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Better a Moron, Than a Lesson
by Wotan
Writer
2 months ago
{TL;DR} Escape Hatch:
The title and concept of this piece comes from a phrase that I picked up at some point, wrote it down “for future consideration”, and by the time I finally got around to picking it back up, dusting it off, and poking at it a bit, I had completely forgotten where I’d first seen it.
{/TL;DR}
(a bit more for those, who have the patience):
As I mentioned above, the concept and feel of this piece came from a phrase that I came across online at some point, and which stuck in my mind like a burdock sticks to a shaggy dog’s hair.
A bit of deep digging, and I eventually discovered that the phrase: “The Opposite of a Moron is a Lesson” first appeared on a reddit subgroup called “showerthought” some time in 2017 (I have no idea who the original author was — anyone, who knows, please feel free to enlighten me).
Apparently, the phrase is meant to be a reference to the idea that lessons are often hard, painful and usually also carry the cost of varying levels of humiliation, whereas ignorance is truly is bliss. So, apparently I comprehended that part of it at least. :P
There is also a certain amount of Midlife Crisis Angst®, which crept in there as well.
Most specifically, it came from one of those guitar practice days, where I wonder if I am truly wasting my time trying to force these better-than-a-half-century-old hands to do things that they should have learned in my teens, if I had ever wanted to actually be good at playing guitar...
As I said in (part) of a conversation I had with a (fellow guitarist) friend in the first few weeks of 2026:
“...I have to force myself to keep going some days... Feeling like I'm just adding to the long list of things that I endlessly flog away at, but somehow still always suck ass at doing. The classical term for such a person is a "dilettante". I feel like a fiftysomething dilettante.
“...But then, sometimes, I can get some sort of primitive groove going that might last a few minutes, and it's like chasing a brief, ephemeral, artistic high...”
Also, the phrase: "Flatulent pain in the ass/arse" was shamelessly poached from a 1986 song by The Smiths: "Frankly, Mr. Shankly."
The title and concept of this piece comes from a phrase that I picked up at some point, wrote it down “for future consideration”, and by the time I finally got around to picking it back up, dusting it off, and poking at it a bit, I had completely forgotten where I’d first seen it.
{/TL;DR}
(a bit more for those, who have the patience):
As I mentioned above, the concept and feel of this piece came from a phrase that I came across online at some point, and which stuck in my mind like a burdock sticks to a shaggy dog’s hair.
A bit of deep digging, and I eventually discovered that the phrase: “The Opposite of a Moron is a Lesson” first appeared on a reddit subgroup called “showerthought” some time in 2017 (I have no idea who the original author was — anyone, who knows, please feel free to enlighten me).
Apparently, the phrase is meant to be a reference to the idea that lessons are often hard, painful and usually also carry the cost of varying levels of humiliation, whereas ignorance is truly is bliss. So, apparently I comprehended that part of it at least. :P
There is also a certain amount of Midlife Crisis Angst®, which crept in there as well.
Most specifically, it came from one of those guitar practice days, where I wonder if I am truly wasting my time trying to force these better-than-a-half-century-old hands to do things that they should have learned in my teens, if I had ever wanted to actually be good at playing guitar...
As I said in (part) of a conversation I had with a (fellow guitarist) friend in the first few weeks of 2026:
“...I have to force myself to keep going some days... Feeling like I'm just adding to the long list of things that I endlessly flog away at, but somehow still always suck ass at doing. The classical term for such a person is a "dilettante". I feel like a fiftysomething dilettante.
“...But then, sometimes, I can get some sort of primitive groove going that might last a few minutes, and it's like chasing a brief, ephemeral, artistic high...”
Also, the phrase: "Flatulent pain in the ass/arse" was shamelessly poached from a 1986 song by The Smiths: "Frankly, Mr. Shankly."
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There's also armor in letting think you're a idiot though.
In fact, sometimes if I have to ask a stranger a question that might make me look stupid in their eyes, I turn my North Carolina rural hick accent on and present as a bumpkin.
Bless my heart.
I remember vividly, looking at my father and telling him, "You know I'm fifty years old now." He, in turn, growled at me, "That's not funny." And now, that has mostly reversed upon me and I am the one not amused.
IF... if only, God had not given us certain drives, all of which are intertwined, and meant to be the autopilot that keeps us (ahem, cough, cough) moving forward, we would have happily ever after tended out ten acres of land and then perished in the same manner as all those old bones they keep digging up.
You're doing fine Wotan... now go practice that guitar.
Vix
Some days it's a bit of a struggle to not hear the sad trombone: "Womp Womp Womp Womp..." when my fingers just aren't getting with the program. X.x
Thanks for the kind comments, and glad you enjoyed it. :P