Questioning Right, Dating, Mentoring, Ethics, and Deflection

 

“... what you think is right isn't the same as knowing what is right.”

-- E.A. Bucchianeri

How do I pace myself and do something right?

You don’t have to “pace” yourself. Just make sure everything you do is right.

Can you share a Conditioned Behavior you’ve been taught or learned?

Over my 23 years in the military Intelligence field, I conditioned myself to forget the classified material that I no longer needed to remember.

Now that I’ve been retired for over 29 years, the 22 years of classified material, I managed to retain for my career, have been deleted from my long-term memory. I remember general information, but nothing significant that can damage national interests.

What is the difference between making decisions with and without critical thinking?

If you don’t use critical thinking, the result of your decision will be a crap shoot. 

What role does mentorship play in bridging the gap between perceived skills and actual expertise?

Mentors usually have skills derived from actual expertise; from experience. As such, mentors can look at someone’s “perceived” skills and show them how to not perceive, but really know their skill level.

Does having many friends guarantee a happy life?

No. Making the choice to have a truly happy life, regardless of your circumstances, might do it, though. 

What is bottom-up processing?

I’ll take a shot at this: There is no preconception. You see, you process, you understand. In “top-down” you think you know from experience, then you see reality, and then you understand whether you are right or wrong in your preconception.

“Libertarian communists shun any particularist atomization into small units, communes, and workers' councils, and aspire to a federalist coordination, one which is both close-knit and freely consented to. Rejecting bureaucratic and authoritarian planning, they believe in the need for coherent and democratic planning, inspired from the bottom up.”

-- Daniel Guérin

How does a fearful-avoidant behave when they start dating someone new?

So, they overcame their fearful avoidance to date someone new? They must be a basket case.

Is there any happiness after a divorce?

Absolutely! Find someone better than you were with. Mine made my life a living hell for 25 years. I've been living in sin for 20 years, ever since, with a woman who is my good friend. I should have cut the ties with that marriage before she got half my retirement. But, now I am truly happy in life. Everyone makes mistakes, but… 25 years? Good Lord!

Why is it hard for me to do things fast?

Speed causes mistakes. Maybe you like to know things are done right, the first time.

What are some signs that a teenage daughter is getting ready to rebel?

Tattoos, piercings, she’s 12 and discussing dating, purchasing condoms… and other birth control. Actually, she is rebelling already.

What does it mean when a guy tells you to stop loving him?

I tell guys to stop loving me, all the time. I’m not gay.

Do Democrat voters see what's happening around us? If so, why do they continue to vote for the Democrats?

Why do religious zealots drink the arsenic-laced Kool-Aid? If you repeat stuff long enough, people start to believe.

“Here is the short version of the Kool-Aid Fallacy: Cult … therefore Jim Jones … therefore mass suicide … therefore Kool-Aid. It’s astonishing how much of social media now revolves around simple word association sequences. Absolutely no thought goes into anything. No one ever delivers an actual argument. If they ever do attempt an argument, their punctuation, spelling, grammar, logic, and general education are not up to the task, and soon dissolve into meaningless mush. But usually, they just hurry on to the insults and ad hominem attacks, which is the part they love. Before long, the Kool-Aid fallacy is eagerly applied. Every argument should have a Dunning-Kruger quotient associated with it. Most people are 100% on the Dunning-Kruger scale. They imagine themselves geniuses, and geniuses dunces. As ever, they have inverted reality.”

-- Thomas Stark

Do people ever say you are the reason for their success?

Several, back in the military. I was their last shot at making it in Intelligence. Every person they dumped on me was a success before I was through. Mentoring was my thing.

Why does a guy want to make a girl happy?

Have you ever seen a girl that wasn’t happy? Nuff said.

Why do some people say that they are trying to find their "authentic self"? If they are looking for that, what is the "false self"?

It’s a dog chasing its tail. They’ve never seen their “authentic self,” so how will they know when they see it? How do they know the “self” they have is the “false” self? It might be the authentic self. They don’t know. I look in the mirror. The guy that’s looking back at me is my authentic self. I can, then, choose from a selection of personas, depending on the occasion. But, the mirror never lies to me.

How do I find out what people are doing when they are not around?

If you’re that nosey, ask them.

What are the signs of being too cautious?

Not doing anything. Being jumpy when you are doing something. Taking too long to do a simple project. It takes too long to make a simple choice.

Why does he sometimes reply instantly and sometimes take hours to reply?

Does he have a life? My life keeps me from the computer for hours.

“Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.”

-- Allen Saunders

Do religions promote morals or ethics?

Just about as much as religions are immoral and unethical. Organized religion can be its own worst enemy.

What are the consequences of reversing bad luck? Can it cause other problems later in life?

There is no such thing as “bad luck.” What we have are bad choices and bad decisions. You can make anything bad more palatable. I’m not sure how making anything good from bad would cause other problems later in life, but shit happens, especially if you don’t learn to make better choices and decisions.

What should I do if I am not happy with my marriage?

Divorce, before you spend 25 years trying to salvage a lost cause.

Does your mouth say what it wants to?

I’ve been told that I have no filter. I say what’s on my mind. I don’t sugarcoat much of what I say. It is hard to sugarcoat the truth.

What do I do when it hurts to stay with a man but it hurts to go?

Either learn to be submissive… or learn to let go.

What is the advice for giving and taking space in a relationship?

Equality. If things aren’t equal, what is the point? And, if you argue over it, the relationship has failed.

“I know now that love means showing up for one another and trusting that the other person always has your back. It means asking for help sometimes, and not thinking that means you look weak. Love means opening your heart to another, no matter the consequences.”

-- Jen Calonita

Why can't Democrats defend their politicians without deflecting and mentioning Trump?

They need to blame a Republican. Blame Biden? Be real. The socialist “house of cards” is collapsing.

Is shame an important tool to keep a society/nation humble?

No. The segment of society that society elects to keep them safe, is enough to make most people humble. These people give their all to keep everyone safe. This should make a strong man humble in the presence of the little lady who is a first responder. God bless them!

How do I apologize to someone who refuses to admit that their feelings were hurt?

Apologize, anyway. If their feelings were really hurt, they will silently appreciate your humility and effort.

Why is Kant's moral philosophy our ethical standard in this era? Could somebody reply to it?

Immanuel Kant’s moral philosophy should have been the ethical standard throughout time. As stated, “Kant’s moral philosophy focuses on fairness and the value of the individual. His method rests on our ability to reason, our autonomy (i.e., our ability to give ourselves moral law and govern our own lives), and logical consistency.”

Considering his life, 1724–1804, started 300 years ago, it has taken too long for us to understand the principles he laid out. Kant shouldn’t have come up with this. This is a logical philosophy for human existence. You will not find this in socialism, which should piss off most socialists, and the League of the Perpetually Offended when they consider indoctrination.

How can AI-powered language translation tools improve cross-cultural communication and content accessibility on global social media platforms?

That would depend on the programming.

Is it possible for humans to fall in love with artificial intelligence (like Siri, etc.)? Has it happened before?

That depends. Is one of them going to be submissive? Spankings will commence! AI better know how to moderate their strength.

“I do not want to be human. I want to be myself. They think I’m a lion, that I will chase them. I will not deny that I have lions in me. I am the monster in the wood. I have wonders in my house of sugar. I have parts of myself I do not yet understand.

I am not a Good Robot. To tell a story about a robot who wants to be human is a distraction. There is no difference. Alive is alive.

There is only one verb that matters: to be.”

-- Catherynne M. Valente

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 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