Questioning Answers, AI, Technology, Deadlines, and Questions

“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about answers.”

-- Thomas Pynchon

Are you doing something right if you get zero answers?

Offhand, I’d say your questions need some work.

What would you do if you witnessed someone being bullied?

I’d step in. I was bullied as a child. I almost killed the bully with a tree branch. You can only bully as long as the victim allows it. The bully needs to know their longevity light is flickering.

Which one would you choose between courage, integrity, and respect and why?

Integrity. If you’re looking for courage and respect, genuine integrity will get you there. 

I don't agree with the advice that suggests to ignore your circumstances or it doesn't have an affect on your progress or pursuing goals. Am I wrong?

The only thing I can think of that your circumstances don’t affect is true happiness. If you strive to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances, you’ll find it is a simple choice. If you can’t find true happiness in this, how do you think you will ever be truly happy pursuing anything else?

Can you innovate a question or develop an existing question? Take your time to think because this question could open a new scientific door or inspire someone to do something great.

I took time to think, got involved, and forgot what the question was.

Why do you think artificial intelligence is a threat?

Countries with little world responsibility are working on AI. This makes AI a threat when there is no oversight to ensure there is no threat. Without oversight to ensure there is no threat, there will certainly be a threat. It is a facet of human nature to be greedy, regardless of the negative circumstances.

“The pace of progress in artificial intelligence (I’m not referring to narrow AI) is incredibly fast. Unless you have direct exposure to groups like Deepmind, you have no idea how fast — it is growing at a pace close to exponential. The risk of something seriously dangerous happening is in the five-year time frame. 10 years at most.” 

-- Elon Musk

“If Elon Musk is wrong about artificial intelligence and we regulate it who cares. If he is right about AI and we don’t regulate it we will all care.” 

-- Dave Waters

Why should people come to you when there is a lot of AI to solve their problems?

They can blame me. With AI, they only have themselves to blame for going to AI.

I entered into a committed relationship without being committed. This is cheating, right? How can you exit this agreement?

Other than being a liar, yeah, it’s cheating. Honesty, which you should exercise, is the best course of action. Tell the person you lied to that you aren’t ready for commitment, and that you won’t be ready until you can learn not to lie.

Does fear usually become anger?

If someone thinks they can make me do what frightens me, that would piss me off. Of course, if I've put myself in a position of fear, I would probably be pissed off at myself.

Why can't narcissists do a decent job at normal human behavior?

Because they’re narcissists. Normal human behavior is beyond their scope. By definition (Mayo Clinic), they “have an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others. Be envious of others and believe others envy them. Behave in an arrogant way, brag a lot and come across as conceited. Insist on having the best of everything — for instance, the best car or office.” I find it difficult to imagine they can fake their way through life. It is beyond them.

Would you like to know what everyone you've ever met has thought about you?

Nope. Don’t care what they think of me. I am who I am and, at age 70, I’m not considering a change.

Is it me, or is [this site] full of really stupid questions?

It could be you. There is no "stupid" question… unless it is asked more than once. A question can seem stupid, but the person asking the question may not know the answer. Ignorance is not stupidity. Ignorance is the beginning of intelligence.

“If you ask a stupid question, you may feel stupid; if you don't ask a stupid question, you remain stupid.”

-- Tony Rothman

What is the debate on "technology has done more good than harm in society"?

One side takes the “good” argument, and one side takes the “harm” argument. They debate. I will stand with the “good” side. Medicine, space travel, science, and so much more have offset any harm to society, except for the opinion of the League of the Perpetually Offended, that is.

As an ordinary citizen caught in the crossfire of a power struggle, would you advise critical thinking or going with the flow?

Critical thinking. It probably won’t do the average citizen any good, but you also won’t sound stupid like all those other “Joe Bag O’Donuts” in society.

What is something about yourself that you can't tell anyone that you are guilty of, either directly or metaphorically (you are allowed to be anonymous)?

Anonymity is a game of words. There is no such thing. As for me, I am guilty of much that I certainly won’t be telling on this platform, directly or metaphorically. The U.S. government doesn’t recognize the ability of someone, other than themselves, to give me the right to tell secrets “out of school” just because someone thinks they can guarantee anonymity. Again, there is no such thing.

