Questions About Belief

 

“To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest.”

-- Mahatma Gandhi

In regards to mental health, which phrase sounds better, "We're here for you", " You're not alone", " No more alone", or is there something better in your mind?

If you need us, we’re here to help. 

If you are Dr. Jose Rizal, do you sacrifice your own life for the country?

He didn’t sacrifice his life, he was arrested traveling on his way to Cuba to help with an epidemic. Spain was in charge in the Philippines, and he was arrested in Spain and implicated in the uprising against Spanish rule. This wasn’t as though he had a choice on whether to die or not, he was executed by firing squad, after a trial.

Does directing people undermine their sense of responsibility?

Not if your directing levies responsibility on them. What is the point of directing if they’re not vested in the completion?

"I've always had a sense of responsibility, whether I've been captain or not. But I must say that I'm both pleased and proud to be Portugal captain, despite how young I am, because I know what it means. My job is still the same though. I need to do what I do best out on the pitch, and that's score goals and help my team win."

-- Cristiano Ronaldo

Are rules set up by corporate companies legal, and can companies force employees to obey particular rules for their benefit?

As long as it doesn’t violate federal or state employment law, they can pretty much levy what they want. However, you always have the choice not to work for them. It is your life and your decision.

What are some sayings/phrases that mean one thing to a scientist, but mean something completely different to the general public?

“It isn’t possible.”

If a person is often unjustly treated and he is unable to protect himself from being unjustly treated, does it mean that he has no dignity?

If they are able to and do not, it might mean a few things, but if they are “unable to” it is different. They have no recourse unless they find a champion to stand up for them. “Unable” means they feel they don't have the choice to simply walk away from the abuse. This personal choice is something no one can take from us unless we are physically unable to escape our circumstances.  The moment you let someone deprive you of choice, you become mentally unable.  Of all this, where is the loss of dignity?

“One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized, and cruelly mocked, but it can never be taken away unless it is surrendered.”

-- Michael J. Fox

What is the difference between "magnum opus" and "opus magnum"?

One is someone’s “greatest work” and the other is either a computer program or a rock group. 

How would you finish the sentence, “It's 2021 and we still don't…”?

…try to get along.

At what point should we start putting regulations on artificial intelligence?

The “Three Laws of Robotics,” known as Asimov's Laws, should be already in place for Artificial Intelligence" since these laws have been around since Asimov's short story "Runaround" in 1942.  If similar rules are not in place, we reap what we sow:

First Law: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

Second Law: A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Reader comment:  On the First Law, how does it handle priority of human life? The example of the semi-truck crash where you 1 human (CEO of Tesla) would get run over and killed, or a group of 3 homeless people on the sidewalk that will get runned over and killed.

My response:  A.I. doesn’t work like that. It will run the probabilities and whoever can be more likely saved will be.  Human life - A.I. doesn't differentiate based on anything else.

“I believe that at the end of the century the use of words and general educated opinion will have altered so much that one will be able to speak of machines thinking without expecting to be contradicted.”

-- Alan Turing 

What always makes consistency more difficult? Why is it hard to stick to a schedule?

Pooh happens. No matter how hard you try to plan your day, something will try to insinuate itself into your schedule. It is the nature of the beast, so to speak. Hope for the best, but plan some time for the unforeseen.

Should a good leader treat all followers equally, or purposely treat some better than others in order to gain favor with a particular group, and why?

Treating some better than others is tantamount to playing favorites, and that's the way your people will view it. Better to treat them all the same. Give credit where due, and critique when needed. Be even-handed and you people will follow you into battle.

How do I explain to others that money can actually work for you?

Live the dream! If you’re going to mentor, make sure you have practiced what you’re preaching. Ensure your own money has worked for you and use that as an example. You can use other people as examples, but you haven’t walked a mile in their shoes- you have no point of reference as to what they went through to get there.

“When you work on something that only has the capacity to make you 5 dollars, it does not matter how much harder you work – the most you will make is 5 dollars.”

-- Idowu Koyenikan

What does "blame the victim" mean?

A woman dresses provocatively for an evening out with friends. She gets raped. Her fault because of the way she dressed? There are those who will try to blame the victim, no matter how the evidence points to her innocence.

What exactly does this sentence mean, "production this year is six times greater than production last year"?

