.

And no, I'm not gonna say what it is. You may know me and already know, or you might be able to guess, but let me assure you I will dodge any conversation you try and have with me about it. Why? Because it does not help my feelings of devastation to be made fun of for this.

I wish people would understand THAT point. Even if you truly believe it is natural, and therefore beneficial, and that I'm irrationally crazy for feeling as I do (which considering my being in the minority on the issue I'm honestly willing to concede) it does not change the fact I truly feel this way. Calling me stupid will not change my mind any more than the tactic I most often see wherein you merely repeat at me:
"It's natural, you know."

Sigh. "Yeah, so's arsenic."

Beer Report

I have a friend (http://www.barenada.com/) who in his blog has a regularly recurring post, his Friday Beer Report. He tells of his evening(s) but mentions the beers he drank, with special notes or reviews on new beers.

So in parody--er, homage--I post the following.

With my condition I was left with few options in the beer world, and knowing this I narrowed my choices down by country, figuring surely a German non-alcoholic beer would be better than any where else, since German's have an old history of pilners and lagers, which is the style of all the non-alcoholics I've ever seen.

Clausthaler
Although labeled a non-alcoholic, it does contain (like pretty much all non-alcoholic beers) some alcohol, this one ringing it at a fairly high o.5 percent. However, this was still too little alcohol to prevent it spoiling. It tasted precisely like an Old Milwaukee with hints of skunkiness.

For those who know me, you understand that although I've drank many ounces of many types of many beers from many countries, I've never tried any of the 'non-alcoholics' before. But, I'm preggers, and was in my favorite beer-drinking spot. To perfect the irony, Rich-o's was in the middle of its annual Gravity Head festival (high gravity gives high alcohol for those who've not enjoyed this festival before.)

I plan next time I try such a beer to try an O'douls Amber, in hopes the caramel coloring will give it a hint of hoppiness.

It all reminds me of something that happened a couple of years ago. I worked with an Irishman named Bill, who'd been in America for about 4 years at that time. We were at work and he was stuck in line behind me at the computer where we enter orders.
"Hurry up, there." He teases me while poking me in the back.
"Hey, gimme a break!" I yell still scanning the menus on-screen, "I've never entered this thing before."
"What are you looking for?" He asks, willing to help.
"O'douls."
"what the bloody hell is that?"
"It's a non-alcoholic beer." I answer.
"What?" he says completely incredulous.
"Yeah, some American non-alcoholic beer called O'douls." I repeat. "Ah, here it is." I finish up and send the order to the bar.
Bill rushes over to the bar and picks up the bottle as the bartender sends it over. He looks at it closely, trying to believe what he's seeing.
I finally take it to put it on my tray, but Bill turns to face me with an expression I'd never seen on his face before. It was a mix of disgust, disbelief, and definitely insulted indignance.
"They make a NON-ALCOHOLIC beer? And name it O'DOULS! I tell you NO Irishman would ever make such a thing!"

I still laugh about this. He didn't like the idea of run of the mill American swill, and even less taking the one thing away that gave it any value, the alcohol, but putting an Irish name on it was a personal--nay, a national--insult tantamount to a call to war.

Ah, I miss working with my favorite angry Irishman.

Excuses, Excuses

So, yes, I am aware it's been a while since I've posted. Many have mentioned this fact to me, wondering how I managed so quickly to turn back over the new leaf I had just turned, already forsaking my resolution to post more and write better (although with the same haphazard proofreading, of course.)

At the beginning of November, there was a personal tragedy. I will not talk or write about it, as there are other people's privacy to protect as well as my own need to not dwell on it. If you know about it, you know--and if you don't, well....I think you get it.

The problem began there though. I would not write about that, but I couldn't think about anything else, let alone write about something else.

Since then, I have gained much fodder for writing: I got pregnant. Whew. Still shocking news to me, and I've known since just after the turn of the year. But, dealing with that shock, as well as what decisions I'd make concerning it, meant more stuff for me to only think, not write, about.

But, I'm feeling more centered now, and we'll see how long I can keep the same old new leaf turned this time.