Questioning Ideas, Regret, Ideas, Thought, and Ideas

 

“Ideas are easy. It's the execution of ideas that really separates the sheep from the goats.”

-- Sue Grafton

How do I make someone compliant with my ideas?

Convince them. Offer incontrovertible evidence that you are right. Tell them that, if you prove to be wrong, you will resign. Their compliance isn’t as important as your ability to back up bullshit. If your ideas are worthy of their compliance, you need to put your money where your mouth is. Go “all in” and pray that you’re right, or go “all in” knowing that you’re right. But, going “all in” shows people, especially those in charge, that you are serious.

What is the best way to show respect to someone who is much more experienced than you?

Watch, listen, ask intelligent questions, and thank them for their time. There is no better respect you can show than to pay attention to a mentor. They will certainly appreciate it.

How can we lead through turbulent times?

Be calm, be intelligent, be the rock people look to and the light in the darkness. Adding to the violence and confusion does nothing but add to the anarchy of the moment. Appeal to good sense and civility, and combat propaganda with facts. Democrats in the United States are learning a painful lesson about leadership, abridging freedoms, changing history, and inciting racism. They even think free speech and parenting can be abridged. This is not leadership. This is cutting off one’s nose to spite their face. This is tantamount to treason, yet no one is brave enough to use the word until they actually cross the line.  Smart move.

What's the best way to deal with people who say they don't like your personality but love your looks?

Stay away from the shallow end of the gene pool.

Why is politics described as a very dirty game?

Do you not watch the real news? You know, the channels that actually address all the important stories? Try watching all the news channels, occasionally. Then, pick the one that seems to cover what the other channels don’t. You can make it easier by looking at who demolishes the other news networks in the ratings. They have no problem revealing the dirt. But, who the hell am I?  

“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.”

-- Ernest Benn

What do selfish people usually regret when they’re poor?

I would like to think that they wonder if being selfless would have held karma at bay. But, this would require them to have an epiphany, which would require them to learn selflessness. I think they’d be too busy trying to recover lost wealth to think of anything so mundane. Selfish people probably regret not being on top.

"Whichever one you go to you will be sorry you didn't go to the other" Does it mean that both are equally bad or good?

We are a “finicky” people. Both are probably as good, but we have to choose one. We will be forever wondering if we chose well.

How can you say something in a polite way but still get your point across?

“You are very pretty.” She will appreciate it more than, “Damn! Look at who’s the hot babe!” “Want my number? No? Can I have yours?” “The only thing wrong with that little nothing you’re wearing is that …I’m not on your arm.” “…around your neck.” …humping your leg.”

No need to be crass. “You are very pretty, this evening,” is polite, civil, and she’ll get the point.

What does it mean when someone says something along the lines of "You should be grateful I chose you"?

“You may kneel, and kiss my ring.”

Why would someone keep fighting a cause when they know they don't stand a chance?

In WW II if you were partisan and surrendered, you’d be shot. They knew this and would fight to the death. We stood no chance against England in 1776, and yet, we fought. “Give me liberty, or give me death.”

We face the socialists of the day, who think they will be rewarded by their handlers when America falls, but this country will never fall as evidenced by parents rising up, people changing political parties, and people ready to fight and die for the Constitution.

The liberals need to heed the wakeup call:

“The useful idiots, the leftists who are idealistically believing in the beauty of the Soviet socialist or Communist or whatever system, when they get disillusioned, they become the worst enemies. That’s why my KGB instructors specifically made the point: never bother with leftists. Forget about these political prostitutes. Aim higher. They serve a purpose only at the stage of destabilization of a nation. For example, your leftists in the United States: all these professors and all these beautiful civil rights defenders. They are instrumental in the process of subversion only to destabilize a nation. When their job is completed, they are not needed anymore. They know too much. Some of them, when they get disillusioned, when they see that Marxist-Leninists come to power—obviously they get offended—they think that they will come to power. That will never happen, of course. They will be lined up against the wall and shot.”

-- Yuri Bezmenov (1939-1993), former Soviet journalist and KGB informant

Where do you get your good ideas from?

Life. I write from the ideas that come to me from living life. When I retired to Mexico I became bored with paradise and decided to write a novel. I was retired from military intelligence, so I wrote a book about dystopian Mexico and a couple of military guys and their drama. I used ideas from life for the second novel, and I’m looking forward to the third.

