Poor Mabel. She lost her popularity. Popularity is a funny thing, we only have it as long as we fit in with those we’re popular with. Ah, but step outside that group concensus and Woops, there goes the old popularity, right out the window.
Years ago, when I was first into blogging with an anti-Islam site, my site garnered considerable popularity, not just from bloggers but all over the Internet. I was popular with some Muslims too, in a negative sort of way, ho ho.
Other bloggers of course noticed that some blogs were more popular than others, and a few started holding actual Popularity Contests. I fared poorly in those because I refused to participate. I wouldn’t link to their contest pages or otherwise get involved in any way, to help promote such self-admiring back-slapping contests.
This isn’t a free blog. I pay a good fee to have this domain’s content hosted, and there’s no ads. What this is, is exactly what it’s represented to be in the header, an effort to get people to open their eyes. Humans are a gullible bunch, we’re easily trained to think the way Those In Charge want us to think, and we’re easily set into mind-grooves that become deeper with age until the walls are too steep and high to climb out of.
So yep, this is my Humanitarian Gift To Humanity.
Never looked at it that way, now did you? That’s because I never put it that way before. I never slapped myself on the back like that before, told you what a swell guy I am by being so benevolent and giving. You know why I haven’t? Because that’s bullshit. I don’t do this just to give, I do it to receive, as well. I do it for personal satisfaction, as an outlet for my thoughts. Self-righteousness is really just selfishness.
This is partly why my blog will never be popular. I’m not out to please you. Chances are, I think that your set of beliefs is crap and sooner or later I’ll talk about things that you personally hold dear. The more Sacred Cows in your barn, the more likely something I say will be offensive to you.
Being offended is a good thing. When we’re agreed with, we can’t grow. It’s only when we’re angered by the expression of a different view that we have a chance of changing our own. That’s when we may actually think about something and open our minds. So that’s what I do, I throw out challenges to dysfunctional beliefs.
That’s what many beliefs are. Sources of dysfunctional behavior. Look around you at all the screwed up people that you went to school with, at how their parents acted and then how the kids act, how their lives are a mess now that they’re grown up. Maybe your own life is a mess. Look at it and convince yourself that all those problems are not caused by beliefs. Can you?
Are you SURE that you’re absolutely right and that other person is wrong? Is that because you know from actual experience, or because your OPINION, your BELIEF says so? How many times in your life have you been proven to be wrong? Many more than you like to admit, and you know it.
Open up your mind and say ” Ahhhh”.
Just popped round to say how utterly offended I am.
Yep! I am quite SURE that I’m absolutely right and that you are wrong. The voices in my head tell me and they are NEVER wrong.
Hey, I can’t argue with that.
Ya ! i’m offended too ! LOL ! Hey Blcksheep…i do agree with a lot of what ya say and think. Take Care Buddy.
Likewise, tho we can’t always see everything the same way no matter what. I’m well aware that I’m not always right, life is a constant learning process.
To me, there is only one purpose for life, and that’s to enjoy it and do no harm in the process. The fact that I don’t believe in resurrection helps me stay focused on the one life right now that I know I have, to make the best of this one.
It takes a lot to offend me. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I was offended.
Do I ever get angry? Sure. But not at what goes on in the blogosphere.
Yes, I can. Unless you count marriage vows as beliefs. The mess that I’m in has to do with caregiving my disabled husband. Prior to my husband’s stroke, I wouldn’t have called my life a mess.
That’s not quite what I meant. A stroke is like a tornado striking, it’s not a matter of choice. I mean the decisions we make when we assume, ie, believe, instead of knowing for sure, that have a high chance of being wrong, not the stuff that life hands us out of the blue.
Black Sheep,
Other than what I mentioned, my life isn’t in a mess.
Except that, looking back, I should have taken a government job instead of being a self-provider who refused the government teat. Those damn health-insurance premiums are outrageous unless one works for the government sector.
Hmmm. I have Medicare A and B, of course, and I signed up for Humana drug coverage and Blue Shield Plan J on top of that and have it all auto-deducted from my SS payment at the bank. The SS payment is deposited automatically as well, so basically I’m getting excellent health insurance pretty much for free. I don’t know what your situation is or how old you are, but maybe that could work for you now or in the future.
MY FAVORITE PART — IT SHOULD BE A FAMOUS HUMANITY STATEMENT :
Are you SURE that you’re absolutely right and that other person is wrong? Is that because you know from actual experience, or because your OPINION, your BELIEF says so? How many times in your life have you been proven to be wrong? Many more than you like to admit, and you know it.
Open up your mind and say ” Ahhhh”.
Black Sheep,
Mr. AOW got Medicare on March 1. Because he’s only 62, he has limited option for gap coverage; without Medicare. But I did manage to find Aetna Medicare HMO, which includes prescription coverage. His premium dropped from about $700/month without prescription coverage to $135/month. Without Medicare, Mr. AOW would have been paying over $900/month for catastrophic coverage without prescription coverage.
So, things are better now with Mr. AOW’s health insurance costs.
My premium for a catastrophic-coverage policy is about $250/month as of April 1. My premium is that low only because I don’t have pre-existing conditions.
I am 5 years away from Medicare coverage — unless I become totally disabled, that is.