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The “Idiots” Corner by “Billy Bob Smith” Common Sense = Uncommon Sense I know I have mentioned this subject in previous articles, but I decided - due to a number of factors going on in the world today - it was time to give com- mon sense or the lack of it, its own recognition. How about a definition? I’m not a fan of stupid dictionary definitions, but here it is anyway: “Good sense and sound judgment in prac- tical matters.” See what I mean? Using the word in the definition to define the word - stupid or what? Here’s my definition: “Making decisions, taking actions, and demonstrating behaviors which are grounded in truth, evi- dence, experience, desired outcomes, and just plain smart.” Okay, now that’s out of the way, how about a few stupid examples where common sense is totally lacking? Driving - You are heading down a two-lane road where the speed limit is 55 miles per hour. It’s the middle of the day and the traffic is heavy but moving. The idiot behind you is so close you can’t see his headlights. Then he starts blowing his horn at you to go faster when there is a solid line of cars in front of you. So, what do you do? Better still, does this idiot not get it? Sooner or later if he keeps driving that way he is going to rear end someone and maybe even kill himself. Common sense? How about a real idiot just waiting for disaster to happen? Eating - You love sweets and you love carbs, so for 20-30 years you just keep pouring them into your small and frail body just adding up the pounds little by little every year. You are now officially overweight. What does that really mean, anyway? I’ll tell you what it means, you are making your heart work twice as hard every day than it needs to, and guess what? Someday it will just say enough is enough and quit on you. Common sense or denial? Drugs - This one is a no-brainer. If you keep putting too many drugs - whether prescribed or not - into your body, sooner or later you are going to pay a price. Think it’s worth it? Well, the numbers vary, but a minimum of 65,000 people die every year from some kind of drug overuse. Let me ask you. Was the thrill worth the ultimate outcome? Common sense - call it what you want - for me it’s just plain stupid. Smoking - Another dumb one. I mean, they even tell you on the product itself that its use will kill you. And yet everywhere you look people light up, again and again, every day. Common sense, or is it a disease, addiction, or something else? For me, it ain’t a lack of common sense, it’s pure senselessness. And the price is ultimately some form of negative lifestyle outcomes. Exercise - There is nothing wrong with getting and staying in shape. Exercise is good for your health, lifestyle, mental ability, and just about every area of life. “So why have you included this one, Billy Bob?” It’s simple, too much of anything is stu- pid - think about it - it’s called moderation. If you exercise every day at the cost of some other life area like time with your family, time for self-improvement, time for chilling, it may be causing you to have fewer benefits in those areas than you could be enjoying. Common sense - you decide. I think it was Mark Twain who said, “We have to stop calling it common sense as this implies everyone has it or it’s common. But it isn’t, so we need to start calling it uncommon sense.” I’m not preaching here as I’ve been in a few of these idiot groups from time to time in my life. “So, Billy Bob, what gives you the right to write the article?” Nothing, dude - just trying to get your attention or maybe even get you to face a few facts. I could go on for hours, but let me wrap this up with a few simple questions. On a scale of 1-10 (1 = none and 10 = a lot), how would you rate yourself on your use of common sense in life in general? j Using the same scale - how would you rate yourself on your ability to learn from mistakes, failures, bad decisions, or choices? j Looking back over your life, what have been the five biggest mistakes you have made due to no or poor common sense at the time? Need more? I have time. Not really, got to go finish reading one of my favorite books. No, I’m not going to tell you the title. If I did, you wouldn’t need to read this article every month as you would know my sources. Billy Bob Contact him via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com 12 NOVEMBER 2018 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Dealmakers A member of the Dando Drilling International Ltd. Team welcomed a customer from France to the factory in England to see their new Mintec 18. The deep mineral exploration rig will be headed to Ghana for gold exploration. Dando Drilling International Ltd. Send your deals to: michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com