Good ideas are all around us, we simply have to separate the wheat from the chaff to find the best pieces.

What do you think about various things?

It depends on what the “various things” are. Beautiful women, precious stones, gold bars, cat poop, and sex, all have differing thoughts. 

Some people don't keep any information to themselves; they call virtually everyone they know to inform them. Is it a good thing or a bad thing to do?

Some people have no sense of propriety… or a filter. Basically, they can’t even keep a secret. This is not a good thing. They are the rumor mongers, the purveyors of drama, among us. The best thing we can all do is inform them they act like immature asses when they do this, and ostracize them.

What is the disturbing problem that Putin faces?

Not looking like Adolf Hitler in the eyes of the world. Too late. Even most border countries to Russia realize this stark reality.

What are some of the most stunning yet most terrifying images?

Any photo during the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945.  Decorum prohibits me from sharing, however:

“Red Army soldiers from the 322 Rifle Division arrived at Auschwitz on 27 January 1945 at 15:00. 231 Red Army soldiers died in the fighting around Monowitz concentration camp, Birkenau, and Auschwitz I, as well as the towns of Oświęcim and Brzezinka. For most of the survivors, there was no definite moment of liberation. After the death march away from the camp, the SS-TV guards had left.

About 7,000 prisoners had been left behind, most of whom were seriously ill due to the effects of their imprisonment. The majority of those left behind were middle-aged adults or children younger than 15. Red Army soldiers also found 600 corpses, 370,000 men's suits, 837,000 articles of women's clothing, and seven tonnes (7.7 tons) of human hair. At Monowitz camp, there were about 800 survivors, and the camp was also liberated on 27 January by the Soviet 60th Army, part of the 1st Ukrainian Front.

Battle-hardened soldiers who were used to death were shocked by the Nazis' treatment of prisoners. Red Army general Vasily Petrenko (Soviet General), commander of the 107th Infantry Division, remarked, "I who saw people dying every day was shocked by the Nazis' indescribable hatred toward the inmates who had turned into living skeletons. I read about the Nazis' treatment of Jews in various leaflets, but there was nothing about the Nazis' treatment of women, children, and old men. It was in Auschwitz that I found out about the fate of the Jews." In a few articles in Soviet newspapers, such as Pravda, following Soviet propaganda, the writers failed to mention Jews in their articles on the liberation.

As soon as they arrived, the liberating forces (assisted by the Polish Red Cross) tried to help survivors by organizing medical care and food; Red Army hospitals cared for 4,500 survivors. There were also efforts to document the camp. As late as June 1945, there were still 300 survivors at the camp who were too weak to be moved.” 

-- Liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp - Wikipedia

Everyone that I see is unhappy, and they refuse to look at or talk to anyone no matter how nice they are. Despite the pandemic, financial instability, and lack of trust, why can't people forget about the past and be nice enough to make friends?

Shock, drama, an inability to cope, poor planning, loss of friends and loved ones, yadda, yadda, yadda. These are trying times we are trying to get past. For those of us who understood that striving for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of our circumstances, we have come out the other end of this, virtually, unscathed. For others, life became a bitch more than a hiccough. For us, we pick up where we left off and move forward. Others are stuck. Whether they listened to media bullshit, bought into governmental basis, gave up a job and took the free money, lost loved ones, or something else, they are stuck in a rut hard to get out of. Until they get a grip on reality and truth, until they understand true happiness, they will struggle.

Is our compassion limited?

Only by our environment, our upbringing, our sense of selflessness, and by choice. Our compassion is boundless.

Why is thinking difficult for most people before judging other people?

It has to do with trying to hide their own inequities and a lack of good sense. If you’re trying to hide your own shortcomings, you don’t put the spotlight on yourself by judging someone else. This is simply more bad judgment by someone who thinks judging others is appropriate, more than it is a serious shortcoming begging to be judged.

What is the best way to tell someone something new and interesting?

“I heard something new and interesting, today.”   Is it supposed to be more difficult?

What do you have to say about youthful exuberance?

It is meant for the young. As you get older you will experience mature exuberance. It is the difference between a night of wild, exotic sex, and making sweet love till the cow’s come home. You get to the same destination, but the difference is the epilogue, “Call you next week?” or, “What would you like me to make for breakfast?” 

