T3h G00gl3

Okay...this is probably going to be the most rantiest of my rants so far, but it needs to be said.  Google...it's a thing.  Start using it.

Way too many times I've seen on the internet where people have asked a question that is easily answered by typing it into Google, and it can be asked 1000 different ways and you will still get the same answer, possibly several answers if applicable.




For instance, I see way too many times when a YouTube video has a song, namely one with lyrics that are audible and discernable, and the comment box is being flooded by the question "What's the song at <blah> time?"

Really?
Like...really really?

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
...GOOGLE IT DAMMIT!  If you don't know the name of the song or the artist, first check the comment box.  Is it there?  No?  Then look for a credits in the video.  Is it there?  No?  Then take an excerpt of lyrics (say for instance "I see a little silhouette of a man" and odds are one of the first links that comes up will be another YouTube video of that song.

Trying to find something out about a program, type the question into Google and you will most likely find 10...100...1000 tutorials on it, sometimes in several programs and skill levels.

Need to know where to find some sort of obscure item from your favorite TV show or movie?  GUESS F***ING WHAT!!!  GOOGLE KNOWS ALL!

Just from you reading this page, I already know that you have access to Google.  So seriously people, stop being lazy, oxygen hogging mouth-breathers and start using the simple tools given to you.  Every time I see a question that is easily answered by Google, I facepalm so hard I'm surprised I don't knock myself out.

If you can't find an answer after 5 or 6 searches, or about an hour or two, or if your question is for an opinion on something (such as "Hey I drew this picture...what do you think?") then it's a valid public forum question and you can feel free to ask it.  But if the first search I do pops up with 1000 hits that all answer the question in the same way, then you never should have asked the question in the first place.

Seriously folks...a little bit of research is not only good for everyone around you, but you also gain a sense of accomplishment from finding the answers yourself.

I can't be just me that gets aggravated by this.  Do people asking you dumb questions on the internet irritate you?  Maybe you're one of the people that justs asks these kind of questions, and if so, why do you do it?  I'd love some incite on that because I'm personally at a loss.

Also, yes...I did do those screenshots solely for the purpose of these posts.  Go ahead...search anything on Google...if it exists, you'll find it.

Seeking Employment

I've been searching for a career for almost 2 years now.  So far, I've looked into just about every avenue possible in order to obtain it, yet for some reason, I can't seem to get anything better than part-time, minimum wage work.  At nearly 28 year old, with the large set of skills, leadership, experience, and learning ability I possess, I find it odd that the only two types of jobs I apparently qualify for are the same job I held when I was 16, or a commission only job that puts all the risk on my shoulders with no risk to the employer, such as selling insurance.

It's not that I wouldn't like to work on commission only, it's just that the extraneous circumstances of my current living and debt situation make it impossible.  While I've never worked with that form of employment before, I do know several people that have and it worked for them.  Some of them went on to be making more than enough to live on and support their families.  However, they also have told me that it took the better part of a decade to get to that point, and the only reason they were able to do it is because they started at 18, when they had no debt, and had plenty of room to work with in case that avenue failed.  The rest of them couldn't get that career to work because either they weren't pulling in enough revenue fast enough to support themselves, or the companies that hired them practiced some unethical methods.

      

I have skills in art and sales, and I pride myself on knowing that given minimal initial training, I can learn just about anything.  Throw me in front of a machine and I'll learn it within the hour.  Give me a list of people to call for some reason and I'll use my silver tongue to sell them anything.  I'm quite efficient, and I'm willing to work hard as long as I know that at the end of the day, I've earned money that is comparative to the hours I worked.  I still work at a liquor store, making just over $9/hr.  I go in every shift, work hard, sell booze, make conversations with customers so they become loyal, and keep the store up to and beyond standards.  And I will do that and more every shift I'm scheduled for, even taking more hours whenever someone calls in.  Yet, when I see other employees that do far less work and get paid the same amount, it becomes very discouraging.  Plus, I've lost all hope of having the opportunity for advancement, which is even more discouraging.  And still I can't escape that work because it's the only source of revenue I have.

I've looked at my resume, even changing the format, the information on it, trying to cater it to each place I apply to, and yet nothing.  I've signed up for several employment agencies, and yet nothing.  It is slowly becoming apparent that there is either something critical I'm missing preventing me from getting a stable and sufficient job, or there is some form of higher inner working that I am unable to break into.

