Recent disputes over which nominee was worse for our country highlighted the underlying true cause for most troubles facing each of us today. So many problems seem like such simple yes-or-no, right-or-wrong decisions that I find myself mystified about how there would even be a debate on most subjects. Fortunately, we have our dysfunctional political process to educate the educated on how to take a simple problem and make it so complex that no one remembers what the original issue was.
All the problems, all the discussions, all the disagreements can only be solved by identification of the root cause, and I’ve boiled it down for everyone here: what’s in it for me?
Yup, I said it; everyone wants their piece. Politicians aren’t motivated unless there’s something in it for them. Advertisers use paid endorsers. Media panders instead of reporting. Merge lanes, yield signs, and roundabouts don’t work anymore because everyone has to get there first. Kids are disruptive in school; adults only obey laws they feel apply to them; and slow cars drive in the fast lanes. All the same common thread: the result of people somehow believing “I” is more important than “we” or that their individual right to do something means they should make a statement when it interferes with almost everyone else.
My epiphany occurred only recently, after finishing up some additional seamanship skills training. I half-expected the “what are you going to do with that” questions from my casual friends, but I really didn’t expect it from my own mother. It seems anymore, everyone is looking for your angle; thinking there has to be some self-interest by which we’re all motivated, and it’s frankly sad because it’s mostly anchored in truth.
But that’s where boating and boaters (for the most part) differ from the rest of the population. We know deep down that we can’t cut people off, because someone will likely get hurt. We know we can’t leave someone broken down and stranded because chances are, that will be us next time. We know to check the weather before heading out. We know red-right-returning and other catchy phrases. We learned these things because we belong to a community, a boating community.
So go take another boating course, as I did at Annapolis School of Seamanship, just for the heck of it. Don’t feel obligated to only do those things in life that give you a personal return. It’s always the unknown that causes the most problems, so educate yourself continuously, not to make more money with a new job, but to increase your contribution to society. And, the next time a naysayer questions your personal motivation, ask them “exactly how do I benefit taking a CPR-course? Ever seen someone give themselves CPR?”
by Mike Edick
Friday, October 7, 2016 - 10:45
What's in it for me?
Recent disputes over which nominee was worse for our country highlighted the underlying true cause for most troubles facing each of us today. So many problems seem like such simple yes-or-no, right-or-wrong decisions that I find myself mystified about how there would even be a debate on most subjects. Fortunately, we have our dysfunctional political process to educate the educated on how to take a simple problem and make it so complex that no one remembers what the original issue was.
All the problems, all the discussions, all the disagreements can only be solved by identification of the root cause, and I’ve boiled it down for everyone here: what’s in it for me?
Yup, I said it; everyone wants their piece. Politicians aren’t motivated unless there’s something in it for them. Advertisers use paid endorsers. Media panders instead of reporting. Merge lanes, yield signs, and roundabouts don’t work anymore because everyone has to get there first. Kids are disruptive in school; adults only obey laws they feel apply to them; and slow cars drive in the fast lanes. All the same common thread: the result of people somehow believing “I” is more important than “we” or that their individual right to do something means they should make a statement when it interferes with almost everyone else.
My epiphany occurred only recently, after finishing up some additional seamanship skills training. I half-expected the “what are you going to do with that” questions from my casual friends, but I really didn’t expect it from my own mother. It seems anymore, everyone is looking for your angle; thinking there has to be some self-interest by which we’re all motivated, and it’s frankly sad because it’s mostly anchored in truth.
But that’s where boating and boaters (for the most part) differ from the rest of the population. We know deep down that we can’t cut people off, because someone will likely get hurt. We know we can’t leave someone broken down and stranded because chances are, that will be us next time. We know to check the weather before heading out. We know red-right-returning and other catchy phrases. We learned these things because we belong to a community, a boating community.
So go take another boating course, as I did at Annapolis School of Seamanship, just for the heck of it. Don’t feel obligated to only do those things in life that give you a personal return. It’s always the unknown that causes the most problems, so educate yourself continuously, not to make more money with a new job, but to increase your contribution to society. And, the next time a naysayer questions your personal motivation, ask them “exactly how do I benefit taking a CPR-course? Ever seen someone give themselves CPR?”
by Mike Edick
Recent disputes over which nominee was worse for our country highlighted the underlying true cause for most troubles facing each of us today. So many problems seem like such simple yes-or-no, right-or-wrong decisions that I find myself mystified about how there would even be a debate on most subjects. Fortunately, we have our dysfunctional political process to educate the educated on how to take a simple problem and make it so complex that no one remembers what the original issue was.
All the problems, all the discussions, all the disagreements can only be solved by identification of the root cause, and I’ve boiled it down for everyone here: what’s in it for me?
Yup, I said it; everyone wants their piece. Politicians aren’t motivated unless there’s something in it for them. Advertisers use paid endorsers. Media panders instead of reporting. Merge lanes, yield signs, and roundabouts don’t work anymore because everyone has to get there first. Kids are disruptive in school; adults only obey laws they feel apply to them; and slow cars drive in the fast lanes. All the same common thread: the result of people somehow believing “I” is more important than “we” or that their individual right to do something means they should make a statement when it interferes with almost everyone else.
My epiphany occurred only recently, after finishing up some additional seamanship skills training. I half-expected the “what are you going to do with that” questions from my casual friends, but I really didn’t expect it from my own mother. It seems anymore, everyone is looking for your angle; thinking there has to be some self-interest by which we’re all motivated, and it’s frankly sad because it’s mostly anchored in truth.
But that’s where boating and boaters (for the most part) differ from the rest of the population. We know deep down that we can’t cut people off, because someone will likely get hurt. We know we can’t leave someone broken down and stranded because chances are, that will be us next time. We know to check the weather before heading out. We know red-right-returning and other catchy phrases. We learned these things because we belong to a community, a boating community.
So go take another boating course, as I did at Annapolis School of Seamanship, just for the heck of it. Don’t feel obligated to only do those things in life that give you a personal return. It’s always the unknown that causes the most problems, so educate yourself continuously, not to make more money with a new job, but to increase your contribution to society. And, the next time a naysayer questions your personal motivation, ask them “exactly how do I benefit taking a CPR-course? Ever seen someone give themselves CPR?”
by Mike Edick