Questioning Choices, Stupidity, Change, Goals, and Wisdom

 

“It is not for me to judge another man's life. I must judge, I must choose, I must spurn, purely for myself. For myself, alone.”

-- Herman Hesse

Do you believe that people are responsible for their own misfortunes?

Life is all about making choices and decisions. Everyone likes to shift the blame for their bad ones when, if they were honest about why they have misfortune, they made a choice or decision that drove their destiny toward it.

There is almost nothing that happens in life that isn't locked into a choice or a decision we make. If you believe in life after death, karma may have followed you from your past life to punish you in this one. Sometimes there is no reason for cancer… that one can think of.

What is the importance of gut instinct when making a decision as opposed to facts & figures alone?

Knowledge. You learn that going against valid facts and figures will usually leave your ass hanging in the wind.

When a person is/was very private and 1 person wants to humiliate, and traffic her to an unhealthy abusive environment with malicious intent, preplanned for years, & others joined in their demonic cult, r they considered co-conspirators?

Ya think? Of course, they are. Sounds like quite a “brain trust.” I’d be worried about who in the group is next on the menu. Groups like this eventually feed on themselves. Call it karma, for lack of another term.

Where did Esther, Job, and Nehemiah get their unwavering strength from, especially when faced with numerous adversity?

A belief in something for which there is little or no proof. They had faith.

Where did our thirst for knowledge spring from? What really is the origin of curiosity in your opinion? Want some new insights.

When did we develop a sense of self? Probably back in the days of our simian ancestry. Without a sense of self, there would be no need for a sense of God or a reason to develop a hierarchy of needs. Knowledge begets knowledge. When we discover, we want to discover more. Our curiosity is fed by our need to understand, just as failure feeds our need to succeed, to attain the goal. This is because of that. Cause and effect. 

“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”

-- Maya Angelou

Why do stupid people think that they are clever?

Because they are stupid?

What are the long-term effects of being surrounded by stupid people, or people who engage you on a lower intellectual level? Do you eventually become less smart and more like them?

Not necessarily “less smart,” but no one will be able to tell. Stupid is as stupid does, to those who pay any attention, that is.

When did people start saying 'issues' instead of 'problems'? Nowadays, even the biggest problem is called an issue.

There are almost no “problems” that can’t be handled. A “problem” that can be handled is an issue, not really a problem. A problem is when both jet engines on a twin-engine aircraft suddenly crap out. Time becomes a big problem.

What thoughts do optimistic people have?

Optimistic thoughts. 

What is the dumbest person in 2023?

“Who” is the dumbest person, would be the President of the United States… or, Nancy Pelosi… or, Adam Shiff. It’s a toss-up.

“The biggest mistake is trusting the wrong people who generally are also the dumbest.”

-- Marino Baccarini

What is an opinion you have that nobody can ever change?

My faith in an omnipotent power that created the universe. It causes much discomfort in the League of the Perpetually Offended. If I had no other reason for my faith, this discomfort would be reason enough. Atheists and theists, both have “faith” in their beliefs. Faith, however, is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof, and neither side can present any proof for their faith Theists don’t need any proof, as their faith is enough. But, atheists, on the other hand, demand proof that they can’t, themselves, present. The proof for both sides is waiting at the end of life.

How can I get people to respect my feelings? Why is it so difficult for transphobic people to show basic respect?

Change, for many people, is hard, especially when it flies in the face of lifelong beliefs. Like racism, this will be a long battle for hearts and minds. 

How important is celebrating your achievements?

They are my achievements, so only I really care. Drum-roll, please… “Ta-da!” And, there you have it, my “celebration” of a job well done. I achieve for myself, not for accolades from others.  

Why do kids listen to their parents so much and why can’t they think for themselves?

Let a kid think for themselves and not listen to parental advice? Back in the day, we would call this “population control.”

What is the meaning of the quote, "I have too many flaws to be perfect, but I have too many blessings to be ungrateful."?

No one is perfect. The most anyone can hope for is excellence. So, it behooves one to be grateful for their blessings, regardless of how many they have. We should all strive to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of our circumstances.

Author's comment: Yes indeed…yes indeed. Thank you for your answer, my friend.

“Perfection belongs to narrated events, not to those we live.”

-- Primo Levi

What are some unconventional ways to stay motivated and achieve your goals?

Unforgiving sex with a variety of dominant women. I don’t know, I’m just throwing this out there.

My strategies are different than that of society. Will I fail?

Not necessarily. Society pretty much sucks, so your strategies might be a breath of fresh air, or you could fail. But, you will never truly know until you try. Failure is the best way we learn.

Are there good movies about luck?

They tend to be fantasies.

Why is this website almost as bad as Facebook for grandmas, and how do I remove all that cringe misinformation from my feed?

Get off of this website, and the “Facebook for grandmas,” and stop allowing “cringe misinformation” on your feed. Everything is a choice or a decision, so you might need to make better ones.

How can I be more humble and kindhearted?

Don’t brag, and be selflessly kind in everything you do for other people.

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”

-- Rick Warren

Is voice, speech, and communication, related to wisdom?

Only if you’re wise, otherwise, it’s nonsensical.

Is it less rude to say your team's loss is ALL your fault (not necessarily true), or NONE of it was your fault (not necessarily true)?

It’s bullshit, either way. Only the “team leader” can take responsibility for the team’s loss. The “team leader” is responsible to make sure everyone on the team is ready and able to win. It is up to the “team leader” to make appropriate changes and to report issues, that will affect winning, to upper management for their action. This last is “passing the buck” which is the only way the “team leader” can absolve themselves from any responsibility for the loss, if the “team leader” is right, that is.

What does it mean when a person offers you the world?

They are full of themselves, and crap. It is the suggestion that, if they could, which they can’t, they would offer you the world. They are, in essence, offering you much more than you have.

Do you find constant learning hard work after being more than just a beginner in the subjects?

Only if it surpasses my ability to readily understand, then I have to work at it.

Which one do you think is easier for most people? Enduring the success of others or Enduring the misfortune of others.

Most people let their egos get in the way of their own attainment of a goal. The “success” of others will be an issue, as the “misfortune” will be seen as a gift. Better that people pay attention to their own efforts, understanding that someone else’s attainment of the goal first is due to their own inadequacy in not being good enough, or paying enough attention, to surpass the competition.

“Nobody sees anybody truly but all through the flaws of their own egos. That is the way we all see ...each other in life. Vanity, fear, desire, competition-- all such distortions within our own egos-- condition our vision of those in relation to us. Add to those distortions to our own egos the corresponding distortions in the egos of others, and you see how cloudy the glass must become through which we look at each other. That's how it is in all living relationships except when there is that rare case of two people who love intensely enough to burn through all those layers of opacity and see each other's naked hearts.”

-- Tennessee Williams

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. 

I fervently 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