Questioning Answers, Fair, Money, Bosses, Knowledge, and Re-Discovery

 

“If you're going to say what you want to say, you're going to hear what you don't want to hear.”

-- Roberto Bolaño

Does it make [this site's] users mad to know that when I request your answer, no matter how much time and effort you put into it, I only read the first two sentences?

The answer is not only for the person who asked the question. Your inattention to the answer is immaterial to the rest of the readers who might be more attentive. Having said this, inattention, like yours, is the reason I try to keep my answers short.

What's the most encouraging thing someone has ever said to you?

"You can do this."  

If you don’t understand God, you can’t be truly atheistic. You just don’t know. Why is this?

It sounds to me like an agnostic. “A person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena; a person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God.”

How do you get revenge on a customer who is provoking and taunting you without losing your job?

Be polite, excuse yourself, and go find a manager. Let them handle the asshole. It is above your pay grade to handle assholes.

Who was the most utterly bizarre coworker that you've ever worked with, and what did they do to be so?

Having served in the Intelligence field for 23 years, I’ve worked with the most “utterly bizarre” coworkers one can imagine. I had a senior officer who owned a ranch with a chicken coop near the barn. One night the dog was barking at the front door.  He got out of bed, fetched his double-barrel shotgun, and went outside with the dog to see what the dog was all upset about. He bent over and stuck his head into the coop. You need to know that he was totally naked to appreciate the dog putting his cold nose up the officer’s butt. Needless to say, both barrels fired off blowing down the opposite wall of the coop. The dog was nowhere to be seen. 

Who goes outside, in the middle of the night, bare-ass naked, carrying a double-barrel shotgun? Well, obviously a senior Air Force officer. Utterly bizarre. 

If I broke my promise to God and went to confession, would it no longer be valid and forgiven?

“Confession” hasn’t been in the church for years. Now you don’t have a “go-between” to give you penance, you have to talk to the “Big Guy” yourself and beg forgiveness for your sin.

“Hearing nuns' confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.”

-- Fulton J. Sheen

What principle might be used to understand what is fair?

If you can understand what is “good” it is easier to determine what is fair. If you use what is wrong, the principle of fairness is also wrong. You might not like the outcome, but what is truly right trumps any other decision.

What daily habits do successful individuals prioritize to stay productive and focused?

Perseverance. If you can’t persevere in the face of failure, how will you attain the goal?

How does a good father-son bonding usually give good influences to both the father and the son?

The father knows he is being a good influence on his son. The son knows he is learning good life lessons from his father. I call that a morally good bond between father and son.

How f#%@ing stupid must one be to vote Democrat?

How ignorant one must be, is more appropriate. Democratic leadership, on the other hand, is essentially stupid, thinking they can keep repeating bullshit and people will continue to believe them. That bird don’ fly no more. Democrats are starting to get wise to the repetitive bullshit, especially where Biden is concerned.

Why do people desire intelligence but not put in the effort to achieve it?

They donate their lives to the balance that the universe demands. There are the “haves” and the “have-nots” which create a semblance of balance.

Is society close to becoming post-religious?

You’re asking if Islamic terrorists are willing to give up their hold on the faithful? We are so not close to becoming “post-religious” even though a radical segment of society would love this. Even if we were to give up our claims to religious freedom, we would simply become personally “spiritual” and no longer have any allegiance to any “organized” religion.

"...God is looking in our hearts and not what we post on social media. God doesn’t even care if you post a Bible quote or not because He is looking into our hearts. God is looking at how we live. Who are we when no one’s watching?"

-- Rainna

Does money make the world be round?

No. Money, unfortunately, makes the world go around. Without money, civilization would grind to a halt.

Reader comment:  Where is this civilization going that halting it would be such a bad thing?

My reply:  As long as we have a “civilization” there is a possibility for good. It all rests on what we do with the possibilities.

How important is time on this earth for all of us?

The “time” is not as important as what we do with the time we have. Most of us hope to move forward, down the road, to something better. If we squander the time we have, we will have learned very little, and we will either repeat a life in this reality, or we will not garner another life to waste. It is a choice.

Should we have educated people in our society?

As opposed to sitting in a cave and picking our noses?

When it comes to what people think, does it f#%@king matter?

If people think you should die by pouring gas all over you and throwing a lit match at your feet, does it “f#%@ing” matter? When it comes down to it, what good people think matters quite a lot. It is how good people have a good “code of ethics” and a good “rule of law” to guide us.

