Disrespecting Authorities That Cry Wolf

 

Having the trifecta of a conservative temperament, theology, and political outlook, I am the kind of guy who generally respects authorities.  This is getting harder to do.  One of the recurrent problems is authorities who “cry wolf.” I received the following warning over my iPhone, accompanied by an emergency audio signal vaguely reminiscent of a Star Trek red alert:

Emergency Alert

National Weather Service: A FLASH FLOOD WARNING is in effect for this area until 3:45 PM MST.  This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation.  Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.

I’m in Tucson, Arizona.  I’ve lived here, more or less continuously, for almost 50 years now.  I don’t think that I’ve ever seen a rainstorm that presented a dangerous and life-threatening situation.  Not, at least, if you exercise a lick of common sense, like staying out of washes.

I received two of these messages over the weekend, too, but being among the oldest of Gen X, I pressed a button on my phone that deleted the message before I could transcribe it and couldn’t get it back.  (Isn’t that helpful, too?)

I’ve noticed this strange trend for quite a long time now, but it seems to be getting worse.  Many people seem paranoid, panicked, phobic.   Risks seem to be wildly overstated.  It sometimes seems as if the whole world is composed of the type of hysterical teenaged girl who gave us the witch trials once upon a time.

The examples are legion, and are not confined to one side of the political spectrum:

  • Dying of Covid
  • Getting shot by the cops
  • Mass extinction, apparently, because the temperature may be warming up a bit
  • A variety of catastrophes if the Taliban takes over Afghanistan (again)
  • Russian troops invading the US if not stopped at the Ukrainian border, or something like that

And oh, by the way, it’s a life-threatening emergency every time it rains in Tucson.

This is getting a bit old.

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  1. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Jon Gabriel, Ed. (View Comment):
    “Lighting detected in your area. Shelter indoors for at least 30 minutes.”

    I’m hoping that’s at least “Lightning” and not really “Lighting.” That would be detected often.

    • #31
  2. Buckpasser Member
    Buckpasser
    @Buckpasser

    Iv’d died too many times to remember. Global cooling, global warming, net neutrality, etc., etc., etc.  Even though I’m dead, I’m really frightened about MONKEYPOX!

    • #32
  3. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…: Having the trifecta of a conservative temperament, theology, and political outlook, I am the kind of guy who generally respects authorities. This is getting harder to do.

    Took ya long enough.

    Welcome to the party, pal!

    • #33
  4. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Buckpasser (View Comment):
    Even though I’m dead, I’m really frightened about MONKEYPOX!

    Keep your derriere covered and stay away with men who have sex with men, and you’ll probably be fine.

    • #34
  5. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/z5JLxpM0KHQ

     

     

    • #35
  6. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Columbo (View Comment):

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/z5JLxpM0KHQ

    His poor taste ought to be rewarded.

    • #36
  7. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Columbo (View Comment):

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/z5JLxpM0KHQ

    His poor taste ought to be rewarded.

    yeah, clearly she paraphrased him into what she thought (wanted? Freudian?) him to say.

    If the guy was as demented as she suggests, he clearly would not have said “Latina”.

    Yo AOC, maybe there was a reason the Capitol Police did not overreact like you.

    • #37
  8. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patriot) Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patriot)
    @ArizonaPatriot

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…: Having the trifecta of a conservative temperament, theology, and political outlook, I am the kind of guy who generally respects authorities. This is getting harder to do.

    Took ya long enough.

    Welcome to the party, pal!

    Drew, I don’t think that I’m a part of your party, and I don’t think that I want to be.  I may be overstating your position.

    My impression is that you, and some others, inherently reject all authority.  I am no on board with that, and actually think that it is a big part of the problem that we currently face.

    I am concerned about both foolish and abusive authorities.  What I want is better authorities.

    I think that we’d have a decent chance of electing such better authorities, if not for the libertarian mindset.  Libertarians generally think of themselves as being conservatives, erroneously in my view.

    I submit that Gov. Ron DeSantis is an example of this.  He seems to be doing a very good job of fighting for conservative values, but he is criticized by the libertarian types in the “fusionist” coalition.

    I do have to face an unpleasant fact.  What I consider to be actual “conservatism” is a minority position in this country, and I don’t think that it’s very close to obtaining a majority.  The fusionist conservative coalition reaches around 50% nationwide, but it is built upon an alliance of convenience.  As a conservative, this generally means that we keep on losing.