"I'm busy doing my job, and being a loudmouth doesn't appeal to me as much as when I was younger and had the youthful delusion that I was smarter than everybody else."

-- Steve Albini

Are people just big ideas?

For who? If there aren’t people, who had the idea? God? If God, then the universe was a big idea, and people were kind of an afterthought.

Why do people say "I'm so happy for you" but don't really seem to be?

They wallow in their own world of misery, their narcissistic, jealous, or all three.

What is your experience with ineffective communication?

I briefed aircrews and commanders for, roughly, 20 years. Ineffective communication was usually caused by an inability to project, Inability to hold the audience's attention, overusing notes, limited or no visual aids, turning one’s back to the audience while speaking, inadequate preparation, ignorance of the subject, and an inability to field questions.

Is money a big idea?

Not really. BIG money, however, is a big idea. Any time you discuss lots of cash, it’s usually a big idea.

Is it beneficial to learn how to fix things myself?

Yes. It saves you lots of money if you had to hire someone else to do it. Electrical, plumbing, drywall, painting, and most things around the house are pretty simple to learn. You can find them on the internet or ask someone in the know. The internet will give you any “building code” concerns you need to cover.

“I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, 'Where's the self-help section?' She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.”

-- George Carlin

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

Friends Along Our Path (Updated and reposted from 10/1/15)

The Path

This is my path.

It is not your path, it is mine.

Good or bad, it is my path.

I must travel my path alone.

That is your path.

It is not mine or theirs, it is yours.

Good or bad, it is your path.

You must travel your path alone.

At times our paths might intersect

Or, run parallel for a while.

We will visit, laugh, and cry.

Exchange experiences and offer advice.

At some point, we may part

Perhaps to join up again,

As our destination is the same

And our journey is long.

I wish you a smooth path,

And a long and interesting journey

Full of emotion and life,

Family and friends.

We will not arrive together,

At the final destination,

But, I will wait for you, my friend,

As I know you will wait for me.

For the second time, I have received requests to reprint this piece of poetry and, now, the post as well.  I edited the grammar a bit, as I always do.  Since its first publication, on 1 October 2015, this post ranked as my most read.  Now that it is 2022, that rank had been surpassed by so many others.  It is hard for me to believe seven years have gone by, and that I've actually been at this task for nine years.  I've noticed that time seems to slip by faster as I get older.  But, as I always say, time is nothing more than a human concept.  Therefore, as my mother lied about her age when she turned 30, I too have decided to stop aging and let our concept of time do as it pleases.  But, as I approach 70, I bemoan the fact it took me 40 more years than her to make this logical decision.

I used to write poetry back in the late 1970s and then abandoned the habit after accumulating a "book" of it which I believed, at the time, was much too personally insightful.  Needless to say, one morning in the Intelligence Division, I "accidentally" Ollie North'd the collection, I shredded it, along with the past week's classified intelligence message traffic.  I've often wondered if there was a subconscious intent, those many years ago, possibly due to my personal life being in the toilet.  I was to fight to save my marriage for another 15 or so years.  After 25 years of "wedded bliss," it ended.

I have tried to start writing poetry again, but that particular muse is a shadowy phantom that is loath to manifest itself more, it would seem, the older I get.  I am equally loath to allow anyone the opportunity to breach the protective walls of my redoubt.  Not very often is it, however, my heart, or mind, will overcome my lack of material, or another "special" individual will spark the tinder of my creative furnace.  I have found one who could, but she is more of a daughter I never had the pleasure of.

I have found this latest verse, above, to be much more telling of my current mental state, having discovered with age that life presents lots of "elephant feces" which I really don't need to waste energy on, not the least of which are those comments which spew forth from the pie holes of the countless members of the League of the Perpetually Offended.  What is my attitude about this apparent "waste of humanity" which tries to insinuate itself into my life?  I simply try not to care about their perpetual petty selfishness, and humbly ask them to get off my path so I might continue along in the same peace I wish for them, disregarding any ill that might cross my mind.

I find poetry, like art, is a matter of taste.  The poet, like the artist, is trying to communicate as much to themselves as to others.  To the academic community, poetry is defined in multi-syllable "let me show you how much smarter I am than you" speak; so few of us "commoners" understand it:

Poetry is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language—such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre—to evoke meanings in addition to, or in place of, the prosaic ostensible meaning.

