Bill Kearney

Life is like a minefield sometimes

Imagine this scenario, you want to get somewhere but you have to hack your way through a forest first. You come upon an inviting looking clearing. There's someone on the other side of the clearing. Off on the side of the clearing there's a couple of tired, grizzled-looking old dudes.

The person on the other side of the clear is making all sorts of noise. Proclaiming the wonder of that other side! Off to the side the old guys are speaking to you. You can hear them well enough, you just don't understand the language they're speaking.

So you ask yourself, what to do? After slogging through that forest you're really delighted to see that clearing. The guy on the other side is really clamoring for you to hurry up and come on across. As you start to move, however the old guys try to get your attention and it seems they're trying to discourage you from crossing; motioning something about the long way around. The guy on the other side is starting to get agitated and starts giving you a hard time about taking so long to make up your mind.

So you figure the old dudes must be crazy. They can't speak your language and they're plainly denying themselves the wonders that await them on the other side. Not to mention, they're suggesting it's better to keep hacking along in the forest instead of just going right across. Why?

When someone tries to get your attention and acts in a way that suggests you exercise caution are they just being difficult? If you don't understand them are they at fault? Are they even more stupid because the other guy is clearly enjoying himself over on the other side? Shouldn't you just ignore their advice and just cross the damned clearing?

So off you go!

Halfway out there you discover, rather unfortunately, that the clearing was a minefield.

What you forgot to consider before striking off into unknown territory is that the natives might not speak your language. That you might want to have brought an interpreter or at least a phrase book or dictionary. For what those old dudes were trying to tell you was "it's a minefield, don't believe that jackass on the other side. He didn't come through the clearing to get there."

So when you're travelling in parts unknown and someone raises caution, stop and think, do you understand what he's saying or should you just ignore him and plow blindly ahead because the other guy says it's a good idea.

There are times where forging ahead is a wonderful thing. As long as it's not a minefield, you're set! But remember, always bring along an interpreter and be prepared to listen to the natives.