The difference between knowledge and wisdom
Gymgirl: Shoot, I just realized I can’t bring a water bottle on the plane with me.
Me: Why don’t you have the water they give you?
Her: Do you know where that comes from?
Me: Well, at least have the coffee.
Her: It’s the same water.
Me: Actually, I have an interesting story about that…
Her: Can you tell me later? I’ve a ton to do.
Amazingly, the Gymgirl went on another trip recently. This time to Colorado to see her bestie for some skiing.
Did you know that airplane coffee makers are the reason behind a lot of plane delays? Like, a LOT of plane delays.
The reason is more complex than you might think but – for the sake of brevity – it’s like that Brown M&Ms story I told you about years ago:
It’s not so much the coffee maker but what the coffee maker represents.
Why isn’t the coffee maker working?
- Is it electrical? If so, it’s on the same electrical circuit as the plane and you definitely don’t want a plane in the air with a faulty electrical circuit anywhere.
- Is it water? That means no water for bathrooms, of course, but water is also linked to the cooling systems, amongst other things. Another major issue if you’re in the air.
- Did someone forget something important, like the coffee itself? If so, what else did they forget?
It goes on. Like I said, it’s not the coffee maker, it’s what the coffee maker represents.
In some way, I look at life that way. I always wonder what something means. It’s part of why I never get a good night’s sleep.
A girl I dated once brought a book over that didn’t seem like her speed.
When I asked her why she had it, she said it was for a “co-worker,” but she had just left work. Why wouldn’t she just give it to the co-worker at work?
Here, I had a bit of knowledge: The girl had a book that seemed out of place. But knowledge, by itself, is meaningless because there’s a vast difference between knowledge and wisdom.
On Facebook, I’m still friends with a number of Trump supporters for various reasons who are given a set of data on a regular basis. Yet they somehow draw precisely the wrong conclusion each and every time.
Because they see data and think that equates to understanding. But the two are very different.
Anywho, it turns out that that the girl I was seeing was cheating on me – she actually got that book for her ex and was planning on meeting him, for the third time, it turns out.
As for the current state of politics, I realize that I’m more irritated than anything else.
I’m irritated because, like I said, people tell you what they’re all about if you listen, and what they’re all about isn’t what I thought.
Location: dunno, but it feels like Antarctica here
Mood: freezing
Music: If I take you and your word, then I’m empty handed
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