Questioning Flatmates, Love, Improvement, Fears, Arguing, and Smartest

“Some people are beyond aromatherapeutic help”

-- Beth O'Leary

I am currently facing issues with my flatmates. What should I do?

Find new flatmates. The issues will probably continue… unless you hold the “lease” to the flat, and your flatmates are screwed. Having the “upper hand” is always the best tactic when faced with idiots.

Is the result of coming to a conclusion a judgement?

If “coming to a conclusion” is your opinion, it might be seen as a judgment.

I am really bored. Can you ask me a question and I'll answer to the best of my ability?

“Why?” And “because” is not the answer. The answer to “Why?” is the answer of the ages. You might want to meditate on it for a few years, and then smile. Or, you can nod your head now, and smile. Up to you.

Does good luck come from positive thinking?

There is no such thing as luck. “Luck” is an excuse for not having enough knowledge. Good positive thinking, however, can substitute for a lack of knowledge. 

Does a lightworker have a lot of karma, or do they have "luck" in life?

Good “karma” is a result of making good choices and decisions. The “lightworker” probably strives to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of their circumstances. It is a choice in life. “Luck” is an excuse when you can’t understand that you have somehow, beat the odds, just as “bad luck” is the excuse when you have not beaten the odds.

Have you seen an expert like me before?

I have seen many people who are legends in their own minds.

"An individual who experiences grandiosity, with probable undertones of liberal to severe narcissism. Someone who thinks that they hold an immense amount of clout in the world when in reality they hold very little, or likely, none."

-- Phil Fernandez

Is it common for people to treat others poorly when they are in love?

No. That is tantamount to “usery” if you tell someone you love them and then treat them badly.

What are some examples of positive mindsets?

“I can do this. It might take me a few tries, but I can do this.”

What should I do if I am so completely obsessed with what others think of me to the point that I turn into a troll by being referred to as one?

So, you let others dictate what you think you should be. Would it be better if you were yourself, and ignored other people’s opinions of you? Becoming a “troll” is no answer, just because someone called you that. Rise above the fray, and be better than the rest.

Are there different levels of difficulty in the mysteries presented?

There are “levels of difficulty” in all things. The levels might seem equal, but they aren’t.

Why is it rare to see kindness?

People, in general, don’t want to get involved with strangers. Luckily, on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, we don’t have this shortfall. We have kindness to spare.

Does kindness come from humanity?

I used to say yes to this, but “humanity” gets a bad rap, nowadays. “Kindness” comes from wanting to be kind to others. Most people understand this.

“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”

-- Henry James

What should you not do to improve your life?

Subjugate others.

How does personal growth contribute to happiness?

True happiness is a choice and personal growth is a choice. If you strive for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances, you will experience personal growth throughout life. It is a matter of making a simple choice.

What's the purpose or topic you're interested in?

Paranormal investigation. This is the knowledge we ignore. Our purpose is to learn.

How does self-acceptance contribute to happiness?

That depends on if you will be truly happy accepting who you are. If this is tough acceptance, perhaps one must make some changes to be more happy with who they want to be. True happiness is accepting who you are always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. It is a choice we should all make for our lives.

What quote should I use to be respected?

“Quotes” won’t get you the respect you want. If you truly respect others, they will reciprocate in kind. This is the only respect one should garner in life. 

Where is the happiness of the poor?

It is in the same place it’s always been. Strive to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. It is a choice you make that trumps your circumstances and can make you a beacon of hope for others.

“We must know that we have been created for greater things, not just to be a number in the world, not just to go for diplomas and degrees, this work and that work. We have been created in order to love and to be loved.

-- ”Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Can a person truly have no fears? If so, how did they develop this mindset?

If a person has no fear they are destined to die in short order. Fear is what keeps us alive.

Why do many troll questions end in "What should I do"?

It doesn’t matter how they end the question. What matters is someone answers the question. If they are “trolls” it is a loss to them that someone cared to answer them. Trolls are proving themselves to be the dregs of online society if not society as a whole. They are “charter members” of the League of the Perpetually Offended. Answer all questions, but try to ignore the trolls when they come back at you.