    I think that a lot of this divide is the result of a false narrative about the founding of our country.  Patrick Deneen, Yoram Hazony, and others in the “National Conservatism” movement are persuasive in this regard, I think.  Folks who lean libertarian, though, disagree, and understandably so.

    • #38
  9. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…: Having the trifecta of a conservative temperament, theology, and political outlook, I am the kind of guy who generally respects authorities. This is getting harder to do.

    Took ya long enough.

    Welcome to the party, pal!

    Drew, I don’t think that I’m a part of your party, and I don’t think that I want to be.

    Okay.

    I may be overstating your position.

    I’ve had worse things said about me.

    My impression is that you, and some others, inherently reject all authority.

    I don’t know where you’d have picked that up from me. That’s pretty severe.

    I distrust most of those who claim to have authority over me, however. And for very good reason.

    • #39
  10. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patriot) Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patriot)
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Justin Other Lawyer (View Comment):

    Resisting the urge to reference today’s meme post. Itchy fingers. Itchy fingers. Oh, what the heck.

    This one makes me wish that we had a “hate” button, in addition to a “like” button.  I find it disappointing that this one has received six likes (so far).

    I’ll insert something into that penultimate panel.  “. . . punish child sex trafficking.”

    And the reprobate on the right of this cartoon has already said no.  He hasn’t even listened.  And he’s presented as self-righteous and wise.

    I understand the emotional reaction to disrespect authority, when an authority does something bad, either through foolishness or malice.  This was the subject of my post.  I did not conclude, however, that I actually take the leap, and disrespect authorities.  I wrote that “[t]his is getting harder to do.”

    I think that making that leap — actually deciding to disrespect all authority — is precisely the thing that the “defund the police” movement does.  I don’t want to be like them, at all.  You all have to make up your own minds about this.

    • #40
  11. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Buckpasser (View Comment):
    Even though I’m dead, I’m really frightened about MONKEYPOX!

    Keep your derriere covered and stay away with men who have sex with men, and you’ll probably be fine.

    It’s been a while since I heard any of those warnings/announcements, but weren’t they specifying men who have sex with men, at specific kinds of locations?  Rave parties, as I recall.  So the message appears to be, don’t have sex with other men at rave parties, and you’ll be fine.  Sheesh.

    • #41
  12. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    I feel sorry for all of you. But then again, I died during the great net neutrality plague.

    • #42
  13. Justin Other Lawyer Coolidge
    Justin Other Lawyer
    @DouglasMyers

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Justin Other Lawyer (View Comment):

    Resisting the urge to reference today’s meme post. Itchy fingers. Itchy fingers. Oh, what the heck.

    This one makes me wish that we had a “hate” button, in addition to a “like” button. I find it disappointing that this one has received six likes (so far).

    I’ll insert something into that penultimate panel. “. . . punish child sex trafficking.”

    And the reprobate on the right of this cartoon has already said no. He hasn’t even listened. And he’s presented as self-righteous and wise.

    I understand the emotional reaction to disrespect authority, when an authority does something bad, either through foolishness or malice. This was the subject of my post. I did not conclude, however, that I actually take the leap, and disrespect authorities. I wrote that “[t]his is getting harder to do.”

    I think that making that leap — actually deciding to disrespect all authority — is precisely the thing that the “defund the police” movement does. I don’t want to be like them, at all. You all have to make up your own minds about this.

    Come on, Jerry.  This was a poke at you for the rather humorless response on the meme post.  It was mildly ironic that on the one post you scolded everyone for finding this meme funny, but then you turned around and expressed frustration with the authorities in your area.

    Perhaps I chose a wrong way to do it, but I was really just trying to tweak you a little to say “lighten up”.

    • #43
  14. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    EJHill (View Comment):

    I feel sorry for all of you. But then again, I died during the great net neutrality plague.

    I died from nuclear winter back in the early fifties, I think.

    • #44
  15. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Justin Other Lawyer (View Comment):
    Perhaps I chose a wrong way to do it, but I was really just trying to tweak you a little to say “lighten up”.

    Nope. Did just fine.

    • #45
  16. Justin Other Lawyer Coolidge
    Justin Other Lawyer
    @DouglasMyers

    Justin Other Lawyer (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Justin Other Lawyer (View Comment):

    Resisting the urge to reference today’s meme post. Itchy fingers. Itchy fingers. Oh, what the heck.

    This one makes me wish that we had a “hate” button, in addition to a “like” button. I find it disappointing that this one has received six likes (so far).

