Cynical? Me? : RSS 0.91http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/low.mtmen-usCynical? Me? : RSS 0.91http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/low.mtm<![CDATA[tundramonkey @ 3/18/2008 6:42:15 PM]]>http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/rss0_91.rss#q14
I'm also cynical about humans caring for the planet. We're killing off the world, and everyone rushes out to buy gas-guzzling SUVs still. Maybe the projected high gas prices everywhere will halt that, though.]]><![CDATA[dollyllama @ 3/18/2008 6:34:58 PM]]>http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/rss0_91.rss#q13« maven : Maybe I should say that I HOPE for the best, and plan for the worst. I don't really expect the worst to happen but feel that I should be ready in case it happens.

As for what the worst could be...Depends on the situation. I focus local--I try to be aware of national and global issues, but work on those things I can do locally to make a positive impact. I can't save everyone, I can't change the course of the entire nation. I can improve what's around ME...So that's what I do. Maybe I have my head in the sand, but I really do believe that if more people looked at things from a local perspective, and took care to mitigate the global impacts from their local behavior, the world would be a better place.

Oh, and I will most happily send you cookies. :) I'm not sure what was in SK's batch..I think he just has a low tolerance.I think that acting locally does impact globally and I think that's really smart.

Whatever you put in SK's batch, it sure made him a good writer :D]]><![CDATA[maven @ 3/18/2008 2:23:03 PM]]>http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/rss0_91.rss#q12
As for what the worst could be...Depends on the situation. I focus local--I try to be aware of national and global issues, but work on those things I can do locally to make a positive impact. I can't save everyone, I can't change the course of the entire nation. I can improve what's around ME...So that's what I do. Maybe I have my head in the sand, but I really do believe that if more people looked at things from a local perspective, and took care to mitigate the global impacts from their local behavior, the world would be a better place.

Oh, and I will most happily send you cookies. :) I'm not sure what was in SK's batch..I think he just has a low tolerance.]]><![CDATA[dollyllama @ 3/17/2008 10:22:51 PM]]>http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/rss0_91.rss#q11« maven : Faith in anything should be earned, based on consistant performance and based in reality. If it's given otherwise, it's blind belief.

For example, I have faith that my dog will dance and prance madly before going on a walk. That's something he does every day, and I see no reason for it to change.

I don't consider myself a cynic. I expect the best, plan for the worst, and find reality somewhere in the middle.Yes, that is cynical. What if the worst you could imagine...I mean the worst you could really conger, is about to come to pass? I'm not a worrier as a rule, it's pointless. I have long bouts of "everything is fine". Then I read something that globally tears the rug out from under me. I can personally recover from anything I create or that happens to me individually. But globally? I don't know. I think about other situations, I try to prepare and not be paranoid at the same time. It's freaky.

So I guess what I'm asking is, to your mind, what is the worst?

Btw, can I have some cookies, maybe if they cause me to be institutionalized (and I'm counting on that) "they'll" leave me alone because I'm crazy.

Being scared of your government sucks.]]><![CDATA[maven @ 3/17/2008 7:54:16 PM]]>http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/rss0_91.rss#q10
For example, I have faith that my dog will dance and prance madly before going on a walk. That's something he does every day, and I see no reason for it to change.

I don't consider myself a cynic. I expect the best, plan for the worst, and find reality somewhere in the middle.]]><![CDATA[dollyllama @ 3/17/2008 7:31:12 PM]]>http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/rss0_91.rss#q9Iraq Follies link the other day I noticed they had a time line. I've been a cynic for a long time, particular as it pertains to religion and for the last 7 something years as it pertains to our government.

Well, I clicked this timeline. It's more comprehensive and detailed than another timeline I had found. It goes back to 1991. I've gotten to 2004 so far. Somewhere around 2003 I began to feel physically ill. I had to take a break. Now I can only read it in short spurts, it's that upsetting.

I'm cynical, but not as jaded as I thought.]]><![CDATA[Bornbad @ 3/17/2008 6:52:40 PM]]>http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/rss0_91.rss#q8
(btw, good to see you hanging around more often, Nik)]]><![CDATA[gratheo @ 3/17/2008 6:29:51 PM]]>http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/rss0_91.rss#q7« gnikgnok : I adore you, kid. I'll be happy if my boys grow up half as intelligent as you!Thanks, gnik.
That means a lot to me.]]><![CDATA[gnikgnok @ 3/17/2008 6:27:12 PM]]>http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/rss0_91.rss#q6« gratheo : Funny, cheeselog.
I guess I should explain what I was thinking, since it obviously doesn't match your ideas.
I was referring more to organized religion as a scapegoat for crimes and violence.
The crusades, the French wars of religion, jihad, Israel and Palestine, conflicts between Islamic Pakistan and Hindu India, the seisen of Japan, to some extent the Holocaust (as a conflict between a largely christian nation and its jews) and many other tragedies have stemmed from religion. I have no problems with religion, or others being religious. However, when these people try to force their beliefs on others, or declare other religions 'inferior', then I have a serious problem.

