I would never forget Jan 27, 2002. This is because a bomb blast occurred that day and my father made sure we all wrote essays concerning the experience after the incident.
When it all started, with everything vibrating and all, everyone was confused as such has never happened before. We all came out to the street where there were other confused people like us. Some were praying, some running helter-skelter and some discussing in groups in front of their compounds.
There was this man that came around where we all stood. He said he was just coming from Oshodi and he saw Osama under the bridge. Sounds funny right? He said we were under attack from Afghanistan. Gullible me at that time began to cry, saying - "what did we do for Osama? Are we USA? Are we USA?"*sniff sniff…lol
Hey! Don’t blame me. I was still a kid then and I had read and heard about the September 11 attack that happened four months prior to this time. You needed to have seen the confidence this man displayed in telling the story, like he actually saw Osama.
Others came around. Some saying it was a gas station at so so and so place that exploded, another saying it was this, others saying it was that with so much confidence.
This brings me to my question and point of this write-up. Why are people so eager to share what they know little or know nothing about with so much gusto and confidence?
My neighbour’s maid that was preparing for Jamb once explained to us with so much confidence that “to have ones heart in one’s mouth” means to be confused. In her own words, though she spoke in Yoruba, she said and I quote “When I ask you to go and bring napkin in the kitchen, and you go and come back asking me what I sent you to bring, and you go again and still come back with a fork.” She even yabbed me when I said “It means to be afraid”, which is the right thing. I did not even bother arguing with her.
Conversations like “do you know Obama used to live in Anambra” and the other person saying - "I been dey think am before, no wonder this, no wonder that", is how ridiculous it can get.
I have heard different versions of how Shade met Okoya the multi millionaire. My hair dresser version is that her father was his gateman and she went to get her fees from her dad, then Okoya saw her and the rest is history (In fact you don’t want to know exactly how she explained the whole scenario). I just shook my head and smiled all through the gist, fighting the urge to burst into laughter at certain points. Another version I heard is that they stay in the same estate and they met while jogging #EarlyMornJoggingThinz. Ha! I don’t know which one is correct o!
Why do people pass on information with so much confidence like they were there first hand? Am not exempting myself from this query o! I guess it is safe to assume that at one time or the other, we've narrated a story a friend, sister or relative told us with so much confidence like we were there live. At times we even narrate it in a way that depicts the experience happened to us directly. I think it is just to make the gist sweeter sha.
All I am saying is we should verify any information before stamping it as authentic when narrating it. The least we could do is tone down our display of confidence when we are not so sure. Nothing is sillier than even going ahead to have an argument on something you know nothing about.
What was the funniest false information you’ve heard and you just knew it was a giant lie? Enjoy the rest of your week people.
When it all started, with everything vibrating and all, everyone was confused as such has never happened before. We all came out to the street where there were other confused people like us. Some were praying, some running helter-skelter and some discussing in groups in front of their compounds.
There was this man that came around where we all stood. He said he was just coming from Oshodi and he saw Osama under the bridge. Sounds funny right? He said we were under attack from Afghanistan. Gullible me at that time began to cry, saying - "what did we do for Osama? Are we USA? Are we USA?"*sniff sniff…lol
Hey! Don’t blame me. I was still a kid then and I had read and heard about the September 11 attack that happened four months prior to this time. You needed to have seen the confidence this man displayed in telling the story, like he actually saw Osama.
Others came around. Some saying it was a gas station at so so and so place that exploded, another saying it was this, others saying it was that with so much confidence.
This brings me to my question and point of this write-up. Why are people so eager to share what they know little or know nothing about with so much gusto and confidence?
My neighbour’s maid that was preparing for Jamb once explained to us with so much confidence that “to have ones heart in one’s mouth” means to be confused. In her own words, though she spoke in Yoruba, she said and I quote “When I ask you to go and bring napkin in the kitchen, and you go and come back asking me what I sent you to bring, and you go again and still come back with a fork.” She even yabbed me when I said “It means to be afraid”, which is the right thing. I did not even bother arguing with her.
Conversations like “do you know Obama used to live in Anambra” and the other person saying - "I been dey think am before, no wonder this, no wonder that", is how ridiculous it can get.
