Stupid, am I?

You know, for all my usual touting about how intelligent I am (not in the genius sense, mind -- more along lines of "as compared with neighbourhood trash bin"), I get very irritated when people speak to me like I don't know what I'm talking about.

In some cases, I can flagrantly show off my wealth of knowledge by coming up with facts, figures and sources. However, the other day, a friend and I were talking about geisha (as Memoirs Of A Geisha is opening next month).

She said, "Geisha are prostitutes. Subservient prostitutes."

"That can't be right, "I argued. "That's like saying that every companion and call girl sleeps with their nightly assignments. I'm sure it happens, but it isn't necessarily the case. Besides, they're not trained as whores at all. They're something else entirely. Entertainers."

She told me I was full of shit. And actually laughed in my face.
Unfortunately, I had limited references.

I said, "You could be right, but I think I would like to research the matter first." (Seriously, that's what I said. J'ai dork.)

I came home, did my research and discovered that indeed, I was correct. Geisha being prostitutes was generally a western misconception, thought there were roots in the rumour coming from the prostitution districts as well. Not that geisha never slept with their clients, but it certainly wasn't expected. They were entertainers. Not whores.

But I felt rather annoyed about the whole situation. Not because I was right or she was right, but rather that I imagined a look of "aren't-you-very-fucking-stupid" on her face. Or maybe I didn't imagine it. It's hard to say since I live on the block of paranoia.

But the very idea of people who talk to me like I'm an idiot absolutely infuriates me.

(Much like people who point their finger in your face when lecturing you. Grrr.)