    I’ll insert something into that penultimate panel. “. . . punish child sex trafficking.”

    And the reprobate on the right of this cartoon has already said no. He hasn’t even listened. And he’s presented as self-righteous and wise.

    I understand the emotional reaction to disrespect authority, when an authority does something bad, either through foolishness or malice. This was the subject of my post. I did not conclude, however, that I actually take the leap, and disrespect authorities. I wrote that “[t]his is getting harder to do.”

    I think that making that leap — actually deciding to disrespect all authority — is precisely the thing that the “defund the police” movement does. I don’t want to be like them, at all. You all have to make up your own minds about this.

    Come on, Jerry. This was a poke at you for the rather humorless response on the meme post. It was mildly ironic that on the one post you scolded everyone for finding this meme funny, but then you turned around and expressed frustration with the authorities in your area.

    Perhaps I chose a wrong way to do it, but I was really just trying to tweak you a little to say “lighten up”.

    Here was my response to you there:

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Mark Alexander:

    .

    .

    . . . deport illegal aliens.

    . . . secure the southern border.

    . . . ban abortions after 12 weeks.

    . . . prevent drag queens from twerking in schools.

    . . . pay for parents to send their children to a school of their choice.

    If you want to say no to something, start with the libertarianism and anarchism inherent in this meme. Grow up. Or watch civilization continue to collapse. Your call, children.

     

    I don’t know.  This response seems a little intense for a joke about suspicion of governmental power.  Who among us hasn’t responded to “the government wants to…” with “stop it already” (or something more colorful).  It’s a joke–not a public policy prescription.  Not sure it’s necessary to call people children.

    • #46
  17. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Jerry, perhaps you are too trusting? Even Jesus tells you to be wary of the pharisees — who were in positions of authority.

     

    • #47
  18. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    My question would be, why would anyone think a NEW bill is required to deal with child sex traffickers, for the example used above?

    If they’re telling you they need some NEW law to do that, my guess would be they have something up their sleeve.

    • #48
  19. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    kedavis (View Comment):

    My question would be, why would anyone think a NEW bill is required to deal with child sex traffickers, for the example used above?

    If they’re telling you they need some NEW law to do that, my guess would be they have something up their sleeve.

    What you’re saying here (I think) that legislation that claims to do one thing often contains additional language that either hamstrings that effort and/or pushes for something completely different. i.e., a bill to fund school lunches might also fund LGBTQ curriculum.

    But the “authorities” are doing it, so it’s okay? Unquestioning allegiance to an authority is how you get authoritarianism.

    Jerry, I think you haven’t figured out yet what time it is.

    • #49
  20. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    My question would be, why would anyone think a NEW bill is required to deal with child sex traffickers, for the example used above?

    If they’re telling you they need some NEW law to do that, my guess would be they have something up their sleeve.

    What you’re saying here (I think) that legislation that claims to do one thing often contains additional language that either hamstrings that effort and/or pushes for something completely different. i.e., a bill to fund school lunches might also fund LGBTQ curriculum.

    But the “authorities” are doing it, so it’s okay? Unquestioning allegiance to an authority is how you get authoritarianism.

    Jerry, I think you haven’t figured out yet what time it is.

    There’s that, plus stuff like the “disparate impact” tweaking that seeks to excuse certain noisy groups from suffering the same consequences as everyone else.

    • #50
  21. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Justin Other Lawyer (View Comment):

    Resisting the urge to reference today’s meme post. Itchy fingers. Itchy fingers. Oh, what the heck.

    This one makes me wish that we had a “hate” button, in addition to a “like” button. I find it disappointing that this one has received six likes (so far).

    I’ll insert something into that penultimate panel. “. . . punish child sex trafficking.”

    And the reprobate on the right of this cartoon has already said no. He hasn’t even listened. And he’s presented as self-righteous and wise.

    I understand the emotional reaction to disrespect authority, when an authority does something bad, either through foolishness or malice. This was the subject of my post. I did not conclude, however, that I actually take the leap, and disrespect authorities. I wrote that “[t]his is getting harder to do.”

    I think that making that leap — actually deciding to disrespect all authority — is precisely the thing that the “defund the police” movement does. I don’t want to be like them, at all. You all have to make up your own minds about this.

    All I saw in that meme was someone saying that we don’t need to give the government any more authority. It already has too much. In the case of the federal government, way too much. 

    • #51
  22. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Justin Other Lawyer (View Comment):

    Resisting the urge to reference today’s meme post. Itchy fingers. Itchy fingers. Oh, what the heck.

