Questioning Luck, Doctors, Work, Stress, Liars, and Patience

 

“Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.”

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Why are some people not lucky to get what they deserve even after lots of trials?

If they truly deserved it, they would have it. It has nothing to do with luck, but what they might deserve, but they actually don’t. To give them something that they don’t deserve, would be a mistake, not luck.

Do you think the proverb, "Where there is smoke, there is fire," comes true in all cases?

No. Smoke occurs before there is fire. The fire may never come to fruition.

What are 10 words others would use to describe you?

Happy, handsome, smart, critical, thoughtful, wise, philosopher, ethical, patriotic, and humble (to a fault). Actually, I really don't give a fig how others describe me. I am me. 

What lie do you see on the Internet frustrates you the most?

When atheists and theists go after each other with their lack of any incontrovertible proof. Neither side understands that their “faith” in their answer, on both sides, is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof. What proof there is will become available when they die. There will be nothing, or, if theists are right, there will be a life after death for those who had this faith. Meanwhile, for them to go at each other is simply believing in something they can’t prove either way.

Can you stop a conflict without becoming either a victim or the assailant?

If both sides would listen to reason, but, this would rely on how high their emotions are running. It would be easier to threaten both sides with a larger weapon, but… 

You've probably heard the expression, "There's an exception to every rule", but what about THAT rule?

“THAT” rule, then becomes a serious guideline; a serious suggestion. If there is one exception, why not have two or three? A rule is a rule, and every time you find an exception, you admit that the rule is poorly understood. The rule means less. In the big cities, stealing, which there are laws against, has become a way of life as people ignore the laws - the rules.

Rule: One of a set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct within a particular activity or sphere.

“If everything’s treated as an exception, there is no rule.”

-- Frank Sonnenberg

Do you think that Doctors and Vets deserve the same respect?

Vets are doctors. Am I not understanding the question?

Is AGI dangerous for humans?

I don’t see why one would think it was dangerous. Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), is defined as “total income minus deductions, or "adjustments" to income that you are eligible to take. Gross income includes wages, dividends, capital gains, business and retirement income as well as all other forms of income.”

I suppose there could be an instance where, after the adjustment, you end up broke. But that is a simple setback for a shrewd businessman. 

Do geniuses attend school for their entire lives?

If the universe is their school, then, yes. Geniuses can learn by standing still. The entire world is their classroom, and the universe is their college.

Why do people tend to think engineers are smart?

They haven’t seen failed engineering.

Why do people suck so much nowadays?

“Nowadays,” due to mass media, we just see more people sucking. People have always sucked. My goodness, turn on the television and you’ll see a President that sucks. That means that more than half the country sucks, and that just sucks!

What determines if a person is successful?

Are they truly happy in life? Then, they are "successful" in life. Anything else is just attaining goals.

“He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much...”

-- Bessie Anderson Stanley

Why did you work 24 hours?

Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) in the Air Force. I've seen an ORI go on for 48 to 72 hours, but it usually lasts more than 24 hours. In the Intelligence Division, we learned to sleep at our desks, just in case the inspectors threw us a curve ball.

Is it better to be optimistic or realistic in life?

Life is real, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have an optimistic outlook.

Why should I never back down because someone has more power than me?

Be right, and never back down. If it's your boss, tell them what they need to hear and let them go. They can shoot themselves in the foot. Always find a way to do the right thing.  

Is the influence of celebrities on society positive or negative?

It depends on the celebrity. Do they think they’re all that, or are they grounded in reality?

What qualities make a fighter intimidating?

Are we talking about aircraft or pugilistics (boxing)? Maneuverability, armament, and a talented pilot for aircraft, and maneuverability, length of reach, and overall size for a boxer. Both need to have “staying” power, however.

How can we effectively deal with individuals who are consistently argumentative and believe they are always right?

Let them fail. Failure is always a wake-up call. After they fail, be ready to show them why.

