I am contentedly married to someone who holds beliefs and thoughts with which I disagree. But I am not my thoughts or my beliefs and neither is he. One is the awareness behind one's thoughts and beliefs and, as such, may remain in a state of neutrality.
I sometimes feel that the psychology of belief (or, maybe more accurately, of declaring belief) is along the lines of: “our beliefs distinguish us from ‘them’ and to believe what we believe will number you among the chosen.” Thence comes the phenomenon of believing (claiming belief) without (actual) belief. Real belief vs. merely professed belief can usually be detected in crisis: what will the believer put on the line?
...accompanied by an increasing inability to see the humor in all things. We need more Archie Bunker and Robin Williams and George Carlin and fewer humorless certitude from all these self-appointed experts.
Speaking of which, C. Northcote Parkinson was a British naval historian who was immortalized by his two Laws about bureaucracies, and even wrote a book in 1958 about how these odd creatures inevitably metastasize. It even has some incomprehensible mathematics in it which is sure to give rise to a proposition or two from the effervescent (and propositionally cold up there in sub-Canada) Sgt Briggs!
I follow a twitter account purportedly by an ex intelligence spook. When asked about aliens he said, "There's an interstellar war going on. We're on the edge of it. There's nothing you can or should do about it one way or another so don't worry your head."
There is a useful difference between "believing this is false" and "not having seen enough evidence to believe this is true".
As a skeptic (OK, OK!) ... as a cynic I tend not to believe things without some reasonable evidence, even if that evidence is only logical inference. When I have (A) zero empirical evidence, and (B) logical anti-evidence, then I default to "No, I will not live my life as if this is true, based on this quality of evidence."
I will not get emotionally exercised about it.
I will not buy a nuclear bunker in Queenstown, New Zealand.
I will not vote Democrat to avoid it.
I will not ... etc.
To me it is just like terrorism. After 9/11 I wanted to fly just to prove I would not let the bastards win. I would not change my own life one iota in response. And there is a lot more evidence that something dangerous happened on 9/11 than for a lot of modern hersterias.
While earth has nothing to offer any alien, for they would be extremely advanced beyond our wildest imaginations considering the travel distances, to not make a decision is to make a decision. The decision you make is not to make a decision.
People without wisdom will always see it as fence sitting.
Those without wisdom will often fence sit as well.
The bible sums it up in a way you have articulated, be slow to speak and quick to listen. Along with better to be a fool who keeps quiet to appear wise than open ones mouth and prove to be a fool.
This article of yours is a good reminder for many people.
Definitely some wisdom here. A few of my favorite lines: "remaining in the calm sunshine of uncertainty is often best." and "To which you can be polite and say “I see.” If you are not required to act, then silence is golden."
If such bases exist, the aliens are light years ahead of us technologically. That means the ball is in their court and it is up to them to manifest their presence in an undeniable manner if they so choose (e.g., like Klaatu).
But Briggs, how would you characterize being friends with someone who holds beliefs you disagree with?
Is that even possible? 🤔
I am contentedly married to someone who holds beliefs and thoughts with which I disagree. But I am not my thoughts or my beliefs and neither is he. One is the awareness behind one's thoughts and beliefs and, as such, may remain in a state of neutrality.
Bless you both, you unicorns!
I sometimes feel that the psychology of belief (or, maybe more accurately, of declaring belief) is along the lines of: “our beliefs distinguish us from ‘them’ and to believe what we believe will number you among the chosen.” Thence comes the phenomenon of believing (claiming belief) without (actual) belief. Real belief vs. merely professed belief can usually be detected in crisis: what will the believer put on the line?
What will they DO?
We know Eve believed the snake because we know she ate the fruit.
Se also Hebrews 11: every single example of faith (i.e. belief) is demonstrated by what the faithful DID. Otherwise we cannot know.
One thing that is beyond reproach: The Obama Center is the ugliest building ever constructed in the United States.
Rush begs to differ! “If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice!”
Flippin right as usual, Jersey.
Briggs proposes:
"Much turmoil can be avoided if only people remember they do not have to make decisions."
I'm not sure I believe that. Let me think it over.
...accompanied by an increasing inability to see the humor in all things. We need more Archie Bunker and Robin Williams and George Carlin and fewer humorless certitude from all these self-appointed experts.
Speaking of which, C. Northcote Parkinson was a British naval historian who was immortalized by his two Laws about bureaucracies, and even wrote a book in 1958 about how these odd creatures inevitably metastasize. It even has some incomprehensible mathematics in it which is sure to give rise to a proposition or two from the effervescent (and propositionally cold up there in sub-Canada) Sgt Briggs!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson%27s_law
I follow a twitter account purportedly by an ex intelligence spook. When asked about aliens he said, "There's an interstellar war going on. We're on the edge of it. There's nothing you can or should do about it one way or another so don't worry your head."
There is a useful difference between "believing this is false" and "not having seen enough evidence to believe this is true".
As a skeptic (OK, OK!) ... as a cynic I tend not to believe things without some reasonable evidence, even if that evidence is only logical inference. When I have (A) zero empirical evidence, and (B) logical anti-evidence, then I default to "No, I will not live my life as if this is true, based on this quality of evidence."
I will not get emotionally exercised about it.
I will not buy a nuclear bunker in Queenstown, New Zealand.
I will not vote Democrat to avoid it.
I will not ... etc.
To me it is just like terrorism. After 9/11 I wanted to fly just to prove I would not let the bastards win. I would not change my own life one iota in response. And there is a lot more evidence that something dangerous happened on 9/11 than for a lot of modern hersterias.
The aliens are no longer off the coast; they now run NYC, DC, Disney, Seattle, San Fran and LA.
You just named the six underwater bases. Proof positive!
In "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" the philosopher Marvin Gaye tells us:
People say believe half of what you see
and none of what you hear
But I can't help but be confused
If it's true please tell me dear
I assume he was a student of Wm. Briggs.
While earth has nothing to offer any alien, for they would be extremely advanced beyond our wildest imaginations considering the travel distances, to not make a decision is to make a decision. The decision you make is not to make a decision.
My dad put galoshes on his shoes. Where he put his rubbers was none of my business.
People without wisdom will always see it as fence sitting.
Those without wisdom will often fence sit as well.
The bible sums it up in a way you have articulated, be slow to speak and quick to listen. Along with better to be a fool who keeps quiet to appear wise than open ones mouth and prove to be a fool.
This article of yours is a good reminder for many people.
Definitely some wisdom here. A few of my favorite lines: "remaining in the calm sunshine of uncertainty is often best." and "To which you can be polite and say “I see.” If you are not required to act, then silence is golden."
If such bases exist, the aliens are light years ahead of us technologically. That means the ball is in their court and it is up to them to manifest their presence in an undeniable manner if they so choose (e.g., like Klaatu).
What if there's a secret government memo? Or maybe it's a forgery. That's the problem for a couple of academics here:
https://www.amazon.com/Plan-9-Murder-Academic-Mystery/dp/B0DTZ4449D/ref=sr_1_1?crid=E2UY2PB39V88&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HGfi5MmSMW1smNOXNHFkTQ.C92aUYmvWWVm2nZgH-0bfGMiPto3nECNiLUnFaZUMks&dib_tag=se&keywords=plan+9+for+murder+hildinger&qid=1771428210&sprefix=plan+9+for%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1