The one thing you should never, ever say.

Yesterday I attended a one-day social media conference. I sat in on a half dozen sessions on topics ranging from social media in general to best practices for YouTube to SEO (search engine optimization). My brain is still full to the point of overflowing with new knowledge and thoughts and ideas and...well, I can't even process it yet. So I'll share something else that I noticed during the presentations.

Four of the speakers said the one thing my speech teacher in college said we should never, ever say: "I know you can't see this, but . . ."

See, my speech teacher - Jay Self, definitely a person I could include in my Noticer Project - said that if you're using a visual aid and you know half your audience can't see it, then it's pointless!

He drilled that into us like nothing else that semester. It was even a bonus question on a pop quiz. That standard for public speaking was so seared into my brain that when I taught speech a few years later, I taught my students the same thing.

And today, despite the information and idea overload I was facing, I couldn't help but notice that the speakers - who were otherwise fantastic - said this forbidden phrase.

Is there something you learned in school that still sticks out? Kind of randomly? And pops up at odd times? Please share . . .

"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance."

Title quote by Will Durant.

I was brought up to value education, and I'm so thankful. My mom is a teacher, but even before she went back to school to get her degree, she was constantly teaching us at home. One of the things I remember her saying so often was, "Look it up." And off I'd go to the World Book encyclopedias. (These days, I'm constantly going to Google to look something up, so clearly this lesson is one that has stayed with me!)

I was able to attend decent schools at little cost to myself. I was challenged and encouraged and taught. I could name many things I regret or resent about my education or lack thereof, but when I think of the opportunities I had compared to those so many others do not, all I can say it that I'm thankful for my education.

"An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you know and what you don't." ~ Anatole France

"I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think." ~ Socrates

Let's get the facts straight.

(Alternate title: School pride rears its ugly head.)

I did not attend Northwest Missouri State University (NMSU). Not that there's anything wrong with going to NMSU. But I didn't.

I am a proud graduate of Truman State University, also known (at least to its proud graduates) as the Harvard of the Midwest.

[Unfortunate side note: Yes, I am aware - and have been since returning to the real world after graduation - that many, many other colleges between the coasts claim this title. Read here for a humorous article that not only references Truman's desire to hold this honor, but also points out that, strangely enough, most schools in Missouri think they are the Midwest's answer to Ivy League.]

So, admittedly, I may have not attended the official Harvard of the Midwest. But I also did not attend NMSU. I did not go to college in Maryville!

See, many people confuse NMSU with Truman, probably because one is located in Maryville, while the other is located in Kirksville. But is it really that difficult to see the difference? As difficult as the difference between Memorial Day and Labor Day, I suppose.

I don't know why I get so riled up when people make this mistake. Maybe it's because I worked for the Kirksville Chamber of Commerce and appreciate the community with all its quirks and middle-of-nowhereness. Maybe it's because I'm a big proponent of accuracy. Or maybe, it's because I have a problem with pride. I want everyone to know that I'm smart. I'm so smart I had to go to the smart school. And that's Truman! In Kirksville! So there!

Uh, yeah. Definite pride. I think some school pride is okay (check this out if you want to know why I'd be proud of Truman), but pride in myself is not okay. So, let's get the facts straight, people.

1. I graduated from Truman State University.

2. Truman is located in Kirksville, Missouri.

3. It may or may not be the Harvard of the Midwest.

4. I have a big issue with pride.

What about you? Do you have pride? School pride? School spirit? (Yes, we do. We have spirit, how 'bout you?)