I know the economy is bad, but the fact that an intelligent, hard working, punctual and reliable individual can't get a career to support himself on is absurd.  So, if anyone reading this can help, I'd be much obliged.  I'm willing to take a job in just about anything, but would prefer a managerial role if in retail.  I will say the only limitations I set on careers is food service (did that, and after 2 injuries I find it better if I never went back) and the pay must be salary or hourly with a guaranteed 40+ hours.

I know some of my friends out there are having similiar problems, and a couple of them have overcome it.  But I'd like to hear how everyone has overcome their career problems, or what they are noticing with their problems if they are having them currently.  Post them in the comment below.

Education

I am not from some fancy school.  I didn't have private teachers and a first class education that cost millions of dollars to get.  I went to religious private school through second grade, then switched to public school.  And I went to many different schools.  If I recall correctly, since Kindergarten I've switch schools 5 times (not counting the mandatory elementary-junior high and junior high-high school switches) and attended 7 different schools.  I've had to work at making new friends everywhere I went, had to figure out where classes were, many times getting lost in a school.  And yet through it all, I've managed to come out of it pretty damn smart if I do say so myself.

Why do I say all of this?  Because I meet way too many people that are morons.  And I'm not talking about having some sort of disability that makes them have a limitation on information and logic coming from their brain.  I'm just talking about people that don't think, don't want to think, and get angry whenever they do think. (I imagine it's because their head hurts from lack of use)  These people must have passed school with a D average, if they have even completed high school.

Education is something that we actually need to do better in this country, and we should probably take some ideas from other countries.  One of the worst ideas America ever came up with was "No Child Left Behind".  Basically, they didn't want kids held back.  Why?  Well, I can only think of two reasons knowing what I know of this country.  Either A, behind held back would 'hurt the child's self esteem' or B, the teachers didn't want to have to deal with a 13 year old in a class for 8 year olds.  Probably some combination of the two.  This concept was the worst thing in the world.  First off, fuck the kids self esteem.  If (s)he's not able to pass a class, then he probably has some sort of learning disability, or (s)he's not applying themselves.  In the case of the former, another year can determine that fully.  In the case of the latter, another year will embarrass the child to no end and they will apply themselves from then on in order to keep it from happening.

Then there is our government system.  We pay out teachers horribly, yet expect them to work hard, go above and beyond, except that we just want them to teach curriculum for standardized testing.  First off, standardized testing doesn't work.  Period.  At least ours don't.  Putting aside the fact that certain people do better on tests than others just because of nerves and concentration, the thought that one simple test can tell you how smart you are in a particular subject, or even what jobs you can and cannot do because of what you know is absurd.  History, for instance, was my worst subject in school.   I'm terrible at remembering dates and names and treaties and just about everything else.  Yet, I managed to get a B or higher on every test just by cramming all the information into my head, chanting it like a mantra until it was memorized, then after the information was useful, I deleted it.  Do I remember when George Washington was born?  When he crossed the Delaware?  When he took office?  Nope...only reason I remember that stuff is because I remember a picture of George Washington crossing the Delaware.

That's not to say that tests aren't bad.  They are decent for assessing a base line of knowledge, or how well the students are gaining the knowledge being taught.  I just think we use them in the wrong way.  Hell, I think we have the entire concept of school wrong in America.

So, here a few suggestions on how we could improve.

1: Pay our teachers: The amount they make is abismal.  Teachers, even Kindergarten teachers should be making at least $80k a year, regardless of what they teach.

2: Let out teachers teach: There is becoming less and less room for teachers to be creative with how they teach their curriculum, namely because the government is forcing them to stick to a strict regimen aimed for standardized testing.  How about letting the teachers have some fun with their class?  I've seen English teachers that dress up as characters from a book, and science teachers that bring in interesting experiments and specimens to their chemistry and biology classes.  I've even seen a physics teacher teach class by explaining how to do calculations through launching a cat from a catapult over a wall. (He also let us shoot him with Nerf guns if he got a calculation wrong.  It made sure we were all paying attention.)

3: Critical Thinking and Logic:  The problem with much of the way school is taught is that it's pretty much monkey repetition.  I give you fact, you remember fact.  Rinse, repeat.  There is very little critical thinking and logic taught in classes.  Very little opportunity to force a kid to put the pieces of the puzzle together.  The reason why this is important is this is what intelligence is.  Anyone....hell....anything can remember something if you repeat it enough times.  It's how we train pets.  Logic, problem solving, critical thinking...that's intelligence.  That's what happens when you try to open a door and it won't open.  You go through the possibilities.  Is it locked? Is it jammed?  Am I pushing when I should be pulling?  Am I pulling when I should be pushing?  You question all of those and then experiment.  You pull, then you push, then you check to make sure it's not locked if possible.  Then maybe you just knock and wait, rather than break the door down with excessive door rattling.