If production last year was 1, and the production this year is 6, then six times 1 equals 6. So, production is 6 times greater than 1.  However, if you're asked, of the 100 boxes you produced last year, how many more boxes did you produce this year, and you produced 600, then you produced 500 more boxes than last year? 

Just a note: My son tried to make me believe that point-nine times infinity equals one. I tried to make him understand that there is point-one times infinity lost in his equation. I finally saw the equation, years later, and, sure enough, they added an "x-factor" to make it work. Basically, the equation is crap, as any reasonable person would see. My point being? Always keep it simple.

What are the two main meanings of the phrase "We are all alone" and how specifically does the ambiguity arise?

Unless you’re using the “royal” we, “We are all alone,” is a false statement. If there are enough people, two or more, requiring the sentence to be “we” then you cannot, simply by the number of people, be alone. “I am all alone,” would be correct.

“We are all alone, born alone, die alone, and—in spite of True Romance magazines—we shall all someday look back on our lives and see that, in spite of our company, we were alone the whole way. I do not say lonely—at least, not all the time—but essentially, and finally, alone. This is what makes your self-respect so important, and I don't see how you can respect yourself if you must look in the hearts and minds of others for your happiness.”

-- Hunter S. Thompson

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Questioning Who We Are

 “Who has inflicted this upon us? Who has made us Jews different from all other people? Who has allowed us to suffer so terribly up till now? It is God that has made us as we are, but it will be God, too, who will raise us up again. If we bear all this suffering and if there are still Jews left, when it is over, then Jews, instead of being doomed, will be held up as an example. Who knows, it might even be our religion from which the world and all peoples learn good, and for that reason and that reason alone do we have to suffer now. We can never become just Netherlanders, or just English, or representatives of any country for that matter; we will always remain Jews, but we want to, too.”

-- Anne Frank

How do you encourage people to do good deeds?

Get them around other “good deed doers” and let them experience the joys of selfless service. If that doesn’t do it for them, nothing will. They need to understand there is no “payback” for doing good deeds, otherwise, it wouldn’t really qualify as a good deed. If they’re wondering what they get out of it… maybe that feeling of doing something nice for someone.

How do you deal with cocky and rude people that you can’t stand being better and more successful than you in every way (looks, academics, sport, wealth, status, job, etc.)?

Don’t hang around them. They have already shown what they are to, well, everyone. Rise above them and be you. There is nothing better we can do than be ourselves, and that’s a great thing. Follow your own path and just smile at those who think they’re better, and have pity on them. They do what they do because they are not happy.

“Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.” Which is more difficult, acquiring a good hand or navigating a poor one?

My buddy and I used to play pinochle back in the military. It was amazing the lousy hands we could get, and our combined ego would not allow us to not take the bid. Taking the bid with two lousy hands was all about how good you and your partner were at strategy. We always seemed to pull the win out, however. You have to know your opponents, know the game being played, oh… and have great signals. Poor hands can be more fun than having what you think is a game-changer.

“Whoever coined the phrase 'a man's got to play the hand that was dealt him' was most certainly one piss-poor bluffer.”

-- Jeannette Walls

Do you make a lot of assumptions about what a question is asking, before considering the fact that it may be asking something from the opposite angle?

Not really. A question is asking for an opinion. If it’s a poorly worded question it will, probably, get an answer that is not what the question was after. What makes more sense, for people to continue to try to answer a poorly worded question, or for the author to rewrite the question so what it is asking is clearer or more specific?

I’ve also read very clear questions that require a very clear, short, concise answer, and people answer it with two paragraphs of textbook babble. “My boyfriend left me. What should I do?” The simple, obvious, answer - “Shit happens, and life ain’t that difficult, so suck it up and go find a new, and better, boyfriend.”

Is self-deprecation a form of arrogance?

I think arrogance is more of an up-front, in your face, thinking you’re all that. The last thing an arrogant person would do is stoop to being humble. Humility is for those they, usually mistakenly, feel are beneath them.

Without casting blame and purely as an observation, can we agree that something has definitely changed in the US in the last 5 or 10 years? What has changed in your opinion?

From 1972 to 1994 I served in the military to protect our form of government from socialism and communism. Now, it has infected our Congress and our Senate, and put our Constitution and, therefore, our country at risk.

