Questioning Words, Virtue, Norms, Trust, and Liars

 

“When a child first catches adults out -- when it first walks into his grave little head that adults do not always have divine intelligence, that their judgments are not always wise, their thinking true, their sentences just -- his world falls into panic desolation. The gods are fallen and all safety gone. And there is one sure thing about the fall of gods: they do not fall a little; they crash and shatter or sink deeply into green muck. It is a tedious job to build them up again; they never quite shine. And the child's world is never quite whole again. It is an aching kind of growing.”

-- John Steinbeck

Do you agree that teenager should never have been invented since it's caused trauma over the 12/13 division for cutoffs for the age of being exempt from legal responsibility? Drawing the line at 12 instead of 13 doesn't cut it, so why not 11yrs/364d?

“Teenager” is a word. It is only a word. If we choose to change the cutoff for legal responsibility, so be it, but let’s not lay this rap on a simple word. All the word did was make the choice easier for someone too lazy to make it harder to remember. Uninventing a word is like reinventing history, or unseeing what you just saw. Some people in our society think it is appropriate to charge history, to unsee what has been seen. There are words for them, as well.

If we feel the need to redefine when responsibility comes into play, let's look at 18.  We can die for our country, we can vote for a President, we can get married, and we can pay taxes, but we can't handle drinking alcohol until we turn 21.

Do we sometimes not like to brag about ourselves because it's overbearing?

We brag about ourselves because we like to think we’re more than we really are. “Bragging” kind of bears this out. 

What is respect according to you?

When I feel a deep regard or admiration for someone because of what they’ve achieved and/or who they are as a person. I also tend to respect a position due to what it takes to hold it. More times than not, in business, I tend to respect the position more than the person holding it, because the person holding down the position is usually an egotistical ass. 

What was the moment you realized the seemingly normal person you thought you were dealing with was anything but?

When I took a position with military intelligence. Deviancy was not normal but was an accepted attribute. Who knew? 

Author comment: I really wish you could elaborate on that.

My reply: So do I, but, unfortunately, what we do in the shadows, stays in the shadows. Sorry, Doll.

Spot quiz: If you could save many allied lives by threatening to peel an enemy’s face off with a plastic butter knife to access needed information, would you do it? 

This is very extreme, but you, hopefully, get the point. 

How does my words affect my greatness?

“How do my words affect my greatness?” This is the appropriate grammar. Not using correct grammar, especially when we have a “grammar check” app, might affect your greatness because you don’t pay attention to minutia. If you ignore minutia, what else are you willing to ignore, and how important does it have to be in order for you to pay attention?

“It is very useful when one is young, to learn the difference between "literally" and "figuratively." If something happens literally, it actually happens; if something happens figuratively, it feels like it is happening.

If you are literally jumping for joy, for instance, it means you are leaping in the air because you are very happy. If you are figuratively jumping for joy, it means you are so happy that you could jump for joy, but are saving your energy for other matters.”

-- Lemony Snicket

If being blunt and honest is a virtue, why don’t our politicians, management, and monarchs who are leaders that manage our nations' resources and wealth exhibit blunt honesty?

Politics. Honesty and virtue escape them.

Why do people subject themselves to societal norms and traditions rather than finding their own path?

Societal norms and traditions are the basis for their “rule of law” which, even following your own path, you would be smart to recognize. If your path runs contrary to the “rule of law” you would be well served to find a country that has none, and good luck with that.

Can you admire someone or something that would dehumanize you?

Not on a bet.

If you want to call me a Troll then do it now and then no one ever again may call me a Troll or stupid?

Actually, my free will allows me to repeat myself as many times as I require, and then some. However, I am not one to call people trolls or stupid so, assuming you aren’t with the League of the Perpetually Offended, you are safe.

What is the same thing about acting freely and morally?

If you’re acting “freely” you can be acting morally or immorally. It is your “free” choice. If you’re acting “freely” you can act any way you choose.

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”

-- Coco Chanel

What does the state of consciousness look like in a human if he, she, or they are told they are back to their normal consciousness?

Their “normal consciousness” is a state of consciousness. If you look at them and they aren’t in a coma, they are conscious. Is this another trick question?

How nice are you? (Quiz)

I am sickeningly nice. It’s all I can do not to go home with every woman I meet. Just saying.

If you have a problem (however, you want to define the word problem that is up to you) The problem is now indomitable? What do you do? Do you stop? Do you continue? Do you pause and at some time start again? Do you pass it on to someone else?

Well, you have already defined “problem” by making it “indomitable.” This definition pretty much screws the person by making the problem impossible to subdue or defeat. So, it doesn’t matter what you choose to do, the problem will still be there. Personally, I’d shake my head and go have a bourbon. There’s nothing to do about it.

Why should I care?

About what?

Is it common to be bitter, cynical, critical, and miserable when you have no money?

Only if money is your goal. Try striving to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. It takes so much less effort than being bitter, cynical, critical, and miserable, and you might find that you have some money, as well.

“I have noticed there are far more destitute people begging for money on street corners in the USA than in the past and they are younger.”

-- Steven Magee

My psychologist thinks I have depression, but I don't have a problem eating or sleeping. Is that possible?

If I were depressed, I’d be eating like there’s no tomorrow, especially ice cream, and eating would make me want to sleep. Just saying.

Should you still associate with people you don’t trust?

Only if you can watch them the entire time, I’d find new people to associate with.

Have bad/mean people continuously wasted their time trying to make you suffer for disagreeing with them?

Yes. I have gone out of my way (only a step) to make myself a waste of their time by not giving a shit about their opinion. Their ability to persevere, in the face of someone who cares less, needs work they seem too lazy to initiate. 

Does complaining work?

Depends on your goal.

Can you be kind, compassionate, and respectful to someone without becoming his/her friend this way? What's the difference?

Meet a complete stranger that is in need of kindness, compassion, and respect. You can give them all of this selflessly, which means you have no expectations for friendship because you are simply doing what is right.  

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.”

-- C.S. Lewis

Why do people claim you have said something when you have not said what is being claimed?

They are liars, probably trying to shift blame for something onto me. The fact they are involved in gossip says volumes about the kind of people they are. People who know me can immediately confirm their claim as a lie or o truth because, well, I have no filter. Having no filter means I speak my mind, you know, the open book.

What are some general effects of an obsession (video games, studying, sports, love, etc.)?

Unsolicited touching.

Is it healthy if we feel grateful for everything we have and enjoy our life even in a less luxurious lifestyle?

Very healthy. Never feel like you shouldn’t be grateful, or that you shouldn’t enjoy your life. Strive to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. Don’t allow another person to drag you down into their pit simply because they've made the choice to be miserable. 

How do we fix politics?

Only if we can fix broken politicians. The French used a guillotine. It seemed to do the trick.

What should we do When we do good and in return, people give us evil When we trust people and, in return, they break the trust, A lot of my friends hurt me so much that I tried to recover through positive quotes but still it hurts at night?

What they do does not reflect on you unless you allow it to. Continue to do good in the face of evil. This is the true test of selflessness. By the way, these “friends” you mention, would not be hurting you if they were really your friends. I’d be looking for new friends with more supportive attitudes.

“The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.”

-- Bob Marley

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