Questioning Questions, Success, Judging, Hope, Opinions, and Bigots

 

“I have decided to stick to love... Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

-- Martin Luther King Jr.

If you ask a stupid question, do you deserve a stupid answer?

Unfortunately, yes. Having said this, though, there is no such thing as a stupid question, unless you ask it more than once.

What demoralized people the most?

Lack of respect from leaders.

Why do we ask questions? 

Curiosity. Like many other species, we are naturally curious. Unlike many other species, we can ask questions that help us to learn. Our curiosity, our desire to learn and to discover, has led to creating civilization as we know it. Some feel we should not have the freedom to discover, however.

Indoctrination toward certain political party lines would mitigate, if not take away, our freedom to question, and we would only be able to learn that which is provided and meets the party line. Education in the United States has been ratted out as not teaching the required basic curriculum. Our children have been dumbed down to pave the way for a socialist takeover of our freedoms and our free political system. How did we find this out? Parents started asking questions that the teacher unions did not want to answer. The “party line” is that parents have no right to question what their children are being taught. 

A free society? Hmmm… it makes one feel like they should ask questions. 

What demands respect?

Respect demands respect. You should get what you give, and vice versa.

Do you care if people hate you?

Yes. I’ve only hated one person in my entire life, and my best friend convinced me that the hate was eating at me. She was right. So, I accepted the apology I knew I was never going to get from my ex-wife, and made the choice to strive for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of my circumstances. Now, I just smile and shake my head at some people. I don't think anyone, but my ex truly hates me, and I'm not entirely sure she doesn't really hate herself. I go out of my way not to piss people off. Not having a filter makes this difficult, but I muscle through. I mean, really, what's not to like?

“There is no such thing as a "broken family." Family is family, and is not determined by marriage certificates, divorce papers, and adoption documents. Families are made in the heart. The only time family becomes null is when those ties in the heart are cut. If you cut those ties, those people are not your family. If you make those ties, those people are your family. And if you hate those ties, those people will still be your family because whatever you hate will always be with you.”

-- C. JoyBell C.

“Everybody has an imagination but not everyone has a good imagination.” Do you agree with this?

Yes. Donatien Alphonse François had a robust imagination, he went to prison for it, primarily because nobody understood or appreciated it. Go figure.

What could be some reasons why some people only believe that their views matter?

One-dimensional thinking, egotistical, narcissist. Pick one.

How do adults measure success?

Being truly happy is success in life. Everything else is simply attaining goals. If you aren’t truly happy before, how can you be truly happy after you attain the goal?

What will happen if the pleasure center of a person is suppressed?

Well, sex, just for the sake of sex, is out. If a guy doesn’t have “wood” what’s the point?

Do you think it is good to always like what you do?

If you don’t like what you do, why are you doing it? You should always like what you do or find something you like doing. It isn’t rocket science.

“As material items can still leave us feeling unfulfilled, perhaps a better gauge of success is simply happiness, finding enjoyment in what we do.”

-- Kristi Bowman

What do you think of the name Pippa?

The “feminine” of Poppa?

How do you portray yourself in the digital/cyber world? After describing your digital self, describe your real self.

In the digital/cyber world, I can do virtually anything. With this in mind, I am a god. However, my real self is nothing but a humble and selfless servant of humanity.

Why do people follow ruthless and evil leaders? Do they exchange freedom for security, are they afraid of disobeying, do they want material rewards and dismiss injustice to others, or something else?

All of that sounds pretty good. Pre-war Germany followed Adolf Hitler because they didn’t understand he was an insane genocidal sociopath capable of exterminating close to 16,000,000 “undesirables” from society.

Demographic Estimated Death Toll

Jews: 6 million, Soviet Citizens: 5.7 million, Soviet Prisoners of War: 3 million, Disabled People: 300,000, Romani Gypsies: 250,000, Homosexuals: 10,000

It is unfathomable for me to think of how many people would have died if he hadn’t been stopped.

Why are most people judgmentalists?

Egos. We love to inflate our own and point fingers. Is "judgmentalist" a word?