“A know-it-all poses to know everything, so he will therefore tell you anything; although his brain forgets that one crucial thing, which is that other people, too, have brains.”

-- Criss Jami

Are you feeling tense (stress)?

Yes, and the toilet is right next to this room.

For many, the internet makes them a lot smarter and for a lot of others, it makes them incredibly stupid? Why is that?

Don’t believe everything you see and the internet. It is just another outlet for mass media to pollute the truth. It is still incumbent on the individual to sift through the bullshit to come up with a modicum of truth. If you choose not to, then you are incredibly stupid.

If I want to become a special kind of stupid, how can I become that stupid?

You’re on your way!

Is it considered a problem to be overly confident about one's intelligence?

When you become “overconfident” about anything, that is a challenge for some smartass to prove you are less than you thought.

Is starting life hard?

Yes, but it prepares you for the next year.

Why do people with intellectual ideas lack thinking?

They are “intelligent” and not necessarily smart. The intelligent people come up with the ideas, and the smart people figure out how to utilize them. If you are both intelligent and smart, you have a rare combination and will probably go far and make lots of money.

“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.”

-- Isaac Asimov

Is it better to be a skilled liar or someone who always tells the truth?

If you believe in hell, you should always tell the truth. Even if you don’t believe in hell, the best thing to do is live your life ethically. That would mean lying is a no-no, skilled or not, and you should always tell the truth, no matter how much it hurts. Since I have no filter, this is not a problem for me.

Is it better to be overly cocky or overly humble?

Overly humble. Being overly cocky could kill you.

Which type of person is considered more dangerous: an intelligent idiot or a stupid genius?

Since a “stupid genius” would probably make them normal, I’d have to go with the “intelligent idiot” as my answer.

Are librils stupid? 

What's a "libril"?

Which group of people killed more people, atheists or religious?

Well, considering the Nazis, the Chinese and Russian communists, yadda, yadda, yadda, I’d call it a tossup. Of course, the League of the Perpetually Offended will be offended by my answer. Like I'd be concerned.

Do narcissists want people to leave them?

They need people’s emotions to feed off of. The last thing a narcissist wants is to be left alone.

“Hate is the complement of fear and narcissists like being feared. It imbues them with an intoxicating sensation of omnipotence.”

-- Sam Vaknin

Why is patience a key ingredient in the pursuit of long-term goals?

What part of “long-term” did you miss? Anything “long-term” requires a modicum of patience and perseverance to get through it.

Why do people say things like "You can't make me do that"? Is it possible for someone to truly not be able to do something?

You’re mixing thoughts. “You can’t make me do that” is different from someone not being able to do something. It is a declaration of free will. For instance, I can do something, but I choose not to do it because you think you can make me. Now, if a person has two broken arms and you want them to pick things up, they may tell you that you can’t make them do that, because they are not able to do it.

What do I say to people that judge me?

“You don’t know me, so how about you exercise some introspection and judge yourself?”

How can you effectively argue with someone who refuses to listen and only looks for flaws in your arguments?

One, I try not to argue with imbeciles. Two, I rarely have flaws in my arguments. So, if they look for flaws, they will be making an ass out of themselves. I have no filter, but I try not to make a bigger imbecile out of an imbecile. It just isn’t right to make fun of the mentally incompetent.

What was your favorite subject in high school?

History. And it’s a good thing I studied it. Nowadays, history is taught as a “might be” other than “it was.”

How has God protected your abusers?

If they are abusers, the only one protecting them is the abused. God gave us the wherewithal to protect ourselves. If we choose not to do it, then it’s on us, not God. I can only wish that God would protect my abusers. When I’ve finished with them, they would wish that as well.

“To those who abuse: the sin is yours, the crime is yours, and the shame is yours. To those who protect the perpetrators: blaming the victims only masks the evil within, making you as guilty as those who abuse. Stand up for the innocent or go down with the rest.”

-- Flora Jessop

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