Just a few questions......
1) If you have read this entire thread, did you happen to notice that the athiest holiday discussion/thread ENDED on the first page......
And from page two through post #142 became YET ANOTHER discussion regarding the existence, OR NOT of any god.
2) In your dawg message board experience......
What would be your best estimates regarding the percentage of threads that have inspired (a) over 100 comments (b) over 50 comments (c) over 10 comments (d) DAH......
Without a goodly number of the total replies being obviously OFF TOPIC?
3) Have you ever noticed a tendency by some message board authors to CRY "off topic" when they seemingly lack the ability to otherwise run with WOLVES?
4) Last question (a 2 pat query)......
Are you a member of the OFF TOPIC police?
If so...... Have sleeping on the job for over 200 posts on this thread?
Cheers.
I know that you believe you understand what you think I said...... But I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
NO......
And I also do not "recall hearing of an infant popping out" while holding a Bible, a Torah, a Koran, the Vedas, or the Buddhavacana, or any athiest "scripture.
You may now calculate your preferred "draw breath" without a "small book" = theology theory.
Cheers.
I know that you believe you understand what you think I said...... But I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
Perfectly "clear"......
I pose a question(s)......
And you reply by NOT answering the question(s) posed, but by substituting other words (yours) for mine, and then pretending that you are offering a meaningful response by proffering your thoughts regarding your edited text.
But that's OK......
For grumpy old men just sitting around a kithen table......
While (hopefully) swilling many bottles of good cold beer......
With no final score as a goal on any such horizontal surface.
It's been fun, Hoppy
Cheers.
I know that you believe you understand what you think I said...... But I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
I know that you believe you understand what you think I said...... But I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
10 days is enough of "awhile" for me......
So I'll simply conclude my above query to my own satisfaction.
I'll preface the following remarks by stating that what I am about to state/suggest is not based on any fact(s) known to me, but is based solely on my own subjective observations/experiences.
YOUTH breeds a nearly universal conservative stance as every child begins dealing with the tiny sliver of reality that defines the obvious limits of each child's relatively tiny world.
My dad can beat any other dad.
My mom is a better mom than any other mom.
My town or city or hamlet is the best place to live.
My local sport teams (even when they lose) are the best teams.
My (my parent's) religion is the right religion.
My (my parent's) politics are the right politics.
And so on and so forth.
And if the cradle is not subsequently rocked too severly by an ernest education, and a substantially curious exposure to "outside influences"......
AND MUCH SERIOUS INTROSPECTION......
Not much CHANGE actually occurs between birth and death.
So why do some human children become birds who feel the need to fly away in varying degrees......
While other human children seemingly prefer to remain close to home, and bloom where and how they were born?
IMNHO......
Human life presents a constant and often challenging struggle between the often presumed SAFETY of SECURITY...... And the equally tempting LURE of ADVENTURE.
SECURITY (in its many forms) v. ADVENTURE (in its many forms) ......
Is that not the dilemma that most frequenty searches the soul of every mortal throughout every segment of human life......
For as long as the lure of ADVENTURE remains as truly tempting as any seemingly secure SAFETY?
As men age, however......
(No matter their prior and/or present philosophical, and theological, and economic circumstances......
SECURITY (for the few years remainging until unavoidable death) begins trumping LIFE......
And initiates a mental process that erodes most of the significant lure toward additional ADVENTURE......
BECAUSE of an increasing fear of RISK.
That's enough for tonight.
Perhaps more later...... Prehaps not!
Cheers.
I know that you believe you understand what you think I said...... But I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
I may not be a good example for your theory, or maybe I haven't yet aged enough. I'm over 60 but on my bucket list is the goal of jumping out of an airplane - with a working parachute, of course. I also want to parasail, drive fast, ride roller coasters and go carts, and do adventurous things I've done since I was much younger. I'll even do bungee jumping. Hope my desire for adventure never ends.
I haven't done some of these adventures as much as I desired. My problem with doing even more adventurous things has not been my lack of desire for adventure but an even greater desire for financial security. I haven't chosen to spend the money to live out all of my adventurous desires. I've saved money for that inevitable rainy day. That's a lesson my depression era parents taught me.