4: Fail me once, shame on me:  Teachers, now hopefully making $80k a year, should be on the lookout for kids that are struggling.  They should find out the reasons why.  And they should do everything in their power to help them pass that year.  However, sometimes a child needs to repeat a grade.  Maybe there were extraneous circumstances that caused him/her to miss a bunch of the curriculum.  Perhaps they just didn't get it, or didn't apply themselves to getting it.  Another year isn't going to kill a child, and could possibly set him/her up for success later in life.

I would also like to suggest that we take a hint from the Japanese school system, and have high school and college exams, and make it so high school isn't required.  Some kids don't want to learn.  They just want to work.  Which is fine, McDonalds needs those people.  For those of us that want to learn more, and gain a higher level of understanding, then we have to take an exam in order to find out what high school we can get into, or if we even can get into high school.  Does every school need to have one, no.  But the ones with a better educational ability probably should.

And don't be afraid of failing classes or grades.  I failed a few classes in college and even one in high school.  It wasn't because I didn't get the subjects, but in most cases there was something that happened that caused my thoughts to be elsewhere, which means I didn't apply myself.  I ended up retaking those classes and passing later, and I understood even more than I did the first time going through.  There are some classes I wish I could go back to just to get a refresher.

And also don't be afraid to educate yourself in your free time.  It doesn't have to be something terribly mind-racking, but don't be content in becoming a vegetable.  I'm constantly on the search for new information, mainly in the science and technology field.  Also remember that Google is your friend.  Every time I have any questions, a simple Google search usually figures it out.  So if there is one thing you should learn, it is how to use Google.  Whenever you have any question, ask Google.  Don't know what a song is on the radio or YouTube?  Listen to it, pull a few lyrics out of it, and type them into Google.  It'll come up.  Did you see something on a TV show that shouldn't be there?  If it's a rerun, odds are typing the episode season and number into Google will bring up what it is (I.E. Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5 Episode 8).  It may bring you to Wikipedia, but Google isn't information itself.  Google is basically the library, but instead of having to find the book yourself, you ask the librarian a question and she hands you a stack of books for you to pick from.  Ninety-nine out of a hundred times, the first 5 books are what you need.

My point is, America's education is horrible, and it needs to improve.  I've given a few suggestions, but as always, I have one more.  If you are upset because public schools aren't teaching creationism and God and are teaching evolution instead, I have a few words.  First, shut up.  Second, if you are seriously upset about it, send your kid to private school.  Separation of church and state includes the schools.  If they teach one religion, they have to teach ALL religions.  If you are mad because your child is learning about evolution and discussing it with you over dinner, imagine how mad you would be if they were learning about the Koran?  Or Shintoism?  Or, shock, they wanted to bring Mormonism into your Christian household?

But again, these are just my opinions.  Since we are on the topic of education though, I think today I'm going to learn something, and I urge you to do the same.  Learn something new, in a topic you've never even really thought about.  Microbiology, quantum physics, anthropology, Czech history...there are so many subjects.  Also, what do you do in order to keep your brain from turning to mush?  Do you challenge yourself daily, or do you try to expand upon a class of knowledge you already know and come up with more creative ways of using it?  Do you study new topics, or maybe you just exercise the creative or logical brain hemisphere by simply thinking up new ideas?  Let me know in the comments below.

Heroes

No, I'm not going to talk about the show again.  I finished watching all four seasons a while ago.  However, I recently did over hear a conversation at work the other day.  A couple of girls were talking about music, specifically the singers/musicians they like.  I don't want to go over the entire conversation, but from what I overheard, they idolized and basically worshipped the ground that Nicki Minaj, Justin Beiber, and One Direction walked on.  Many of you can already see why this sparked some confusion in me.

Now, I'm not going to say that those groups are terrible (as much as I want to), but I've never been able to understand the newer generation of pop music.  Much of it seems to be uninspired, mathematically-written-to-be-catchy songs sung by people that are either very good looking with adequate skill in singing, or people that have sold their soul and know how to use auto-tune.  But, who am I to judge.  Music is a personal choice just like wine, pizza, and television.

