Matthew+Z's+OpEd+Article

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An editorial by Matt Zinik Irrationality is the nuisance who pushes my buttons. I live a life of calculated rationality and have no business for such an ill kept, unwashed thing that manifests as irrationality. It stands to reason (pun intended) that rational behavior has almost never let me down. I say “almost”, because just a few months ago my “reason meter” had a faulty jam. My judgment was all off and my sound evidence was actually made on inconclusive assumptions.

Either way that is all in the past now, and I am quite pleased it is so. You see for me to sleep at night I have to have at least two things; events to be in control or the reason and means that they are not. In January of 2011, I had neither. The sad thing is that when I look back, both objects of my desire were not far, nor difficult to reach at all. I sat there, in a puddle of metaphorical tears, wailing in irrationality. And everything I stood for—stand for!—was yielded out the window. Pathetic.

So never again. Reason before emotion. Emotions are dangerous; they are temporary and fail to transcend the situation. Decisions based on emotions seem sound and firm then, but once that emotion passes it becomes crystal that the wrong choice was made. They are the booze of the brain. One cannot expect to perform if they are running off feelings that fade when the sun comes up. Reason in comparison, does transcend circumstances and uses facts and figures as foundations. I don’t like emotional people. People with strong emotions, that is fine—I want an opinion—but the ones who operate on an unreasonable platform…I’ll go a different rout.

So I try to keep mine on a short leash. My emotions have the freedom to walk around—don’t think I actually prevent myself from feeling—but not without my permission and close watch. It’s quite handy in an argument; I can be infuriated but stay calm—most of the times. It almost seems worthless to lash out and yell. Scream and shout, fine by me. When someone gets angry they make more mistakes. Proven fact. The volume of ones voice is directly proportional to the number of possible weak points they just exposed. A shot here, a jab there, and the cards come tumbling down. This of course leads to more shouting and the cycle continues. But most importantly I stay calm, stay reasonable, stay rational, and I grid and bare it until it is my move.

I am one of those people who become truly angry not often. But if it comes to that point, all bets of rationality are off, and a tirade of screams echoe. I feel disgusted. I am more mad at myself for getting out of control then the actual conflict. If I don’t stop soon my emotions will say something that I will most certainly regret.

It is irrationality and the ignorance of pure fact that causes so much chaos. If people could only take the time to understand and listen to reason, then the gears of progress will move much swifter. Irrational people start wars, instigate genocides, and deny equality to millions. I loathe the infuriating men and women who insist on views that are so clearly wrong.

It stands to reason, and I would show you, but you will not listen. So I stay calm, stay reasonable, stay rational, and I grid and bare it until it is my move.