Poetry uses forms and conventions to suggest differential interpretation to words, or to evoke emotive responses. Devices such as assonance, alliteration,onomatopoeia and rhythm are sometimes used to achieve musical or incantatory effects. The use of ambiguity, symbolism, irony and other stylistic elements of poetic diction often leaves a poem open to multiple interpretations. Similarly figures of speech such as metaphor, simile and metonymy create a resonance between otherwise disparate images—a layering of meanings, forming connections previously not perceived. Kindred forms of resonance may exist, between individual verses, in their patterns of rhyme or rhythm.

-- Wikipedia, "Poetry"

I'm almost impressed.  Well, reading the Wikipedia definition of poetry makes me want to immediately run out to my local bookseller for some interesting poetry to read. The definition gives some credence to Socrates who once said, "I decided that it was not wisdom that enabled poets to write their poetry, but a kind of instinct or inspiration, such as you find in seers and prophets who deliver all their sublime messages without knowing in the least what they mean."  I think most of us have a general idea what Socrates meant, and what poetry is; if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck, unless its Japanese "haiku," which makes my eyes cross and allows drool run freely down my chin while I lose control of my bladder.  Haiku is best read after smoking some sort of mind-altering herb or drinking several straight shots of bourbon.  I mean, if you're going to be comatose after reading it anyway, you might as well enjoy killing the brain cells, right?

Have you ever wondered why most of us remember only snippets of famous poems?  More than five or six quatrains, those four-line stanzas, is about all I can stomach much less try to remember.  Like an "all-you-can-eat" casino buffet, it seems better to just indulge in the delicious "meat" of poetic verse, the interesting substance, than to drown in the carbohydrates which surround it.  I think this is probably the way most of us think, and why we latch onto the most meaningful verse, as in Robert Burns' poem, A Red, Red Rose: 

O my Luve is like a red, red rose

That’s newly sprung in June;

O my Luve is like the melody 

That’s sweetly play'd in tune.

Those of us that actually received a quality education will remember this piece, but can we remember the rest of it?  It isn't all that long, as poems go, yet the entirety escapes many of us.  In this way, I think poetry truly reflects our lives as we travel our paths.  We remember the interesting meat of it, but the fluff seems to fall by the wayside.  When it comes to remembering people, however, I seem to be even less discerning, a trait I recognize and, yet, fall prey to.

Referencing the photo at the beginning of this post: which of the three would you be more apt to remember?  The cute little girl, the loyal friend, or the jackass?  Perhaps, like me, there is a member of the League of the Perpetually Offended who is most memorable for you.

The truth is, anyone we meet can be a friend along our path, as long as we are willing to treat them as we would want to be treated.  With enough tolerance, love, and understanding, even the jackass among us, like myself, can be seen as worthy friends, and might even find a gentler path for themselves due to our ministries.  But, many of whom we meet are destined for the fluff pile because we just don't seem to have the time, or won't make time, to allow them a chance to become a cherished memory, a permanent part of our memory, our life, and our journey.  Even those we are aware we should probably take time to know better, are simply passed up like vegetables at a buffet in favor of the all-you-can-eat crab, shrimp, pork ribs, or prime rib.

I will go out this week and make a conscious effort to meet someone new, possibly at an inexpensive bar. With any luck, they might shake up my inner poetic self, but the real gift, as often overlooked, will be the memory of meeting them, like so many others along my journey. I hope the women have great legs.

The challenge for each of us is to make time for our fellows. It takes such little effort. Make the effort, for yourself, and for others. As a matter of fact, try making an effort daily to make a new acquaintance. Whether they become a friend or not, your life and theirs will be all the richer for having known each other and for having made the effort.

Not familiar with haiku?  Enjoy:

"The cut end of

A fresh-felled tree --

Tonight's moon"

-- Matsuo Bashō (1644-1694)

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

Questioning Bais, Grammar, Shame, Anger, and Bullies

“Outfits don't define your character, your behavior does. Great achievements are born, not from fancy suits, but from great minds. And great minds do not need suits to feel and look important. Only the shallow look at outfits, but the wise know to look beyond. Look at the person beyond the outfit.”

-- Abhijit Naskar

What are some dangerous examples of confirmation bias?

Yep, you were right. It was the red wire.

What made you believe in luck?

