Questioning Regret, Plans, Lying, Hostility, Enemies, and Trolls

 

“Youth can not know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young.”

-- J.K. Rowling

What's a thing elderly people regret in their lives?

Age.

Is it true that the world feels smaller as you learn more about it?

The opposite. I’ve been learning for 70 years.  The more I learn the bigger it gets.

Do you think the people who are often and easily offended are happy?

Not necessarily. If they “are often and easily offended” it can be tough to be truly happy. Being truly happy is constantly striving for true happiness, always and in all things, regardless of circumstances. 

Isn’t it true that I wasn't prepared for what telling the truth would mean?

Most people aren’t, but only you can tell whether you were prepared.

I lied in therapy and in a group and I now have a habit of lying about fake emotions to people to build rapport. It is like I am addicted to empathy from others. What should I do?

Stop lying. Lying in therapy isn’t doing you any good. You lie about “fake emotions” to build “fake” rapport. When do you plan on telling the truth? The only person these people see is a fake.

How do I not be responsible?

Don’t accept it. Not accepting responsibility is a great way not to be responsible.

“Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.”

-- Sigmund Freud

I have two coworkers who are friends. They never mentioned the other to me. I started ignoring one of them because I wanted the other one to ask me about the other coworker. My "plan" did not work. Why?

You tried to play an infantile game, and they didn’t bite. Why didn’t you simply ask them about the other person? It would have been the mature thing to do to sate your curiosity.

Have you ever said a hurtful lie for a good reason?

I have no filter.  A lie will be found out and hurt even more. Better to be painfully honest.

What is the best way to "not lean" on your understanding?

Develop an “open mind” and assume your understanding may be flawed, and it might not be. It is best to look at problems from numerous perspectives.

Am I the only person who is always honest?

I’m sure you’d like to think so, but no, I also have no filter.

Why am I the dumbest person in the world? I do everything only dumb people do.

Maybe you don’t think before you jump. Think about what you’re about to do. Will it seen as dumb by other people? What will be seen as smart? Can you try that, instead? You are not necessarily “dumb” as much as you might not think things through.

How can you be happy with your natural looks, when prettier faces always win?

I am who I am, and people appreciate me for that. Trying to be something that I’m not is pretty obvious. 

“You’ll never know who you are unless you shed who you pretend to be.”

-- Vironika Tugaleva

Do people who lie all the time about everything believe their own lies?

Not necessarily, most just like to lie. I think they want to see who believes their bullshit.

How can people find the repetitive, predictable, nonsensical, and tedious "entertainment" entertaining? Do idiots not experience media the same way as real human beings?

These normal "human beings" need to stop watching so much porn and start considering more “intelligent” programming. I'll consider the porn.

Why are my enemies low animals?

They might be thinking the same thing. Better that you try to make peace.

If I accidentally say something wrong, is it a sin and do I have to be extremely specific and check every word I say so that I don't accidentally lie?

No, it is not a sin. Being human, you can be an idiot without intent. You are correct, however, with your thought to check every word you say so you don’t look like a liar.

I'm a homeless person. I want to hear the wisdom of rich people, what do you have as advice?

Sell the laptop and get a job. You won’t become rich being homeless.

What do you say to a group of individuals who are entitled and feel that they run the world according to however they want with their own double standard and lack of accountability?

I remind them about “Madame la Guillotine” and how they play with fire. Their bullshit, like their inflated ego, soon hits the brick wall with a resounding splat. The crowd goes wild.

“Madame la Guillotine" is the younger sister, the ideological sibling of the 2nd Amendment; both were conceived of a need to purge overbearing governments.”

-- A.E. Samaan

Why do some people become hostile when you give away things?

You’re not giving away things to them.

How do you get treated if someone thinks that you are gullible?

If they’re an asshole, they treat you like you’re gullible. If they are nice, the other end of the scale, they will let you know that you’re acting gullible. If they're more concerning, they’ll help you get past it, without any embarrassment. I have no filter... and a great sense of humor. I'd be your friend and your nightmare.

We are told to just ignore rude people but is that really the best solution, because that’s technically letting it be known to them that they can treat people however they want without receiving any consequence?

You can ignore them after they are “called down” for being rude. They need to know people recognize them for what they are.

Why is it that people always want things to be fair? Like, if someone gets an advantage, everyone else gets upset. Why? I mean, really, so what?

