Questions on Smarts, Morals, Ethics, and Emotion

 

“Sometimes we see other people as a genius as we feel they are smarter than we are. They have more education, they can talk a good talk, but many times education and real-world experience - what some would call "street smarts" - can make all the difference” 

-- Catherine Pulsifer

How's it possible for someone to be book smart but lack common sense or street intelligence?

Seems to happen more times than not. There are “intelligent” doctors who can’t balance a checkbook, and there are “smart” investors who can’t do brain surgery. There are also those who are intelligent and smart and can manage to do both with aplomb, but they are a rare commodity. Maybe the very intelligent are way too focused to see or do anything but what they focus on.

Is a moral person liked by all people? Why?

Morality, like everything else, is a personal choice. If you push that personal choice on others who don’t agree with it, you won’t be liked by all. I have friends who are moral and immoral. I like them all, primarily because they don’t push their beliefs on me. Left alone, I prefer to be tolerant and understanding of others and their peaceful beliefs and practices. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all did?

Do professors judge their students for their ideas or questions?

Their ideas and questions show an understanding of the material being presented. Professors had better be judging a student's understanding before issuing a grade that “judges” how well they are proceeding.

What are the disadvantages of sanity?

The only “disadvantage “ I can see is that you are expected to act within the boundaries of what society deems sane. There are rules of conduct and decorum that must be followed.

How can I become a part of an ideal society?

First, you have to find one. Then, you can ask them how to join.

"Our ideal society finds it essential to put a rent on land as a way of maximizing the total consumption available to the society. ...Pure land rent is in the nature of a 'surplus' which can be taxed heavily without distorting production incentives or efficiency. A land value tax can be called 'the useful tax on measured land surplus.'"

-- Paul Samuelson

What makes a person morally upright?

Someone who follows, without question, the tenets of good moral ethics. What are good moral ethics? That is a better question. I found a site that makes one think: The Definition of Moral Ethics.

What do you think is the value of time for love?

What is the value of love? I think it differs for everyone. The time for love, if you choose to love, is in the moment. Personally, I’m a hound dog, and every moment presents a new opportunity for love because I put great value on that commodity.

What do you do if a guy who is your friend asks for your selfies (not nudes)? Does that mean he likes you?

He might be laying the foundation for nudes.  Watch your ass, he might be. 

Life is so weird. What do you think? Is it or not?

Life is what it is. Okay, that’s a cop-out. But, it is what it is until it isn’t. This is a truth for everything. Life can be perceived as so weird to some, so hard, so confusing, so easy, so whatever you think it is. But, that’s life. What you label you give it isn’t wrong, it’s your perception, and your perception can and probably will change, given time. 

If a person is dishonest, can they still have good qualities? Why or why not?

Yes, but why would you care? You’ll be forever waiting for the dishonest little shit to screw you. You’ll never be able to trust them. 

“I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.”

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

I despise men after I’ve had sex with them, what could be a good reason?

They use you, and you expect something more.

Why is honesty important in writing?

It is hard to “backpedal” on something you’ve written. If it isn’t honest, you’ve just written a lie. If you don’t know something is true, it is incumbent on the honest to state that it might not be. News agencies fail at this constantly, and there’s nothing they can do to prop up a failing reputation. It takes time to rebuild what you’ve lost through dishonesty. Trust is paramount when it comes to the news we rely on, and anything we write should be written with the same good ethics.

Reader comment:  Great answer. (pls., change spelling to “back pedal.”) Wish there was an easier way to suggest changes. But really good answer.

My reply:  Lol… Thank you! You are so right. Typing faster than my brain works. I’ll make the change, and it's also one word. No "easier way to sugget changes" than an honest critique. Thanks again!

What are the virtues of life?

They vary depending on who you ask. Basically, leading a morally ethical life is all the virtue you need to understand.

How can you overcome your first impression of someone?

First impressions are simply kneejerk reactions. We make a supposition based on what we see or feel, both of which can be wrong. Recognize it as your first impression, and then get to know them. Don’t fall for the old adage, “Your first impression is usually the right one.” The possibly nice person you just judged will be the second loser. You’ll be the first.

Can ethics be sacrificed in the name of human progress?

What does this say for human “progress” if we sacrifice ethics to achieve it? No. We do this occasionally, especially in politics. It doesn’t make it right, nor does it progress our humanity to any degree.

“The persistent refusal of the Adamses to sacrifice the integrity of their own intellectual and moral standards and values for the sake of winning public office or popular favor is another of the measuring rods by which we may measure the divergence of American life from its starting point.”

-- James Truslow Adams

Why stay alive while I already know I will never do what I really want?

We are alive for the sake of life. What you really want isn’t why you’re really here. You are here to learn lessons. Anything else is entertainment or necessity hiding in the guise of our creativity to make life more pleasant. The lessons we learn are for when we leave this life and begin anew. If people feel this life isn’t what they hoped it should be, they should change it. I’ll bet they’re really shocked when they end it all and find themselves right back here to learn the lessons they tried to sidestep. Kind of their personal “hell on earth.”

Is it possible for one to live without the internet?

Yes. My 88-year-old mother seems to do fine without it.

Why do almost all girls reject men at the age of 20?

This must be a current statistic. In 1973 I had to beat the girls off me with a stick, especially after I joined the military. A really good friend of mine asked me if she was going to be another notch on my headboard. I didn’t find it funny. I was after a relationship, not one-night stands, but I took what I could get. I suppose things change in 49 years.

Have you ever compromised your morals for money? How?

I can think of a few reasons I might, but money is not one of them. Of what good are morals and ethics if you can be bought? If I choose to compromise my morals or ethics it will be my choice and for a damned good reason. One thing is for certain, though, God had better be ready to receive the person I compromise them for.  

What do you think of the phrase “Never underestimate yourself and never overestimate others”?

My thought on this takes me back to high school. I never had to underestimate my ability to get my ass kicked, and I never had to overestimate the 200-pound football player’s ability to kick it. Both were foregone conclusions.

“Make way for the sweetest humiliation when you underestimate their intelligence while overestimating your knowledge.”

-- Criss Jami

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.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com