I come here to have fun. To me having fun is important. I enjoy connecting with others, and seeing the world through the eyes of other people. Lately it seems hostility is increasing. Totally floored by what some people are saying, my friends PM me about bizarre assertions. It would be funny if they were not do militant about it.
Much of this friction comes from what I have to call a misunderstanding of a document. This document is a very old and popular guide of how to do things, build societies, write laws, heck, it even has a bread recipe. Many claim it brings them peace, joy, a sense of purpose and belonging, way cool. Even though most talk and believe in the peace, love, and joy section, things do get dark, and it is strongly asserted by a few readers that those who do not follow this document are the moral equal of rapists, murderers, and child molesters. They make no bones that any questioning of this document and they will be glad to remove your head from the rest of your body.
It starts with this happy couple running around a garden having a good time. Then they make the mistake of asking a question. Then the shit hits the fan and things go south from there. The rest of the document is filled with hate, war, disease, oppression, torture, suffering, more war, more disease, a bit more suffering, death, murder, and even cute little froggies become a means of suffering.There is eventually a teacher who teaches love, peace, comfort, and joy to man. But he also gets brutally tortured and killed, and his students get fed to lions, so then people run out kill in his name. In Jr. College the psychology department offered IQ tests, I hit 132, I am no genius, but I am reasonably intelligent. I read this and wonder what kind of guide to life is this? Why am I not to question it?
So an advocate of this document will ask what did I think. When I reply that is makes excellent Charlton Hesston movies will get a smile. Then when I am pinned down to my true feelings I reply that this is the most hate filled, sexist, bloody and generally twisted thing I ever read, nobody in good conscience can take this serious. The person acts as if I hit them with a baseball bat. They exclaim that is it not sexist, racist, or hate filled at all. So I show passage after passage clearly in black and white of hate, killing, torture, and that 51% of the population is too stupid and filthy to run their own lives, and should be treated only as baby machines and kitchen help.
I am told I am reading it wrong and twisting the words, that is not what it means at all. I am somehow at fault and lacking for not understanding that war and torture is not want is meant, even if that is what is written???????????
A guidebook to build a model plane gives the instructions clearly, and if you do not follow them word for word your airplane looks stupid.So if this life-guiding document does not mean what it says, why is it written with this stuff in it?Why am I stupid, wrong, categorized a kooky liberal, and told I am personally responsible for all the suffering in the country because I think this an immoral guide and cannot bring morality? It says to kill and torture for minor things, but yet those who do not follow this document word for word are on the same moral plain as rapists, murders, and child molesters?????
If you or I sat down and wrote a life-guiding book claiming it was non fiction and filled it with hate, sexism, drowning, torture, incest, killing, and war, they would figure we were on drugs, or completely wacko and need sent to a hospital for help. Yet this popular life-guiding document is freely handed out at hospitals and places where people ask for help & healing. Then you are helped and healed by reading this book, about death and suffering?
How can I be less moral picking and choosing inspiring concepts while others do it as well?Why can one group that ignores certain passages be upset at others who do the same? They are talking the talk of peace and joy, but walking the walk of hate and oppression. The document is working, but in a way many do not see or acknowledge.
I used to think that when you wanted to watch drama you would rent or tune into the appropriate program. It seems stupid drama has taken over everything including news programs. Another popular topic this election year is that news media stinks with bias.
Here is a silly yet somewhat accurate to the style news reports these days
Newsguy: Hello our breaking story at the top of the hour is that the president farted today while in a meeting with the vice president, secretary of defense, and the joint chiefs, lets go to our Washington correspondent.
Washingtonguy: Thank you, yes it is confirmed that while meeting with the vice president, the secretary of state, and the joint chiefs, the president ripped on through his trousers. It was reported to be five to seven seconds long, reverberated his chair, and smelled like sulfur and burnt tires. The secret service escorted the officials out of the Oval Office, and supervised while fans were placed in the office and windows opened. The meeting returned after an all clear was signaled and the Lysol dissipated.Terrorists are not, I repeat terrorists are not suspected in altering the presidents diet.
Newguy: Thank you, now joining us to sort out what this all means is someone from each party, one of those, and one of these.
One of those: The president handled this appropriately and with honor. The president is only human and this will happen.What we do need is a committee to establish a flatulence committee so we can have a national presidential gas plan. We would be able to run the country if that other party would shut their yaps.
News guy: Now we will hear from one of these
One of these:This president is a disgrace, this is proof he talks out his butt.What is next for this administration pooping in meetings? Will the president meet with the prime minister of Canada, drop his drawers and crap all over him? Where does it end. If that other party had not blocked our crap bill this would not happen. They need to shut their yaps!
Sheep person1: Can you believe those idiots attacking the president!
Sheep person2: What a useless president, talks out his butt sheeze!
Average person: Why did the president call for a meeting with the VP, and the joint chiefs? What did they talk about? What are they planning to do? Hello? Anyone?