Not everyone feels this way. For one thing, life isn’t fair, and most of us realize this. It would be great if everything is fair, but “learning” in life prohibits this nicety. Life wants you to learn lessons. If you don’t learn the lessons, life will beat you down until you get a clue, if ever. The lesson may span several lifetimes if it isn’t understood.

I identify as having a height of 6 feet 5 inches. Will you accept and affirm my height identity?

Why do you find this so important to you?

Why can some people think with logical reasoning and others can't? Is it just laziness or is there a difference in how the brain works?

Parenting, for the most part. They never were taught how to use logic when they reason. This is probably because the parents were also never taught how to use logic by their parents. One can understand this when they see how the parent’s life is not following any logical reasoning. From the parent comes the child, unless the child has climbed a rung or two higher… on their own.

“I am convinced that the act of thinking logically cannot possibly be natural to the human mind. If it were, then mathematics would be everybody's easiest course at school and our species would not have taken several millennia to figure out the scientific method.”

-- Neil deGrasse Tyson

How do I prove that my enemies are low animals?

So, you want to join them? Let it, and them, go. Life is too short for this shit.

Is natural evil part of why we are all mentally ill? Or is it not? Can we do something about this or is it out of our control?

According to “Genesis” in the Holy Scripture, Eve and Adam brought this onto us by eating the forbidden fruit. We are “mentally ill” if we don’t rise above it. We can do much about this if we strive to do what is right, instead of doing what is wrong.

People take my innocence as my foolishness and try to deceive me. What should I do?

When they try this, ask them what they’re doing. “Innocent” is not the same as “stupid.”

What strategies for managing emotions did you use as a bullied student to diffuse potentially volatile situations and de-escalate conflicts with your peers?

In high school, I surprised one of them by kicking him in the balls and then beating the crap out of him. I paid for it, but they never bullied me like that ever again. I learned to shame them in front of their girlfriends. They grew up and it soon stopped.

Does humor require intelligence? How are humor and intelligence related to each other? Is it a skill area independent of intelligence, or is it completely related to intelligence? Are people with good humor intelligent people?

Intelligent humor requires intelligence, otherwise it’s just slapstick.

How do I attack my enemies?

Unless you are in the military going to war, your enemies are not that important. So, ignore them. Life is too damned short to waste precious time on them. Climb above them. Rise above their attitude and leave them choking on the dust you leave them in.

“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”

-- Napoleon Bonaparte

Why is it that whenever you open [this site], the first question you see on top is almost always a troll question?

I’ve never paid that much attention to it. If I come up against a troll, I keep on going, They aren’t that important to me, and shouldn’t be to anyone. They are “trolls” for a reason. Learn to ignore them.

What are the consequences of dishonesty and why do many people have issues with it?

The only friends you have, if any, will be dishonest. No one will believe you, ever. You may do jail time. Any quality spouse will ignore you. The issues are obvious.

In what ways can emotional intelligence contribute to developing resilience in students facing bullying, allowing them to maintain a sense of self-worth and confidence?

I had enough bullying in high school. My “emotional intelligence” told me to kick the SOB in the balls. He did not expect my short self to do that. When he hit the ground I kept kicking him, while constantly berating him in front of his girlfriend. I paid the price for my revolt, but by then I had built a shield of “self-worth and confidence” that would follow me through my 23 years in Air Force Intelligence.

Is it okay to always have a different opinion or to always disagree with what everyone thinks is okay?

If you “always” differ from what everyone thinks, everyone is stupid… or you are wrong.

Why do people feel like it's ok to lie and it's pushy to question someone even if you know they are lying? I've heard that people are trying to protect their privacy, but are they not also harming you?

First, their privacy has nothing to do with their lying. Calling them down for a lie won’t get you harmed. It might make them think twice about lying… since they aren’t that good at it.

Do you think if you are a loser you should hang around other losers because you must not drag anyone down to your level? Winners need to be around other winners because iron needs to sharpen iron and losers are a menace to society, am I right?

If you think you’re a loser, you are listening to idiots or you might think you have no self-worth. Know that idiots target the insecure, and everyone has some self-worth. I would be careful how I generalize “losers” as a menace to society. One may determine it is time to save a life… that might be yours.

“Stand up for the underdog, the 'loser.' Sometimes having the strength to show loving support for unacknowledged others turns the tides of our own lives.”

-- Alexandra Katehakis

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