I'm not disparaging all the good that religious people have done in the name of religion - teaching, learning, discovering, inventing, etc...
However, the majority of these good effects stem from one or a handful of people, not the monstrosity of the entire organized system that represents the religion.

Hope that clears up my sentences above for you.I adore you, kid. I'll be happy if my boys grow up half as intelligent as you!]]><![CDATA[cheeselog1234 @ 3/17/2008 6:23:27 PM]]>http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/rss0_91.rss#q5
I believe disorganized religion is better than organized religion.]]><![CDATA[gratheo @ 3/17/2008 6:01:41 PM]]>http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/rss0_91.rss#q4« cheeselog1234 : I just see brushing your teeth as something that isn't necessarily as good as it may seem. It's not without merit, but sometimes the risks can outweigh the benefits.

I just see random acts of kindness as something that isn't necessarily as good as it may seem. It's not without merit, but sometimes the risks can outweigh the benefits.

I just see eating late at night as something that isn't necessarily as good as it may seem. It's not without merit, but sometimes the risks can outweigh the benefits.

I just see going to college as something that isn't necessarily as good as it may seem. It's not without merit, but sometimes the risks can outweigh the benefits.

I just see drinking copious amounts of beer as something that isn't necessarily as good as it may seem. It's not without merit, but sometimes the risks can outweigh the benefits.

I just see being cynical as something that isn't necessarily as good as it may seem. It's not without merit, but sometimes the risks can outweigh the benefits.Funny, cheeselog.
I guess I should explain what I was thinking, since it obviously doesn't match your ideas.
I was referring more to organized religion as a scapegoat for crimes and violence.
The crusades, the French wars of religion, jihad, Israel and Palestine, conflicts between Islamic Pakistan and Hindu India, the seisen of Japan, to some extent the Holocaust (as a conflict between a largely christian nation and its jews) and many other tragedies have stemmed from religion. I have no problems with religion, or others being religious. However, when these people try to force their beliefs on others, or declare other religions 'inferior', then I have a serious problem.

I'm not disparaging all the good that religious people have done in the name of religion - teaching, learning, discovering, inventing, etc...
However, the majority of these good effects stem from one or a handful of people, not the monstrosity of the entire organized system that represents the religion.

Hope that clears up my sentences above for you.]]><![CDATA[cheeselog1234 @ 3/17/2008 4:57:12 PM]]>http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/rss0_91.rss#q3
I just see random acts of kindness as something that isn't necessarily as good as it may seem. It's not without merit, but sometimes the risks can outweigh the benefits.

I just see eating late at night as something that isn't necessarily as good as it may seem. It's not without merit, but sometimes the risks can outweigh the benefits.

I just see going to college as something that isn't necessarily as good as it may seem. It's not without merit, but sometimes the risks can outweigh the benefits.

I just see drinking copious amounts of beer as something that isn't necessarily as good as it may seem. It's not without merit, but sometimes the risks can outweigh the benefits.

I just see being cynical as something that isn't necessarily as good as it may seem. It's not without merit, but sometimes the risks can outweigh the benefits.]]><![CDATA[gratheo @ 3/17/2008 3:13:22 PM]]>http://www.plime.com/religion/f/3631/1/rss0_91.rss#q2After you've been betrayed, picked on, etc... you start to become less naive and trusting of others.
But all that's in the past, so it doesn't bother me.
Cynicism is still a useful skill, though, given my impressionability and difficulty with reading facial expressions and finding out how a person is feeling.

As to the reality TV - I'd agree that it's not actually all that real. It's far too scripted, and it has to be: otherwise, it'd never sell. The studio execs have to manipulate things to make a good show, or it'll never work.

I'm also cynical about people who claim to be my friends, as well as most governments.
Knowing that the US has Delta, as well as other shadowy groups who can operate beyond the law under secrecy isn't that conducive to a carefree attitude. It worries me, a little.

EDIT:
And, of course, there's the big one: organized religion.
Religion has caused some of the bloodiest wars in the history of mankind, and it has the capacity to completely warp those who follow it to the letter. Extremists of any religion are dangerous to themselves, those around them, and moderates of the same religion.
I just see organized religion as something that isn't necessarily as good as it may seem. It's not without considerable merit, but sometimes the risks can outweigh the benefits.]]>
Cynical? Me?
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<![CDATA[gnikgnok @ 3/17/2008 2:54:14 PM]]>http://www.plime.com/f/3631/1/rss0_91.rss#q1
And if not... I'll just say I'm feeling pretty cynical lately. I'm losing faith in our government and that feels pretty bad. We went from being a respected country to such a laughingstock in such a short time... sigh...

I'm also feeling cynical about reality television lately. How REAL is it, really???

Anybody else cynical about something?]]>