Honesty

[blackdog2086]

A lot of great remarks and stories here, most of which are from members much better than I. There was a time in my life long ago when I was a nice guy keeping my mouth shut unless I was praising or being agreeable. Pretty much all it got me was the "he's a nice guy so it's easy to screw him over" reputation. It took me way too long but I learned that keeping your thoughts and opinions to yourself is a form of dishonesty. If someone is mean or corrupt and nobody ever says anything, they have no reason to believe their behavior isn't acceptable and won't be tolerated.

A dog can only be kicked so many times before it stands up and bites it's aggressor. I did a 180 and although I may not have changed many (or any) people, they knew better than to pull any crap with me. From these same people I would occasionally hear "you used to be such a nice guy." What they were saying is we used to be able to easily take advantage of you but not anymore.

I am talking about people that I have regular contact with and first hand knowledge of, not the person you stand next to in a checkout line or hardware store. I give good people all the respect and courtesy they rightly deserve but I refuse to do the same for those who in my eyes don't.

 

[CobyRupert]

I hear what you’re saying. But is it speaking “the truth” or “your truth”? We live in a new world where there aren’t facts anymore. Everybody has there own version.
So often I run into these “ F*** your feelings, I tell it like it is!” guys, and they’re just WRONG. Straight up ignorant and misinformed.
....and who has the time, energy or desire to research and explain actual facts to someone who doesn’t want to hear it and just doubles down on their ignorance...or deflects with “what about” something/somebody else.
Most are just mad at life and want to argue. Just a draining, negative experience. You’re not going to fix them or “set them straight” with those kinds of interactions. Move on. Life’s too short and there’s too many ignoramuses.

 

[blackdog2086]

Truth is anything an individual believes no matter what the basis. I'm a fact guy and will use them to dispel "truths" whenever necessary. Facts and logic are a major annoyance to ignorant people. I believe in studying and learning from history, not rewriting it to suit an agenda.

 

[MoKelly]

I really miss the days when my friends and I could argue politics, economy, taxes, sports, religion, whatever - then admit we are never going to change anyone else’s opinion - and go have a few beers.

We were still friends. We still went to games together, hunted together and had meals together.

That is rare today. Arguments get heated. People get really really really mad.

Makes me sad. I don’t necessarily only want friends who agree with everything I say.

MoKelly

 

[/pine]

Truth is anything an individual believes no matter what the basis. I'm a fact guy and will use them to dispel "truths" whenever necessary. Facts and logic are a major annoyance to ignorant people. I believe in studying and learning from history, not rewriting it to suit an agenda.

That's funny considering that those that write history (old and new) also have or had an agenda...

Before the days of video cameras everywhere...almost all history was derived from human eye witnesses...FYI...eye witnesses are notoriously bad sources of information....have five different people witness an event and you will get five different versions of the event...

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I really miss the days when my friends and I could argue politics, economy, taxes, sports, religion, whatever - then admit we are never going to change anyone else’s opinion - and go have a few beers.

We were still friends. We still went to games together, hunted together and had meals together.

That is rare today. Arguments get heated. People get really really really mad.

Makes me sad. I don’t necessarily only want friends who agree with everything I say.

MoKelly

One of my best friends is 180 degrees opposite of me politically, and we are light years apart in our choice of Presidents; yet we put that behind us and it has never become an issue. I trust him explicitly, and somehow our differences make us stronger I believe.

 

[MoKelly]

One of my best friends is 180 degrees opposite of me politically, and we are light years apart in our choice of Presidents; yet we put that behind us and it has never become an issue. I trust him explicitly, and somehow our differences make us stronger I believe.

You are fortunate. That is good.

MoKelly

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Truth is anything an individual believes no matter what the basis. I'm a fact guy and will use them to dispel "truths" whenever necessary. Facts and logic are a major annoyance to ignorant people. I believe in studying and learning from history, not rewriting it to suit an agenda.

History, as it has traditionally been written, has it's own agenda... to perpetrate the cause of the writer.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

You are fortunate. That is good.

MoKelly

Well, he is only one guy after all... so, I share your pain as well. Especially with family, don't get me started on that one. :confused2: