A quick word about Absurd Intellectual and the Internet in general

Here’s the thing about the Internet — it’s great power and it’s great weakness — anyone can post anything.  There is no censorship, no overlords determining what information is too dangerous, too scary or too disturbing for the unwashed masses to be exposed to.  By the same token, there are no filters, no gatekeepers and no second-guessing of the quality, reliability or validity of the information that is presented to the world.

It is, therefore, important for anyone using the Internet to develop a set of skills that allows them to filter all information for themselves.  These critical thinking skills are beginning (I hope) to be taught in grade school as kids are being introduced to the online world at an ever earlier age.  Even at the college level, students are often given exercises to allow them to improve their ability to regard all information online with a skeptical eye.

Take, for example, a website called: Absurd Intellectual.  I’ve heard it’s quite good.  Some of it’s most popular posts include articles related to the Unabomber, sexist advertising, and Moe of the Simpsons.  It wouldn’t be unreasonable, then, to assume that it is a general blog about all manners of topics.  And you wouldn’t be wrong.

Digging a little deeper, however, you would find that the writers of this blog have also invented the French Onion Martini and, if rumors are to be believed, did a taste test of a variety of canned meats.  So perhaps the folks at Absurd Intellectual aren’t always 100% serious, sometimes have their tongue firmly planted in their cheek, or pepper the site with a healthy dose of sarcasm.  (All true.)  Thus, it may be a good place to get some information, but such information might warrant a bit of further research before it is taken as gospel.  (Also true.)

The same can be said about any website or any material where information is given.  No single source – website, book, or person – should be a sole source of data.  Trust me.

The Absurd Intellectuals are aware that we should back up our statements and we often do.  But we’re here to entertain (hopefully) as much as anything else.  And sometimes our readers entertain us:

I didn’t know where to begin with my critique after reading your (I’M ALMOST OUT OF WORDS) post which could’ve might as well be written by a child instead and we would’ve at least be guaranteed some entertainment. I suppose your very choice of name for your blog says it all: ABSURD. I’m sure, may would agree you can delete the INTELLECTUAL part as it doesn’t seem to fit ANYWHERE in it and please don’t take this in a wrong way, it’s just that as hard as I tried, I couldn’t seem to find ANY SINGLE word, idea or expression that could be associated
with the word INTELLECTUAL, in your article.

Certainly, all opinions are valid.  Except, perhaps, ours.  Due to our (apparently well-hidden) intellects, we Absurd Intellectuals are always willing to learn and, luckily, we have readers that are willing to help us.

Oh, yeah? SAYS WHO? YOU? 3 of you? By which qualification?
What’s your [educational] back ground?  Or you’re just PLAYING with words since I suppose you haven’t figure out a
normal or more beneficial way to invest your time in? C’mon, you seem like 3 adults here, you can do better than just using 5 yrs. olds expressions [...]. Since you’re making such a STRONG AND DEFINITE statement, you might as well THINK that  anyone would be able to challenge your statement in about 2 seconds. It is so infantile that it’s almost not worth debating, but here, I’m in a great mood today and I’m willing to help 3
poor souls that are floating without direction in this Infinite
Universe and perhaps I’m the one who can be your guide for the day today.

Whew!  Thank goodness we have a readship that is not only so well-versed in critical thinking as to think that we wrongly view ourselves as experts in everything we post about (as opposed to perhaps, say,  interested individuals posting opinionated commentary), but also willing to share with us constructive criticism about how to improve our blog and ourselves:

Now, do yourselves a biggest favor: TEMPORARILY REMOVE your outrageous, not even funny and totally absurd post about vaccines, take a few days and educate yourselves properly with the below materials, share them with whomever was able to guide you in such such a wrong path of information you are on right now, and start either meditate, contemplate or pray for Divine help so you could be taken back to a place in your minds where you could actually make sense. Then reconsider twice the next series of info that you decide to post in a public place because this can only make you look terribly embarrassing
in from of the world…especially posting your pictures, associated with such embarrassing postings…hmmm…not such a good idea it looks terrible on you, honestly!

In short, use your head when reading anything.  Everyone has an opinion and we’d love to blog about yours.

Keep that fan mail coming!