A young, well-educated and well dressed man on a business trip, gets on a plane to find himself seated next to an older, weathered man in a western snap shirt, faded jeans, an oversized belt buckle and pointed toed boots. This was obviously one of those international oil field "cowboys" he had heard about.
Thinking himself above the older oil field hand, the young man decides to make sport of him. "You know," he says, "I've heard these flights go much more quickly, if you strike up a conversation with a fellow passenger. So, let's talk."
The older 'hand' looks at him wryly and says, "Well, ah s'pose that'd be aiight. What'd ya like to discuss?"
"Oh, I don't know," says the young man, with a hint of sarcasm, "How about Nuclear Proliferation?"
"Hmm," says the 'hand', sensing the young man's attempt to belittle him, "That could be an interesting topic. But, let me ask you a question first: -- horses, cows, and deer all eat the same stuff---grass. Yet, a deer passes little pellets, a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse makes muffins of its dung. Why do you s'pose that is?"
Dumbfounded, the young man replies, "I haven't the slightest idea."
"So tell me then," says the 'hand', with a smile, "How is it that you feel qualified to discuss Nuclear Proliferation, when you don't know sh1t?"