What do you value more than life itself? Why?

My children. Why? I brought them into this world. They are my responsibility.

I don't want to become a legal adult in 2 years. I'm not interested in adult things (drinking, sex, etc.). I still feel around 12 years old even though I am not. What should I do?

Grow up. Life is full of choices. As an adult, you have the right to make the choices you want and deal with the consequences of making bad choices. Whether you like it or not, you have to grow up and accept the responsibility for your life.

“Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.”

-- Anne Frank

How should one handle a boss who laughs at them when they have something important to say?

Find a new boss who wants to grow the company with fresh ideas.

I have too many problems in my life. What should I do?

Ignore the ones you don’t have to deal with. Marriages come and go, as do relationships, jobs, etc., and so on. The problems you have to deal with are all that are important.

How can employees prevent their bosses from taking credit for their ideas without risking their jobs?

Never tell your ideas to people that can screw you.

How can I have a positive reputation?

You need to develop a personal code of positive ethics you can stand by. If you cut negativity from your reputation, the only thing left is positivity. Standing by your personal code of good ethics will ensure that you don’t backslide and ruin your positive reputation.

Why do some people say "I don't love you" even if they don't mean it?

Anger makes people say things they don’t mean.

Do you realize if you say “ I’m an American”, this expression would be an arrogant urge to a person?

Do you realize that good patriotic Americans could give a shit what other countries and people think of them? We are trying, and that is more than many other countries can claim. Almost 250 years with one Constitution. How many countries can claim that?

“I am an American; free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior, except for his own worth, or as my inferior, except for his own demerit.”

-- Theodore Roosevelt

What are the most important things to know about someone’s whole life in a nutshell?

It is important to know if they are always good and ethical in their life.

How do I be extraordinary in my studies?

Study to understand, not to memorize. Grades prove that you can memorize, but understanding what you study will open doors that grades point to.

The narcissist who used to abuse me said he did so because being around me made him “feel insecure”, but he seems to love himself just fine. Do narcissists really think this way? Is jealousy/insecurity at the root of their toxicity?

I think you’re on the right track.

What is motivation, and what are its important functions?

Motivation is nothing more than a desire to attain something. Once you have the desire, then you have to work to attain whatever it is. Motivation only continues through perseverance in the face of failure.

Is there a term for when someone speaks in a dramatic tone without sincerity or genuineness?

Acting?

What is the difference between being innocently naive and being dumb or ignorant? How many people fall into each category?

If you’re “naive” you are ignorant of the facts. If you’re “dumb” you have no clue how to understand the facts.

“A girl got kicked out of the swimming hole today. Inge Hachmann. They said they wouldn’t let us swim with a half-breed. Unsanitary. A half-breed, Werner. Aren’t we half-breeds too? Aren’t we half our mother, half our father?”

-- Anthony Doerr

What is the greatest re-discovered ever made?

Interplanetary travel. We’re playing “catch up” to the aliens.

What are some ways to make someone feel special through text or call?

“I have never told you, but, I truly love you.” Of course, there will be dead silence on the phone, and some time for an answering text, as the other person processes the information. Sooner or later they will catch the clue that they “feel special” as their answer.

How can you say you love someone when you lie to them?

You can’t. The sex can be great, but, when you lie, true love becomes questionable.

At what age should we begin teaching our children morals and values in a way that they can understand?

Morals and values begin at birth. Understanding comes at their own pace. As they develop their critical thinking skills, they will be able to understand more than they did.

My son was doing badly in high school. I finally got tired of lecturing him. I told him that I loved him, and if he wanted to flunk out and sweep streets for the rest of his life, all I ask is that he be the best street sweeper he could be. I would still be proud. I was done lecturing him to be as intelligent as I knew he could be.

He graduated high school, and then he graduated college after being on the “Dean’s List” for three years running. He went to work for Verizon making six figures. Who knew? 

Well… I did.

What is the best way to deal with kids who are very smart but act dumb?

At the cost of boring my audience, see the last answer (above). It still has value.

How can we make our world better for our kids?

Teach the kids “work ethics” and how to vote for a candidate that has work ethics. A college degree does not, necessarily, make the world better, but it might make the world a little easier to navigate. A good sense of “work ethic” makes the world run much better. It is the grease that lubricates the gears.

“What you do is what matters, not what you think or say or plan.”

-- Jason Fried

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