What I am going to say is "Why choose them as a hero?"  At the peak of their popularity, singers/actors have the highest probable chance of doing something so wrong that you'll become distraught with sadness that you even idolized them.  Look at my favorite example of corruption, Lindsay Lohan.  Child star for Disney, was idolized by many 8-14 year old girls at the peak of her popularity.  Starts snorting coke and drinking, gets arrested, confined to her house, etc etc.  If those little girls had foresight, they never would have idolized Lindsay.  And I doubt anyone is ever again.

What I'm trying to say is pick a hero AFTER they have been extremely popular, or better yet, don't pick a hero in the spotlight.  Heroes can fall, and that's okay, but it's how they pick themselves back up.  My personal hero is my grandfather.  He built himself from a poor bagging clerk at a grocery store to being a department head of the chain, which is pretty big.  I would love to be given the opportunity to work myself up the ladder as he did.

This all holds true until we actually start getting real super heroes on Earth.

Short rant today, but I want to know who your hero is and why.  It should be good to see who you've chosen.

Time

A friend of mine posted something on Facebook yesterday that got me thinking about how much time has elapsed.

I still remember the day when Pokemon first aired in the US.  Being in junior high, going to school with my Gameboy and a copy of Pokemon Red in hand, trading with my friends and trying to see who's Charizard was more bad ass.  It was a good time.

Then I think to nowadays.  While I've pretty much outgrown the simplicity of Pokemon, I've still kept up to speed on some of the news.  That original 150 has now grown to a whopping 649, with more coming with each new generation.  That number is mind-blowing.  I remember playing Red for hours trying to find and capture all 150.  With 649, it almost seems an impossible task to get every pokemon legitimately.  Yet I know there are people out there that do it.

That was only 15 years ago.  Going further back, I remember when Power Rangers first aired here.  I was in 3rd grade at that time, and now that series is coming up on it's 20th anniversary.  What about life events or world events?  There are people old enough now to dictate their memories that don't remember when the Challenger blew up, or the Oklahoma City bombings, or even something as recent as Y2K or 9/11.  What really makes me feel old is knowing that there are kids out there that have never had to play with cartridges.  Hell, some of them haven't even used CDs.  They've only known DVD and Blu-Ray and the lot.

I'm only 27...think about how much others have seen and remember that are much older.  Your grandparents probably remember when the moon landing happened.  You may even have someone in your family that remembers World War 2.  I believe there are even a few people that have broken that 100 year mark and can recall when the Titanic sank back in 1912.

Time is something everyone is bound by.  Whether you want it to or not, time is going to come and go. You will age.  You will experience something and then you will cache it into memory.  There will be times that go by too quickly, and others that seem like they take forever to pass.  Everyone will age, and everyone will eventually be subject to the limited amount of time of life we are given.

And as time goes by, recall those memories with a fresh and changed mind.  I remember all the times that my mother has scolded or punished me for stupid stuff I've done.  At the time, I hated her for it.  Now that I look back on it, I thank her for giving me limits and guidance to make me a better person.  I look back on my time in the Navy.  I remember being miserable every day, yet now that I look back, it was probably one of the best times of my life.  The freedom of the open sea, the experience of going to different countries, the times we had at that bars and arcades in Japan.

Even memories as far back as grade school.  I'll see kids nowadays and wonder if I was that annoying or naive or ignorant or dumb back when I was their age.  And a memory will pop up in my head from that time and I'll go "Yeah...I was that dumb."

Think back to all the things you've done in your life.  Think about all the people that will never be able to experience some of those things.  Or maybe, even think about some of the things you can never experience again.  If I could choose to relive a memory, it would be the first time I ever played Lunar: Silver Star Story or Final Fantasy VI or Final Fantasy VII.  The plot points in those games are so bound into my consciousness that I no longer can feel for the characters as much as I did back then.  I would love to have my memory of those games taken away, just so I can go through them again with that same bright eyed wonder and emotion I had when I first picked them up and played them.  The laughter, the tears, the anger, the triumph.

So, if you could relive one thing in your life exactly the way you experienced it the first time, what would it be?  A first love?  A book?  A video game like mine?  Say so in the comments below.

