Do you ask them? I do. I’m naturally a curious person,
and the internet answers queries for me. I love to silently inquire. It replies
to me in tones or pitches that do not say, “you’re stupid for not knowing
that.” Yet, a human responder often voices that very thing.
And if you disagree with a person? Well, you can receive
more of the same. “You are really a dumb person to not know that.”
Now, occasionally, a person verbally makes that
remark. As an example, I heard President Trump recently tell a reporter she was
stupid for asking a particular question. However, most people are too polite to
come out and say that, but they imply it with the slant they use.
Have you had people respond to a question from you
with a verbal assault like Trump did with the reporter? Or do they merely use a
degrading tone?
I’ve never had a verbal assault, but boy! I’ve heard
the mocking dialect. And I find the derisive responses hurtful and unkind.
If the person is a Christian, I find the degrading reaction unchristian, too.
Okay, I’ll tell you the reason for this diatribe. I
asked someone recently why they didn’t install gas connections inside their
woodburning fireplace. I said, “It’s easier than burning wood, and I love mine.”
Just a conversation, really about nothing, right?
The answer came back in talk of patronizing disbelief about
the dangers of gas. “Don’t you know about all the houses exploding because of
gas?”
Wait! What? Where did that little show of antagonism come from? Does it have anything to do with a political party wanting to eliminate anything gas? Bann all gas appliances? I responded nonchalantly, “Well, no. Not recently. I haven’t heard of any.”
“Oh, they are everywhere. I can’t believe you don’t
know that. Look it up.”
So, I looked it up.
Mr. Google tells me more than 1,000 injuries annually occur in the United States due to gas explosions. Now 1,000 injuries are a lot, but the USA has a current population of 326.7 million people. About 1300 US incidents are reported yearly.
No one wants anyone killed or injured from a gas
explosion. Or a car wreck. Or a freak tornado. Or a plane crash. Or an
overdose. Or a fall. (I stumbled and fell the other day)
So, unintentional death happens, but back to gas
explosions.
Odorants now exist to detect gas leaks. Texas brought
the odor factor to the forefront after a school’s natural gas explosion killed
300 students and facility in March 1937.
My dad lived two hours away, and he said he heard the
explosion in Irving all the way from New London, a town found in Rusk County in
East Texas.
At the time, no one realized the odorless gas needed a
smell until the disaster. A chemical is added to natural gas, and if you smell
a “rotten egg,” it could be a gas leak.
If a funky smell comes inside
your home, exit at once, and leave the doors open. Do not make any calls. Get
out and phone from a safe location.
All right, gas warning
noted, now, back to degrading tones.
Perhaps you and I don’t realize we speak a sentence that sounds demeaning by our vocal expressions. I’m sure I’ve done that, but since it happened to me lately by two people I adore, I’ve taken notice.
Might it be better for me to
simply say in a sweet voice, “You have a beautiful home, and I'm happy you enjoy it." After thinking about it, I remember I did a YouTube Video on my own impolite retorts. We are all guilty!
By the way, I love the
ambience of wood burning in the fireplace. The crackling sound, the perfume of
the smoke, and the romantic evening shadows cast by the fire.
Yes, gas in the home can
be scary, but so is my driving. I terrify myself as well as a lot of drivers on
the Katy Freeway.
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