Well,
we’ve finally arrived.
I’m
calling it. Official status. We’re there.
The
point where many people would, before the question could be finished,
jump from a bridge because their friends did.
A
bit of context might be in order at this point.
Growing
up, in my day and before, it was one of the ultimate ways for
a parent to explain stupidity to a child. It critiqued follow
without thinking actions. It screamed “don’t be an idiot”…
“Would
you jump off a bridge if your friends did?”
***
Boom. Mic drop. ***
The
only responses for you were: (1) “No.” (2) A defiant offering
in the affirmative that you would jump off of a bridge with your
friends, which you didn’t really mean but this was an argument
with your parents and you most certainly weren’t going to let
them win.
And
in either case, the reality was, no one would jump off a bridge
because their friends did.
For
some incredible reason, in recent years it’s become safe to say
we’ve reached a point where society is jumping. Jumping to the
left. Jumping to the right. Few are questioning why they are jumping.
Few are considering the implications of what is going to happen
once they jump. No one is pausing to give any consideration to
how stupid jumping is to begin with.
The
other day I was on Facebook. Person had posted an image that offered
a reminder to turn the clocks ahead one hour for the twice-a-year
daylight savings adjustment.
Now,
many of us that use Facebook chuckle a bit when we see things
like this. After all…
-
Perhaps
most importantly (and quickly recognized), the changing
of the clocks isn’t this weekend, so the announcement is
wrong.
-
As
a secondary error, it’s the fall change—“Spring forward,
fall back”—which means the image wasn’t even current since
the clock change direction was wrong.
Ok…
now let’s clear up a few things. People make mistakes. And, daylight
savings efforts can be one of the most ridiculous things to try
and remember, especially since about ten years ago we adjusted
the dates when the clocks are moved. (Many of us old folks are
still a bit off on the idea of a November change.) So, realistically,
we can almost forgive a person for messing up the date it would
be happening and even the clock direction.
Heck…
I have a sister that lives in Australia. With seasons on a different
cycle there essentially reversing how she adjusts the clock compared
to me, and different dates for the hour adjustment, we can be
talking about all sorts of fun in how the hours change.
Plus…
technology takes care of a lot of things for us. My phone, computer,
television schedule, and even the alarm clock on my nightstand,
all change the time automatically.
So
being messed up on the clocks changing… no worries. You’re forgiven.
The
reason I’m here now results from the comments that go along with
Facebook posts. After proclaiming that we shouldn’t forget to
adjust our clocks incorrectly on the wrong weekend to do it, someone
decided to point out that the clocks didn’t change this week in
a reply. The response to that information that explained why the
person shared the announcement?
“Someone
posted it.”
As
I read that, it sunk in… we’ve arrived at the majority deciding
to leap before they look. Forget fact-checking, just take it and
run. Here was the proof in a simple example.
Person
posted incorrect information. Why? Because someone else did.
Sure,
many people will tell you there are plenty of moments that can
confirm this concept, and that the train arriving in leap-before-looking-station
was something that happened long ago. Far enough.
For
me though, this was a random and low-key moment. We’re discussing
adjusting the clocks and getting it wrong, not something blindingly
significant or important. Not some subject where there are a variety
of different polls or complicated information to be considered.
And yet…
“Someone
posted it.”
There
it is.
Oops.
Shoulder shrug. Move on to share something else, numb to what
is and isn’t happening.
We
all have people that jump on stages, waving their arms, screaming
about crazy scenarios and conspiracy theories. But… when there
is something wrong… when the facts don’t line up with the claims…
Shoulder
shrug. Not that big a deal. Next item, arms into the air and back
onto the stage.
Almost
makes me wish we had a real bridge we could use to put this to
a better test.
(This
essay has been brought to you as a public service announcement.
Please check to see if and when the clocks are changed near
you, and don’t forget to switch to new batteries in your smoke
detectors. And please, stay away from bridges while reading
this essay. Thank you.)