I recently stumbled upon this item and its explanation while surfing the Internet, and I felt obligated to share it with the legions (?) of blog readers that find their way to my postings. I consider this simple philosophy equal to—nay, greater than—the combined contributions of Michelangelo, Oedipus, Plato, Zeno, Socrates, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson combined.
A simple philosophy for a simple life, including the title, the image and the explanation below the image is offered up by so many different sources that accurate attribution is impossible. I will, however, state categorically that neither the title nor the image nor the explanation is original with me. I’m just passing it along because I found it both funny and factual. Enjoy!
This is a deceptively simple philosophy that I have been working on and refining for most of my life. I am delighted to say that I believe I have refined it down to its essence sufficiently enough to share it with a select band of friends that may appreciate its elegance and simplicity.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
The King of Texas 
Jon Doe
March 9, 2012 at 12:57 pm
How long have you had this domain name?
thekingoftexas
March 10, 2012 at 5:49 pm
I’ve had it awhile. Why do you ask?
sue
March 9, 2012 at 4:28 pm
I like the concept but what is the scale across the bottom on the age range? At what age does it peak and start to decline? I could use the answer for myself so I know when to stop giving a ****!
thekingoftexas
March 10, 2012 at 5:31 pm
Hi, Sue – thanks for the comment and the questions. I’m not an expert at reading the Give A **** scale, but I believe each person has to determine where they are on the chart.
If one is still giving a **** then that person is still moving up the left side of the scale, although they may give a **** in some instances but not in others, but the giving of a **** is far more often than the giving a **** is withheld. When one stops giving a **** that person starts moving down, either in one move or in a series of moves because one may give a **** in highly selective incidents and not give a **** in **** for all the others. It therefore follows that the not givings of a **** outweighs the givings of a **** so the downward spiral continues. (There’s appears to be a double entendre in that downward spiral term, but I’m not sure what it is.)
When that person stops giving a **** in **** for absolutely every situation that life confers, they have flatlined just as a hospital patient does, and their actions are about as active as the aforementioned patient’s flatlining. Someone could, of course, after flat-lining on not giving a **** could begin to give a **** in some circumstances and the line would begin to rise up the Give A **** Scale again.
And finally, when one has flat-lined and never gives a **** regardless of the circumstances, then that one might as well consider taking a long walk on a short pier. It happens many times in our country every day and our various media tell us all about it. Sometimes we are told why such walks are taken and the reasons are legion in number, but the truth is that the person no longer gave a **** about anything at all, and that would include life itself. Kinda funny, huh? In many cases when someone is no longer able to give a **** about anything, life becomes a burden, no longer desirable and that person decides to slough it off.
Postscript:
The word **** as used in this context is a noun, the word that receives the action of the verb to give. When we say that we don’t give a **** we are saying that the matter is of no relevance to us. We don’t care whether it affects us personally or some other person or persons, therefore we really don’t give a ****. I’m uncertain as to whom we are refusing to give a **** but I’m sure that there is a target in every instance the term is used.
Now, just one more cogent observation and this tirade will be terminated. In my opinion, if it is reasonable to tell someone I don’t give a **** about something unless it affects me, or if it affects someone or something for which I care, it follows therefore that in that case I should say “Hey, I give a **** about that! I really, really give a ****!