I'd like to examine the word "shallow" today.  Why is not so important. Let's just say I get a lot of e-mail about a lot of subject matter.  Some of which I find disturbing, some of which I find great for writing material.   I'd rather just discuss the word and how shallow behavior or shallow people affect us in our daily lives.

If you look up the word shallow using sites like Wikipedia you'll find that shallow is a tough word.  It reaches beyond genders; it can exist in young or old.  Although you would expect younger people to grow out of  being shallow.  Yet if you think about it, perhaps it is the people that have been around the world that become shallow. 

You've seen me write a lot about people lacking a moral compass.  A shallow person may have that trait but what shallow ultimately is in a person that knowingly disregards the need for emotional depth and intellect.   A person that doesn't have these qualities without purposely disregarding it may be considered dim or mentally retarded.  There are other words you can use, but the point is the person ultimately is not conscious of their behavior.

In short a shallow person is not merely unconcerned what others may think of them, a shallow person aims to not care.   Again there is an element of lacking an moral foundation in that person, but it is conjoined with the lack of depth that makes a person shallow.

If you think about it a person lacking a moral compass as I've discussed in past articles is someone that really can care less what you think and is intellectually on par with you.  I suppose they don't have to be.  There are rapist and killers and thieves out there that have no moral compass.  Yes some people snap or lose it, while many are just flat out evil.   They lack a moral compass, can't be reached, can't be fixed and you wonder why they walk this earth.   The worst are the smart ones.  The ones that use you.  Use you for years, lie behind your back.  And take advantage of your pathetic innocence as they see you.  You are ripe apple waiting to be picked as far as they are concerned and once eaten, you are cast aside.  Doesn't seem so bad in those terms eh? That is how they justify it.  And this is shallow thinking.  They have no need for the deeper meaning of what they are doing.  It doesn't matter that the apple tree is on some else's property.  It doesn't matter that the apple would  fed someone else's child or whatever the greater details are.   A shallow person has no need for emotional attachment, especially not positive emotional attachment.

So next time you read someone is shallow or you personally describe someone as shallow, take into consideration they don't care.  You can't reach or reason with a shallow person.  Should they describe themselves as shallow, then you will really understand.