Questioning Certainty, Jealousy, Creativity, Stupidity, and Respect

 

"Nobody in this world possesses absolute truth. This is God's attribute alone. Relative truth is all we know. Therefore, we can only follow the truth as we see it. Such pursuit of truth cannot lead anyone astray."

-- Mahatma Gandhi

Can we know anything for sure? Is knowledge relative?

Science is learning a painful lesson concerning certainty. They have started prefacing their findings with statements like, “With the new information we have just discovered, there is a 99.99% chance that we might be right.” Science has started leaving an escape clause for their findings, instead of stating certainties. Knowledge is always relative to the truth, and the "truth" is rarely certain.

How do you entertain someone?

I try to be interesting. It is tough being me.

Would it be useful if I listed 100 ways to be positive, 100 ways to be happy, 100 ways to be friendly, and 100 ways to be helpful?

Only you can answer that. I try to be always positive, truly happy, friendly, and selflessly helpful. I try to be all of this. I excel most of the time. “Friendly” depends on the person, however. You give what you get. I don’t need to write any of this down. After 70 years of life, I have it engrained in my brain.

Does everybody have a style?

Yep. Good or bad, everyone has their own style, even if they try to copy someone else’s.

I kept thinking I am not me. What should I do to make me think that I am actually me?

Look in a mirror. Raise your hand. Does your reflection look like you? Did it raise its hand? Then, it is, in all likelihood, you. If you were someone else, you would not be thinking you are not you. You are always you, regardless of what you think.

Why can't two people have different opinions on social media and agree to disagree?

They can, but some people are arrogant assholes who think they always have to be right.

“Differences are not a failure of humanity, differences are a test of our humanity.”

-- Abhijit Naskar

Why do people get jealous by seeing other people’s achievements?

Because they are not happy with themselves. I applaud those who achieve. At 70 years of life, jealousy sailed a long time ago. I am content with what I have achieved in life. All I have learned, whether good or bad.

Would anyone join me in being a truth seeker?

One would assume we are all “truth seekers.” Seeking any untruths would be meritless unless your point is to “out” a liar. 

Should we welcome artificial intelligence or be scared by it?

Be afraid. Be very afraid. Many industrialized countries are working toward this, and many of those countries will sacrifice safeguards for results, regardless of any agreements they sign to the contrary.

To promote peace, love, and empathy, what techniques are used?

Desire and action. Desire to do them, and then do them.

How do I stop getting jealous of my dance friend, she’s so good at freestyle and routines but no matter how hard I try I get compared to her or put behind her in a routine I work hard in the studio and it’s getting me down, any tips?

If she is truly your friend, be selflessly supportive of her talent. Be who you are, not who she is. Stop competing and work hard for yourself. Stop competing against anyone but yourself. You are the one you need to be jealous of.

Would you trust an AI that can write about fear but never experienced it?

Why would you trust an AI for anything except doing basic functions?

“The promise of artificial intelligence for achieving sustainable development goals needs comprehensive safety and ethical standards and protocols.”

-- Sri Amit Ray

What are some unique hobbies or side projects that can help boost creativity?

Any hobbies or projects have the prospect of boosting creativity. It is incumbent on you to work those hobbies and projects with the intent to boost your own creativity. Try something new. Think out of the “box” containing the instructions.

Support to our page and participate with our team members

This is not a question.

Why can’t I think properly when put on the spot?

You get flustered. When someone puts you “on the spot” you need to take a moment to think of a response. They have asked a question, so now they have to give you a few seconds to develop a good answer. When people put me on the spot I tell them, “I’ll get back to you on that. Give me a second.”

If they say they want the answer now, tell them, “You asked me a question, and when I have a cogent answer you’ll be the first to know. A few seconds won’t destroy the planet.”

As you can tell, I hate being put on the spot. I’ve had three careers, and not one of them ever put me on the spot without me stating a proviso that the answer might be wrong. I excelled in all of them.

People think I’m weird for liking my coworker. She’s 17 and I am 20. Is it wrong for them to judge?

Define “liking” a 17-year-old. Sexually, if she was 18, it would be so less frowned upon. 

"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." What does this mean?

It makes little sense. They forget what they hear, so why don’t they forget what they see, or forget what they do? I hear and critique, I see and consider, and I do in order to understand. This makes more sense to me.

How can a leader encourage students to take leadership?

That would be a secondary tenet of an exceptional leader.

"It's a leader's ability to motivate and collaborate with people that helps them to deliver that vision. As such, much of effective leadership relies on people skills. Leaders need to understand and respect the people on their team as individuals, and to know how to bring out the best in them as they work together."

-- The Mind Tools Content Team

I know you can’t fix stupid. Does that mean we should not try though?

You can fix “stupid” but it takes time and talent. Most people don’t want to take the time and, therefore, waste their precious talent. Those that do so selflessly, however, find that true success in life is worth the time and effort.

What is the best way to handle an insensitive relative who always makes fun of your decisions and choices in life?

Ignore them, to the point of staying away from them. It is your life, not theirs. Live your life, not the life they think you should live.

What do people gain from power? Is it just a control thing? Even then it makes no sense to me why people who are close to me that claim to love me would want power over me.

Control. But, if they truly loved you, there would only be love between you. A shared friendship of two kindred souls deeply in love with each other and life. Power and control have no place in a mutually loving relationship.

What is the story behind the saying, "People are not born with talent but they make their own talents"?

It depends if you believe in reincarnation. It would seem some children bring talent with them into their next life.

Why do most people fail to understand that everything will fail in the long run?

Humanity has had a long run. Unless they do something stupid, they will continue until the earth fails them. Even then, they may shoot for the stars. Failure is relative to change. Many things we think have failed have really just changed, like humans.

What is the greatest accomplishment in life?

True happiness.

“True happiness cannot be achieved through wealth, fame or action, but through love, modesty, and self-satisfaction.”

-- Mouloud Benzadi

How many close friends do you have, and how do you respect them?

I have about ten close friends, that I stay in touch with. Our respect is mutual, or we wouldn’t be friends at all. We would be relegated to “acquaintances” instead. 

Are there any loyalty programs for regular customers?

Generally, they call it a “loyalty program” for a reason. Customers who constantly frequent a store will be more apt to purchase into a “loyalty program” so they can save more money than the fee for the program. Regular customers can buy into the program, but you have to use it for it to pay for itself.

Why do things I think of happen?

Precognition.

Why is life treating me like shit?

The fact you’re still there makes one think that you’re a glutton for punishment. If you’re not, and life treats you like shit, leave and find another life that treats you better. This is not rocket science.

What inventions do you hope to have in 20 years?

Well, I’m 70 years of age, and that will make me 90. At the age of 90, I will be so happy to be alive that any inventions are someone else’s hopes and desires, except maybe a rigid…  

Can personal responsibility and a capitalist society coexist?

Better than personal responsibility and socialism.

“Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free.”

-- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

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 view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, 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 offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a 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 United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

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 a weapon for his war on intolerance... he chose the pen. He 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 personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com