Questioning Happiness, Parenting, Lust, Survival, Justice, and Sex

 

“Extroverts are more likely to take a quick-and-dirty approach to problem-solving, trading accuracy for speed, making increasing numbers of mistakes as they go, and abandoning ship altogether when the problem seems too difficult or frustrating. Introverts think before they act, digest information thoroughly, stay on task longer, give up less easily, and work more accurately. Introverts and extroverts also direct their attention differently: if you leave them to their own devices, introverts tend to sit around wondering about things, imagining things, recalling events from their past, and making plans for the future. The extroverts are more likely to focus on what's happening around them. It's as if extroverts are seeing "what is" while their introverted peers are asking "what if.”

-- Susan Cain

Is it better to be an extrovert and stupid or an introvert and intelligent?

Which one is truly happy?

I have a debate competition on AI. How can I convince them that AI is good?

It isn’t the technology that is bad, it is the people who program it. AI is only as bad as the programming used. If you give AI the keys to the kingdom, the kingdom will bow down to AI. It isn’t AI’s fault that no one was watching the keys, it only did what it was told to do. Issac Asimov was so far ahead of his time.

Is anyone else scared to get outside their house because they don't think any of it's real?

What makes you think the inside of your house is real?

Do you think that current leaders and future leaders have a faulty attitude of "Our software will take care of your global problems" or "Our software will address your corporate issues"? "We have AI so why worry" - attitude?

Software is only as good as the program. Stupid leaders, stupid program. You have AI, so why worry? I would be so worried about who is programming AI. We have no control over governments with nasty agendas. 

Why should they be our enemies?

Who are “they”?

Do millennials know that their generation is a mountain range of stupidity and entitlement, or are they too stupid to see it?

All of the above. Biden is President. Proof is in the pudding, and I thought Gen X was stupid.

“...only two things can fulfill millennials: First is to be completely understood, accepted, and respected by a loyal companion whom they respect themselves—a lifelong seduction with someone they can call their own. This level of understanding and intimacy is the only way they can heal the wounds of their treacherous childhood. The second thing is having enough money to live a lifelong vacation and help people along the way—as they are an emotional generation, they are actually compassionate about their fellowmen though they may not seem like it. Nothing dissatisfies this cohort more than the need to fend for basic necessities, as it goes against their lifelong quest to find fulfillment and reduces them to their base human urges they consider beneath them, like fighting for resources and food—an anathema to this generation who puts a premium on self-actualization.”

-- Cate East

How should one respond when a parent says, "I don't like you"?

“Well, then I guess you weren’t the best parent, were you?” Any parent that says "I don't like you" to their child needs a lesson in parenting.

Could human beings be the first sentient beings in the universe?

Not a chance. Have you seen the extraterrestrial craft? We are so not the first.

What is one thing you wish I understood better about you?

Considering you don’t know me at all, you probably need to understand a lot about me before we start looking at you understanding me better.

She wants to have sex with a teenage boy. Is it good for her?

Only if she’s a teenage girl, and even that is dangerous for both people. If she’s an adult, the teenage boy is probably going to enjoy the heck out of it, but it’s still, probably, against the law for her to do it.

Give me an honest answer if I don’t feel like talking to my wife’s family even if they’re nice to me. Is it rude?

Yep. I’d say it’s pretty rude.

Do believers really have to be grateful only to God, but, if God does not exist, does that mean they are grateful to no one and only looking at their own happiness without considering the needs of others and at the expense of others?

Well, the answer to this is only valid if we can prove the existence or non-existence of a god. Unfortunately, theists and atheists have no incontrovertible proof to offer for their beliefs. However, I will say that, if a person is exercising selfishness toward others, they are not being a very nice person, regardless of their belief in a god. Selfishness infects as many theists as atheists.

“Think of it this way: no scientist has ever seen an electron, but all scientists agree that electrons exist. No physicist has ever seen a quark, but all physicists believe that quarks are real. Why? Because when they look into their microscopes, they see things happening that could only happen if quarks and electrons existed. I believe in the reality of God the way scientists believe in the reality of electrons. I see things happening that would not happen unless there is a God.”

-- Harold S. Kushner

Who has been cropping up in your mind recently?

Every woman I lust after. Sorry, but I am a man.

What are the weaknesses of short tempered people aside from other short tempered people?

They do what my Dad would call a “knee-jerk” reaction. They don’t take the time to think about whether their reaction is reasonable, and it usually is not. People need to temper their tempers with a little good sense. Why let a short temper piss someone else off? Better to talk the issue through than to blow it up.

Would you prefer someone kind or honest?

Honest. Whether they’re kind or not is of little importance to me, but whether they are honest means much. I can always work on their kindness.

Is poverty subjective?

