Give me a topic, please

My faith in humanity has been very slightly restored today. I visited a theology forum where some very knowledgeable (if rather pedantic) people, most young enough to be my children, were debating whether it is sounder, theologically and liturgically, for the Eucharist to be offered facing east or west. I felt rather like a potted plant being watered after a long interval. It made me long for the days when pub conversations (and how I love those!) in the East centred on such tit-bits as whether Arius was correct about the nature of Christ.

I mention this because I remember a quotation, though not the source, to the effect of how fruitless it is to attempt a battle of wits with an unarmed man, and heavens is there an excess of those! Most people seem so self absorbed that trying to have any kind of a conversation is fruitless. Yet I also suspect that, if they have any grey matter at all, it has atrophied from lack of use.

Though I could provide many examples, this one seems appropriate to illustrate typical dimness - it is a boring conversation which I've had so many times, and with a vast variety of people. I have had curly hair since I was born - it is one of few of my attributes which is obvious at first glance. One would think that those whom I've previously met, much less those who have known me for thirty years, may have observed the curls at one time or another. Yet this is a typical conversation, whether it is someone I've only met once in the past or one who has known me since the Beatles were in the top ten:

Dimwit: "Did you get a permanent?" (If it is someone who knows I'm not well heeled by any means, the opening may be, "You have financial problems, and you still got a permanent?)
Me: "No. I've always had curly hair."
Dimwit: "They are not wearing curly hair this year." (I suppose it is permissible to have such only if it cost one considerable money, but I digress..)
Me: "It came with my head."
Dimwit: "Have you ever tried blow drying it straight?"
Me: "Only from 1965 to 1993."
Dimwit: "My (sister/daughter/friend) blows hers out straight."

I suppose that it might be pleasant to be a fascinating sort... but I, unlike inhabitants of the self help aisle, have no such illusions. Yet I would think that anyone with an IQ exceeding that of "Lucy" (from the British Museum) would have more interesting topics to discuss than my curly hair. (Those who are less evolved than Lucy will begin their sentences with, "They taught us in Weight Watchers...," "My son/daughter is the best adjusted child in her (kindergarten) class,"... "They say...," or "I've been exploring my inner child.")

However, one who is tempted, as I am, to say (in a more polite fashion) "get a life," refrain from doing so because dimwits will turn it back on me, to suggest that I do not have one. :) Mention anything in the arts and humanities (which, after all, are my areas of specialisation), and the retort will be, "Oh, I don't have time for ..." Or the assumption will be that I wasted time on all those useless pursuits and degrees, when I could have been... making more money, going to Weight Watchers, blow drying my hair straight. It is not, of course, that I respect the opinions of members of the dimwit set - only that I do not wish my personal Vesuvius to erupt.

Sadly, situations such as these tend to exist in the Church as well. Preoccupation with some trendy topic, focussing only on one issue, instilling guilt trips and deprivation parties, all are just as boring as the nonsense I have mentioned. It is sadder still if 'the people can only relate' (in the minds of the speakers) to the mediocre and stupid.

I suppose I don't expect everyone to love Shakespeare, Chaucer, Bach, Verdi... I'd best stop there, or I'll be here all night. :) My point is that one should have real interests, and not insult others by assuming they have none.

Give me the pub days when there were arguments about the nature of the Trinity, as heated as if the debaters had been wearing football colours...