tygerprints

Everyone is coming from their own unique set of experiences. And really, as long as I still get my coffee at the coffee shop, and someone is holding an elevator door for me, what does it really matter in the long run. In less than a century, all of us now will be dead and gone, and no one will recall if were liberal, convervative, happy, sad, mean or nice, or even remember that we were here.

Keeping that in mind I try to help other people when they need it and be more sympathetic - life is struggle for everyone.

Not so much that people aren't intending to harm me but just that they are self-involved and don't intentionally mean harm most of the time. Yes they're still idiots, but to them I am also. We all are, really.

I don't think anyone gets to decide what a person "Should" be doing, who are these "should-ers" that get to make these decisions?

It's like putting a dead cow in a museum and calling it art. SHOULD it be art just because it's there? Or SHOULD there be some explanation or clue as to what the "artist" who put the cow there is trying to say? It's something I've thought about in relation to what constitutes art, and what doesn't.

My point here is just that in my view, it's helpful to have some more input rather than just a link when it's not apparent why the link matters or might be significant.

I think it's a sign of intelligence to be able to recognize the potential flaws and fallacies in your own thinking, and to acknowledge that your ideas are just opinions based on your OWN experience, not necessarily the same for everyone across the board.

Walt Whitman said, "If I contradict myself, then I conradict myself; I am large, I contain multitudes." I like to use that as a motto, because often I realize my own opinions can be contradictory, and that they change from circumstance to circumstance. That's not to say one can't have a cohesive set of moral values, but rather that change and dialogue are important inputs and require the maturity to accept that you always have room for new ideas.

I think in growing up I've become less prone to looking at everyone else in the world as an idiot. You know how when you're in your 20s and 30s, you're driving around flipping everyone off because you think everyone around you is an idiot and a know-nothing.

The older I've gotten the more I realize most people, most creatures in fact, are just bopping along trying to survive and get what they can from life. I guess I've gotten less judgmental and more empathetic, seeing most problems as a process problem, and not necessarily the result of a confederacy of idiots out there trying to ruin my life.

I use it on hot dogs and hamburgers, but only a tad because I like ketchup more - but somehow a corn dog needs both.

I think my username says it all. I'm kind of aloof and independent anyway so, being on my own is how I survive best. And nothing really gets me down, I don't own anyone else's sh#t and I just do my own thing and then I'm off on some other pursuit. I think it's sort of an ADHD but I love it kind of thing.

It looks like the carpet between the kitchen and my library. My commute is all of 100 feet or so down a portrait-lined hallway to the computer. And that's it. And I work for myself, (a part time writer) so i don't really have to struggle with the daily grind of cars, buses, trains, etc.

But - we do have a pretty nifty Trax system here in Utah for commuters going cross town or from downtown to the University. I'd probably use that if I was still working.

'old on, Gov. Some of us are quite simple creatures what can't walk and chew gum at the same time. I can't listen to any music if I'm working, writing, or doing anything that requires concentration. Music is such a whole encompassing experience, I have to give my full attention to it and it totally detracts me from whatever else I'm doing.

I had the very bad judgment to suggest (on Reddit) that people would be better off in a more progressive, forward-leaning society. That was enough to get me banned permanently.

Mine are: treat others as you want to be treated, and have respect for other people's opinions. But those seem to go right out the window when I'm on this forum.

I saw some documentary about ancient medical devises on PBS - apparently when the king had a rectal lesion, the public wanted to do the same to themselves so they actually invented instruments to tear the rectum so they could experience what the king was experiencing. I call that going above and being the call of "doody."