More and more I see people congratulating themselves for getting out and moving. Mostly this takes the form of them walking or running in the name of whatever cause is near and dear. I think this is stupid as hell. If you support a cause, support it, but don’t act like you’re super righteous because you care about something enough to walk a mile in its name.

I think of this because I’ve run a lot of weekend 5K races this year, most of which are held for the benefit of some cause or another. For the second time in as many races this weekend I had to explain to someone that while I was happy to support the cause for the race (in this instance it was brain injuries), my main motivation for running — since it’s not like I’m a threat to win — is to get the t-shirt that comes with registration. Usually I get a blank stare when I admit that I run just to run and don’t need a cause to make myself move. People are retarded.

Here is a word of advice from your dear old Uncle Cheese: Support groups that support research/activities/causes you believe in, but keep your motivations and back-patting to yourself. Actions speak much louder than words and no one is as great as he or she tries to imply by bragging on the charity he or she gives. Case in point: many people think you dear old Uncle Cheese is an asshole because of what he says, but a small minority see through the assholishness based upon his actions. In other words, your dear old Uncle Cheese’s words portray him in a way that are generally contradicted by his actions. Who’s opinion of him means more to him, those who only have his words to go by or those who have his actions?

The words/actions dichotomy is also why this weekend your dear old Uncle Cheese is going to leave his first blogger dork public appearance in almost two years with either a black eye or a room full of new friends. It should be fun.