DO YOU ENJOY BEING GULLIBLE? Are you instead CYNICAL? What's the Dif?

by Terry 7 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • Terry
    Terry

    Opinion is a matter of personal taste and preference. (Vanilla ice cream and not pistachio)

    But, fact is not. We are entitled to our own opinion and not our own facts.

    This, of course, is the difference between what is subjective on the one hand and what is obective on the other.

    How we "feel" about a dress or a sunset doesn't impinge on fact at all.

    Being cynical doesn't make life NO FUN. It limits the price we pay for the fun we have!

    Example:

    Fooling ourself that we can afford something we objectively cannot.

    Fooling ourself that we love somebody when they aren't worthy of that love or our trust.

    Fooling ourself that what we are doing today won't carry a hefty price to pay tomorrow.

    Being cynical is a way of taste-testing our life BEFORE we pay for a bite of it. Do you buy a car without driving it first? No.

    Being cynical is not over-paying for a happy moment by doing the research into value.

    The bad press inherent in cynicism is due to the fact that the person who leaves the party isn't appreciated by the drunks who will have hangovers the next morning.

    Credit cards have rates. The cynic demands the lowest rate or pays cash. The romanticist/fanticist charges anything their heart desires and lets tomorrow take care of itself.

    Whose bills would you rather pay? The Cynic's or the Fantacist's?

    That is what it comes down to in my view:

    Christianity is a salad bar. Each person grabs a plate and cherry picks what suits their own fancy. They are commited to defending their choices if challenged by exclaiming how delicious it is.

    Fool me once; shame on you...

    Fool me twice; shame on me.

    We've all heard that one before. It implies that being fooled is everybody's susceptibility until more facts are presented which enable more critical thinking.

    Critical thinking is something you aren't born with. It takes lots of practice.

    And anything humans want to learn requires many tries. Among the tries there are failures. So, we all make mistakes.

    But, being gullible isn't just making a "mistake"; it indicates a susceptibility to being fooled that in part of your habitual nature.

    Time to ask an important question:

    JUST HOW GULLIBLE ARE YOU?

    What steps have you taken to overcome your willingness to "buy in" to what you want to be true (which may not be true at all)?

    DO YOU LIKE IT THAT WAY? In other words, do you prefer to be fooled about certain beliefs to the extent you cannot/will not penetrate deeply into counter-arguments?

    Example: If a friend took you aside and told you your mate was cheating on you; would you PREFER not to believe it--and--therefore CHOOSE to be gullible instead of investigating?

    This sort of thing goes on with people all the time.

    People are reluctant to change their INVESTED world view.

    They'd rather live in a fantasy if it has become comfortable.

    Are you that way?

  • talesin
    talesin

    I'm more cynical, and hell no! Not gullible at all. I like to think the best of people, but do not extend my trust until it is earned.

    (you have a PM, and it's tardy with apologies!)

    tal

  • ablebodiedman
    ablebodiedman

    In this world I think cynism is a necessary attribute.

    There are so many shysters!

    On the other hand it can reach the point where the the enormous amount of evidence can

    drive cynicism beyond any acceptable limit.

    But even then there will still be cycnics.

    A strange paradox.

  • ablebodiedman
    ablebodiedman

    ..

    Damn!

    Maybe I am being too cynical about cynicism

    ..

  • NewYork44M
    NewYork44M

    It is hard to hit a happy medium (the joke is because mediums are never happy).

    In any event, my history of believing what was determined to be a lie has created a situation in my life where I believe nothing. I am cynical in all my dealings. I am especially cynical of belief systems and group memberships (i.e. sport team fan).

  • Terry
    Terry

    As I have said elsewhere there is a distinction to be made between people who have HOPE in their life and

    those who claim it is best to have FAITH.

    Hope is a positive attitude that looks for the best outcome in a situation while mindful of the possibility it might not happen.

    Faith, on the other hand, is a positive attitude that looks for the best outcome in a situation while refusing to acknowledge it might not happen.

    Hope, then, is realistic and prepares itself for disappointment with a good attitude.

    Faith, doesn't see the train coming because it is in to denial of bad outcomes. This makes a person of Faith rigid, uncompromising and susceptible to neurotic obstinancy.

    By not being skeptical a person of Faith becomes vulnerable to depression. HOPE is a much better choice of mindset.

    What Jehovah's Witnesses awkwardlly misdefine as "hope" is the annhilation of most of earth's population while they have King's X.

  • return of parakeet
    return of parakeet

    The gull believes everything.

    The cynic believes everything is evil.

    The skeptic reserves judgment until he is sure.

  • Terry
    Terry

    There is no sin in cynicism.

    Those gulled by bull are gullible.

    The most hated of all people in society are those who call themselves "without god" i.e. atheist.

    Is the act of believing something without proof morally superior to questioning everything?

    Is refusing to acknowledge the positive aspect of faithing do we go too far in antagonism?

    I think these are questions worth considering.

    After all, we once TRIED to help people by going door to door.

    We took the wrong thoughts and interpretations with us. But--our intentions were...cough cough...noble intentions, I think.

    Let's give them that, shall we?

    The are trying to do something they think is positive. But, the method and the content is like offering chocolates laced with arsenic.

    What we need is a balanced plan to reach out to people of faith and break through the hard shell of self-imposed blindness.

    What qualifies us? We've been there!

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