I have heard different versions of how Shade met Okoya the multi millionaire. My hair dresser version is that her father was his gateman and she went to get her fees from her dad, then Okoya saw her and the rest is history (In fact you don’t want to know exactly how she explained the whole scenario). I just shook my head and smiled all through the gist, fighting the urge to burst into laughter at certain points. Another version I heard is that they stay in the same estate and they met while jogging #EarlyMornJoggingThinz. Ha! I don’t know which one is correct o!
Why do people pass on information with so much confidence like they were there first hand? Am not exempting myself from this query o! I guess it is safe to assume that at one time or the other, we've narrated a story a friend, sister or relative told us with so much confidence like we were there live. At times we even narrate it in a way that depicts the experience happened to us directly. I think it is just to make the gist sweeter sha.
All I am saying is we should verify any information before stamping it as authentic when narrating it. The least we could do is tone down our display of confidence when we are not so sure. Nothing is sillier than even going ahead to have an argument on something you know nothing about.
What was the funniest false information you’ve heard and you just knew it was a giant lie? Enjoy the rest of your week people.
India beating Nigeria 100-0, ..and the ball turning into stones and birds during the match ...I'm sure some of us still fink its true tho! ..lol
ReplyDeleteHahaha...so that story is a lie. Kai, I don drink zobo for this life o. Thanks for commenting.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is guilty, but some are more guilty than others. The most annoying are the ones you hear in d salons and buses(between bus conductors and drivers). Dis story would do.
ReplyDeleteTaju: Wetin dey do dis our Fashola baba na? Na only him go be first governor ni? See as him turn our Oshodi upside down, come make am fine like amusement park. Me dey miss our former palmie joint near that refuse dump jor.
Obi: No mind am. People think say the man na clean guy, but dem no go know say na poverty cos am.
Taju: Poverty? How na?
Obi: Wen him small, him family no get money. Dat time, him mama na cleaner. Infact, na she be Head of LAWMA cleaners for Mushin around that independence time. That time, Fashola dey follow am go work everyday. So, him don grow now, wan come dey clean Lagos like say na him bedroom. Abeg, make dem make us continue our palmie joint for 'oriapata' jor
Taju: Kai! Na true o. No wonder, me sef dey talk am say this Fashola too clean sef. I no even know say na poverty cause am sef.
*And then, I just shake my head and wonder why people talk trash with so much confidence. Dami, I need to share this post on my blog. Lotta peeps gat to learn to stop dis trend, mehn! God bless u for writing this.
Hahahaha...lol...u've just captured it.
ReplyDeleteMe sef tire o... the ridiculous things I hear in commercial buses everyday ehn...smh
Thanks for commenting sis. muah!
Dami n' Kemi_ u both need 2 join force and wrk 2geda... Luvly write up and madt comments...cnt stop laughing abt d Fashola gist...most of us are guilty of dis act tho
ReplyDeleteHahaha...as in ehn.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliments and for commenting dear.
hi girl child, saw ur blog on naira land n decided to check it up. U doing a nice job, dont ever give up or get discouraged. u can visit my blog too. its http://www.suspenseandemotions.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteAwwwn...thanks. This means a lot to me. Would definitely check out your blog too.
ReplyDeleteSuper hilarious. I think our parents started all of these, at least for many of us. They started with little taboos, "don't wash clothes at night", "girls are not supposed to whistle ","don't share egg with anyone" and the list continues. I know many of them created these 'little lies' as a way of enforcing some level of discipline. We grew up believing them, and many have come to belive as grown ups that editing their stories gives it credence or makes it appealing to the ears.
ReplyDeleteFrankly speaking, even now I am still tempted to colour my story. Sometimes it's because I cannot remember the details and in the process of sharing the gist, the part I have forgotten is the sweetest part. Lol. If you know what I mean. Others just speak out of ignorance, it is what has been handed to them, so they just keep spreading it.
But I believe people should be willing to say the truth without any attempt to colour it. In most cases the facts would be made public, and you might be the stupid person after all. About the Osama story, only Jehovah will forgive that guy!