Is technology enhancing the sense of self-entitlement in modern youths?

“Enhancing the sense” of a self-entitlement that doesn’t exist. Technology is setting them up for a fall.

Why do people claim that as you get older, you stop caring about what others think when there are lots of old people who are so bothered about public opinion?

I just turned 70 years old. I haven’t cared what other people think since I was 60. There comes a time when you are who you are. You realize you’ve been changing to meet other people’s expectations, and you decide to stop. You become a lovable curmudgeon. You draw a line in the wet concrete of life, pour a cup of coffee, and watch the cement dry. You stop listening to idiots who think they know stuff. You become one of the people bothered by “public opinion” because the public sucks. When you get older and wiser, you’ll understand this. 

What are some uncomfortable or bitter truths that most people in society don’t want to accept?

Joe McCarthy was right.

“The reason why we find ourselves in a position of impotency is not because the enemy has sent men to invade our shores, but rather because of the traitorous actions of those who have had all the benefits that the wealthiest nation on earth has had to offer… While I cannot take the time to name all the men in the State Department who have been named as members of a spy ring, I have here in my hand a list of 205 that were known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who are still working and shaping the policy of the State Department.”

-- Joseph McCarthy

Am I a smart ass, and how do I stop it?

You don’t know? If you don’t know that you’re a smart ass, then how are you going to stop it. This is because of that. Cause and effect. If you don’t know you have the effect, then how are you going to find the cause? My brain hurts.

How do you psychologically trick yourself into thinking that there's a deadline when there's none?

But, there is. You’ve created a personal deadline. No trick to fall for.

Can you have true happiness without the trust and respect of your partner?

Sure, if you totally ignore your partner, which is a hard thing to do. But it bodes the question, why are you with your “partner” in the first place? It would seem a better partner would cause you to find true happiness, instead of going with the flow and simply thinking you’re happy.

Is it possible to train your imagination to the point that seeing an image in your mind is comparable to seeing something in real life?

Artists and sculptors do this all the time. Michaelangelo was an early expert on this. It is the way we create our reality.

Do narcissists enjoy making you angry?

Nope. I ignore them. I enjoy pissing them off.

The truth appears arrogant to those in denial of it, so how do I get the truth through when people are more interested in calling me arrogant than facing simple objective facts?

You can’t fight willful ignorance. Ignore the ignorance until it bites the naysayers in the ass. It is at this point you can come and tell them you were right. Until then, let them wallow in their willful ignorance. It will serve them right.

“The useful idiots, the leftists who are idealistically believing in the beauty of the Soviet socialist or Communist or whatever system, when they get disillusioned, they become the worst enemies. That’s why my KGB instructors specifically made the point: never bother with leftists. Forget about these political prostitutes. Aim higher. They serve a purpose only at the stage of destabilization of a nation. For example, your leftists in the United States: all these professors and all these beautiful civil rights defenders. They are instrumental in the process of the subversion only to destabilize a nation. When their job is completed, they are not needed anymore. They know too much. Some of them, when they get disillusioned, when they see that Marxist-Leninists come to power—obviously they get offended—they think that they will come to power. That will never happen, of course. They will be lined up against the wall and shot.”

-- Yuri Bezmenov

Why do we always successfully avoid this basic question?

Uh… What basic question? We successfully avoid it because, as evidenced here, the basic question isn’t known.

What are two things that are positive and negative?

Magnetic poles and politics.

Are bullies actually a hero in disguise?

Yeah, let’s go with that. I almost beat a hero to death the disguise was so good. They are bullies, not heroes, and they certainly don’t take the time to disguise their lack of social skills.

What is the Legion of Idiots?

Are we taking political parties?

What's wrong with perception is reality?

A person’s “perception” can be skewed by many variables. You may not know the entire story. Your upbringing might make you believe that Hamas is good. Many people believe that beheading babies is appropriate. Our “perception” can be anything but reality.

What are some short funny quotes about life?

Try this:

“Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.”

--Mark Twain

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