Now that I've reached a level of financial security (and eternal security) that I'm comfortable with I'm ready for some more adventure. My wife and I travel a lot and we'll be in Illinois several times over the next few years. Want to join me in parachuting? You can be my BB&B witness.
PS: I won't need to drink beer to get me to do it.
Last edited by HoDo-Tech70; 01-31-2010 at 07:34 AM.
So why do some human children become birds who feel the need to fly away in varying degrees......
While other human children seemingly prefer to remain close to home, and bloom where and how they were born?
Good question!.... and particularly interesting if dawgs are open to examining all the "possibilities".
Jordan Mills on choosing Tech:
“It’s a great experience seeing them play. It was a good atmosphere. The fans stood up the whole game and never sat down. They have a great fan base.”
Three questions, Gus......
1) Why......
And with as much detail as you may feel necessary to support your "don't think" statement......
Do you not think "it has to do with the increasing fear of risk"?
2) Given the manner in which you have used the words "it" and "but instead" in your reply......
Does that mean you agree with the premise that the vast majority of human beings become conservative as they become aged?
3) What......
"increasing understanding of the value of personal responsibility"......
Toward what end? For what purpose?
If a sincere "liberal" condones the slaying of a fetus, and is willing to take "personal responsibility" for any role they have played toward that end...... What?
If a sincere conservative condones the slaying of an abortion doctor, and is willing to take "personal responsibility" for any role they have played toward that end...... What?
IMNHO......
Conservatives and liberals appear to be equally capable of taking "personal reponsibility" for their actions, both within the values of any private philosophy, and also within the often more limited boundries of public behavior.
Ergo...... I do not understand your counterproposal, and I shall await any reply with interest.
Cheers.
I know that you believe you understand what you think I said...... But I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
I'm already to the bolded part. In fact, I don't understand lots of things that do seem to be necessary to understand. Looking back, I don't know why I was so excited to get this degree. All I really seem to know is how much I don't really know.
Fortunately I get to keep learning.
Over 60 most definitely qualifies you to test this topic......
So let's peek together at my premise and your post.
"with a working parachute"...... Adventure WITHOUT risk?
"not been my lack of desire for ADVENTURE but an EVEN GREATER DESIRE for financial SECURITY"...... The constant struggle!
"for that inevitable rainy day"...... Fear of risk.
"reached a level of financial security"...... A worthy and understandable goal.
"(and eternal security)"...... ?????
"that I'm comfortable with"...... Perhaps the most significant achievement any man may stive for and eventually realize.
I'm ready for some more adventure...... Secure adventure? Uncertain safety?
--------------------------------------------------
And given the above with my thanks to HoDo......
This may be the most important footnote I have to offer regarding this topic.
Being COMFORTABLE in one's final years......
Regardless of whether any such comfort is eventually wrapped in a conservative or liberal package of philosophy......
Is neither a fluke nor a sin!
It is, instead, much akin to being born right-handed, and subsequently becoming comfortable with using one's right hand, one's left hand, or both hands......
To comfortably stroll through every valley of life, shadowed by death.
Cheers to HoDo and goodnight.
I know that you believe you understand what you think I said...... But I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
I really think your original point may be right for most people and, more than likely, I'll eventually get to a point when my desire for security outweighs my desire for adventure. Yes, it's adventure without risk. The parachute adventure will be for the thrill of the freefall but the risk is certainly minimal. I also want to scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef - great white sharks, manta rays, and poisonous creatures of the sea. That's about the greatest risk I will ever want to take but it is still only a small risk.
Possibly, but more likely that it is a concern about the future rather than fear of risk.
John 3:16 states eternal security better than I could ever do.
Secure adventure for sure. I enjoy the thrill of speed and the thrill of falling which is why I'm a roller coaster addict. Roller coasters are extremely safe.
My thanks to AG for my final response (edited parts in bold):
I don't understand lots of things that do seem to be necessary to understand. Looking back, I don't know why I was so excited to get to retirement age. All I really seem to know is how much I don't really know. Fortunately I get to keep learning.