“There are only two kinds of people who can drain your energy: those you love, and those you fear. In both instances, it is you who let them in. They did not force their way into your aura, or pry their way into your reality experience.”

-- Anthon St. Maarten

Anyone who speaks English and has internet access could be a millionaire. Do you agree or disagree?

Disagree. You really don’t need the internet or a particular language. What you need is the undying desire and to accomplish this goal. I know this because my parents accomplished it, and they have virtually no internet experience, but they did work very hard. Being a millionaire isn’t as difficult as being a billionaire, and even that requires more of you than language and the internet.

What is an object that symbolizes powerlessness?

Jewish child wearing the compulsory yellow badge. In September 1943, they were deported to Auschwitz.

-- Antwerp, Belgium, 1943.

Hitler tried to give them away to the world.  Nobody wanted them, so he murdered them en masse, while the world stood by and did nothing until it was almost too late.  The Jews were helpless to stop Hitler, and the world didn't care. 

What does this quote mean: “it's our light, not our darkness that most frightens us”? Why would we be scared of our light?

To be evil requires no conscience. To be good, however, requires a sense of conscience that we must live up to. Living up to that high bar tends to frighten many.

“Money, fame, class, and titles are just symbols, or opportunities, for making a difference. Real power means enhancing the greater good, and your feelings of power will direct you to the exact way you are best equipped to do this.”

-- Dacher Keltner

How does the quote, "Don't do unto others what you don't want them to do unto you," affect you? (Give 4 Examples)

“Everything whatsoever you desire that people should do for you, do likewise for them, for this is the Law and The Prophets.” — Matthew 7:12

Treat people the way you would want them to treat you. I wouldn’t want them to treat me any differently unless they’ve found a way to treat me better. We should all treat each other with respect and kindness, and we should do so selflessly. Respect, honesty, charity, and kindness.

Is God essentially calling on all who are seeking righteousness and the humble spirit when he says “Behold, I am making everything new again”?

Essentially? Yes. To those who believe, all things are possible, so let not your hearts be troubled.

What does it mean when someone says "Life is what you make of it"?

It means exactly what it says, your life is what you make of it. If you let others make choices and decisions for you, you have no room to complain about your circumstances. You must raise yourself out of your circumstance, or you will forever be stuck where you are. If someone does it for you, you will have little or no appreciation for what you haven’t earned.

"Advice? I don't offer advice. Not my business. Your life is what you make it." 

-- Betty Friedan

How do words have the power to provoke, calm, and inspire?

By the inflection in your voice when you speak the words. Your intent comes through the inflection, so you need to learn how to make what you speak reflect your true emotions.

How will you know if your worker or staff is a smart worker or not?

Do they ask the right questions? Do they do the task with little or no supervision? Is the task completed on time and done right? Did they complain during the task?

What is the meaning of loyalty in every aspect?

Honor amongst thieves. In an ethically moral world, there is no such thing as “loyalty in every respect.” One person's idea of loyalty might be illegal, and therefore incompatible with morality. Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and give unto God that which is God’s. This is why the commandment reads not to murder instead of not to kill. Your leaders may require you to assist in the defense of your homeland. It is also why we have rules regarding the humane treatment of prisoners of war. You can’t just shoot them, as that would be murder.

“Loyalty to an unjust cause is a perversion of honor.”

-- Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson

 

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

 

Questioning the Meaning

 

“Regret is counterproductive. It's looking back on a past that you can't change. Questioning things as they occur can prevent regret in the future.”

-- Colleen Hoover

When have you used the phrase "live and learn"?

Motorcycle accident, junior in high school. Almost died. Onlookers said it was a “miracle” accident, the way it happened. Guardian angel pulling me back from certain death. torn muscles in both knees, a spiral broken femur, and I destroyed my helmet. Laid-up in traction for a couple of months. Hey, live and learn.

What is the meaning of suffering, and can we do something to alleviate it in the future?

Suffering is how an individual defines it, therefore the definition is different for everyone. Can we alleviate it? Probably, because alleviating it is not the same as getting rid of it, which you can’t do. Doing away with suffering would put the universe out of balance, and the universe is all about balance. We would not know pain without the lack of it, darkness without light, sour without sweet, etc., so we have suffering, and as cruel as it may sound, it’s so we can understand and enjoy the lack of it.