Religion

I can already see people raging in the comments and they haven't even read this line.  They just read the title.  Before I get into this, let me explain where I come from.  First off, I am not religious.  I'm not an atheist, but I don't believe in any formal religion.  I do believe in a higher power, but I don't know what it is.  I've adopted a few things I morally agree with from Catholicism, Shintoism, Buddism, Christianity, Pagan, and Wicca, and use them as guidelines in which I've formed a decent moral compass.

And the thing is, that's what religion should be.  A guideline for your own moral compass.  It's teaching are not something that should be followed ver batem, nor is it something that should dictate how you treat other people.  Organized religion is, quite literally, the largest fandom on earth.

Now I don't mind people that are devoted to their religion, no matter the religion.  As long as they aren't going around trying to get everyone to feel guilty and join up themselves, or they aren't preaching the whole 'SALVATION CAN BE YOURS!' or 'YOU'RE GOING TO HELL!' pitches, then I'm happy.

Which brings me to the only group of people in the world I just don't get.  Westboro Baptist Church.  In case you've been living under a rock for the last 10 years, WBC is a religious group out of Kansas that has spread so much hate, they have to be monitored by a government organization.  These guys go around the United States and protest various events (notably military funerals, Chiefs games, San Diego Comic Con...that list goes on) with signs that are against homosexuality, hatred of the USA and everyone in it because of their tolerance to homosexuality, and generally just protest whatever the hell they want.  As I said last time, everyone is entitled to there opinion, but WBC is the one group of people that should have that right revoked.

Any religion preaching that much negativity, hatred, and anger just doesn't seem like a religion that would be nice to live with.  I imagine that the members are not exactly the brightest or have no other basis, and remain with the church for fear of what happens after death, or what the church might do to bring that date a bit closer.  Hate comes from fear and lack of understanding, and I'm betting that WBC is so afraid of gays and has no understanding of them and the people behind the negative label.

Religion should be something that give you guidance, and little warm fuzzies inside.  It should be something that helps ease your mind about death and what happens after it.  It should be something that preaches tolerance, joy, and caring for your fellow man.  So many people talk about peace, but the worst wars in human history were fought over religious differences.  Hell, we have one going on right now that never stops over is Israel and Palestine.

What people don't understand is there are many parallels in religion.  Almost all of them have some type of rule of "Treat others as you'd like to be treated." Wicca for instance has "Everything you do comes back to you times 3." I always explained this in simple terms as if I flick you on the forehead, I'll get smacked with a 2x4 later.  It's not an exact explanation, but it works to visualize the concept.

My point is, regardless of what religion you are, don't just blindly follow the writings and leaders of it.  That book was written by men who thought they knew what 'god' wanted, and edited and rewrote sections to make it more palatable.  Those leaders are just men, with the same faults and imperfections as the rest of the population.  Anyone can start a religion and gain followers.  But if they aren't preaching love and tolerance, then I don't get why they exist at all.

I have a few questions for you this week.  Feel free to answer all or just some of them if you want.

1) Do you believe in any religion, or are you spiritual in anyway?
2) Thoughts on WBC?
3) If you could start a religion, what would it be based on?  How would you preach what you believe to others?

Also, go watch Futurama episode Godfellas, and Family Guy episode The Good, the Bad and The Fonz.  As comedic as they are, there is some great little words of wisdom on religion and God in those episodes.

Opinions

Everyone has one, and everyone is entitled to it.  I actually enjoy finding people that have different opinions that I do and having healthy debates on the subject.  But I've noticed something on a bunch of different forums over the years.  Most internet users bash people for their opinion.

Since this blog hasn't really taken off at the time of writing this (I'm hoping it will eventually happen), I still only get a small amount of feedback if any on the things I write.  Most of my readers are friends or family, people that are linked to my Facebook, Google+, and Twitter account.  Most of these people have similar, if not exactly the same, opinions as I do on subjects.  And that's fine.  But if this blog begins taking off, and I begin getting followers and readers that have drastically different opinions that I do, I am expecting to get berated, insulted, spammed, and probably at some point protested against (especially if my next post does what I think it will).

I'm prepared for this. I've dealt with the trolls and the haters many times on the internet.  I usually find them quite funny, especially when they are really trying, and I mean TRYING, to get me to say something I don't want to say so they can further bash me and try to break my spirit or even cause me to shut down everything.

The problem with opinion is that with these trolls and haters running around the internet, people no longer see the difference between trolling and having an honest opinion that is against the subject.  So I'd like to take this opportunity to try to clarify that difference.

It is opinion if a person says "I don't like that."  It is trolling/hating if a person says "You're <insert insult here> if you like that."

