Questioning Wrong, Ignoring, Bad, Age, Money, and Tic-Tac-Toe

 

“A great woe, underpinning the sorrows of the world today is this: so many people think they are far better than others and they are too righteous than others, and they know far better than others, and such thoughts give them reasons for an otherwise action!”

-- Ernest Agyemang Yeboah

Why do people say, "You're doing something wrong," instead of being honest about their feelings?

That sounds pretty honest to me. Now, let’s find what I’m doing wrong and fix it.

Inflation, depression, stagflation, or anything in between - once the prices are blown, and society transitions into a sort of chaos… how can that society live and move forward? What are the solutions?

A President and a Congress that will work to "undo" Inflation, depression, stagflation, or anything in between. This is the solution. We had a President that wanted that. Too bad the people didn’t understand economics and his progress. Now we have an idiot, and we're paying for it.

What are some of the best life tips to learn in 2024?

Stay out of debt. Pay any debt you incur at the end of that month.

Can it be true that creativity doesn’t care, at all, about results? And the only thing it craves is the process?

Indeed. Creativity, by definition, is “the use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.” The keyword here is In the “production” of an artistic work, not the fruition of it. The “result” can be excellent to poor, depending on how excellent your process is. That means the creativity craves the process.

How many men would be a slut if they were born a female?

Guilty as charged. But, I’d be a lesbian.

Can someone be considered present with others if they are not aware of what is going on around them?

If they are truly “present” with others, it can be at the exclusion of anything else, including what’s going on around them.

“If you can concentrate always on the present, you'll be a happy man. You'll see that there is life in the desert, that there are stars in the heavens, and that tribesmen fight because they are part of the human race. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival because life is the moment we're living right now.  

If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it. And if you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better. Forget about the future, and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God loves his children. Each day, in itself, brings with it an eternity.”

-- Paulo Coelho

I started ignoring my coworker and she begged me to look at her. Is it either I will bow to her or wait to see if she bows to me?

Jeeze… how about just being friends? The ego is palpable. Look at her. It isn’t going to kill you to not ignore her. I’m sure the people around you two don’t give a shit.

How did my ego come back after it shattered? I actually had oneness for one day.

You are a recovering drug addict and a magnet for narcissists, and yet, you have an ego. The ego was shattered, but it came back. I wouldn’t be too worried about your ego hanging around. With all you’ve been through, having any ego is a good thing, as is oneness. It would be best if you were tickled you’ve survived all this.

Why is it that when the new year comes around, I set up new year resolutions, and then never stick to it?

Resolutions are, by and large, not much fun. We feel good making them, but we rarely start them, much less stick to them. Most people are full of shit.

Do you censor your answers because someone you know may see it?

Of course. If I have to “censor” an answer, there is no reason to consider it. I have, almost, no filter, so what I put out there is what I think, not necessarily what I do. It pays to be a self-proclaimed hypocrite. Most things I write straight from the brain to the computer, but there are a few things that are simply too personal to let out. For instance, no one needs to know I’m scratching my balls. It is just too personal.

In the darkest times, what keeps you moving forward?  

If you stop, you’re doomed. The mind has a habit of focusing on the darkness. If you keep moving forward the mind doesn’t have much time to focus on crap.

Does anyone hesitate to bring up essential discussions because of the immediate hostile aggression they know they will receive?

The only “hostile aggression” I concern myself with is from the League of the Perpetually Offended, and I’m only concerned because once they hook you it is hard to get rid of them. They are foul-mouthed and tenacious. It’s like having an over-sexed dog humping your leg and you can’t get rid of it.

“People get addicted to feeling offended all the time because it gives them a high; being self-righteous and morally superior feels good.”

-- Mark Manson

Why do bad, mean, stupid, ignorant, and/or arrogant people want anybody to feel bad, sorry, guilty, scared, and/or discouraged?

Uh… because they’re bad, mean, stupid, ignorant, and/or arrogant. Did I not understand the question? 

Can you predict any potential crisis communication failures in 2024?

Well, we did pretty well predicting the failures of “crisis communication” with the current President. Let’s see who the next President is and we’ll be able to predict if “crisis communication” will be any better.

Why would you be afraid to live in a survival-of-the-fittest society?

You need to constantly watch your back. Everyone is out to do you in.

Why are employers in corporate jobs, restaurants, and so forth catering to the less intelligent and the lazy?

The less intelligent and lazy people are where the money is. There would be no reason for employers to cater to them if they didn’t spend the money they had, or more to the point, the money they didn’t have. These less intelligent and lazy are the people who will buy anything.