What does it mean to make a Faustian deal/pact?

You’re making a “deal with the devil” that you can expect to pay dearly for in the future. Agreeing to pay a loan shark triple what you borrow from them, is an example. The chances of you being able to do this are not in your favor, and the loan shark will collect one way or another. It will probably hurt, and will continue to hurt, until the loan is paid back. The devil will have his pound of flesh, sooner or later.

“What shall a man gain if he has the whole world and lose his soul,”

-- Matthew 16:26

Is it common for someone to say "for the 9,000,000th time" when it was really just the 3rd time?

It depends on how patient they are, or the lack of comprehension of their audience. It should only take once to get the message across.

Since the start of the year, I noticed that I have been noticing much more things around me, like my attention to everything has been dialed up. I notice where people are, who they're with, and what they're doing. Not purposely though. What does this mean?

I can’t give you “psychobabble,” but I can give you an “old guy” perspective. You’re subconsciously paying attention to life around you, instead of being focused on your job, drama, or just yourself. This might just be that you got older and are more appreciative of the things happening around you, you know, like life. If you’re not that old, maybe you matured early. If so, revel in it.

Is the statement "Life's not meant to be fair" a truism? Why/Why not?

How would we learn about life’s ups and downs if life was fair? We could make society fair, but how would that prepare us for floods, fire, tornadoes, and hurricanes, that also make life seem not fair? This is what life is all about. Life is about learning lessons, that's why we’re here. We learn to make good decisions and choices, and how to deal with issues that crop up to test our resolve and our abilities to cope.

“Fair means everyone gets what they need. And the only way to get what you need is to make it happen yourself.”

-- Rick Riordan

Why shouldn't I give up on my dreams and give in to my addiction? What of existence would I miss if I do so?

You’ll never know. As a matter of fact, you won’t know much just giving in to your addiction. I’m certain, however, that you’ll also be surrendering whatever character you might develop. Addictions, whatever they are, take so much away from life. So much better to dream, live a good life, be as productive as you’re able, and strive to be happy always.

What do we mean when we say “I lost myself”?

Back in the day, you used to be one way, and everybody, including you, like the way you were. Then something changed. You lost that person you were. You “lost yourself.”

When you love your job, is it a joy to go to work each day?

Absolutely! Especially when each day is a new challenge. I spent over 22 years with military intelligence and loved the job so much it destroyed my marriage. And then, I spent 17 years with a civilian company and loved going to work so much my vacation accrual became a matter of interest for the HR department. I just didn’t find the need for a vacation.

“If you love your work, if you enjoy it, you're already a success.”

-- Jack Canfield

Is the saying, ‘You don’t have to be twice as tall to see twice as far’ accurate?

Einstein was 5′9″, Hawking was 5′7″, Napolean was 5′6″, Picasso was 5′4″, and Toulouse-Lautrec was 5′ even. All of them saw things their contemporaries did not.

Have you ever discovered a new app and said to yourself "now why didn't I think of that"?

I’m too busy recognizing how the new apps fall short. It’s the people that didn’t think of it that will make it so much better several revisions later. I’m always concerned that the brainiacs didn’t take the time to work all the problems out before unveiling the new and better. I suppose greed has a hand in it.

What motivates the rich to get richer?

Greed, narcissistic pseudo-exceptionalists, or it just makes them happy having something to do.

“Success in life depends upon happiness, and happiness is found in no other way than through SERVICE that is rendered in a spirit of love."

-- Napoleon Hill

I have these thoughts of choking myself I don't want to but I don't know what to do, like physically without hurting myself in any way. What should I do I'm 14?

Put your effort into finding out why you want to choke yourself in the first place, deal with that, and then decide choking was not going to solve anything, anyway. Better to put more effort into striving to be happy always.

Contributor's comment: I can't comment on my questions for some reason. I know choking won't help anything but I keep getting these thoughts and I want them to go away. I tried holding my breath but I couldn't do it long because it got too uncomfortable too quickly and my body forced me to breathe. It started because if me realizing how bad it was when I used you talk to pedos knowingly.

