Questioning Barbarians, Success, Comfort, Good, British, and Witness

 

"Anyone can be a barbarian; it requires a terrible effort to remain a civilized man."

-- Leonard Woolf

What would happen if people stopped being civilized and resorted back to living like barbarians?

There would be no “rule of law” to follow. Without a “rule of law,” there would be no need for police. Rape, theft, and murder would all be out of hand.

What are your honest thoughts about this generation?

God help us.

Is your best friend an introvert or an extrovert?

All my friends are extroverts. Pretty much, all my friends are down at the cigar bar, and the majority of them are ex-military, so it makes sense.

What made you happy today?

I woke up. Any day on this side of the dirt is a marvelous day!

If someone starts his own answer to a question with “First of all,” could it be that the questioner needs to understand?

First of all, the questioner probably doesn’t know what they’re talking about. There is no need for a “second of all” since the “first of all” covered it nicely. 

Is it stupidity to care for people?

No, it isn’t.

Do you have any favorite quotes that you would like to share?

Try this:

“It is what it is until it isn’t, and then it is what it is again.” 

-- F.A. Villari

In your own opinion, without using search engines on the internet, what are the signs that someone is successful? I mean practical signs.

Since “success” in life has nothing to do with attaining a goal, I’d have to say they are truly happy always and in all things, regardless of their circumstances.

I know that no one is looking for me, but why does it seem that there is no shortage of people looking for me?

If you know that no one is looking for you, why do you think there is no shortage of people looking for you? It makes no sense. If you seem to think there is no shortage of people looking for you, then there must be a possibility of someone looking for you. So, you really don’t know. Right?

In a room full of 1,000 people, I am smarter than 312. What would my IQ be?

It would depend on the IQ of the 1000 people. If you’re smarter than 312 dumbasses, in a room containing 1000 dumbasses, you’re a tick above being the dumbass below you.

While standing in line at a grocery store, what was the most arrogant display you have ever seen?

The checker ripped the greens off my turnips and threw them in the trash. I almost passed out.

Whatever the subjectively moral objections are, what do you dislike about drag queens? For me, it's simple; they are simply boring and samey and not even remotely entertaining.

I find them interesting in that they, the ones who know how to do it, can pass for a woman. That is until they open their mouth. At that point, “Chuck” comes out, and the visual is out the window.

What is it that we can see but cannot touch?

A dream. It is all in my mind.

What do you envision is your destiny?

It depends on the validity of life after death. My destiny would lie down the road, and I have no clue what destiny might hold for me, except that I will probably be truly happy with whatever it is.

“Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”

-- William Jennings Bryan

What sorts of moral principles can we implement in society so that people treat each other better? Is world peace possible? If it is, then why have we not achieved world peace?

Kindness and sharing. World peace is only possible if we eliminate greed.

What has been the highest level of comfort you have experienced?

When I was just in the military, I fell asleep in the arms of a beautiful woman from the USO. That ranked right up there.

Why do I feel like I keep embarrassing myself and feel dumb as a person?

I embarrass myself all the time, and if you pay attention, most other people do, as well. Are we all dumb? No, we are human. And, as such, we keep embarrassing ourselves. I leave the house, more times than not, with my fly unzipped. I’d like to say there is a reason, but… nope. I’m just exercising my dumbness.

How do I deal with co-workers who are possibly troublemakers?

Stay away from them, lest you be miscategorized as a troublemaker by supervision.

How can old timers help to inspire these young adults & give them hope for the future?

The future is what it will be, hope or not, the future will unfold. You can be a part of it, or you can stand off to the side and let others make decisions for you. If you choose to side on the sidelines, hoping that others won’t screw up your life, you’re an idiot. You must take charge of your life. You can’t blame others for screwing up your life. It is your life, not theirs. Faith gives birth to hope, and you can hope that your future is what you make of it. You inspire yourself to be more than you are, so be it. You are the only person you can rely on.

What are your top 3 biggest questions about life?

Is there life after death? Will I stay truly happy? Why?

Aren't life coaches the most stupid thing? How bad does your life have to be to want one?

You’ll notice that the only people who have one… can afford one. Maybe “money” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I think I’ll stick with striving to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of my circumstances.

“Nothing could be any worse than having to turn to your friends, your colleagues, and your loved ones and say –‘I gave up too soon’.”

-- Steve Backley

How do I learn about peaceful people?

Walk a mile in their shoes. Hand around them, do what they do, and learn from them why they are peaceful people.

What are some ways to become a good human being and why is it important to do so for our own well-being rather than for others?

