the Switch

My younger brother and I had a running comment/warning to each other. When we trespassed a bit too much and got on each other’s nerves, we would issue the “Don’t push my button, brother” statement. I think most people catch my drift.

Then there is the venerable old cliché: “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.” Stay with me… I have a point to make somewhere.

I have made the observation in some past comments on this blog that I “thought” might raise some ire… but hasn’t. That statement was “I really don’t care about your ancestors,” and then I added the caveat “except in a historical sense.” Or some such clarification to cover my rude comment. There are literally billions of folks on the planet and I frankly do not give a rip about them. I do however care deeply about MY family and friends (as I think most folks realize and share my thought). All of which might seem foolish to say on a genealogy site. I am a rather crude sort that simply says what I mean… and then looks for a response to measure whatever psychology presents itself. That is a “game” I play.

I will purposely try to flip people’s switches and/or buttons in an oddly playful way. It is a curse. In pool halls I would reply when challenged to a game: I don’t mind playing if you don’t mind losing. Those are fighting words. It is a big boy game… be careful. Be it known that you are pushing a powerful button. I learned it from a hustler as I was being hustled. Damn he was good.

I think professional genealogists deal with this. It is a job. Their true interest is money. That is not a moral dilemma or a judgment… it is a fact. But some genealogists can conjure up an interest if they truly enjoy their job. Such is my case and some friends of mine. I’ve tried talking “genealogy shit” in some bars in the past. The speed with which I found myself deserted and left as an island amongst a sea of people was breathtaking. I got the drift quickly. The vast majority of people simply do NOT give a rip about long dead people.

Much like my brother and I became wary of pushing each other’s button, I have noticed that a “Switch” can be toggled from off to on when two or more people are interested in certain old dead people. That appears to be the essence of genealogy in my mind.

My genealogy cohorts and I share emails and drag out these long dead folks and share thoughts and ideas that would put 95% or more of the “great unwashed” majority of so-called normal people to sleep. I get it. You do too if you have stayed this long in this article to realize that… smiling. Genealogy is a phantom itch that demands to be scratched. Either your Switch is On or Off. Which is why you find yourself alone at social gatherings… and find yourself surrounded at genealogy events.

Warning: Don’t talk genealogy around normal folks…their eyes will glaze over and they will yawn profusely and eventually go to sleep. If you snap your fingers and wave your hand across their eyes and get no response…they are comatose. Realize this immediately and shut up…you have gone way too far.