Questioning Ignorance, Meaning, Giving, Age, Focus, and Goals

 

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

-- Martin Luther King Jr.

We are all born ignorant, but must one work hard to remain stupid?

No, you just don’t learn anything. Staying stupid is the easiest job I’ve seen. Learning, on the other hand… 

Should people who are high income, and do a lot of traveling, be careful not to tell those less fortunate than them as a way not to hurt their self-esteem? I've noticed that poor people react poorly when someone shares stuff like this.

I’m retired, and I have no filter, so I’m screwed. I talk about my travels and screw their self-esteem. If they don’t react well, maybe they shouldn’t be hanging around people who travel a lot. Their “delicate sensibilities” are so not my problem. Everyone has issues, and if you try not to offend, you’ll be saying nothing, and that ain’t gonna happen.

Why are most countries not rich?

Greed.

Is it acceptable to follow your own moral code instead of strictly adhering to religious morals?

Religion was fine until I grew beyond it. I had to adjust my “moral code” to be a little bit more lenient, and more friendly, than the hard-core religious “doctrine” that kept us in the confessional making up sins. I stand by my personal code of moral conduct, which allows an occasional cigar, mass quantities of bourbon, and the occasional ass-chewing of drivers who don’t know how.

What will be the last thing to happen?

I’ll probably “mess” my pants.

What are some common logical fallacies used by atheists to argue against religion?

There is no logic regarding anything that can’t be proven. This is why both sides have faith in beliefs that can’t be proven. Atheists and theists should shut the hell up since their “arguments” make them sound like idiots.

Author comment: Rejecting that which cannot be proven isn't a belief system, it's pure logic. If I tell you there's a real-life troll that can't be sensed in any measurable means under a bridge in Connecticut, you can, and should, logically reject my claim because on its face it is ridiculous and cannot demonstrably proven to be true.

My reply:  And, your point is?

"An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins."

-- Proverbs 29:22

What does it mean when all a person can say to me is “you are”?

I don’t know, but I think it’s better than, “You’re a figment of my imagination.”

What can we say besides good or fine when someone asks how we’re doing?

Outstanding.
Over the top.
So-so.
You don’t want to know.
I slept with your wife last night, so you tell me. (This is my favorite.)

What will you do if you have more money?

I will shoot myself before tax time. 

Do you know anyone who is a big fat stupid OAF?

Yes, but I wouldn’t dare call her that or she’d pound me into the ground like a wooden stake, and then she’d take advantage of me. It’s a good thing there are several time zones between us.

Why do I not take things personally anymore? Things people say to me really don’t affect me at all. Why is that?

You are maturing nicely.

Is it beneficial for someone to think deeply and question everything, even if they do not have answers?

Uh… isn’t that why they question everything, because they don’t have the answers. I think deeply and question things I have no idea about. If I’m lucky, I get a butt-load of great answers from my buddies.

“We awaken by asking the right questions. We awaken when we see knowledge being spread that goes against our own personal experiences. We awaken when we see popular opinion being wrong but accepted as being right, and what is right being pushed as being wrong. We awaken by seeking answers in corners that are not popular. And we awaken by turning on the light inside when everything outside feels dark.”

-- Suzy Kassem

Why do some people oppose giving to the poor? Is it important to care for those who have nothing?

There are the “poor” who work their ass off and just can’t seem to get ahead. Then, there are the “poor” who pull down a welfare check and just don’t give a shit. I have no qualms about giving to the poor who work their ass off, or who are old or disabled.

Did you know that you're all my friends because you helped me figure things out?

Well, thank you very much!

What's the best way to benefit from [this site] (knowledge-wise)?

If you don’t have a clue, the answers might make you think. People ask questions and hope to get some reasonable answers. I think the majority see the answers and agree with, much over-bloviated, answers in in the text.

If you were to ask, what would be your question?

“Why?”

What do you do when the going gets rough?

I fall back on “perseverance” in the face of failure. You can quit, but if you persevere there is a chance you can attain the goal. Failure is nothing but life handing you a lesson that you need to learn to move forward. When you fail, learn the lesson and attack the problem again, and again, until you win.

If someone was able to pay his house in cash, is that person considered successful?

Or, they came into a windfall from a dead relative, and they’ll still be not successful.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

-- Winston S. Churchill

Do you consider 18 and 60-year-olds to be in the same age group?

If they’re having the sex of a lifetime, then yes.

How can I be respected by people?

You generally get what you give.

Is it true or false that human beings are not responsible for morality?

False. We are responsible for all we do.

Which is the best way to earn money on a fast track?

Sex.

What is the best way to tell an elder person that he/she is looking too old?

“Holy shit! Are those wrinkles?”

What should a failed person do to be successful in life?

Persevere. But, if they have been successful, they already know this.

“You never know what's around the corner. It could be everything. Or it could be nothing. You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and then one day you look back and you've climbed a mountain.”

-- Tom Hiddleston

How do you keep focused when you have lots of problems?

If I’m aware that I have lots of problems, it’s a foregone conclusion that I’m focused on them.

Is it just me, or does everything in this world suck now?

It’s just you.

Are wealthy people likely to have more meaningful relationships than rich people?

If we’re discussing money, aren’t the wealthy… filthy rich? I mean, they’re the same thing. But, regardless, the wealthy, or filthy rich, usually don’t know what true happiness is all about. If tomorrow they woke up and had lost everything, would they still be truly happy to be alive? All their riches can’t buy them the true happiness that is life.

What types of topics don't bore you anymore?

Finance. When I retired (for the second time) I realized that finance was going to get me through. 

Why are most risk-takers in our society successful?

Risk-takers have usually been around the block a couple of times, They know the ends and outs of what they do, so “risk” is not so much. They put it all out there and, if they are good, they get a serious payday in the end. If they fail, and they are good, they can break even. No harm, no foul.

Is having a lot of money a determining factor in being good at managing money?

Not if you win the lottery. Most people blow through most of their money in short order.

“Most people who win the lottery are exactly as they were prior within a few years if they are not worse off. The fiscal management skills that lead one to give over daily money for scratch-offs will also cause the new money to vanish.”

-- Thomm Quackenbush

Is it advisable to change your goals in the middle of the year?

Why does it matter? Your goals can change when you want them to change.

What does it mean to get a quote?

It means that you have asked someone “in the know” how much something might cost, like a house, a car, or repairs. A quote gives you an idea of whether you can afford the trouble of going through the motions.

What does it mean when someone says they want you but don’t want a relationship?

They like the sex, but you aren’t “parent” material.

Does it seem like people either know too much or know too little?

It seems like that because it is true. Not everybody knows the same stuff, Some know more than others, and some know more crap than others. I like to not let on how much I know. It keeps people guessing.

Why do some people believe they know what others want better than the individuals themselves?

They aren’t the individuals in question, so they know nothing of what the individuals want.

How do you relate to people when none are like you?

I approach people with an open mind. If they were like me, how boring would that be? I want to know people who are different than me, with their own tastes and desires that aren’t necessarily mine.

“In short, you are all equal in everything except in ideas!”

-- Mwanandeke Kindembo

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