Questioning Danger, Love, Answers, Stupid, Career, and Risks

 

“...And then people jump on it like a herd of lemmings, stampeding towards the cliffs of insanity.”

-- Shebani

When in danger, why do humans run in crowds when it is clearly more dangerous?

Why do Lemmings run off a cliff together? We tend to follow the dumbass in the lead when all he’s doing is running to get away. It is crowd mentality and, yes, it is so much more dangerous.

Are you misunderstood or do others refuse to understand?

I try to make sure people understand where I’m coming from. “Keep it simple, stupid.”

How do you personally decide what information to share openly and what to keep private? What factors or considerations influence your choices between disclosure and withholding in your communication with others?

Well, this is obvious. Anything private stays private. If I share it, it won’t be private anymore. If I think you need to know my "private" information I will share only the information that I think you need to know.

If everyone was good, then who would be considered bad?

Not everyone can be good. There must be balance in the universe. There will be bad.

What does the quote "Genius, without education is like silver in the mine" mean to you?

Silver in the mine means nothing until you mine it. Genius without education means nothing until learn what to do with the genius. This is where education comes in. Education mines the genius.

Am I gay or bi? I’ve had 9 women and 234 guys.

If you’ve had both, you are bi. But, the ratio of men to women makes me question. But... who is counting?

“Never underestimate the naughtiness factor.”

-- Eowyn Wood

I told him I love you and he said he would think about it. What does it mean?

Go find someone else to love. He is a waste of time.

Can you be sixteen and still be immature?

Yep. You are still experimenting with maturity. When 16-year-olds stop getting pregnant, the boy and the girl will have gleaned a bit of maturity. Until you stop acting like children, you will continue to be children.

Can making someone else happy make you unhappy?

Never. Making someone happy always makes me very happy.

How do you prove everybody wrong that hated and doubted you?

Why do you care? This is flaunting your ego, and that is a bit off. The fact that you are right is enough. You don’t have to prove it to anybody… unless it is your boss, then you might drop a hint.

What is the best way to deal with a manipulative person who uses guilt as an emotional weapon against you?

They manipulate, so stay far away from them. You don’t have to deal with manipulative little pricks.

My boyfriend said I sound like a baby because I always answer “I don’t know” to a lot of questions. And he doesn't like that. Why doesn’t he like that I don’t know everything?

People tend to like people who are on par with their intelligence. My girlfriend has a great memory for dates and little-known knowledge. I give her great advice. We complement each other’s intelligence. Sometimes she can be dumb. Sometimes I can be stupid. We balance out. If he rubs you the wrong way, then find a better boyfriend.

“The more educated someone is, the less likely it usually is for them to say that they do not know when they do not know.”

-- Mokokoma Mokhonoana

With more than 7 billion people on the planet, not one of them intelligent enough to have one answer for everything, what makes you think you're so special?

If making women scream "God" during an orgasm doesn’t count, then, absolutely nothing.

If most people's IQs are around 100 or so, then why does it seem like many people have trouble with simple things and challenges?

A high IQ doesn’t mean you are the “know-all” of the universe. You may know how to solve a difficult mathematical equation in record time, and not know what tie goes with what suit. The mind decides what it thinks is important. I’m a humble semi-ancient “pie hole” philosopher who can peel an enemy’s face off with a plastic knife from a fast food restaurant, but I can’t remember my daughter’s birthday.

Do we get wiser with age?

If you pay attention.

Can we trust an expert opinion?

Most of the time. Even medical doctors can screw up, that’s why they have malpractice insurance. There is no such thing as “perfect” in the universe. They can be excellent, but perfection is elusive.

What are your hobbies you think are a lot of fun but most people might find boring or on the opposite end taxing?

Lake fishing.

Is being educated the same as being knowledgeable?

No. Being educated on a subject is not the same as being knowledgeable on the subject. I am knowledgeable about cars. I am familiar with the signs that they need a mechanic. But, I am not educated enough to be that mechanic.

“Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.”

-- Oscar Wilde

Why does it seem that everybody is stupid?