Being a good person is the best you can be, To be anything else is just shit. And, if you want to be remembered as shit, it is your choice. Be selfless in everything you do. It beats being remembered as shit.

How can one achieve greatness through mediocrity?

Biden did it.

In your opinion, is it better to be an optimist or a realist in life?

Life is what it is, we call this reality. However, it doesn’t hurt to be the optimist and hope that life gives you a better hand. It happens, and if it does, your optimism is rewarded. 

What is the term for asking someone a question that they know that you know the answer and you know that they know that you know the answer? What is the purpose of this often too? Why, how depends?

It is a “test” to see if they answer the question with what you think they know. Where this goes astray, is when the person who knows the answer has an epiphany, and the answer you expect is not the answer they give. They have grown beyond what you thought they knew. Knowledge is changing all the time as new information becomes available. The purpose can be chicken shit. But, the answer, this can change knowledge as we know it. 

What is question 250+250+?

It is an incomplete question. 250+250=500 plus whatever comes after that, which is unknown at this point. 

What percentage > 99 of questions posed on this app are beneath the dignity of a response? 

All questions are worth the dignity of a response. The “dignity” truly lies with the person posing the question. If they are a troll, it is a waste of time, but the dignity is answering the question.

“Most misunderstandings in the world could be avoided if people would simply take the time to ask, "What else could this mean?”

-- Shannon L. Alder

What are you thankful for today?

I woke up! Any day on this side of the dirt is a great day!

What questions shouldn't I ask the British?

“Can I buy you a pint?”

Is social media good for our teenagers?

Only if they are mature enough to separate the bullshit from reality, or if they have someone that can do this for them.

If people are inherently evil, doesn’t that make them not evil?

If they have inherited the evil gene, that would make them “naturally” evil.

Is critical thinking elusive to young people? Why are so many of them so willing to believe everything they are told by the government, educators, and the media?

This is a question for the ages. It probably has much to do with not “educating” our kids, anymore. For years the school systems have been “indoctrinating” and not “educating” our children. It makes sense, as most parents don’t pay attention to what their kids are being taught. The children grow up as the socialists they’ve been indoctrinated to be. They swallow all the lies and propaganda without the parents being aware. Even the military is started to be corrupted.

What is something people need to understand?

The question of “Why?” And this is only “Because” doesn’t cut it as an answer.

Have you ever felt inferior? What caused you to feel inferior?

Yes, and bullies were the cause. I finally had enough and accepted that I was going to get my ass beat for standing up for myself. I did, and the ass whippings didn’t last that long. I used psychology against them. I took what I learned and majored in Psychology at college. I enlisted in Air Force Intelligence and never looked back.

“One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized, and cruelly mocked, but it can never be taken away unless it is surrendered.”

-- Michael J. Fox

What should I do? People are making fun of me for being a Jehovah's Witness.

Ignorance is hard to fix. You can try to educate them, but that rarely works. The best you can do is ignore the ignorance. You can look them in the eye, smile, and say, “I’ve been told, by a non-Jehovah's Witness, to ignore ignorance.” See if that has any effect.

Why are most old people stuck in their ways because they are mad at the world?

Being 70 years old in America, voters cause most old people to be mad. They elect idiots that drive the cost up at food stores.

Why are so many members here asking such a silly question?

There is no “silly question” if you don’t know the answer.

Is it possible to know our true self if we have an overdeveloped ego? If yes, what steps can we take to overcome it?

No. If you have an overdeveloped ego, you’re showing everybody your ass. Your true self is located between your ass and the overdeveloped ego. I recommend sitting on your ego and seeing what pops up. It might surprise you.

What makes someone so strong-minded?

Confidence in what they believe.

Can it be true that while we teach, we learn?

I believe so. As a trainer, I always discovered something I didn’t know. It usually came from a question from a trainee. You walk through life thinking you know your job, and some trainee throws a question to you that you have no clue how to answer. We opened the regulations, together, and searched for the answer.

Can a person have a balance of both their "ego" and "true self" for optimal functioning?

Let’s hope so. Most people with control of their ego usually exercise their true selves, thank God.

“Nobody sees anybody truly but all through the flaws of their own egos. That is the way we all see ...each other in life. Vanity, fear, desire, competition-- all such distortions within our own egos-- condition our vision of those in relation to us. Add to those distortions to our own egos the corresponding distortions in the egos of others, and you see how cloudy the glass must become through which we look at each other. That's how it is in all living relationships except when there is that rare case of two people who love intensely enough to burn through all those layers of opacity and see each other's naked hearts.”

-- Tennessee Williams

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