My response:  Life is about making choices and decisions for ourselves.  Some are bad, we learn from these, change our behavior, make better decisions, and move forward.  You are asking all the right questions, and are showing a mature concern for your own welfare.  At your age, you have plenty of time to correct the choices and decisions you've made in your past.  Make good, moral, choices, and strive to be happy always. 

Why does it seem that talks of hatred and judgment are given the most attention by humans? Are people naturally inclined to negative thinking?

Only by some humans. The rest of us have been trying to get over it and get along with each other since 1865. It beats burning cities, looting, and either making money off our own people through the misery we create or shooting them in the street.

What are the best examples of “United we stand, divided we fall” in today’s society?

Standby for news on this. “Promises made... promises kept” or “Promises made, promises kept not so much.” The United States is on the cusp of a significant shift due to the seemingly forced socialist indoctrination of a population that isn’t, and won't, buying into the BS. We the people can either come together and keep our nation strong, or we can fall into violent anarchy as a society divided by liberal BS like "systemic racism" and such.  We have laws in this country that protect all people, and if one side of the political spectrum refuses to make use of those laws, nothing will ever change.  They evidence their desire to simply continue to allow the boot on their neck, holding them down to be miserable, and dragging the rest of us down with them into their pit of imagined despair.

“Our nation is built from the ground up to handle political disagreement. It is not built to endure mass-scale dishonesty and vindictiveness.”

-- David French

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Questioning What's Good

 

“If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.”

-- Marcus Aurelius

Why do people object to what is good for them?

What’s good for us we, generally, don’t enjoy. This is why sin is so appealing to most people. If it tastes good, made us feel good, and is fun, we’d be all over it.

Can you define happiness (for you) in one sentence?

I woke up on this side of the dirt.

What are examples of when the ‘wisdom of the crowd’ was correct?

Standby, we’re beginning to witness the answer with New York’s Governor Cuomo.

“Groups are only smart when there is a balance between the information that everyone in the group shares and the information that each of the members of the group holds privately. It's the combination of all those pieces of independent information, some of them right, some of the wrong, that keeps the group wise.”

-- James Surowiecki

How can we write a business plan that will save 100 million people from hunger?

Write in a section dealing with policing fraud, waste, and abuse.

How do you see the principle of communication playing a role in academic, professional, personal, and civil aspects of your life?

Good communication is paramount in all aspects of life. It helps to keep issues down to a minimum. Personally, electronic communication is fine to start the process, but if possible and given the option, I would followup with face-to-face communication whenever possible. I like to look at people when I talk, see the body language to understand that they know where I’m coming from and so I understand where they’re coming from. You don’t really get that kind of communicating electronically.

Bob Dylan once said, “Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.” What do you make of this statement?

Be in the moment and truly experience it. Live life, don’t just walk through it with your head down.  Are we certain this quote was from Dylan, and not Bob Marley?

"God is good for everybody. The sun shines on good people and bad people, and it rains on both, too. God doesn't choose rain only for bad people." 

-- Mariano Rivera

What is your own interpretation of, “To heredity, the child owes his possibilities. However, to the environment, he owes the realization of these possibilities.”

This is one of those quotes where the author can’t go wrong. It deals in “possibilities” and anything is possible, so you just can’t go wrong by saying it. It’s almost like saying, “Life is what you are able to make of it.”

What does it mean psychologically when someone is writing everything in lowercase in chat or emails, except for "I"? It is not related to where the "I" is placed in the sentence.

Is being too lazy, psychological? As far as the “I” is concerned, they don’t have to dot the upper case. Lazy.

"If he had studied, he would have completed his education successfully." Which is the best meaning of the expression., he has not yet completed his education, or has not completed his education due to his laziness?

The way it is written would suggest he never completed his education due to non-existent or poor study habits. If you don’t successfully complete a task, the task is not completed.

"True education is about getting the best out of oneself."

-- Mahatma Gandhi

Do you know what hardtrance is?

If you’re talking about the music genre, it’s two words - hard trance. Hah! Spellcheck is even aware of that!

Contributor's comment:  Indeed I am, just gauging how many people around the globe actually know what it is. Yes, you’re correct but it's not my autocorrect, too many times writing hardstyle and hardtrance fast and now it's just become a habit. Out of interest, how do you know the genre?