Its as simple as that.  Now while a person is allowed to have an opinion, it does not mean you need to accept the opinion.  This is where many people have the system break down and fights begin.  This is also where healthy debates can start if you know how to get them going correctly.

Say you have two people debating on which car is better.  Person A thinks that the Shelby Mustang is the best car out there, while Person B thinks it's a Porche 911.  There is justifiable cause here for a healthy debate if the two of them don't immediately start insulting each other and their choice in car.  If they wanted to have a healthy debate, the two might quote facts about engines, famous uses of the car, designers that helped build the car or celebrities that own one.  Those facts can sometimes sway a person's opinion.

But what is fact?  Its something that has been proven, time and time again, to be true.  Something that is non-subjective.  Two plus two equals four.  The sky is blue.  JPEG images don't hold alpha while PNG images do.  Those are facts.  The sky is pretty is not a fact, it's opinion.  And as I've stated before, don't believe everything you read on the internet.  If you want to ensure something is fact, either do it yourself, or do enough research into it that you have several sources saying the same thing that aren't quoting each other.  If I went to five different places around the world and asked people if Macs or PCs were better, I would get a broad range of answers.  Once you know what are facts, then you go into what I like to call the 'sales pitch'.

These are less hard 'facts' about the car, and are instead descriptive semi-opinionated facts.  Describing the lines on the car as various animals, or using buzz words such as looking 'mean' or 'sexy'.  Used correctly, the other person may sway a bit, thinking about it in their head.  However, those soft facts can also be turned against you, where those same descriptions can be turned into 'silly' or 'simple' or 'out of style'.  But that's where the debate happens.  Trying to convince someone to think your way.  And it doesn't always happen.  Eventually, you have to agree to disagree, and know that there may not be a middle ground between the two points.

Opinions are just that. Opinions.  They are an amalgamation of your emotions, experiences, and knowledge mixed together to give you either a good or a bad feeling towards the idea or object.  I for one do not like first person shooter video games.  I find that their gameplay is lack-luster, and while a few of the non-military ones have intriguing stories, I would much rather watch the story than suffer through the gameplay.  Why is this?  Because I prefer shooting guns when I can aim with a gun in my hand, rather than trying to use a joystick to position a crosshair on a target.  I'll play Time Crisis 1000 times before I pick up Call of Duty.

What I'm trying to say is, don't think that just because someone has a different opinion on something that you, that it's a personal attack.  Use that difference to try to understand where the other person is coming from.  Get another angle of perspective on the issue.  If you feel that they are missing facts, fill them in.  They may fill you in on facts you didn't know about.  But the idea is understanding one another, regardless of likes and dislikes.  That is of course unless your opinion begins to inflict on other peoples' basic rights.  And there is one topic that does this more than others.  A topic I've been leading up to.  A fanbase with so many different sects, so many clashing opinion, and hardly any understanding of other groups' opinions...<to be continued next blog post....>

Note: Shelby Mustang = Awesome...Porche 911 is just okay.

Also, once again, if you don't like me using your pictures, prove to me that they are yours and I will remove them.

Fandom

I'm amazed at how in 2013 there is still so much hate and controversy over things that bring so much joy to others.  At the same time, I also am amazed that some people can be so obsessed with something so trivial.  Whether it's homophobic people ranting and raving that men are watching My Little Pony, or parents complaining that video games are too violent and should be banned, or even anime fans that walk around daily in costumes that aren't exactly normal looking.  It's one thing to be a fan or not be a fan of something.  It's another thing when your obsession starts running your life or your hatred starts infringing on the rights of others.

Maybe I should start with giving a basis of what I'm a fan of.  To name a few of my favorite things, I play video games of all different sorts, I'm a bigger fan of Star Trek than I am of Star Wars, I watch and enjoy Doctor Who, How I Met Your Mother, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, as well as numerous Japanese animations, particularly Neon Genesis Evangelion, Slayers, Ranma 1/2, and a multitude of others.  Outside the geek realm, I'm a fan of American muscle cars, a guitarist, and I enjoy building things out of wood whenever I get the materials and the need for it.  Basically, I'm all across the board, and that's okay.  Having things you enjoy, regardless of how different they are from each other or how strange they are to others is fine.  I have one friend that is into anime as well, but his favorite genre is different from mine.  He likes the cute girl 'moe' anime.  Yet, he's also an avid Jeep fan, enjoying mudding and off-roading as well.  I don't judge him based on either, because he's a good guy and what he enjoys on his free time is his own business.

