Questioning Values, Talents, Introversion, Free Will, Life, and Sex

 

"Honesty is the first chapter in the book of Wisdom."

-- Thomas Jefferson

What are some old but good values that people nowadays are forgetting?

Good ethics and honesty.

Why does it always have to be an intellectual war? Why can’t we just be stupid, vibe, and live in the moment?

It doesn’t have to be what you don’t want it to be… for you. You have the right not to accept war. You can go down your path of life as “stupid and vibe, live in the moment.” It is your God-given right to do so, and I will stand with you and defend your right to be stupid in the moment.

What do you do when you hear a joke?

If it’s funny, I laugh.

Do people's insecurities make them great like Hitler, Napoleon, etc?

Not necessarily. Insecurities can also make people introverts. They become afraid to take the next step for fear they will fail.

What specifically would you like to know?

“Why?” And the answer cannot be, “Because.”

While meritocracy's "success ethic" may have much to recommend it (promotes achievement-orientation, accountability, etc.), are its built-in, politically loaded "Horatio Alger"-type utilitarian, "social efficiency," "human capital" pieties innocuous?

You got an answer! I chose not to go through the steps of translating your question into “common person speak.” I did enough of this in military intelligence. I would go into the ranking officer’s office and tell them to “dumb down” their letter so the receiver can understand it.

“The safest way to success is to write according to the capacity of the stupidest member of the audience.”

-- Natasha Pulley

 

What's a hidden talent you have or a favorite hobby?

I like to paint on canvas. I don’t get much chance to do it anymore.

How do you prioritize your mental well-being amidst life's challenges?

If it affects my mental well-being, I try to stay away from it. Most of my life’s challenges are expected. Life presents “challenges,” throughout life, to keep us entertained. I accept this as the main purpose of life - to learn. If you choose not to learn, you become a bump on a log. You should choose to learn.

If someone asks you if you did something you did do, and you dodge the question, is that lying?

I believe it is “lying by omission.”

Is there anything intelligent in a person’s mind to have a serious conversation on life besides conflicts/war, money, power, and greed? Is intellectual base how smart a person intelligently?

“Intellectual base” gets confused with “intelligence,” for obvious reasons. How “intelligent” you are has no “quotient” that indicates how “smart” you are. If you are “intelligent,” good for you, and if you are “smart,” good for you, as well. If you are intelligent and smart, you are a rare commodity to be cherished.

What are your negative thoughts?

I want to spank someone, pant down, and with stinging slaps. Just saying.

How do I deal with a toxic workplace environment that is starting to impact my health?

Find another job. Where you work is a matter of your choice. If it is affecting your health, you need to, seriously, think about getting a better job. It is a personal choice that you need to make for your well-being.

“I’m now much less of an asset to the company than I could be. I keep my head down and for self-preservation just do my work with little conversation with anyone. Yet the irony is this: in my self-preservation, I’m actually destroying myself. In bottling up my unexpressed feelings, I’m making myself sick emotionally and physically.”

-- Gary Chapman

Why don't I feel like talking to anyone?

Maybe you feel no one will understand you. I get this way. 

If people are assholes, why aren't they racist as well?

Why do assholes have to be racist? It is bad enough that they’re assholes, without adding racists on to them. On the gulf coast of Mississippi, I can deal with an asshole, but if they say anything racist, game over. We have enough issues without stirring this pot.

Have you ever met a humble genius?

Nope. They seem humble but… don’t get them started.

Should we trust people quickly?

Only if you’re stupid. Be cordial, but it is better to take some time to learn about a person. I watch them and listen to what they say, before investing your trust. Putting your trust in someone easily will, in all probability, get you a big bite in the buttocks. 

Why do many people follow evil rules, even though it's not human nature to do harmful things to themselves? Nobody seems to care or rebel against it. Is our use of heavy metals and pollution, messing up the human brain?