My response:  It’s called the internet, silly. I’m 67 years old. I haven’t a clue, but I assumed music so I looked it up.

What does "service is universal" mean?

It had better mean “service is a universal concept” because not everyone is exercising it. I think most of us know what it is, some just prefer not to give it. A reason for shorting on the tip, I think.

You have to send a message to the entire world. What would you say?

Wake up each morning and be thankful for the gift of another day of life and another chance to excel at selflessly making it better for all other living things.

“Always be among those who give something and expect nothing. It’s a lot better than being among those who give nothing and expect something.

-- Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu

What’s an unexpected benefit from struggling with new concepts or tasks?

You tend to learn more than if you hadn’t struggled. You also have a unique view of it you can use if you’re assigned to train others to do the task. They aren’t stupid, they simply come at the task as you did. Mentoring is a wonderful thing.

How do you explain the phrase "everything good always goes away and betrayal is inevitable in any relationship"?

It is hard to explain this as any more than a possibility, not a certainty. Everything good doesn't always go away, and if it does go away it isn’t always viewed as a negative. I have left many of my good and loved friends, and they still are loved… and missed. I have been betrayed in relationships, but it is not always inevitable. These are choices people make in their lives, to see the positive or the negative.  Whoever came up with this quote has issues that need to be addressed. Better if they pay more attention to being happy always, than expecting the worst. When you expect, you are probably the reason it happens. Better to expect the best.

Note to my readers:  I answered this question some time ago, and posted it on this site, but I thought I'd share what I'm up against on the site I frequent to answer these questions.  The original question, as shown above, was changed to read, "What should I do to help a good-hearted girl who always blames others for everything that goes wrong with her life?"  I hate it when they change the original question to one that my answer doesn’t really fit. I referenced the original quote that you can see is no longer part of the new question. I can sound stupid enough on my own without any of their their help.

“Everything will be okay in the end. 

If it's not okay, it's not the end. ”

-- John Lennon

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Questioning Right

Why is it so easy to do bad than to do good?

It takes just as much effort, but our mind makes us believe it doesn’t. The difference between bad and good is what we ultimately pay for what we do. Oh, and we aren’t “doing” bad, we're “being” bad. We really have to learn to own our actions.

When does it become useless to keep trying?

When you lose the will to succeed.

What is the meaning of "learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence"?

It means you must work at learning, it doesn’t just happen.

For the most part, this is true, but there are always those “I did not know that” moments of learning that require nothing but our will to constantly have active and open minds. This learning does happen by chance and it does require us to open our minds and be ready for it when it happens. 

“Spoon feeding, in the long run, teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon.”

-- E.M. Forster

What is the summary of this quote, “Light itself is invisible but makes everything visible”?

Must be an “old” quote. We know what particles light is made up of and, if I understand it right, they are not invisible. Light itself is invisible to the naked eye.

What is the summary of this quote, “Light itself is invisible but makes everything visible”?

Must be an “old” quote. We know what particles light is made up of and, if I understand it right, they are not invisible. Light itself is invisible to the naked eye.

Do you think in-person meetings are necessary?

That would depend on who is in the meeting. It is much easier to transmit emotion face-to-face, than over the phone. The real benefit of telecommunications is, the boss can’t wrap their hands around your throat to get the point across.

“If we had to speak our mind face to face,

Would we be as courageous to ridicule and lambaste?
Would we with sharpened tongues be so quick to disgrace?
If we had to speak our minds face to face.”

-- Charmaine J Forde

As I am trying to adopt a stoic philosophy, what is the stoic way of reacting to losing a game?

It is what it is. You know going in there is a chance for loss, but it is just a game, so be in control of your emotions. Take the loss in stride and congratulate the winner. Better luck next time.

What is an essay on “I came, I saw, and I conquered”?

You can look up “The Importance of Winning” for a start. Personally, I’d take the time to read “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu.

 
What does it mean to make your mark?

To make your mark (in the world) is to be remembered, by many, for something you’ve done or created.

“Excellence is the best ink with which to make your mark in the world.”

-- Matshona Dhliwayo

What are some examples of instances when you failed to know your enemy' before it was too late?

My marriage. She used me as an escape from her family, took everything I loved and owned, and showed no remorse in doing it. I was snookered. I loved her, fought against the destruction of our marriage, and never wanted to see it coming. Can you say, stupid?