The problem with some people is they take things too far.  Being a fan of something is one thing, but being so obsessed with anything that it begins to change your everyday routine, or even the way you prefer to look and talk, isn't healthy.  The bigger problem is as you start flaunting it around, other people who may not be fans yet get a wrong idea in their head and don't want to be lumped in with that type of person.  Another friend of mine a while ago said the reason he didn't get into My Little Pony is because when it came out, a bunch of his other friends bombarded him with so many images and posts about it, that he became sick of it without even watching an episode.  And I agree with him. Had my friends all slapped me in the face with MLP stuff, I probably wouldn't have watched it either.

Then there's the other extreme.  Those that just don't understand it or grow so much hatred towards it because of the above people that they feel compelled to delete it from existence.  I mainly see this with parents and video games.  A kid shoots someone and they find a few first person shooters in his room and believe 100% that the game was the cause of his misdeed.  I would like to clarify this now.  Video games are like a drug.  Like any drug, eventually you have to take more and more in order to feel the same 'high' as you did the first time you took it.  With video games however, there really isn't an over-dosing problem.  One of two things can happen if you don't change what's causing you to escape into video games.  Either you will play a game for so long without taking a break that you will die, or no matter how much you play it doesn't seem like enough.  That's what causes people to snap.  The drug no longer works.  Think of it like a bad acid trip...that one bad thought enters your head and suddenly the fireplace is burning down the house, the TV has ghosts in it, and that time you took lunch money from an underclassman now has you being pulled apart by cafeteria chicken fingers.  Also, parents, if you have a 12 year old kid, don't buy them a game rated M.  If you used a little less energy trying to ruin everything for everyone that is old enough to purchase an M rated game, and instead parented your child by ensuring that they were getting games suitable for your child, we'd all be a little happier.  They want to whine about not getting God of War or Grand Theft Auto?  Too bad...be a parent first, and a friend second.  That's your job.  The reason those games are rated M is because they require a slightly older mindset...one that can easily separate reality from fiction.

Here's the thing.  It's great that you found something you enjoy, regardless of whether it's a TV show, a sport, an activity, or even religion (I'll get into that topic in it's own post later).  And it's great that you want to share you're new discovery with the world to get more people to enjoy it with you so you can talk and laugh and sing and dance about it.  But understand that there are people that aren't as much of a fan as you are.  They may just watch an episode when they can and be on their way.  I see my parents do this with American Idol.  They like watching it because it's entertaining.  But when it comes down to who's who, they don't care about everyone's 'tragic' backstory.  They just want to hear the people sing and when the season is over, they move on and forget who won in 3 or 4 days.  So when you find something you like, just enjoy it.  Ask if anyone else has seen it, but don't slam your Facebook wall with pictures and quotes from the show so much that all your friends are flooded with it in their news stream.  Trust me, as a casual fan of Doctor Who, even I get sick of seeing 1000 pictures of Doctor Who stuff on my news feed every day.

The same goes in reverse.  Just because you don't like something, doesn't mean you have to ruin it for everyone.  Inform your friends that you don't want to be involved in anything related.  My friend that doesn't like MLP?  I make it so he can't see my MLP posts whenever I post them.  He also understands that one may slip through the cracks occasionally, and he's not going to rag me for it.  He just scrolls past.

So here's a proposal.  If you don't understand something, ask someone that is a fan.  If you hate something because of the people that take the fandom too far, then inform them that they are taking something too far.  If you are not a fan of something, as long as it doesn't take away your freedom and rights, then just ignore it.  And to you fans, tone it down a bit...some of you a lot.  And don't just sit there.  Add to your community.  The one thing I do enjoy most about the Brony community is that so many people add to it.  Whether it's fan music, animation, stories, whatever, there are tons of people out there adding to the community so that there is more of it to enjoy.  Do this with your fandom.  There are 1000 ways to add to a fandom, regardless of what it is.  Even if you don't have a special talent that you know of, even organizing gatherings of like-minded individuals is helping bring people together so that friends are formed.  Or doing what you normally do for a good cause.  Cosplay for a Cause is great.  Not only is it hot girls in scantily clad outfits, but it goes towards charity.  And all they had to do was what they normally do.  Cosplay and get their pictures taken.

What's your fandom, or something you can't stand?  I'd love to hear about it below.