Dunning-Kruger syndrome
I get fed up with stupid people who think they know everything. I see people these days who pick up their phones when I tell them some Historical or Political fact. They feel they have to check what I said. I call that rude ignorance.
It takes me back to a former arrogant colleague I worked with at a boarding school in England. He was ex- boarding school with that silly British accent – they call it Queens English. I’m from Liverpool with my 1960’s scouse accent, which is a little different to what I hear these days in Liverpool!
Anyway, Marc always tried to make out he was better than me – little put-downs, smarmy jokes at my expense etc. The feckin eejit had no idea about scousers and our independence.
So one day we were chatting. I asked him about his school, his university (some low-grade place where just managed to get a pass in politics and history), and the fact that he didn’t have a PGCE so wasn’t really a qualified teacher. He was also living up the Headmasters arse.
It turns out his Daddy was a senior Army officer, so he got his boarding school place paid for by the taxpayer… That opened a door for me!
‘So you used to live off the benefit system?’
Strike one.
I have an honours degree in Physics, still one of the hardest degrees to obtain. I have a PGCE and at the time I was working on my master’s degree.
Strike two.
The I just said, ‘Look Mark, you grew up in this boarding environment and you’re still living the same life. I grew up in the arse end of Liverpool, fought my way through a really rough school where teachers thought you were a success if you passed one O level, got a degree in Physics and have a PGCE and I am a fully qualified teacher. And you’ve done fuck all with your life!’
Strike three.
He avoided me after that…
Fairy Hanny 