“An opinion based on personal experience” my question on this phrase: If it’s an opinion based on personal EXPERIENCE, doesn’t that qualify it as/to be at least an “observation”?

So, you observed it and, not necessarily personally experienced it? I think there is a distinction here. “I observed a man fall from the building and it looked like he survived.” “When I fell from the building it hurt like hell, I survived, obviously, and because of my personal experience I don’t recommend falling from a building.”  Observation and experience are significantly different, taken separately.  You can observe and experience, or you can just observe.

“What do you do” when you have tried everything you can think of?

Ask other people for more ideas.

“I'm a food addict. I've tried everything- Weight Watchers, The South Beach, raw food, Atkins, low-fat diets. Nothing works for me." I looked at him and said, "Have you tried suffering?" He laughed out loud as if I was joking. I wasn't joking.”

-- Frederick Woolverton 

Is wealth a synonym for freedom?

No. You can very easily become a prisoner of your wealth. Freedom is all about happiness, and wealth, more times than not, can’t buy true happiness.

People "need" to eat. Some "want" to eat the food they like/want. Is it possible for a "want" not to emanate from a "need?" Explain your answers by relating your own experiences.

I want to eat Oreo cookies. I don’t need to eat them because they aren’t good for me. They’re fattening. But, I do like them. If I were lost in the woods for a month, I’d get hungry and need to eat. I need to eat in order to survive. I might have to eat things I don’t want to, like grubs or raw meat, ants and such. In this instance, what you need to do can also be what you want to do, because it’s necessary for survival, even though you might not like doing it. 

Is success without honor an unseasoned dish?

It is seasoned poorly with a lack of honor, morals, ethics. No honor allows you to walk on those who worked hard to get you success, lie, cheat, and steal. The only good that comes from success with no honor, is the karma that will come to haunt.

"Moral authority comes from following universal and timeless principles like honesty, integrity, and treating people with respect."

-- Stephen Covey

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Questions of Strength & Character

 

“It isn't the big troubles in life that require character. Anybody can rise to a crisis and face a crushing tragedy with courage, but to meet the petty hazards of the day with a laugh - I really think that requires spirit. 

It's the kind of character that I am going to develop. I am going to pretend that all life is just a game which I must play as skillfully and fairly as I can. If I lose, I am going to shrug my shoulders and laugh - also if I win.”

-- Jean Webster

"The first rule of the internet is: never read the comments." What do you think of this statement?

I’m used to having to deal with the League of the Perpetually Offended. These people have no cogent comments, and it would seem they don't really read all that is written. Their idea of commenting on an answer or post is to call people names and not explain or offer an answer of their own. You’re wrong, and that’s all they can see. They read their newspaper and believe everything in it, not realizing that no journalism is in evidence, as it’s all editorial viewpoint laced with little fact. No. I seldom read comments, certainly not to my own answers or posts. If you have a viewpoint, you should answer the question or leave an intelligent comment, not attack others for their input. Most of the time their attack ends up proving my point. They need to learn to stop helping my point along.

What does it mean when said, "the outcome requires priority"?

You find this a lot in the military. The outcome of an important operation usually takes priority over anything else because lives or weapon platforms are at risk, or there are time constraints. So, in these situations, it means the risk outweighs attention to any other operation.

Who would you say is "a beacon of hope in our darkest hour"?

For the world of today? I can’t think of one. We hand out the Nobel Peace Prize to people that haven’t done anything to deserve it. We hand out the Medal of Honor for simply doing your duty, nothing significantly above and beyond. Martin Luther King, Jr. has his words twisted to meet the selfish agenda of a person or group, and religious leaders use their followers to fill the church coffers, not to save their souls. I mean, how many private jets does one evangelist require?

If we look for a “beacon of hope” we will find a few regionally, like Malala Yousafza who, actually did something to become a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and, to this day fights for the rights of girls and women in Afghanistan, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey, and probably more countries. She did not ask for this. This calling was thrust upon her by her own experience.

A “beacon of hope” can more times be found in the lesser among us. Those people we do not see, or have not heard. These are our lights in the darkness.  Just saying.

...we must be a beacon of hope, because if you tell people there's nothing they can do, they will do worse than nothing.

