Ignorance is not bliss, neither is lack of kindness

 A friend of mine never went to university but is very smart and managed an auto didactic education in chemistry biochemistry and natural health. He sometimes didn't understand the basics and distrusted anything corporate.

One of our conversations involved antiperspirant. He told me that he was using a crystal because aluminum causes cancer.

No it doesn't. How are you using a crystal?

It's a stick. You apply it the same.

What's it made out of?

All natural. Potassium aluminum sulfate.

That's an aluminum salt. You're using the pure mineral.

I told him that my corporate antiperspirant contained aluminum chlorydrate also an aluminum salt, but a weaker one. Diluted with additives for scent, oils for glideability, antimicrobial etc. After undergoing a lot of quality control and testing to reduce irritation. Basically his natural stick was putting more aluminum onto his skin at 18 bucks a stick compared to my run of the mill one.

He's smart and when he fell for the unregulated natural health sector he had consumed so much omega369 oils that he admitted it had made him overweight and ill. When it came to my friend we could agree to disagree or come out wiser and more knowledgeable.

In the last decade ignorance has gotten worse. Keep people ignorant and you can sell them anything. The aggression with which people share their pov has gotten much worse based on what they read online.

Although it makes me unhappy, spouse, my voice of reason, told me that I need to accept that consideration, kindness and knowledge are on hold. It's okay to go after "useless" scientists now. That governments are campaigning against universities to cut funding and research and to turn it over to corporate interests is something that people care as little about as they did about climate change forty years ago . If the public doesn't know, it won't advocate.

I was thinking about about a good example when the universe gave me one. 

There is a hybrid cafe/variety store that I grab a few items from. Sometimes I sit outside for a bit before walking back. I just purchased something so I do not need to consume anything more. It's family run and the owner Linda loves to chat and tell me about conspiracy theories as well as her opinions. Sometimes I correct her, sometimes I don't bother.

I've had to listen to her tell me that the guy who owned an island had been spotted in Dubai (TikTok says). Her indifference to synthetic food replacing more expensive meat products or cocoa for the same price. Despite being a second generation immigrant she voted against herself. I told her about the lack of measures against heat waves. She told me she didn't care if people suffer and it's not the government's responsibility. (Actually, it is). I gave up.

I sat outside for a bit to unwind. The waiter, a new kid, asked if I wanted anything. I'll just sit here for a few minutes. Can't sit here if you don't order anything. Seriously? I just bought something. I wasn't in the mood to explain (i had longcovsssh so i still get sudden fatigue), so I left. He stood up to follow. You could have just asked he said (im also done owing anyone common courtesy when they have none). He wanted an argument I wasn't going to give him one. I wish you bad luck, I said.

He became scared. His belligerence stopped. He was trying to get me to lift the curse. Not how it works, i said. You were mean, i added as i walked away. In his world superstition ruled over science and just being a decent human being.

This is how we got here.

I made the decision recently to go against my nature and stop educating. There's no point. People want to believe what they read, even if it's wrong and not a day goes by when I don't have to listen to a flat earth moment.