Is judgement the best way to make somebody become more better?

"Judgment" is misspelled. Having said this, everyone needs to become “more better” where life is concerned, I’m just not sure any judgment by people with egos, who really need to be judged, is the answer. Before people think they can pass judgment, perhaps they should look in the mirror, They will find, I think without exception, they need to become “more better” themselves. Paying more attention to introspection would benefit all of us.  

By the way, "spell and grammar check" is free.   Not judging, just saying.

“If you can spell "Nietzsche" without Google, you deserve a cookie.”

-- Lauren Leto

If your life was a proverb, what proverb would it be? How does that proverb contribute to the debate that proverbs have value in the 21st century?

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” We can talk or we can do. We can plan till we’re blue in the face and past the deadline, but doing gets the job done.

Can you explain why it might seem like some people are able to get away with doing nothing at work while others are blamed for every small mistake they make?

Bad management. I’d be looking for better employment with a better company.

Is a human being without fear someone without hope?

I wouldn’t think so. I think someone without fear has an overabundance of faith which is the cornerstone of hope. Or, they're just dumbasses operating without a clue, basing their “faith” on a wet dream beyond any possible reality, hoping against hope, that they will be alright. We find this with theists and atheists. 

Are there any actions that people do over and over knowing they are wrong?

Have you been following Joe Biden? 

How can I feel confident that I'm going to Heaven? I feel guilty no matter what I do, and very guilty if I get mad or upset about something or complain.

You feel guilty, but have you done anything to rectify your mistakes? Guilt simply tells you you’re wrong, or bad, it doesn’t make everything right.

“Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.”

-- Mark Twain

What do you say about mutual understanding?

Keep it simply understandable. Complicate it and “mutual” is out the door.

Why do people form opinions about things that they don’t know about?

Because an opinion allows us to “form a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.” It kind of is what an “opinion” is all about.

Why do some people keep trying too hard to do something they aren't naturally good at instead of dedicating themselves to improving their natural talents?

The only way you learn is to do. If you don’t try you’ll never know.

Humans have been making inaccurate statements since the very beginning of humanity and 99.99% of the time no one bats an eye, but when chatGPT makes false statements it's "hold the presses". Why is that?

They probably have better verification. Have you heard any of the White House press briefings? Inaccuracy is their credo, and people believe it.

Why are most adults, teens, and seniors just like very wicked people? I have not met a single one of them that is genuinely a good person, they're all evil, or just pretending to be nice. I have not seen a single human above 11 who is genuinely good?

You need to change who and where you hang around.

“If we believe that god is the creator of evil, maybe there is evil also in heaven, if that is the case, we are not out of the woods yet”

-- Bangambiki Habyarimana

How can you be sure of your worldview, if you disable comments and block people from sharing data and ideas that counter your narrative as if you hold the key to moral authority?

They are very sure of their “worldview” as evidenced by their blocking of any other contrary information. However, it doesn’t make them any more right. They close themselves off into a one-dimensional narrative that only they have control over since they are the only ones listening. This “key of moral authority” is, in fact, their own false belief that they are, somehow, right by not being all-inclusive of other comments. The League of the Perpetually Offended does this quite a bit.

Why do you view 'woke' as a positive or negative term?

As it’s being used in society, currently, it’s negative.

Do people really care about you?

Everyone but members of the League of the Perpetually Offended. They like to label me, call me names, and think I care what they call me. I don’t. I was called a racist by one of them, today. I just laughed at the sadness of the comment. They really don’t know me, and that is fine.

Why can’t people recognize the difference between a hypebeast and a driplord?

No point of reference.

Does being a bigot make you dumb, angry, and poor, or does being dumb, angry, and poor make you a bigot?

Bigotry is the purview of idiots. All lives matter, and to say anything else makes me angry at the ignorant bigots who say it. We should all be striving for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of our circumstances, and we should be bringing as many people with us as we can, regardless of color, sexual orientation, religion, or national origin.  It is both moral and ethical to do so.

“Those who will not reason, are bigots, those who cannot, are fools, and those who dare not, are slaves.”

-- Lord Byron

 

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