-- Margaret Atwood

What does the phrase 'focus on experiences rather than things' mean to you?

We shouldn’t base happiness on the material things of life. Happiness should be based on the living of life, whether working or relaxing, strive to be happy, always, in what you do.

Everyone has their breaking point, what’s yours? Why?

Stupidity. I can only be around it for so long. If it’s a manager or a supervisor, I can tolerate it even less, especially if there’s a safety concern because they adhere to outdated S.O.P.s or regulations. If you want to be in charge, there’s more to it than ordering people about. You also have to know when to throw the book away and wing it, do what's right, earn the respect of the people under you, and accept the responsibility for the flak you’ll probably catch.  If you don't get fired you'll probably get promoted for "out of the box" thinking on your feet.

How would you finish this sentence, “If only I had…”?

…known then what I know now.

“If only there was a way to escape this reality, if only there was a way to erase all this formality, if only there was a way to figure out your mentality, if only there was a way to rid all the theatricality, if only...however sadly all we think of is practicality, so we will never reach any finality.”

-- Dalal Gabara

Does this quote tell the truth: "Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are"?

It depends on who you are, I suppose. I spent my career in military intelligence, so I’m not certain this holds true.

What is the hardest thing to say, but what should always be known?

It probably used to be what your sexual preference was. Not so much in today's world. Now it’s probably that you have a raging STD.

What is your comment on this statement, “what I believe must be true if I feel very strongly about it”?

What I believe is a matter of faith, and faith is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof. Is it true? I don’t know, but I believe it to be so.

Atheists would have me prove the existence of my God and, yet, how do I prove something for which there is no proof? My faith tells me, God exists. But, faith is something that seems to escape the comprehension of certain people. Because I have faith, I have no need for proof. If I have no need for proof, the onus is, then, on the atheist to prove God does not exist. So, as a person of faith, what I believe must be true, not because I feel strongly about it, but because I have undying faith in it. If I’m right, I have life ever after. If I’m wrong? Well, let’s hope I’m not.  But, either way, the atheist has nothing to look forward to. It is what they believe. So be it.

Author comment:  Well put thank you, I always said it was not just a “feeling”. At times my faith gives me feelings on situations but that is with anything, such as singing a hymn may give you feelings such as singing a pop song. But that’s how feelings work with my belief in God & Jesus. Thank you again.

My reply:  You are very welcome.

If a darker part of yourself were to speak its truth right now, what would it say?

I need to spank someone… hard and barehanded. Believe me, it’s the lesser of two evils.

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

What is the single most important line/quote said that pretty much changed the world?

"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" 

— Ronald Reagan, June 12, 1987, Berlin Wall Speech

What words helped you through the darkest times of your life?

“Get rid of all the drama you’ve invited into your life, and strive to be happy always.” I don’t have “darkest times” anymore, and I strive to be happy always. Any day you’re on this side of the dirt is a good day, so revel in it, make the most of it, and live it! 

Can you finish the sentence, "Revenge is.."?

…a dish best served cold.

“I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, heal'd by the same means, warm'd and cool'd by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is?

If you prick us, do we not bleed? If

you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?

And if you wrong us, do we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that.”

-- William Shakespeare

"You can't tell a book by its cover" is a saying that's been around for a long time. When in your life experience or in the experience of someone close to you, have you been able to accurately judge a person by their "cover" -- how they look and act?

The best I’ve found one can do is determine the cover of the book is bullshit. Most people put on a facade, for whatever reason, that makes it difficult to read them. “What you see is what you get,” scares the hell out of me. This proper and pretty little thing is an ax murderer as her true self.

What automatically comes to mind when you read “everything that could go wrong went wrong all at once”?

It was a disaster.

Are you able to independently learn without being taught, told, and/or asking questions?

Have you ever owned a house? Owning a home is a sure-fire way to independently learn, unless you can afford to pay for all the maintenance costs that will arise, sooner than later. Oh, and anyone that has put together furniture with third and fourth world directions, also knows the joy of learning, and some even learn the location of the nearest dumpster.

“Genius is the ability to independently arrive at and understand concepts that would normally have to be taught by another person.”

-- Immanuel Kant

 

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as a chaplain at the regional medical center.