I’ve been thinking...

I've really started to notice lately that I get asked a lot of questions--many of which I don't know why I am asked. It's not that the question is stupid or without merit, and it's not that I don't like being asked questions. It's merely a matter of why you think I am the right person to ask. Often I get asked questions that usually only trained professionals are capable of answering.

[It is not my intention to sound pretentious or to brag in this note, I am merely exploring something I find unusual.]

I'm not sure if I have some look or personality trait about me that makes me seem like the right person to ask, but I seem to attract these obscure questions like a magnet. I suppose I should be complimented by the fact that so many of you think I am well-versed in a variety of areas, or that my opinion is held by you in high regard.

Sometimes though, the things I get asked to explain, relate to, or provide assistance with are just hilarious.

For instance: One time I was walking in a parking lot of a bar, dressed for a night out, when a lady who had recently hit a curb asked me to 'repair' her broken bumper. You could clearly see the fibreglass (or whatever they use nowadays) was cracked, but she seemed to think I might be able to fuse it back together for her. Seriously, what was she thinking? Did she think I was going to meld it back with my mind? Did she think I had some repair kit and paint in my pocket? It was hilarious.

They aren't always this crazy; often they are questions about things I can help with. Many people ask me for help with essays, fixing computers, beating video games, music theory, legal issues/the law, etc. and most of those are founded on logic, and I can help with.

Other times, however, I basically get asked to make-up people's minds for them, or fix things I have no experience with, or get asked to diagnose various medical conditions. These ones make me laugh, and I usually endup up to my knees in research just to help the person, because I hate just saying, "I don't know" and turning the person away. Eventually, somehow, I always seem to prevail.

So, I decided it might be fun/funny to create a forum for you guys to ask me things. There is no limitation to what you can ask, provided I can read it, and it makes some kind of logical sense. I already have a couple questions to answer from this week, so I will answer those in this note. Any other questions you would like me to answer can be placed in the comments box below. Even if you just want my opinion on something, go ahead and ask.

-R.L. asked, "Why do you think it is that women are attracted to professions, but once with that person they hate how much time their husband's job takes up?"

[Well, R.L., aside from your question being mildly sexist, it is basically one of those sweet paradoxes of life that make it so rich. I think it may stem from attraction to qualities of being successful, and hard-working. However, like many things, attraction is a surface level thing, and doesn't usually calculate the endgame. Being successful and hard-working often takes time away from husband/wife time. Risks vs rewards, I guess.]

-J.S. asked, "Is it weird or wrong to think back on life like high school and stuff, and want to redo it all?"

[No, I don't think that's a bad thing at all. I think it's an indicator of how wise you've become, and how much you've truly experienced. Realising you could do things better if you went back in time is a sign of maturity. I think any person who doesn't find something they would change whilst looking back on their life, hasn't truly lived.]

-S.L. asked, "Do you believe in aliens, and UFOs and all that?"

[Yes, but not to the extent that popular culture and eye-witness accounts have described them. See my previous note, #73 – Alien Probes, for more information.]

-D.K. asked, "What do you think is better margarine or butter?"

[If you are asking about flavour and preference in sandwiches, I can only offer you my opinion. I enjoy Becel. If you are asking which is healthier, the answer is margarine. There is also a variety of low fat and soy margarines available as well, which are even easier on your cholesterol.]

-D.J. asked, "Can you tune my piano for me?"

[No. Well, yes, but no. I can, but it would take me far too long, and it would not be near as good as a professional doing it. I also don't possess the necessary mutes and wrenches.]

-R.M. asked, "Who do you think was the greatest guitarist of all-time?"

[Jimi Hendrix.]

As you can see, some of them are basic, some are just opinion, and some are just ludicrous, but I welcome them all the same. If you have something you require help with, want my opinion about, or want me to look up something that's been bugging you or you've always wanted to know, ask in the comments below.

-Gerald A. Dinkel (He just says things.)

http://sardonicconnection.blogspot.com/2009/04/74-ask-gerald.html