Daily Prompt – Dictionary, Schmictionary

Time to confess: tell us about a time when you used a word whose meaning you didn’t actually know (or were very wrong about, in retrospect).

I used to do this all the time in high-school… I’d try and sound really smart by using a strange word in a sentence, and whilst it sounded impressive, when I actually looked it up, it was usually used in the completely wrong context. I don’t even remember what word it was.

16 July – A Decade of Influence

Tell us 10 people you would declare the 10 most important people in the world so far this decade.

 

Barack Obama – President of the USA

 

Well, this guy is perhaps one of the most influential people ever. First black President and let’s face, the guy just oozes swagger. honourable mention to Michelle Obama – she’s quite a style icon as well.

 

Kim Jong Un – Trigger Happy Supreme Leader of North Korea

 So, Lil’ Kim here has major daddy issues and major image issues. Having to fill the shoes of his father, Kim Jong Il, this guy has quite an itchy (nuclear) trigger figure. Ready to hit the button if anybody dare look at him sideways, he’s prepared to declare war on the US over a James Franco / Seth Rogen movie. Clearly this guy never saw Team America. Maybe he should watch it with his best girlfriend, Dennis Rodman.

Vladimir Putin – Homophobic President of Russia

…and perhaps one of the biggest homophobes in the world. It’s also alleged he recently aided the separatists who shot down Malaysian Air flight MH17 (which in itself is believed to be the missing flight MH370).

Beyoncé – unofficial Queen of the fucking World

…because, Beyoncé. Enough said. If this fierce bitch ever became President of the USA, she really would run the fucking world. The first black, female President. Amazing!!

Steve jobs – Ex-CEO, Apple

 Perhaps the one person who single handedly brought Apple back into the spotlight and completely revolutionised the communications and device industry. He was truly an amazing individual, and his legacy will live on

Jony Ive – Senior Vice President, Design, Apple

 Sir Jonathan Paul ‘Jony’ Ive is the man responsible for the iconic Apple product design. Most people take his work for granted, where as others totally lose their shit as soon as he says the words ‘beveled edges’. Both he and Jobs were the dynamic duo of the tech industry. It didn’t matter what they did, the world listened… And purchased.

Mark Zuckerberg – CEO, Facebook

 So, Facebook has become one of the ultimate social media platforms (see also Twitter, Instagram) which completely revolutionised the way in which people interact with each other… And shared their selfies and photos of what they’re eating. JUST STOP FUCKING SENDING ME REQUESTS TO PLAY CANDY CRUSH!!!

Larry Page – CEO, Google

 Well, let’s be honest, I had no idea who this guy was, and had to Google him to find out. But ultimately, this is the guy in charge for one of the biggest online companies EVER!! It’s become a common verb in today’s vernacular, and is the default search provider, constantly getting more powerful and intuitive. But they are so much more than their search engine, venturing into multiple online facets as well as technology such as Google Glass, netbooks, phones and ChromeCast.

Oprah

 Well… Because… Oprah.

Hilary Clinton

Oh Hil… she’s been through ups and downs and still manages to pull it together with style and grace. Despite not even being a US citizen, I secretly always wanted to see Hillary end up as President of the United States, because she’d fucking get shit done!

 

Rupaul

Honorable mention goes to Rupaul. Slowly creating a name for not just herself, but for the ‘drag’ community as a whole, her show Rupaul’s Drag Race has finished its sixth season and is getting bigger and bolder with each season. This bitch is fierce and I fucking love her, and her show to death. YAAASSSS HONEY….. WEEERRRRRRRRRRKKKK!!!

7 July – A Different Decade

Which former decade do you wish you could time travel and visit? Why?

 
Part of me wishes I could go back to the 1920’s – to a Gatsby-esque era full of burlesque girls, pinstripe suits, and chivalrous gentlemen.

20 June – Commenter Influence

Have commenters ever made you change your mind or helped you make a decision? Tell us about that time.

 

Nope. Haven’t had enough commenters on my blog to allow me to answer this… What’s the matter people… Tell me stuff!!

Jan 29: Influencing Others

Are you good at influencing other people?

I think that I can certainly have my moments when I’m talking to others and trying to persuade them or convince them of something. But I find that it’s much easier for me to try and persuade them than it is for them to try and persuade me. I’m simply too stubborn and would prefer to have my own opinion first, and then have others provide their opinions as well as a means of support.

I think it just depends on what exactly it is I’m trying to influence others of. I find that if it’s something that they might not necessarily know much (if anything about) then I can sometimes explain the situation to them so that they are aware… but I can just as easily skew that information to lead them to make the decision themselves, even though it’s the decision that I’d already made, I just lead them in that particular direction and let them think that they got there all on their own.

Other situations, however, aren’t that simple or straightforward. Sometimes it can actually be quite difficult to try and influence others. In some circumstances it can sometimes be almost impossible to even get others to see your point of view because they’re so focused on their point of view, they won’t even consider anything else. Nothing else exists. To an extent it reminds of the old adage ‘if you’re not with me, then you’re against me’. To normal people, this seems completely ridiculous because we see the world in shades of grey (just not 50 of them!), whereas they are only seeing things in black or white; yes or no.

Those people, I find, there’s simply no talking to; no reasoning with them.