Questioning Talent, Weird, Greed, Advice, and Selfishness

 

“Bourbon just isn’t bourbon without some quality time spent in a charred-oak barrel. The aging process lends whiskey much of its distinctive color and taste.”

-- Dane Huckelbridge

Sometimes you don't realize you're good at something until you watch someone be bad at it. What's something you realized you were good at after seeing people do it badly?

Interpreting regulations. I discovered this in the Air Force and found out it’s the same in the civilian sector. How you couch the regulation is what makes it bendable, or breakable. And if a final inspection report doesn’t happen to list everything, those items left off are not your issue… this time around. They call it a “final” report for a reason. 

In the civilian world, I found out that their insignificant oversight is only yours if you don’t threaten to take them to court for them being too stupid to catch things the third time around. No one likes to get up in front of a judge and say, “Oops…” 

I love it when someone “quotes” a regulation. They rarely know it by heart, and cities love some “wiggle” room. Paying a few bucks for a common-sense variance is cheaper than fighting city hall when they have better things to do than out-think a military retiree with a copy of the regulations.

What rituals or preparations do you undertake at the start of a new year to help guide you through that year?

Bourbon. I find it greases the gears.

What are some examples of crises where the best response would have been to do nothing?

We’ve been going through it for a while. Putin loves to rattle his saber, and he expects people to pay attention. The best thing anyone can do is ignore him and continue on. He wants everyone to think he’s all that when even he knows he isn’t. The last thing this idiot wants to do is launch a nuclear weapon. Three things will happen. People will die, Russia will no longer be a superpower, and China, North Korea, and Iran will be put on notice by a superpower that draws a line in the sand and actually defends it. What we need to bring this to fruition is a President with some big tungsten balls (we'll have to wait until Biden's out of office).

Just a side note: If you're wondering how confident Putin is, just look at the televised meetings he has. He sits at one end of the room and everyone else sits at the other end. The chances of assassination are lowered the more distance there is between a handgun and the target.

What are some beneficent actions that people can do?

For what? 

Why does everyone want more of their basic needs?

Wanting more basic needs, once your needs are filled, is wasting the desire for a better life. It can be viewed as selfish and greedy. One would think filling desires would be the way to occupy time more fruitfully. If you’ve filled the need for clothing, for instance, and now you desire better clothing or clothing for a purpose, this is great as long as you've met all of your basic needs or the basic needs of your family. Once you fill your basic needs, you can move on to what you desire.

“Some people make it extremely difficult to continue believing that complaining is not one of the basic human needs.”

-- Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Is it good or bad to be weird? Why?

Let’s look at the definition (Merriam Webster): Of strange or extraordinary character: ODD, FANTASTIC. Of, relating to, or caused by witchcraft or the supernatural: MAGICAL.

Nothing bad here, unless you dabble in the dark arts, or lose control of the supernatural, in any sense. Go ahead and be weird, just stay away from conjuring. The world needs more strange and extraordinary characters.

Author comment: LOL, thank you, I'll stick to protections, banishments, and the occasional "Dreamwalking."

Who is your life example?

Me. I think, therefore, I am. I am the only example of "life" I am certain of, and even that is in question.

How do I become less self-critical?

Always critique yourself. You don’t have to announce it to the world, however. Questioning ourselves, our beliefs, decisions, and choices, is the way we move forward on our journey feeling pretty sure we have left nothing unfinished.

Why was the praise of folly important?

I could go into this, at length, or I can send you somewhere to research it, yourself. I’ll do that: In Praise of Folly - Wikipedia

Is a bad choice truly bad if there is only one other option?

A bad choice is a bad choice, but is it the worst of the two options? We run into this in politics all the time. You have the choice of two candidates who smell like shit, so you vote for the one who smells better. Unfortunately, occasionally the one who smells the worst gets voted in because the majority of people are too ignorant to understand. They end up suffering for their poor choice, just like the more intelligent voters.

"The two-party system is a bad joke on the American people; when it comes to Republicans and Democrats remember they are two sides of the same coin. Voting for the lesser of two evils is still a vote for evil and not an answer to our problems. A vote for a Republican or a Democrat will not fix anything and is a wasted vote."

