Questioning Good, Fake, Peace, Phobia, and Habit

 

“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.”

-- Isaac Asimov

(Joe, it's deeper than you can dive.  Let it go.)

I'm such a rude person and I don't know how to stop. Is there a way to salvage my reputation?

Salvage your reputation by apologizing to all those you’ve been rude to. Personally, I’d get them all together and make a show of the apology. People will see it is heartfelt. You can ask them to let you know when you lower that bar to rudeness. Let those around you mentor you and assist you in salvaging your rep. All of you will be better for the effort.

Why do we become good when we meet the next good thing?

Because if we’re bad the “next good thing” will probably just keep on walking.

How do you deal with memories of depression?

They are memories. If you aren’t depressed now, why are you dwelling with them? How about locking the memories in a vault and getting on with not being depressed? Find God. Find exotic sex. Find work to keep you busy. Find anything that will make you exceedingly happy. Personally, exotic sex would probably make better memories. They sure as hell won’t be depressing… unless you want them to. It’s a choice.

Is it rude to look at someone while they're using the bathroom?

Ya think?

What are some ways we can understand politics through our everyday life?

Who have you suffered financially under? Who has done more for your minority, than just promises? When did the “shit” most recently hit the fan? Ask yourself questions. See if the answers given by the media outlets make any kind of sense to you. People change party affiliation all the time because the answer their party gives makes no damned sense.

Raise the minimum wage and the price of everything goes up, people get “pink slips” because the raise equals a position you now have to work more to make up for. There is no free lunch. You can’t pay off student loans without someone else suffering. The “feds” make it sound like all this debt is theirs. Who owns the “Feds”? We do. The common person on the street.

If you want to understand politics, constantly ask yourself how great your life is under the current administration.  If life sucks, don't listen to the media.  Maybe its time for you to research the options, and vote for a better life.

“Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”

-- Mark Twain

What causes Vice President Kamala Harris to fake laugh like a hilarious hyena?

She fakes her way through being the “Vice President” and this is what you focus on?

Are 27-year-olds still in the bracket of "young" adults?

I believe that “30″ is still the magic age of adulthood, although I have met many people who put this to the test.

How do we handle an argument if there's a difference of opinion when both of us feel that we are right in our own way?

Agree to disagree. It happens all the time. Don’t argue, but learn to disagree. The difference is in the emotion. Arguing drives your blood pressure up. Disagreeing, not so much. You usually learn to “disagree” in the business world. He who is in charge of their voice is in charge of the conversation, so learn to smile… a lot.

Why do so many people speak their opinion, with conviction, on subjects they know little about?

They’re taking a line from the Political Playbook: Say it loud enough and long enough, and people, not already stepping and fetching, will start to believe the bullshit.

Is there a "me"? I always doubt, when I ask myself this question. I’m really confused. Can someone give me advice?

You’ve just started to define “you” with this question. You are concerned about who and why you are. You have doubts, and you are confused when you ask yourself about this. You are not, however, afraid to seek advice. Welcome to “you” and welcome to philosophy, the questions which keep "thinkers" occupied in the deep end of the pond.

My advice is to read about finding “yourself,” never stop asking questions, and write your thoughts down on paper. Your job from this point forward is to separate the wheat from the chaff, what you feel is true from what you feel is bullshit, and develop a personal code of ethics that you will be able to stand by, come hell or high water.

I was an unfocused mess before my motorcycle accident as a “failing” junior in high school. Survival has a way of tweaking your focus. I graduated, barely, and started reading secular and spiritual philosophy when I entered college. I excelled as a Psychology major before I got my military draft notice. I joined the Air Force and spent the next 22 years in the Intelligence field. I learned to write, and I’ve never stopped. I wrote two books, just for entertainment.  My point is, that you learn to focus. The military finished teaching me this.

“Sometimes I feel as though there are two me's, one coasting directly on top of the other: the superficial me, who nods when she's supposed to nod and says what she's supposed to say, and some other, deeper part, the part that worries and dreams... Most of the time they move along in sync and I hardly notice the split, but sometimes it feels as though I'm two whole different people and I could rip apart at any second.”

