4 minute read
Nefarious James
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IMPORTANT LESSON
Damn, it was hot this past month. My respect goes out to those out there working every day in the heat. Y’all don’t get enough credit. One hundred-plus degrees out there at times. Brutal like Texas on rides to Sturgis. With that in mind, stay hydrated. Limit alcohol consumption as that can dehydrate you even faster. Electrolytes and water are the key to helping you keep alert in the heat.
Being obvious, this is August. A shout out to Mari Eliseuson. It’s been two years this month you were killed in a motorcycle accident as a passenger to a drunk rider. My advice to you passengers out there is to know when to not get on the back of a bike with someone else if they are impaired. Your life may depend on that decision.
I’m hoping all of you stay safe out there while on your sleds. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed cage drivers have not become any more aware of you due to their own carelessness and disregard for others. This should sound an alarm in your head that you need to be more vigilant snd aware at all times. I’m getting really tired of seeing all the new crosses on the side of the road. At least do your part. Keep your head on a swivel while enjoying that ride. Always look ahead to those cross streets and traffic easements for the idiots pulling out. No more statistics needed out there.
That’s my PSA for the month. Now some more crap to address. I read this lately. Not sure if it was a real quote or who the author was, but it struck a chord. It addresses rumors. Supposedly, the Greek philosopher, Socrates, was approached by an acquaintance who said, “Socrates, I must tell you something I heard about one of your students.”
“Wait a moment,” Socrates replied. “Before you tell me, I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.” “Triple filter?” his friend asked.
“That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my student, let’s take a moment to filter what you’re going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”
“No,” the man said, “actually I just heard about it and…”
“All right,” said Socrates. “So, you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?”
“No, on the contrary… “
“So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you’re not certain it’s true?” The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued. “You may still pass the test though because there is a third filter, the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?”
“No, not really,” the man admitted.
“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?” The man who had tried to spread gossip to the great thinker was defeated and ashamed.
There’s an important lesson to be learned here. As gossip may be said in jest or for entertainment purposes, gossip is a poison pill. It can ruin reputations, cause life changing events and be extremely hurtful to those it targets. It’s like the act of telling a person a sentence and pass it on, and down the line it goes. By the time it reaches the end of the line, it’s taken on a life of its own. If you’re going to pass on information, make sure it’s true and you can prove what you’re saying. If it’s not true and you can’t support it with facts, it’s just more BS that gets spread around. And if you help to spread around untruths, you are part of the problem and put your own credibility on the line. Then you’re no better than any other liar out there.
Look at our current government for confirmation about story-telling. Question everything you read and every picture or video you see. Find the facts. They are out there.
Ride safe. Stay healthy and enjoy your life. It will be what you make it.
— Nefarious James American