“Subjective means information or perspectives based on feelings, opinions, or emotions.” In this case, a person’s poverty might be based on feelings, opinions, or emotions. “Objective means verifiable information based on facts and evidence.” And, if you are a goverment agency deciding if someone is in the poverty level, thewy would require information based on facts and evidence. So, to me, it depends on how you look at it.

Why do good people say ruthless things when they are joking? Is it to scare people?

You give too much credit to “bad” people who say ruthless things, to scare or not, and joking or not. “Good” hearted people wouldn’t do this.

Why do you personally feel so strongly that people should be punished for their crimes? What is the real root of your reasoning?

If a woman is raped, and the man is not punished for the crime, so he rapes the same woman again. But, wait. He is not punished for the crime, again, so he rapes her again. Personally, I think the criminal should be punished so he understands that rape is not condoned in polite society. Just saying.

“What do you think, would not one tiny crime be wiped out by thousands of good deeds?”

-- Fyodor Dostoevsky

Why do many claim that people who need vindication are more likely to survive than everyone else?

The “needy” will not survive, no more than the hungry. The selfless are more likely to see the next day.

Reader comment: That's one way to damage the ego of the vindictive.

Which is the better personal accomplishment- finishing college or buying a house in cash? And why?

Buying a house in cash is a great investment for the future. Finishing college with a great GPA (grade point average) is also a great investment in the future. One is financial, one is personal, and both are equal accomplishments. To me, if you have bought the house for cash, you can probably afford to go to college and get the degree. Doing both will pay dividends in the future. 

How can I express my talent to the world?

Express your talent to a few. If it is worthy of the world, your perseverance will ensure the world know of it.

What does it mean if I'm scared of things I know for a fact are fake?

It means you are smart. Fear, whether you are courageous or not, is a survival instict. At 70 years of age and having served in the military for 23 years, I get the crap scared out of me in most scary movies. They are fake. But, what if?

Do you know anyone’s that prone to getting embarrassed or humiliated ?

Not to throw a label, but most women I know are prone to these. Most men I know simply blow it off.

Who agrees everyone should be thinking to themselves how do I get people to respect me? Do you agree there is a way to get everyone to respect you?

Personaly, I really don’t give a fig what people think of me. I try to follow a good “code of ethics” which is more than most people do. If most people don’t respect me, well, we’re back at the “code of ethics” comment. I could care what others think, but their thought processes just are not that important to me.

“I don't care if you're black, white, straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, short, tall, fat, skinny, rich or poor. If you're nice to me, I'll be nice to you. Simple as that.”

-- Robert Michaels MD

What is Justice and how do we obtain it?

From the “rule of law” and a jury of your peers. It isn’t perfect, but it’s all we have.

How can I develop critical thinking and analytical skills for better decision-making?

Puzzels and games that require thinking, like chess. These are the kind of things that slow us down. We have to think before we act, or we lose. This is exercising “critical thinking” and “analytical skills” for better decisions. Slow down, consider the issues, consider the possibilities, arrive at a decision. The more exercise you do, the better you will be.

What are the benefits of involving staff in decision-making?

Staff understand that their opinion counts and that they are a critical part of a team.

What is the belief about the existence of God?

Faith. “Faith” is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof. Atheists and theists both have faith in their belief, and both have no incontrovertible proof to back up their belief.

What are some alternative responses to "I'm good" besides "me too"?

“Your ego seems inflated.”

Did you know I have control over you?

You don’t even have control over yourself, much less over me. Your question is evidence to my point, and your inflated ego. Oh, and asking for an answer is no evidence of control. It is evidence of a choice.

“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't.”

-- Steve Maraboli

What do you call a person who wants sex much and frequently?

Hypersexual.

Is God always trying to help you?

Contrary to omnipotence, God has more important things to be concerned with that littl ol' me. God gave me everything I need to make it through this life, and I am making use of all of it.

Can you spread your ass and show your asshole?

Yes, but the point of this exercise is what? That you like to look at men’s assholes?

What does it mean when a man says “I’m not getting married anytime soon”?

It means, he’s not getting married anytime soon. I identify with the statement, having survived a 25 year failed marriage. I sure as hell am not getting married anytime soon. To prove it, I’ve been with my “significant other” for about 20 years, now.

Why does a man keep calling me a “stupid bitch”?

He has no mastery of the English language, and he insists on proving it ad nauseam.

Is it normal to feel embarrassed when someone points out a mistake or foolish action?

Only if you don’t understand mistakes. A mistake is an opportunity to learn where you have failed, and life is allowing you to try, try, try again, until you get it right. You can feel embarrassed by this, or you can see it as it is - an opportunity to learn.

“Smart people learn from their mistakes. But the real sharp ones learn from the mistakes of others.”

-- Brandon Mull

 

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