-- Aaron Russo

Can Sri Lanka dig itself out of its economic mess? What measures would you recommend?

Simplify their convoluted government and ensure everyone can do their job, even relatives and friends.

Why do we empower our past so much?

So we remember what makes us stronger and so we don’t repeat that which makes us weaker. We empower our past because the past is the key to our present, and the present we create from what we learn is the key to our future.

Are there any benefits to going through tough times?

You learn how to survive through the tough times.

Does it sound counterintuitive to say that struggles and challenges make us happy?

Not if you live for the struggles and challenges. Life throws these at us as tests of our resolve to solve them and to move forward. Like any game, this is simply the “game of life” and we must make the most of the journey. If our existence was simply life and death, what fun would that be? I’m one of those characters that live for what life throws at me next. It challenges my resolve to strive for true happiness always and in all things, even these.

What are the consequences of unfettered greed?

Murder.

“The social havoc wreaked by unfettered economic greed comes to be interiorized as the personal weakness and irresponsibility of those principally affected.”

-- David Smail

Would you consider yourself to be subjectively firm or objectively flexible?

I like to be subjectively firm, but I always leave the door open to being objectively flexible. Rules are set before us to be followed. But, they should lend themselves to being bent and broken, if they don’t measure up to the task.

What unconventional or surprising advice would you give to a new teacher?

You are a teacher, so teach, don’t indoctrinate. Yes, for most this would come as unconventional and surprising advice. Who would have thought?

What tends to happen if I do things that are often not done or never done before?

If it is on the job, the employer will expect you to step up whenever these things raise their ugly heads. When you finally fail, you’ll have to remind them that you were the only one that would take on the task.

Is being too soft or too hard not liberating at all?

Not allowing yourself to be too soft or hard, as the situation requires, would be limiting your liberty to do so, as needed. 

Are we always constrained/bounded by things?

If you are constrained/bounded by anything but the rule of law, you are being too submissive. If you are constrained/bounded by anything else, best to make sure you are getting what you want out of it.

“You are bound by the constraints of what you perceived, it doesn't matter if those perceptions are accurate or not.”

-- Steven Redhead

Why don't wealthy people tell others how much money they have?

It is bad form, for one, and it can open them up to scams, being used, and criminal enterprise. It is one reason why big money lottery winners try to stay anonymous.

Is sharing your talent with others selfish (showing off) or selfless (contributing to your community due to passion)?

Sharing your talent is not showing off your talent. I dabble in art. If someone asked me to share how I go about my art, this is not showing off. I would be mentoring by request. If I thought I was all that and set up with a gallery to “show off” my work, this would be considered selfish and self-serving of me.

What are the top 5 things that people miss when they stop doing them?

Working, eating rich food, eating sweets, having great sex, drinking bourbon, and having great sex. I know, I repeated that one. But, it bears repeating.

Why is courage important in decision-making?

Because it is incumbent on you to own your decisions. If your decision goes south, you need to stand up and let everyone know you made the call, especially if others were involved with you. Critique why you were wrong, try to correct it, but at least learn from it so you’re ready for the next decision. Having the courage to own your mistakes is a trait employers look for. Being able to critique yourself, fix the issues, and learn from your decision is a bag of bonuses for them.

What do you call a person who does good things for bad reasons?

A selfish do-gooder.

“Socialists, charity workers, carers, people who volunteer to help others; they're all - and he's quite convinced about this - they're all, in reality, mean-spirited bastards, either self-deceiving bastards or - for their own filthy left-wing reasons - deliberately trying to destroy the self-esteem of normal, healthily ambitious people like him. Because if only everybody looked after their own interests everything would be fine, see? Level playing field, with everybody nakedly ambitious and selfish; everybody knows where they are. If some people aren't totally selfish, or, even worse, 'pretend' not to be selfish, then it messes up the whole system. It makes it more unfair, not fairer, the way they'd claim. He calls people like that do-gooders, and they make him angry. I think he would actually prefer do-badders, which is a pretty f**ked up attitude when you think about it. He feels quite strongly about them. Never misses an opportunity to complain that they're liars and frauds.”

-- Iain M. Banks

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, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western 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 the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

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