Questioning Sarcasm, the Ex, Atheism, Stupid, and Knowledge

 

“Sarcasm is the last refuge of the imaginatively bankrupt.”

-- Cassandra Clare

Sarcastic people, has anyone ever been offended by your sarcasm, how did you handle it?

Yes, and I can’t tell them how to act. I just shake my head and move on. They are not worth the time it takes.

What if nobody ever got angry or had an inferiority complex?

Everybody would be a happy camper. Boring!

What would you do if fear wasn’t holding you back?

I have to laugh. 23 years in the Intelligence field and fear is holding me back? Fear is not in my wheelhouse.

What are seven spiritual stages before getting successful?

Really? People become successful without exercising “spiritual stages.”

What if the relationships in your life are shaping you more than your own choices and actions?

Not happening. My choices and decisions shape my actions toward my relationships. You either are on the ship, or you are on the dock.

Is it true that stupidity can be defined as a lack of knowledge in certain fields?

What you are looking for is ignorance, not stupidity.

“Confidence is ignorance. If you're feeling cocky, it's because there's something you don't know.”

-- Eoin Colfer

How can I stop expecting that my ex will return back to me when he made it clear that we’re better off alone and after he blocked me everywhere? Why am I feeling guilty, and that’s why it’s over?

Find a new person to be with. He is "yesterday." Get over yourself and move on.

Is humility something I receive, or is it something I am?

People think they can humiliate me. My response to them is that I am already humbled. To try and humble me more is a waste of their time. But, it is their time to waste. So, I smile and tell them to bring it on, if they are so inclined. I find it humorous.

How will the world be if the vast majority of people have a great ability and potential to be creative, and make great new inventions, or come up with great new ideas?

We will move forward, faster than anticipated.

What's the best way to deal with a person pushing me out of his life?

Leave, quickly. If they don’t want you in their life, then don’t be there. You don’t need to be pushed, just go. Leaving their life will shock them. Don’t talk to them or show them any feeling. Just go. They might be tripping over their tongue trying to talk to you. All you need to say to them is, “You pushed me out of your life,,, I’m gone. Have a nice day.”

Why are most people always in an aggressive mindset? What are your opinions?

You hang around with aggressive people? I’d be looking for a different group to be with.

Do you know that you have been a blessing to all others in your life? If not, do you wish you were never born?

I am a blessing, and I say that with all humility. I try not to be argumentative and hard to get along with. I try to be “selfless” as much as I can, helping those in need. Being a retired person, I have more than a lot of time to help those who need it. I never wish I were never born. There is so much to do for people.

“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”

-- Alexander Pope

Is atheism an insurrection against God?

You can’t have an “insurrection” against something you don’t believe in. For an atheist, God does not exist. Period. Why would they waste their time on something that doesn’t exist? For that matter, why do theists care that they don’t believe? If both sides would just shut up, the world would be a better place.`

How stupid could a stupid person get without looking stupid?

If they don’t open their mouth, their ignorance will go unheard.

Why are beautiful women not married?

They can’t find a beautiful man. Personally, I’ll take a woman with some flaws all day long. Being a “cover girl” is too much to deal with.

Why do Christians have faith in Jesus? Are they so insecure that they have no faith in themselves, are they delusional, stupid, or all the above?

“All of the above” would put them with atheists. Let’s not go there.

Is humility at the end of a tunnel called arrogance?

Humility does not recognize arrogance, certainly not at the end of the tunnel. “Humility” is when you acknowledge all your flaws. You smile at the volume of them. Humility is when you make peace with them, and realize that the arrogant people are hiding their own flaws, but, not very well.

Nowadays are people becoming less kind towards humanity?

Not in the South. Most of us, down here, relish humanity and hope they spend their hard-earned money with us.

“It's funny how humans can wrap their mind around things and fit them into their version of reality.”

-- Rick Riordan

Can stupid people be evil?

As much as intelligent people can be.

What are the key leadership traits essential for navigating through a crisis, and how can leaders cultivate them?

Perseverance. The “key leadership trait” is to dig your claws into the crisis and not let go until the crisis is over. You cultivate the trait by never giving up… by staying with the crisis until it's over. If you can’t do this to the end, then you have no reason to begin.

Why would someone marry me when there are better people in the world?

They aren’t in love with "better" people. They are in love with you. Rejoice!

Why should I classify myself (personality tests such as MBTI, astrology, etc.) instead of just being the unique ‘me’ with the various individual traits and quirks that I know I have?

There is no reason that I can think of. It is always best to be you.

Can a person have too much success or happiness?

Not if they’re capable of handling it. If they aren’t, they need to find that level where they are comfortable and stay there until they are more comfortable to move forward. Success and happiness are simple “choices” we make for our lives.

Why does my girlfriend treat me like shit even though I did everything to make her happy?

She’s probably looking for a person to be submissive to her. Do you like to be spanked?

“From a mistress’s perspective, taken men are low maintenance. All they want is sex, sex, sex. They don’t fall in love with you. They don’t send you clingy text messages asking where you are. They don’t complain when you kick them out to sleep at home. And they don’t try to pressure you into having children with them.”

-- Vanessa de Largie

Do you become less easily hurt the more knowledge you have?

I have around the same knowledge I’ve always had, but my wisdom has multiplied. I have never been easily hurt, primarily, because I don’t give a shit. Life is what it is, and you try to live it, the best you can. Sometimes you fail. This is when you learn, and try, try again.

What do you foresee as the biggest challenge in our relationship?

Love and friendship. If you don’t have these, where is the relationship?

Should a person become more cynical or remain optimistic as they mature?

I always stayed optimistic as I matured. It is the military mindset I still have. Being cynical is not conducive to military operations. Retired from the service, I have found that being cynical is not conducive to much. It is better in life to not be cynical.

What’s one belief that you’ve held onto that no longer serves you?

Catholicism. I read Genesis. Much of it doesn’t make a lot of sense. I follow my own path to God. The Bible… not so much.

How do we make sure that every answer is a valuable resource, a steady rung on Internet users' ladder to wisdom?

How do we make sure every question deserves the steady rung to wisdom? Some of the questions here are bullshit, asked by people who want to see what you will answer. I ignore the ones you can, obviously, see through. Wisdom will not help the ignorance purposely thrust upon us.

Who/what is this mysterious “they” that some people blame for all the world’s problems?

Politicians. You can’t live with them, and you can’t live without them. God save us.

“Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man, and our politicians take advantage of this prejudice by pretending to be even more stupid than nature made them.”

-- Bertrand Russell

Does blocking your ex make them regret losing you?

No. It brings peace into your life. Who gives a shit what the ex thinks. Leave me alone, is what I want. 

Is it possible to love someone more than yourself?

Oh, hell yes.

Is it possible for something to exist, that is greater than God?

Maybe, but… by definition, wouldn’t that still be God? We would accept that God is greater than we thought. Silly us.

What is the term for someone who lacks intelligence and often makes foolish statements?

Ignorant.

Why do people always tend to take things so personally?

It seems that I don’t. This question, though, just pisses me off. Just kidding. Don’t take it personally.

Why is failure called the path to success?

Failure is the best way we can learn. You fail, look at what you did, examine the problem, and try again, and again, until you get it right. You have learned where you went wrong and, probably, won’t make the same mistake again.

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”

-- Thomas A. Edison

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