Bill is Spying on me!

 I've been spending time over the last couple of years with a group of men for coffee immediately following a meeting of the Katy Business Connection. This group of us turned into a type loosely based on the mastermind group originated by Napolean Hill long ago. It was a discussion of our recent ventures into business and a discussion of our projects. A type of group that inspired us to stay focused on our respective visions.

Sadly, it has of late, drifted away from those intentions I just mentioned and has become more of a social group and the dominating topics are politics and conspiracy theories. Recently another member has been added to the group and now, our group texts have descended into a hodgepodge of sophomoric memes usually denigrating the democratic party and elevating Trump to a god-like status. 

All fine and good but I'm not one who likes to participate in such things, but it was tolerable just to spend some time talking to others about writing, drawing, marketing, creativity and other things of applicable interest. Even the few jokes and other diversions were fine, but it seems the substance of meaningful discussions seems to have diverged and taken a back seat to useless information such the hidden fortunes in a shovel full of dirt that will change the world or the thrust-to-weight ratio of the F-111. 

About two weeks ago, the scales really tipped for me when a member of the discussion group said the reason, he doesn't drink Coca-Cola products was because they contain nano-bots.

"Why do you think they contain nano-bots?" I asked.

"Because" he said, "Bill Gates is paying Coca-Cola to put nano-bots into their products."

"Why would he do that?" 

"So, we can be kept track of."

"Do you mean there are tiny little robots in Coke?" I asked.

"Yes, and all Coca-Cola products." He answered.

I stared at him with astonishment at his answer and it was just then when another member of the group, who was listening unbeknownst, chimed in and said, "in the same way they put them in the covid vaccine". Again, I was bewildered at this.

I was compelled to then ask, "Tell me something, do you believe the world is flat?" He replied in the affirmative. 

"And the moon landing, it was a hoax?" Again, yes, to him it was a hoax. 

I inquired a little into the belief system of the others and they shared the same opinions and without making suspicious inquests, and with a few other observations, some which have gone unnoticed over the preceding weeks and months, I've come to a decision: I need to cool my participation with this group. 

Here are some of the other interesting behavior traits:

• Donald Trump is a genius
• fasting cures cancer
• "I refuse to pay $7 for a cup of coffee"
• Purple shirts will change your life
• The US government flew planes into the World Trade Center

Topics of discussions such as these are a waste of not only my time but also of my mental energy. I have much more urgent matters on my mind which have to do mostly with my professional wellbeing, not the perceived prowess of Bill Gates' connivances.

Maybe my friends have all reached a point in their life where they can freely discuss such matters without guilt or fear of losing valuable time and maybe they're right about everything, but it's not where I am for now. 

I'm smarter than that. I'm not saying these men whom I've come to know aren't smart, because they are. But their ways are not my ways, and their thoughts are not my thoughts. It's risky for me to make such a decision because I need all the help I can get and I've made poor decisions and choices in the past, but this one can't be denied. If they are right about everything then that's fine too because if they are, I've not lost a thing. But for now, I can't waste my intellect on what I perceive to be an ineffectual squandering of mental effort. 

What am I to replace it with?