I have survived several motor vehicle crashes that officials say should have killed me. It wasn’t luck as much as it was intervention by an unknown force. I am still here because I was meant to be, for reasons yet unknown to me. Luck? I believe in cause and effect. It is what it is until it isn’t, and then it is what it is, again. If it’s coming at you, get out of the way. If it’s already here, deal with it. If it’s your time, fight against the dying of the light, or say goodbye.

What is the theory in which a person takes or agrees on something he likes or thinks it’s right, but it actually is the opposite?

Heraclitus - Unity of Opposites?

What do old people know that makes them happier than most people?

The secret to true happiness is a conscious choice to be happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstance. We waste most of our lives searching for that which is a simple choice. Old people find this out later in life, a few of us find out earlier. Make good choices, and smile… constantly.

What is an easy thing that everyone could do to change the world for the better?

Be tolerant and understanding.

“The highest result of education is tolerance.”

-- Helen Keller

Is my friend making fun of me to put me down or to make me laugh?

A real friend doesn’t put you down, so it’s probably to make you laugh. However, you asked this question for a reason. I’d be thinking about that. You might want to pick your “friends a little better.

How do you answer “what have you been doing”?

Enjoying retirement.

What makes a problem beneficial?

When the problem works out to your advantage. I have a girlfriend but we are having problems. We break up. Her good-looking friend comes up to me, smiles, and says, “I thought you two would never end it.” The problem worked to my advantage. 

Is "And suddenly, the world doesn't feel that lonely" correct?

It would depend on your perspective. Does it, or does it not?

Why does it feel like a lot of people on here are highly sarcastic and conceited when someone asks a genuine question?

Yes, says the self-admitted hypocrite. Unfortunately, they’re all questions. The trick is to ferret out the serious questions. A “hit and miss” proposition, for a lot of us. We bank on a robust sense of humor and occasionally fall short.

“A little girl robbed you?" Tessa said.

"Actually, she wasn’t a little girl at all, as it turns out, but a midget in a dress with a penchant for violence, who goes by the name of Six-Fingered Nigel."

"Easy mistake to make," Jem said.

-- Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel

Growing up around narcissists, healthy self-love, and pride in my accomplishments was treated as narcissistic so I internalized self-love as shameful. How can I change my inner dialogue so that shame and self-love are not synonymous?

Well, you’ve taken the right first step. You recognize that shame and self-love aren’t synonymous. Now, stop talking to yourself about it. It sounds like you had lousy role models growing up, so ignore your formative years and start reforming yourself by hanging around people who really love themselves, who are truly happy, and who find the company of others as nurturing. Let them know your issues and what you strive for. They will be there for you. They aren’t “all that” and they’ll be the first to admit it. No one is perfect, but we can certainly strive for excellence.

What’s one thing, you’ve heard a repairman say, that made you question their expertise?

“Uh…”  It really isn't an answer, as much as it is an ignorant utterance.

What's the difference between a person being honest versus a person being truthful? 

Honest means you’ll do no harm, but truthful means you might be hurt. You’re honest, but you hold back because someone might be hurt if you tell the truth. If you’re truthful, you have no filter. You set their feelings aside and tell them what you know. Good “ethics” demands that we be honest and truthful. With no balance between the two, it explains why we don’t steal, but we tend to hurt the ones we love. I love her too much to be truthful, so I’ll filter it through honesty and hope she forgives me.

Or, you can just go with “don’t steal” as honesty, and “Don’t lie” as truthful. But, you’ll piss someone off, sooner or later. 

How am I supposed to respond to "Why do you ask so many questions?"

“I want your job.”

Is it true that the opportunity to participate in social activities has no strong impact on a person’s identity, self-esteem, quality of life, and ultimately his/her social status?

So, following this strange train of thought, being an introvert, a “wallflower,” will also have no strong impact on a person’s identity, et al. So, why do we call them introverts and wallflowers if there is no strong impact? The academician who uttered this is either in denial or has never suffered the indignation of not being given “the opportunity to participate in social activities.”

“Everything that happens to you is a reflection of what you believe about yourself. We cannot outperform our level of self-esteem. We cannot draw to ourselves more than we think we are worth.”

-- Iyanla Vanzant

How can I get my anger down in writing without coming across as too aggressive?

