Let me preface this blog entry by letting you all know that I am well-aware of how much of a prick I can be and am. I am a self-observant person and cognizant of the precocious, pretentious and other self-applauding behaviors I sometimes exhibit. With that being said, lest us move forward.

One of the gifts and curses that comes along with being educated is that you, more often than not, surround yourself with other people that are just as and often times, in my case, more educated (though I am no slouch). ’Tis a great gift to be amongst the educated because of all that you become aware and all that you allow yourself to experience; while a minor-curse because of some of the people that you encounter while expanding your circle. 

It is not something that I have just realized but it is something that I have recently accepted and am learning to deal with. When in a group of “educated folk” it is safe to assume that they can speak about and are well-versed about a number of topics ranging from music to literature to sports to politics, and if not, they know to keep their mouth closed when a discussion is being had that they cannot intelligently contribute to. My definition of educated extends past book-learning and dabbles in the realms of familiarity with an assortment of topics, ideas, conversations and other items on the “Educated Folks List.”

HOW-effing-EVER!! Please, please, please, please do not throw around what and how much you know because you come off as being a moron and your comments asinine. Let me explain something about how “educated folk” operate; we, DO NOT insert every iota of knowledge in our arsenal into every single conversation that we have; it is used when appropriate. 

For instance, if one is speaking about a wonderful piece of literature, my favorite is The Color Purple, do not insert your ideas about The Civil War. I am quite sure that something can be drawn from that piece of work that involves the Civil War (or as affectionately called in the South: The War of Northern Aggression…just learned today) BUT lest us speak on far more relevant topics like: black femininity, relationship dynamics, Southern culture in the ante-bellum south, title choice, and other tangible topics.

I often times encounter people like this but it has reached its apex in jolly ol’ England. In my major, I am frequently forced to convene with people of this nature and thoroughly agitated with their jokes about Dickens and other literary giants. It just ain’t funny. I’m pretty sure professors aren’t amused either, why; because if you know that much, it will be self-evident. It will come across in general conversation and classroom participation. Please do not assault me with snooty and pretentious tid-bits because I am hardly impressed and thoroughly disgusted.

I write it as I see it.

BTW: Oxford is awesome and pics will soon follow. I plan to make a whole album out of this trip (yes, like a real photo album. yes, like mad old-school right?). Sessions are going great and I am learning a hell of a lot. For those of you concerned with how much I’m not posting about my classroom activities, *cough* NICK WIGGINS *cough* rest assure that if you are willing to buy me a cup of coffee, I am willing to rant about the academic rigors whilst at Oxford.

Peaces out and don’t be a jerk-off.