How can I destroy my ego and arrogance?

Volunteer time to help the needy… and keep your mouth in check.

What motivates some people to try to make others look bad, even if the others are not doing anything wrong? What could be the reason for this behavior?

Ego and “one-upmanship” might be the answer. People tend to want to look better than others, even in their own click. It isn’t right, but it does happen. I try not to bite the bait from this group. I hang with my chosen crowd that treats everyone with a modicum of respect.

Why do guys catcall girls?

Lack of good upbringing.

How do you view life? What can we learn from the way you view it?

I strive for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of my circumstances. It is a simple choice to make for my life. Life is all about learning, not drama. I have learned to view life from a better perspective.

“Reality is not our thoughts and feelings about things. Many of us, for example, think that the Sun rises in the East and sets in the West. In reality, the Sun neither rises nor sets. We on Earth just move closer to the Sun or farther away from it. Most of us do not see reality as it is but rather as we are. That is what Krishna is telling Arjuna: To change your reality, change the mental filters through which you look - your own perspective. Just as a white building when viewed through red glass looks red, similarly, reality as it is can be distorted by the colours of emotions in the mind.”

-- Debashis Chatterjee

Why does no one on the planet want to argue with me for free?

Who in their right mind would want to argue? Who is their right mind who pays for the “privilege” to argue? Oh, I’m pretty sure there is some dumbass out there, the League of the Perpetually Offended, that will argue with you for free, and there is probably one that would pay for the privilege. To what end?

Is life just a manipulation by our microorganisms to self-sustain?

I’ve never heard sex described that way.

Is midnight the best time for creative inspiration?

Midnight is the best time for sleep, and I get damned little of it as it is. The best time for my creative juices is when I’m looking at the project.

What did you do when you turned 18?

I had the sex of a lifetime at the Mustang Ranch, in Las Vegas. 

Can it be true that the only defense against the world is a thorough knowledge of it?

No. Knowing the world is one thing. Having a defense against it is another. Nuclear explosive devices are tough to defend against. “Oh, look. In the sky. Here comes one of those nuclear explosive devices I have a thorough knowledge of.” It isn’t going to be a good day.

How do I gain full, deep, complete, entire, thorough, and detailed clarification in all my words, actions, attitudes, behaviors, languages, and phrases covering actually every single one literally as fact which is true, the truth, and is what it is?

Focus.

“Very occasionally, if you pay really close attention, life doesn't suck.”

-- Joss Whedon

Does the smartest person alive know they are the smartest?

If they are, how “smart” can they be?

Since when has logic, critical thinking, and common sense become a liability? And Why?

When you flaunt your logic, critical thinking, and common sense, to make you look like you’re all that. The first thing most people will point out is your lack of common sense. Flaunting your intelligence is never a good thing. Most people will see you as a stuck-up intelligentsia… with little common sense.

Author's comment: Good point/answer. But I was referring to organizations lacking all these.

My reply:  Odd. I didn’t see “organizations” in your question.

A common problem with stupid people is that they misunderstand what is said, can't think more than one step at a time, and are easily convinced by theatrics. What is the best way to talk to a stupid person?

Joe Biden is a clue. Be a Democrat in politics. You can be President.

Do you think being educated makes you smart?

No. Being educated makes you intelligent. As an intelligent person, what you do with your education can make you smart. What you know is one thing, but what you do with what you know is another.

What do we call a person who only has bookish knowledge?

Book smart.

Why do people act like France is a real place?

Uh… is this another trick question, or are you trolling for idiots?

“Lebedev: France has a clear and defined policy... The French know what they want. They just want to wipe out the Krauts, finish, but Germany, my friend, is playing a very different tune. Germany has many more birds in her sights than just France...

Shabelsky: Nonsense! ...In my view the German are cowards and the French are cowards... They're just thumbing their noses at each other. Believe me, things will stop there. They won't fight.

Borkin: And as I see it, why fight? What's the point of these armaments, congresses, expenditures? You know what I'd do? I'd gather together dogs from all over the country, give them a good dose of rabies and let them loose in enemy country. In a month all my enemies would be running rabid.”

-- Anton Chekhov

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