When they surveyed college aged people about news and a majority got their daily news from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert the news organizations did not think of it as a wake up call, but when on the attack, calling Stewart and college kids idiots. Jon Stewart never claimed to be news, he is on Comedy Central, he is satire. All he does is play back what politicians say, and it is so ridiculous it is funny. It seems claiming to be satire gives him some honestly and credibility so people watch it, figuring it is no less accurate.
It must be that someone well dressed relaying facts is too boring to sell advertising. People think news should be like Indiana Jones, flashy, exciting, and to hell if it is real or not. When a topic is who has the sexiest news reporters, well you see the news in not the issue, entertainment is.
Others do not want to hear facts and draw their own conclusions. They want the facts to support their conclusions true or not. They want the truth packaged in a pretty little box, with a pretty ribbon, so they never have to open it and look inside. Their little bubbles all secure and happy, the happy bubble of denial, instead of knowing it might pop, and being able to adjust real life with real information.
People want drama, emotion, and to call others idiot. It is exactly like that moment of hate Orwell warned us about in 1984. Trained journalist with ethics review processes have been replaced with pundits.Pundits then say the most outrageous stuff to “piss off” the other side, then the other side responds, on and on we go. There is a market for that, but it should not be considered mainstream news.People do not trust the news, yet we need to make important decisions, black market news is getting popular, but as with any information buyer beware. Provided one does think and not just blindly accept any info to keep their happy little bubble intact.
Truth is not a purchase decision, you can’t say I paid for truth I get what I want, it had best say what I want or it is not the truth, I want it all, and I want it now! Truth is not a made to order commodity with pretty colors and fancy widgets. Truth requires a validity process to check integrity, check the facts to support the conclusion, and potential falsification must be admitted. Truth can be ugly and one must face that, but when the truth is pretty, you can know for sure it is real, thus the beauty is more than skin deep.
It is funny how things work very similarly in micro scale and macro scale. I was thinking how this works with appeasement, negotiation, and bullies. I am saying that appeasement is not negotiation. It is a horrible strategy actually.
On a micro scale remember the bully to took lunch money? Nearly every school had one. Each day certain kids would just pony up, and go hungry or hide other money. Then in history when the viking would invade, often kings would pay tribute to not be invaded. I am sure the viking laughed as they hauled off the money. All the vikings had to do is return anytime and collect more easy money. They had no reason to do otherwise.
Another appeasement I see alot of, and really annoys me is bratty kids. Bratty kids are bratty because they learned to get what they want by being brats. The brat in a checkout line crying and screaming to get a candy bar, on and on, and finally the parent just gives them one to shut them up. No requirement of asking properly, no negotiation of how to earn a candy bar, here you go let me reward your bad behavior. It might just start with a candy bar, but where does it end? Criminal appeasement? Let's not go there, ski mask or suit, both types of criminals think they are entitled to appeasement. Then laugh when the "criminal sentence" is a joke.
Romantic relationship bullies look for women (or persons) with low esteem that can be isolated. Nothing a little baby boy mind fears more than to think of relating to a woman as an equal. That is hell on earth to the relationship bully. If the woman is confident, and has people she can depend on, a stalker will choose an easier target. When a woman (and some men) think they cannot live with the other, their life becomes a huge appeasement fest. Academically called an enabler.
The only time I would think appeasement is prudent is say a mugger jumps out and points a weapon, and demands your wallet. Especially if I am with family, the money is not worth it. But once the mugger clears out, I am going to the police, I am writing to the paper, I am giving each and every detail I remember. Might even consider returning to that spot if the criminal works that area, only this time the odds are even. Bullies hate an even match. Or if the vikings or barbarians are going to attack, pay tribute to buy time for form alliances and raise an army.
Appeasement only rewards bad behavior. I am all for creating a culture of law and order. I appreciate that some folks are disadvantaged, were abused, and even worse. That is a separate issue. If Tommy is walking down the street and a bully knocks his ice cream cone to the ground. Don't demand Tommy "just understand" and do nothing, because the bully is "just that way." Nor should Tommy suddenly go knocking others kids ice cream cones to the ground. Don't punish Tommy for trying to trip the bully as he runs away after spilling the ice cream. Reward the bully with consequences appropriate to his actions. Work to pay back the ice cream, a visit to parents (provided they care), a talk with the sheriff, something to guide the bully to better choices. Anything but "put up with it."
Bullies come in all shapes and sizes. Bratty kids, immature romantic partners, terrorists, barbarians, corporate suits, elected suits, even other nations. Obviously these bullies will do some damage and cause inconvenience in the short term, but in the long run we are all safer because they will not be appeased, and will be denied their unlawful demands.
I am the early to bed and early to rise person at my house. One thing I do enjoy, the quiet, noone else cluttering my mind with their thoughts and question.. :) My own time belongs to me, and is not all about somebody else, as most of one's day is. I love (most) people, but I recharge when alone. Some mood music and cool wolf pictures.
The Original 