Don’t. Write what you feel and think. This is your honest opinion coming out in an aggressive format. Once you have it down, go back and wordsmith it. Explain some of the aggressiveness, and some of the anger. Try to be a narrator, walking the reader through your strong opinions. I use humor to soften my aggressive side. I blurt it out and then find the humor in my anger.

What is the difference between being pampered and being babied?

They call baby diapers “Pampers” for a reason. No difference to me, or, it seems, to corporate America.

I get tired of people fast and it gets very hard for me to keep treating them nicely due to a lack of interest. How can I not get tired of people so fast?

Put yourself in their shoes. They have to put up with the likes of you. So, become a hermit. Stop hanging with other people, since it seems to really bother you. If you find you can’t stay away, maybe you are in denial of a cruel streak in you that demands you treat people poorly. Maybe the lack of social contact is what you need to cure your antisocial tendency.

Have you known others that don't follow the rules on how to have careers while having careers?

Saw it all the time in the military. It took a while to separate the wheat from the chaff, but we get there eventually. 

What embarrassing thing happened to you in your neighbor’s home?

I visited for an hour as the new neighbor, not realizing my fly was down until his wife pointed it out by asking if I was hot, trolling, or just absent-minded. We became friends after that. Nothing like humor to nurture cordiality.

“I've been embarrassing myself since about birth.”

-- Phil Lester

What makes people talk to themselves?

I can only speak for myself, but, I’m the only person I truly trust. There are times I even question that.

What's the difference between manipulative and cunning?

Cunning: Having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion.

Manipulative: Characterized by unscrupulous control of a situation or person.

A dictionary is a terrible thing to waste.

When you meet someone who becomes your "favorite person" and you feel "matched" by them, the feeling of happiness for you is great, overwhelming, and ineffable, as if nothing can shake you, this is in stark contrast to "normal", do you feel like this?

Only when I’m around them.

Are people who bully horrible people?

Yes, but I think the majority are products of upbringing, the lack thereof, or their environment. Others might just have a screw loose, or one bottle… not realizing there’s supposed to be a six-pack. I think most can be shown a better path, probably by a victim, with skills, that’s had enough. 

Is an image or a photograph, just an image, or does it truly tell you all about a person?

It’s just an image. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

“Today, while sitting in my car, I saw a couple of Hell’s Angels bikers. One smiled at me broadly. I smiled back and gave him a thumbs up. He nodded and was gone in a flash. All is right in the world.”

-- Wayne Gerard Trotman

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

Questioning Willpower, Respect, Thanks, and Truth

“External manipulation of thoughts and actions are the main driving forces of daily reality.”

-- Steven Redhead

What is it called when you do something, literally just to do it? You don’t actually gain anything. And there’s no driving force for you to do an action or Forrest Gump across the country but you have no reason outside of you’re just able to do it?

There is always a "driving force" to do anything. Whether it is selfless or not is another question. I would think the least force you might feel is when you are “moved” to do something like Forrest was “moved” to run. Though. the intense emotion he was feeling might provide evidence of a “driving force.”

What is the difference between ego willpower and heart willpower? How can we tell the difference?

My stab at this: Ego has to do with you, and heart has to do with others.

How free is your attention?

I don’t charge for it, not anymore. When I was working, people paid me to pay attention to my profession. Now, retired, I selflessly give my attention to whatever interests me. This kind of makes me a hypocrite, yes?

What is a saying that compares someone who uses large words to appear like they know about a subject to someone who is an expert?

A sesquipedalian.

How do I avoid sounding pretentious and as if I'm exaggerating my qualities?

Don’t talk about yourself unless asked, and when asked be honest, short, and concise. Don’t embellish. State the facts.

“Like a Columbus of the heart, mind, and soul I have hurled myself off the shores of my own fears and limiting beliefs to venture far out into the uncharted territories of my inner truth, in search of what it means to be genuine and at peace with who I really am. I have abandoned the masquerade of living up to the expectations of others and explored the new horizons of what it means to be truly and completely me, in all my amazing imperfection and most splendid insecurity.”

-- Anthon St. Maarten

Do sportsmen and sportswomen get the respect they deserve?

From people who appreciate sports, probably. Otherwise, they’re just someone else who has attained a goal. Woo-hoo. They’re just people. They get what they give, just like the rest of us.

As you were becoming more successful in life, whether it be in your career, relationships, school, or health, did you notice that you encountered more envious people?