-- Lauren Oliver

As the peace negotiator, you are faced with a dilemma. Would you tolerate corruption now to work on long-term peace or would you sacrifice peace to eliminate corruption in the long run?

Corruption can exist alongside peace, therefore, there is no dilemma. I will work toward long-term peace and leave corruption to those non-corrupt agents in the FBI to ferret out the corrupt agents and begin an all-out war on other corruption within police departments, government offices, the courts, and the rest of the country.

What is the person's motive behind saying, "You're just trying to play games with me"?

To stop you from playing “mind games” with them. 

Who wants to follow me? Do you want me to follow you?

Unless we’re going to war, I see no reason for the “following” anyone. If we are going to war, the leader had better be the one up front. Either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way. I’d prefer it if people would get the hell out of the way.

What are your thoughts on telling your spouse what to do?

I shouldn’t be married. Unless you have their permission, only an idiot would presume to do this.

How do I keep skipping teambuilding events without raising suspicion that I dislike my manager? I have a strong personal dislike towards him. Spending time with colleagues in my spare time is also not my cup of tea. I use generic excuses so far.

How are your job-seeking skills? Your manager is either unfit for the position or looking for the right time to “can” you. I’d put money on them gathering evidence for their case to let you go. If they’re unfit for the position, they should be gone by now.

If someone doesn't fit in your company, you have an obligation to get rid of them, because you're holding them back from excelling elsewhere.

-- Barbara Corcoran

What is the first method to check if the conversation went well?

Feedback. Were you understood?

Do people ever ask to sit next to you on a plane?

The only plane that didn’t have assigned seats was a “contract air” heading back to the US, and I was the only passenger. The flight attendants made me a bed out of the seats in the back and fed me like a king. I slept like a baby.

Is there a phobia, disorder, or some other mental condition causing people to constantly hide their faces from being seen by others by always wearing a mask?

Criminal activity? Fear of law enforcement? Guilt?

Are you into children?

I’m a grandfather. I love children. The great thing about being a grandfather is the children eventually go home, but I do love them.

What kinds of things really make you laugh? Why? 

Great comedians, slapstick comedy, wait staff who drop trays of food, or other people who make the mistakes I would make in their place. We need to learn to laugh at ourselves. A bartender juggled a bottle of booze behind his back and dropped it. I about fell out of my chair when he calmly looked down and states, “Well, I’ll be damned. I can’t ever say ‘that never happens' again.” You had to be there. 

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”

-- Charles Dickens

What are the implications of making crude jokes?

You run the risk of being labeled as crude. Not a good thing.

Is it ok to tell someone they have a split personality? One side is quiet, soft-spoken, sweet, easy-going, honest, observant, and loyal. The other is Evil, delusional, argumentative, and will lie about known facts. Their voice even changes completely.

Unless you think they’re capable of murder, you can probably broach the subject. But, watch your back.

Can parents notice when I fake cough?

If they hear you, they noticed. Whether they know it’s a fake cough is another question.

Why do I always find solutions to my problems after a very long time or only when it is too late?

Ah! Wisdom. We’re usually so wrapped up in our problems we don’t see a way out. Given time, we learn what we should have done. This “wisdom” allows us to mitigate other problems, that come along, by taking some time to consider other options, or by asking others for advice. We learn too late that everyone has problems, and probably the same ones.

Why are some bad habits so hard to change?

Because they make us feel so good.

“People who self-handicap purposely shoot themselves in the foot in order to protect themselves from having to confront their possible shortcomings. Many self-handicapping behaviors are those small, subtle bad habits like being late, gossiping, micromanaging, behaving passive-aggressively, or being a perfectionist. We may not recognize these self-defeating--and self-handicapping--traits for what they are. Or we may even wrongly perceive them as strengths. But in truth, they often get in the way of us blooming.”

-- Rich Karlgaard

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