Is credibility online becoming inevitable? Or in other words, will lying, cheating, and swindling go away from the one who does it because he will find in the end that they are things that do not gain fat or relieve hunger?

Unfortunately, no. Hey, this is easy.

Are we all born creative?

Unfortunately, we may be, but many of us aren't aware of it.

"Everybody is born creative, but very few people remain creative."

-- Osho

How do you deal with the isolation and hopelessness that comes with the early 20s?

I was never isolated or lonely. I was in the military. Air Force Intelligence.

How would you differentiate between a man who is easy to love and a man who is hard to love?

Oh, this is easy. The difference is that one is easy to love and the other is hard to love. I am good!

What do you do if you're not with the one you love?

Love the one you’re with.

How many years does a teacher usually teach before they quit?

Is there a particular city you have in mind? Has the teacher received death threats? Does the teacher actually teach… anything? Do they post cops on campus? Do the students carry firearms? Do the teachers understand this?

Who is credited with saying "the greatest punishment in life is to be ignored"?

Joe Biden.

If you really love a woman, would you let her love the love of her life?

Well, if you’re not it, what’s the point? It would be defined as “unrequited” love.

“Because what’s worse than knowing you want something, besides knowing you can never have it?”

-- James Patterson

How can I earn 400 dollars today?

You need to have a “Call Girl” quality. You are a woman, right?

Which kind of things that people don't tell the truth about should be considered as a lie?

If it isn’t the truth, what the hell is it? Kind of the truth? There is truth, lies, and a “grey” area where things aren’t true, but they aren’t a lie, either. This represents a special place in hell.

What should you do if someone tells you they're falling in love with you, but you're not ready to reciprocate the feeling yet?

“Sucks to be you.”

Why would someone daydream with negative scenarios, like daydreaming as something bad is happening?

You daydream you are visiting New York, and everything bad is happening. I mean it. Everything. But, you are the “Vigilante” in search of someone to rescue and bad guys to trip up. The ongoing negative scenarios have a happy ending, thanks to the “Vigilante.”

Does cheating mean your love wasn't real?

Pretty much. I mean, you can lie and say it was, but why did you cheat?

Why do many atheists sound frustrated or irritated?

They pay way too much attention to theists. Being mostly members of the League of the Perpetually Offended, atheists are easy targets for those theists who have nothing better to do than bait hooks. It is really sad.

“The less instructed atheist will ask whether God can make a weight so heavy that He cannot lift it, in the happy belief that, whichever answer we give, we shall admit that there is something God cannot do. But the question is literally meaningless: a weight that an omnipotent Being cannot lift is as complete a contradiction in terms as a four-sided triangle. In either case, the words are English but do not mean anything because they cancel each other out. There is no point in piling together a lot of words, regardless of their meaning, and then asking triumphantly: 'Can God make that?' God can do anything, but a contradiction in terms is not a thing at all. It is nothing. God Himself could not make a four-sided triangle or a weight that Almighty power could not lift. They are inconceivable, they are nothing, and nothing--to give a slightly different emphasis to Scripture--is impossible to God.”

-- Frank Sheed

How many times can you play Tic-Tac-Toe before you get bored?

I don’t play Tic-Tac-Toe, because it’s boring.

How can we reverse the over 87% of idiots in the world?

I made a list and concluded that you can’t. Most of them are in politics, religion, abortion clinics, and everywhere else where good sense is wasted. Besides, if you could get rid of 87%, why not shoot for 100%? Well, there will always be idiots worldwide, that’s why. They provide a balance that the universe demands, and there must be balance.

Do bitter people lack critical thinking skills?

Not every bitter person lacks these skills.

Do you think an individual is morally justified to drag a flag on the ground and stomp it, or will you forcefully intervene in a peaceful act that you don't happen to like and, thus, determine what an individual can do with their property?

The idiot will still be an idiot when you’re through. If everybody shakes their head and walks away, it will have as much effect as getting into it with them. If they have that little pride in their property, why did they buy it?

Which students are the most successful, toppers or backbenchers?

Students? Sounds pornographic.

If you do something you know is wrong, how do you justify it, at the time, knowing it’s a mistake?

You can’t. If it is wrong, it will be wrong when you finish. There is no justification for doing something wrong. If you do wrong knowing that it is a mistake, then your “justification” is bullshit. Politicians do this, and only the idiots in society believe them.

“There are certain actions you took which you were not fully aware of the real consequence; you only journeyed to see the end result; it’s a lesson for not just you, but for you to teach others also”

-- Ernest Agyemang Yeboah

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