No. But, then, I gave no one reason to be envious, other than in my choice to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of my circumstances.

How can I move on from the past regrets and mistakes I keep thinking about?

Don’t forget, just don’t dwell on them. Our past failures and mistakes are the best way we learn. The memory of them helps us to mitigate mistakes and failure when the situations crop up again.

What is the meaning of "I am not your friend"?

This is not rocket science. Understand the clue you’ve been given: I - am - not - your - friend.

Why do people tell me I don't deserve to be an adult?

Do your actions, choice, or decisions reflect a sense of immaturity in you? Do you whine, complain, anger easily, sulk, and any other action that might make them think this way? If not, maybe they’re just jealous of your “free-spirited” life. Ignore them and move on.

“Oh, to be sure, we laugh less and play less and wear uncomfortable disguises like adults, but beneath the costume is the child we always are, whose needs are simple, whose daily life is still best described by fairy tales.”

-- Leo Rosten 

How do you thank your boss for saying “thank you” at work?

“It was my pleasure.”

What are some signs that your soul is trying to teach you a lesson?

It’s called “karma” and you’ll know because whatever you did to someone else is now haunting you. Better not to do anything you need to be sorry for.

How do you know if God is teaching you a lesson?

Has the lesson presented itself? Ta-da!

What work advice would you give to the poor?

Your life is what you make of it, and if you want a life for your family, work hard at what you can find to do. Develop a reputation as a hard worker. Develop a reputation as an ethical and loyal worker. But, most of all, strive to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances.

How do I deal with assholes in the street?

It would depend on if they touch me or mine. Two references:

“Mississippi is a Castle Doctrine state and has a “stand your ground” law. A person who is not the initial aggressor and is not engaged in the unlawful activity shall have no duty to retreat before using deadly force if the person is in a place where the person has a right to be. The statute provides that a person acting in justifiable self-defense shall have similar presumptions in civil cases and is immune from civil suits if found “not guilty” in criminal proceedings.” 

-- MS Gun Laws | Close Quarter Combat, LLC

“Mississippi has a stand your ground law that removes the duty to retreat before using deadly force in defense of oneself or another as long as the person is not the initial aggressor and is in a place they have a right to be. Mississippi law also states that “the killing of a human being” is justifiable “in resisting” certain property crimes.” 

--Stand Your Ground in Mississippi | Giffords

How do you gesticulate "I don't care"?

Stick out your tongue. Put both index fingers on your head and then point them to the sky. If these don’t work, flip them off and write it out, “I don’t care. Understand?”

What's a good petty revenge idea that doesn't involve hurting anyone physically?

Karma will still come after you. Better karma only has one target, not two. 

What are some ways of saying thank you for your time without sounding too formal or informal?

State why you’re thanking them for their time:

This was very informative, thank you.
You’ve given me food for thought, thank you.
I appreciate you making time for me, thank you.

How should Democratic candidates campaign against fringe election-denying Republicans?

How about campaigning about doing the right thing for the country, for once, instead of making up fantasy issues and always showing your ass?

How do you know if someone has true wisdom or just lots of knowledge?

Knowledge doesn’t make you wise, living does.

“He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.”

-- Confucius

How do you politely tell someone that they're giving, too much, unsolicited advice, and it's starting to get annoying?

“Enough, already. It’s becoming annoying.” You really have to be firm with the child, for it to learn. They usually don’t remember “polite” so much.

The truth is when random people ask you how you are doing, they don’t actually care. What’re your thoughts?

They don’t care. They could be asking a dog, for all they care. Truth is when you tell them how you are really doing. If, when you start to tell them, they roll their eyes, then make shit up. They don’t care. What you make up just might make their day.

Which one is correct, "write" or "writing"? Why?

I struggle with grammar, but I think they can both be right, it depends on the tense. It should actually include “written” and, “wrote” as choices. Write, writing, written and wrote. Does he write? Is he writing? Has he written? Will he write? Has he been writing? He wrote a novel? Using it in a sentence so we have some context with the “tense” helps with an answer.

When did someone’s intellectual attitude rub you the wrong way?

Any time an “intellectual cops an attitude, it rubs me the wrong way. “You’re intelligent and have an attitude. I can snap your neck. We're kind of equals.”

“Some ideas are so stupid that only intellectuals believe them.”

-- George Orwell

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