Dumber Than A Grapefruit

Don't Be 

Dumber Than a Grapefruit!

Don't Lose Friends Over Politics

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If you are like me you sometimes find yourself in a social media or email argument with a friend or aquaintance who has different and therefor incorrect views about politics. They hold a number of provocative and politically incorrect opinions. Something like Archie Bunker without the pleasant personality.  We are talking about friends here, of course, not ourselves.

I argue with my friends, providing them numerous quotes of experts that support my correct opinion and refute their incorrect ideas. It is hopeless to change their minds and the discussion rapidly turns into a rancorous argument with no winner, only losers. They are clearly dumber than a grapefruit.

I then have to remember that I am arguing with a person who knows what he knows and cannot conceive that there is another legitimate viewpoint. I have no chance of influencing my friend's opinion. And to argue with him also reflects badly on me - Only a fool would argue with someone dumber than a  grapefruit. If you argue with someone dumber than a grapefruit, well, then, it follows that you are also dumber than a grapefruit.

So when the argument starts I just remember the term grapefruit. This makes me laugh and I see the futility of the conflict. Smooths things over and we avoid having a tedious and disruptive hassle.

A grapefruit does not have to be stupid. In fact there are a number of very smart folks who are so angry and obsessed about someone or something they don't like that they become grapefruits, albeit smart ones. They know what they know, they cannot accept anyone who has a different opinion, and often become hostile and abusive. This often manifests itself in hatred of political figures, for example hatred of Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton, Bush 43, Obama, Trump and Biden.

It is not a particular vice of either liberals or conservatives. Grapefruititis can strike anyone of any age and any political persuasion. It perhaps gets worse with age with hardening of the arteries.

It is easy to see others who are grapefruits. It is hard to see ourselves.

Now everyone should want to avoid being a grapefruit. And it is hard to see if you are becoming a grapefruit. Like alcoholism, many people gradually slip into grapefruititis without realizing.

Some danger signs that you might becoming a grapefruit:

• You are sure you know all the answers.
• You insult people frequently..
• You often call other people stupid or liars.
• You are often outraged when you read things you don't agree with.
• You constantly demean elected officials, not with well reasoned arguments, but with name calling.
• You read only attack dog websites
• You forward attack articles from marginal hate websites
• You attack the man, and not the argument. 
• You throw out strong opinions without facts.

Best antidote to becoming a Grapefruit:

• Be tolerant of the view point of others. 
• Think before you write or speak. 
• Practice the golden rule. 
• Use logic, not rants. 
• Eat and drink sensibly
• Avoid drugs and alchohol. 
• Get enough sleep. 
• Love often.
• Don't eat grapefruit.

We are, of course, talking about other people, and not ourselves.