Questioning Plans, Sense, Arrogance, Nigs, Response, and Fame

“Is it dangerous to plan too much? Yes, we all need to plan, to have a plan, but life goes on regardless of our plans and we know only too well what happens to so many of the best-laid plans of mice and men!”

-- Leslie W.P. Garland

Who made the plan first of all?

Without more information… God.

What are the negative and positive sides of pondering 7 hours daily?

Well, if you ponder for 7 hours, 3 meals eat up 2 hours, let’s say you sleep for 8, that leaves you 4 hours to do work. The positive side is that you get a lot of pondering in. The negative side is that you don’t have a job to support yourself, and no sexual relationship, worth the time, will have you.

What quotes inspired you to stand out from the crowd? A quote that motivated you to be unique?

“If you won’t do it, who do you pick?”

What does it say about your intelligence that you're sitting down and reading this extremely stupid troll question on Quora?

I’m retired and bored. More importantly, what does it say about your intelligence that you ask such stupid troll questions, in the first place? Are you retired and bored, or just an ass?

Do people act on answers that they ask on Quora?

I’ve never asked. I get a butt-load of “upvotes” though.

How can you handle the judgment from your past that you're a bad person?

No one has ever judged me from my past, calling me a bad person. Since I don’t think I am, I’d probably ignore a judgment from someone who probably has more to be judged than I do.

“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)... There are just some kind of men who - who're so busy worrying about the next world they've never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.”

-- Harper Lee

Jayy randawa Who knows about?

What???

Living in the world these days, does a person who has common sense seem to have a superpower to other people?

We need to stop calling it “common” sense and start calling it “good” sense. Good sense isn’t that common anymore. When someone says “common sense” to me, I immediately think they are using “bad” sense, which is more common these days. With this in mind, someone who exercises “good” sense, might be seen by others as having a superpower.

Here's a funny question related to bad habits: If procrastination was an Olympic sport, how confident are you that you'd win the gold medal, and what excuses would you give for being fashionably late to the award ceremony?

No problem winning. I’m retired. I’m fashionably late because she was an amateur.

If there are different types of intelligence, then is there no such thing as "stupidity"?

Actually, there is. One of the lowest rungs of intelligence is commonly called stupidity. It gets the idea across to the masses without going through all the levels of intelligence. We can simply say, they’re stupid. How stupid are they? That will require us to get the book out and test their intelligence to see what level they land in the IQ arena. It is a lot easier if we accept that they’re generally stupid, and be done with it. But, then, that is a judgment.

I want everyone to know about my governor's obsession. What should I do?

Give the governor a big wet kiss on the lips, and use a lot of tongue.

Are bullies happy people?

They are bullies for a multitude of reasons. Not being happy is one of them. If a bully had to look over their shoulder for the bully that thinks they suck, how can they be happy? Sooner or later the bully will meet their match, and they’ll taste the medicine they’ve been dishing out.

“What if the kid you bullied at school, grew up, and turned out to be the only surgeon who could save your life?”

-- Lynette Mather

Can someone be both arrogant and knowledgeable?

Of course. They can be arrogant in their knowledge. Most knowledgeable people I know are arrogant when it comes to lording their knowledge over others. I just laugh and ignore them.

Do you ever wonder how another truly believes what they state, when it is obviously incorrect, or shallow to you?

They must have “faith” in what they believe. Faith is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof. Science teaches us what we know at this moment. Tomorrow, we may know more, or find out we were way off base. Are we to call science “shallow” because they believe what they think is fact? If we look at atheists and theists, both have faith in what they believe, yet neither has any proof to back up their beliefs. It is a matter of faith.

Who’s style do you admire?

Sean Connery’s “James Bond” character.

How do you argue better online? My style is very Dumbledore-like, with formal words and a slightly condescending tone, but everybody I argue with seems to dismiss my well-written points as fool's babble.

I don’t argue, period. it isn’t worth it. One of you is wrong, and I’d hate to find out it was me. I discuss. If the person decides they don’t want to discuss, then I have the option to ignore their intolerance. It would seem everybody has dismissed you. Maybe it has to do with arguing.