Because…

What are the benefits and drawbacks of having a bully around?

The “drawback” is that someone has to be the victim. The “benefit” is the universe demands balance, and an asshole reminds us of what an asshole is. We have something to compare good to evil. Balance is in evidence.

Should I let my girlfriend get gangbanged?

Only if you can watch or be involved. Then, go find a girlfriend who wants only you.

People do stupid things. Do animals do stupid things?

We are not that far from our animal roots. Animals do stupid things, so we can assume that evolution doesn’t care about stupid. 20,000 years in the future, we’ll still be doing the same stupid things we did when we were monkeys. It is what it is.

Are you happily satisfied with your relationship?

Yes.

What makes people dislike you for no reason?

No one dislikes me for no reason. There is always a reason, insignificant as it might be. I stare at a woman’s legs. I can’t help myself. I get caught ogling the legs and the woman immediately dislikes me. She doesn’t even know me. Well, she knows I ogle women’s legs, but, what the hell? I’m a man. I can’t change that. She should be happy I was brought up not cup her ass.

“There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome."

"And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody."

"And yours," he replied with a smile, "is wilfully to misunderstand them.”

-- Jane Austen

It's been 6 months since I graduated from college. People keep asking me about my career when I'm already trying my best. Is it normal to feel frustrated with that kind of question?

Yes, but their asking is also normal. You need to explain that you’re still trying to get a position. You might try to get a lower position and work your way into the position you want. I’ve met ocean biologists who found better-paying jobs as bartenders. Who knew?

What can you do today to take darkness out of someone's life?

Feed the hungry.

How can I stop shopping too much and constantly not being satisfied with what I have even though I have a lot?

Because you haven’t realized that true happiness isn’t what you own, it is a choice for your life. You need to understand that true happiness is about striving for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. Once you realize this truth, you will no longer be tied to trying to purchase happiness.

Are women’s feet so sexy you want to make love to them?

Indeed!

Why is it so hard for someone to let things go that are no big deal?

No “big deal” for whom? You, or the person saying it’s a big deal? What you don’t see as a big deal might be a life changer for the other person. It is better to ask them what the “big deal” is. Let them explain it to you, so you can understand their issue. Maybe you can help them since you don’t see it as a “big deal.”

What is something that you think most people don't realize they can just ask you without feeling weird?

Questions concerning sex. I have no filter, so I’ll tell you exactly what I think.

“It may well be that we talk about sex more than anything else; we set our minds to the task; we convince ourselves that were have never said enough on the subject... where sex is concerned the most long-winded, the most impatient of societies is our own.”

-- Michel Foucault

If we knew how long we were going to live, would we be more likely to take risks?

No, it’s a good way to find out that someone lied about your timeline.

Why is education necessary for life?

It is why we’re here. We are here to learn. Everything we encounter is a lesson life has dealt for us. You can learn it now, or you can learn it in the next life, but to continue down your path, you are going to have to learn the lessons life deals to you.

Why do some individuals feel threatened by their partner's interest in sex toys?

I’m not sure. I always found the toys exhilarating. It makes it so much easier to buy gifts for your partner. 

Why are you blocking people who are speaking the truth? Hurts, huh?

I don’t block anybody, and the “truth” is a matter of opinion. The opinion has to do with fact and fiction. People with limited intelligence believe the media’s fiction and the “smart” people do their due diligence to find the more believable truth.

Would you think about having sex with a 12-year-old?

Jail time comes to mind. That is not only illegal in almost every state, but is also child abuse, wrong, and strange, which is why it’s illegal.

What should you do if your husband says “I don't know” when asked whether he loves you or not?

File for divorce. He has fallen out of love with you, or he would be able to answer that question the right way for you. You can tell him, if that’s his answer, you’ll be using the bed to “do” your new boyfriend. He can sleep on the couch. That’s what roommates do. See how that sets with him.

“You either love me or you don't. So stop sending mixed signals because they're causing mixed emotions.”

-- Nitya Prakash

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