When Older Folks Go Wrong...
The African culture ensures that elders are given due respect, but beyond that though, our culture leave little room for challenging individuals older that you are, this brings a question to mind; isn't this kinda backward? Yes elders have a wealth of experience but the young folks are faced with newer challenges, so that, we can argue that the skills of the youngsters are more up-to -date.
The Scenario...
I find myself in a car with 3 other individuals in a car, its a 90 minutes drive now, and as we were all Nigerians the conversation was flowing left and right. The convo then drifts to the American economy, hmm all parties are putting forth economic theory, left and right, all theories absolutely wrong. At this time, I am reminding myself. "Ohboi you need to shut up, or else you stand the risk of sounding "I Too Know", but on the other hand my formal training is tugging at me like, "Ohboi they are so so wrong, tell them about cause and effect, marginality and the forces that drive decision making" hmm. Which angel should I pay heed?
Okay then, I chose to keep my peace, I did not say a word. But when the conversation moved to exchange rates and the power of the dollar vis-a-vis the Euro, I lost it. I lost it because 95% of individuals on this planet do not understand the difference between nominal values and real values, and there is no way you can have any meaningful discussion about exchange rate without these tools. I plead with all you armchair economists to please desist. hehehe.
Back to the question, I made some comments with respect to the exchange rate, and the need to understand the underlying forces that drive economic variables, before making any effort at analyzing such variables. I am not sure this contribution went down well. If our Naija elders are wrong and you know deep in your hearts that they are so so wrong, what do you do, since it appears they do not take too kindly to correction. I believe this is an Afro-specific (kai bad English), phenomenon since I had this same scenario with an older man from another continent and his response was, "I never looked at it like that, wow that is eye opening".
So My Naija people whats up with us.
I am feeling this song; Uptown by Consequence, Robie Thicke be good too.
4Comment(s):
ohboi, me sef I tried to explain game theory and negative externalities to one of the so called senators and how the politicians are getting things wrong, upon a chance meeting. The way wey the bobo look me tell me say not only was he lost but I could sense this deep feeling of inferiority complex and resentment emanating from him. So I quickly changed topic before the bobo organize me. You are talking nominal and real values with these folks? Try WACC and CAPM.
I don tell you, leave gra gra alone. You get too emotional with arguments. Maybe it's the way you dish it out and not necessarily what is said, that makes the egbons feel bad. Count sheep to 100 and do some "woosah" plus take a deep breath, then fire your rebutall. Abi how you see am :)
Sine qua non hehehe.
That's the erason i always get in trouble with my aunts. They're wrong and when u say som'n to that effect serious yawa, next thing u know they'd be telling u, u were rude to 'em. Maybe u need to learn how to say things diplomatically, like me. The fear of yawa was the beginning of my own wisdom. With our Naija elders, u can't win.