What does it mean to "act as oneself"?

Don’t act like anyone else. You are more than enough.

What can you do to respect yourself?

Develop a “code of good ethical conduct” to stand behind, no matter what. No matter what happens, you can stand your ground and be proud of doing it. You will earn your respect, as well as the respect of others.

“When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you.”

-- Lao Tzu

Do nigs and people think the same or differently?

If people are people, then what are “nigs”? If they aren’t people, then they think differently. Hell, most people I know think differently than everyone else. So, if they are people, they probably think differently. But, I’d still like to understand what a “nig” is.

Do guys like satisfying mature women?

Oh, hell yes!

How can I be happy if I don't know what I want? What if I don't want anything?

True happiness isn’t about wanting anything other than true happiness. Material crap is a placebo for true happiness. You need to make the conscious choice to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. Because it is a choice, it is sustainable, as long as the choice doesn’t change. To change this choice would be counterintuitive.

Why would he call me fat when he knows what I was in the beginning?

He’s decided he doesn’t like you fat? You are what you are. Are you going to change for him?

What if my ex is happier without me?

They are your “ex” significant other. Of course, they are happier without you. You were probably a pain in their ass, or they didn’t like you, much less love you. If they are happier, maybe you should be focussing your attention on being happy without them, as well. Time to find a new main squeeze.

Can you give me a good quote about life and people?

Try this:

“Reality is what it is, and what it isn’t, it isn’t.

Sometimes, what it is it isn’t, and what it isn’t, well... it is.

Other times it's nothing, and then it's anything.

But, if it's nothing, it isn’t, and if it's anything, it is.

But, naming "nothing" makes nothing something;

Therefore, whether it is or it isn’t, it must be,

Because, even nothing that isn’t, already is.” 

-- F.A. Villari

 What is the best way to respond when someone says "I'm not easy to get along with"?

“Neither am I. So, it seems we have something in common.”

Why did my sister get rude, more immature, and hysterical after getting a job?

Work does not become her.

Is it normal to masturbate more than 3 times a day?

Everything that I know of, even diamonds, wear out if they aren’t taken care of. Perhaps moderation might be a rule people should consider before they wear themselves out.

Why do I want to be caught jerking off?

A closet exhibitionist, wanting desperately to come out of the closet?

Do men like women who masturbate?

As long as the woman does it in front of the man, I see no problem. If she is shy, on the other hand, this could turn a selflessly good thing into a selfish act.

Do girls masturbate as much as boys?

I’m not sure, but, they do lie a lot.

"She told me, "There's no masturbation in the DC Universe." To which my reaction was, "Well, that explains a lot about the DC Universe."

-- Neil Gaiman

What do you choose to do, helping someone in need or getting fame? Why?

Fame is fleeting. Here today, gone tomorrow. We should try to help someone selflessly. It doesn’t matter what other people think of us, it only matters what we think of ourselves.

If you met a successful person who started from nothing, what would you ask them?

Did you work your ass off, or was it gifted to you?

Over the weekend, I came across a deep statement, which says, "No one is as smart as all of us." What is your understanding of this statement?

Just as the brain uses multiple aspects to come to an acceptable conclusion, we bring our own “aspect” to civilization’s “brain.” But, as smart as all of us can be in total, someone needs to take all that information and decide what the “conclusion” will be. If not, there will be infighting among the separate aspects.

What are some dark manipulation tricks you have tried and it worked? I’m just curious.

Intelligence rules prohibit members from disclosing “manipulation tricks” that worked. Sorry about that.

Why do people view suffering as a competition?

If suffering is a competition, I’m a loser… thank God. Strive for happiness always.

Would you consider yourself a good person?

Yes. I’m not the epitome of “good,” but, I am certainly not close to being bad. Everyone has their secret “dark” moments. It doesn’t make them bad, just interesting.

“There is no way that a person who treats others badly when he is unhappy is a good person! A good person is a person who treats others well even when unhappy!”

-- Mehmet Murat ildan

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 in 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