They are evil. Heavy metals, lead, and pollution make people sick, not necessarily evil.

What is the concept of "free will" and why do some people believe it does not exist?

The concept is that every person has the free right to act as they want. Some people might think it doesn’t exist because we choose to seemingly give up “free will” to follow law and order in society. However, this is still a choice of our free will to do what is right where we choose to live. We freely choose to live by societal laws, to keep a semblance of order in the society we freely choose to live. If you think you are giving up too much, you have the free will to go live somewhere else.

“Take a moment to think about the context in which your next decision will occur: You did not pick your parents or the time and place of your birth. You didn't choose your gender or most of your life experiences. You had no control, whatsoever, over your genome or the development of your brain. And, now, your brain is making choices on the basis of preferences and beliefs that have been hammered into it over a lifetime - by your genes, your physical development since the moment you were conceived, and the interactions you have had with other people, events, and ideas. Where is the freedom in this? Yes, you are free to do what you want even now. But where did your desires come from?”

-- Sam Harris

Who can take away free will?

If a person is weak-minded, anyone can manipulate away their free will.

Should being stupid like you be illegal?

Nobody wants to be as stupid as I am. The only thing I’m good for is a “sex toy” for an older woman. But, stupid people provide a balance that the universe demands. If there weren’t stupid people, how would we ever tell how intelligent everyone else is? Stupid people are a necessity, as you should know.

Is the saying "No one says goodbye unless they want to see you again" true?

Nope. I said goodbye to my ex knowing that I loved her, but I didn’t ever want to ever see her again.

Do you think, when you want to improve yourself, you should always make sure you never ever sell out? Because, if you are going to sellout, at that point should you just stay the same? Do you think we must always stay true to ourselves, no matter what?

Whether you improve yourself, or not, being a “sellout” is a cowardly game. Hold onto good ethical values, which prohibit being a sellout. If you have good, ethical values, you must stay true to yourself… no matter what. It is a choice.

Why are people more stupid today?

Bad parenting.

Why does nobody like rich people?

Not everybody dislikes rich people. Some rich people have worked to get where they are. They don’t forget they used to be the “little guy” in business. They may wear expensive clothes, but they are respectful to everyone they meet. I have met quite a few “rich people” who are the salt of the earth.

“The best way to help the poor is to help them get rich.”

-- Tamerlan Kuzgov

Is life just a bunch of ideas?

Ideas, thoughts, and actions.

Why do I always want to do things myself?

Maybe you’re a closet loner.

What are simple ways to control anger?

Don’t rise to the occasion. Find a way to be truly happy always, and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. It is a choice most of us need to make.

Why are some people not rich even though they work hard?

Poor money management… or, working hard at the wrong job.

Were smart people on this Earth once stupid?

If you ignore the savants, then, maybe. Even the savants, early on in life, didn’t know what they were capable of. So, they might have been stupid… once. 

What makes human life meaningful?

Living. If you’re dead, what’s the meaning?

“The greatest challenge in life is to be our own person and accept that being different is a blessing and not a curse. A person who knows who they are lives a simple life by eliminating from their orbit anything that does not align with his or her overriding purpose and values. A person must be selective with their time and energy because both elements of life are limited.”

-- Kilroy J. Oldster

Why do older married women not want sex?

You are hanging out with the wrong “older married women.” Not only do they want sex, but you might also learn some things about sex from them.

What do you think can bring happiness to a person?

Oral sex might do it.

Why do so many men avoid being kind?

This has not been my experience. Most men I’ve been around have been very kind and respectful. Maybe you need to find a different group of men to hang around with.

Why do humans enjoy sex while most animals do not?

We focus on enjoyment more than a desire to procreate.

How do you let someone know that they're kind of stupid?

I have no filter. Tell them, “You’re kind of stupid.” They might appreciate the honesty… they might not.

What is more important than sex in a relationship?

Honesty.

“The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.”

-- Laura Ingalls Wilder

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