    This one makes me wish that we had a “hate” button, in addition to a “like” button. I find it disappointing that this one has received six likes (so far).

    I’ll insert something into that penultimate panel. “. . . punish child sex trafficking.”

    And the reprobate on the right of this cartoon has already said no. He hasn’t even listened. And he’s presented as self-righteous and wise.

    I understand the emotional reaction to disrespect authority, when an authority does something bad, either through foolishness or malice. This was the subject of my post. I did not conclude, however, that I actually take the leap, and disrespect authorities. I wrote that “[t]his is getting harder to do.”

    I think that making that leap — actually deciding to disrespect all authority — is precisely the thing that the “defund the police” movement does. I don’t want to be like them, at all. You all have to make up your own minds about this.

    Lighten up, Francis.

     

    • #52
  23. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Django (View Comment):

    All I saw in that meme was someone saying that we don’t need to give the government any more authority. It already has too much. In the case of the federal government, way too much.

    I thought it was a dang good meme.

    • #53
  24. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Justin Other Lawyer (View Comment):

    Resisting the urge to reference today’s meme post. Itchy fingers. Itchy fingers. Oh, what the heck.

    This one makes me wish that we had a “hate” button, in addition to a “like” button. I find it disappointing that this one has received six likes (so far).

    I’ll insert something into that penultimate panel. “. . . punish child sex trafficking.”

    And the reprobate on the right of this cartoon has already said no. He hasn’t even listened. And he’s presented as self-righteous and wise.

    I understand the emotional reaction to disrespect authority, when an authority does something bad, either through foolishness or malice. This was the subject of my post. I did not conclude, however, that I actually take the leap, and disrespect authorities. I wrote that “[t]his is getting harder to do.”

    I think that making that leap — actually deciding to disrespect all authority — is precisely the thing that the “defund the police” movement does. I don’t want to be like them, at all. You all have to make up your own minds about this.

    Lighten up, Francis.

     

    That works better as a meme.

     

    • #54
  25. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Why I don’t respect authorities: Exhibit #42,561

    • #55
  26. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Here ya go:

    https://www.weather.gov/arx/usflood

    Well, New Mexico has three this year. You Arizonans are going to have to try harder.

    That’s because the federales created the largest forest fire in the state’s recorded history and the scarred land isn’t holding back or absorbing water like it used to. All the reporting I see references the forest fire scars.

    • #56
  27. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    Jon Gabriel, Ed. (View Comment):

    A weather app on my phone gives me this warning nearly every time it rains here in the Phoenix area:

    “Lighting detected in your area. Shelter indoors for at least 30 minutes.”

    I swear, these people must cover themselves in bubble wrap and wear safety helmets every time they walk out the door.

    At Officer Training School, for about two weeks the summer thunderstorms would roll through at the end of the training day and we had to stay in the building until “Lightning within 5 NM” passed. After all, a dead OT is an untrainable OT. One day someone authorized us to run from the class building to the dining hall instead of waiting. Of course, someone slipped and twisted an ankle. No good deed goes unpunished.

    • #57
  28. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    Buckpasser (View Comment):

    Iv’d died too many times to remember. Global cooling, global warming, net neutrality, etc., etc., etc. Even though I’m dead, I’m really frightened about MONKEYPOX!

    I was a teenager when the AIDS crisis was starting and the media was trying to scare me into thinking I was as susceptible as anyone else. They’re trying to do the same thing with schlong Covid. A hat tip to Tucker Carlson for introducing that name.

    • #58
  29. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    Buckpasser (View Comment):

    Iv’d died too many times to remember. Global cooling, global warming, net neutrality, etc., etc., etc. Even though I’m dead, I’m really frightened about MONKEYPOX!

    I was a teenager when the AIDS crisis was starting and the media was trying to scare me into thinking I was as susceptible as anyone else. They’re trying to do the same thing with schlong Covid. A hat tip to Tucker Carlson for introducing that name.

    Genius!

    • #59
  30. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    Buckpasser (View Comment):

    Iv’d died too many times to remember. Global cooling, global warming, net neutrality, etc., etc., etc. Even though I’m dead, I’m really frightened about MONKEYPOX!

    I was a teenager when the AIDS crisis was starting and the media was trying to scare me into thinking I was as susceptible as anyone else. They’re trying to do the same thing with schlong Covid. A hat tip to Tucker Carlson for introducing that name.

    Genius!

    A thing of beauty.

    • #60
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