When I say that I hate people, I usually mean it, at least for a while. But it's not really people as individuals that I hate. It's the endless number of weaknesses like an absolute lack of anything remotely resembling intelligence or common sense, and a habitual inability to apply themselves consistently to uphold any kind of moral standard. I realize that moral standards differ according to the individual, but I also believe that certain basic principles, like not cheating on your spouse because you're bored or not getting what you need, getting married or divorced because it's expedient, or "forgetting" about the existence of your own child in your own car because of your own busy schedule. This last refers to a recent story here in Austin. About a week ago, this guy (I'm currently too disgusted to use the word father in good conscience, even though it's applicable) went to work at a semi-conductor plant and "forgot" or "didn't know" (how do you explain that one?) that his eithteen-month-old child was in the car. This was around nine or so in the morning and it's been so hot lately that it was most likely already in the mid to upper eighties with high humidity. About half an hour later, a woman saw the kid in the car and called, not the police, but a security guard, who, apparently, didn't make much of an effort to find the baby. Unfortunately and very tragically, the person who forgot the kid's existence found him dead about four-thirty that afternoon because the temperature had gotten to, at least, a hundred degrees. If it were me, I'd've most likely gone home and swallowed the nearest bullet. But he's still alive facing, I believe, felony charges of "child endangerment." I guess murder has to be premeditated or deliberate or something. He could get from two to twenty years. I'm sure he wishes he were dead himself, but I his child is still dead due to his inattention. It's absolutely inexcusable for someone to forget, for whatever reason, about the very existence of their own child! How is it possible to create a life, watch it develope and come into the world, care for it for a year and a half, then "forget" about it? There's an amount of sympathy for him, as there should be for his emotional suffering, but I wonder, if this had been the kid's other, would we be nearly so lenient? I think not. But, then again, maybe we would. I think society sees the work of mothers as more valuable, but also more stressful. Maybe an overworked overstressed mom accidentally leaving her kid in an overheating car is okay. (sarcasm, in case you couldn't tell) After all, she's trying to work and do fifty other oh-so-necessary things. How can she always be expected to remember her kid? What the hell ever! I don't think the woman who called the security guard can be prosecuted for anything, but the guard's lazy ass should be fired! He should have gone up and down every aisle of that parking lot looking into every single blessed car until he found that baby! I don't give a damn how bit that parking lot is! What else does he have to do, anyway, at a semi-conductor plant during the day? Did he look out the window, not automatically see the car with the kid in it, and go back to work? Somehow, I think if it had been a dog, more effort would've been made. In my opinion. there is no acceptable excuse for dereliction of duty, whether it be your marriage, your job, or the welfare of your child. So, yeah, sometimes I really do hate the utter lack of responsibility displayed by, it seems to me, the majority of people. Does anybody else want to revoke their membership to the human race and start their own enlightened one? I'd sign up for it.