Quaint Notions

Hans Tegner

Ramblings:

I should not be my own authority.

Reality does not depend on my understanding of it. What is true does not sit in an undecided state pending my personal approval of it. Much of what I think I understand is wrong.  The stories that most please me about complex things are the most suspect. Gut judgments can be useful but should not be mistaken for knowledge or truth or wisdom.

I could be wrong, but it is my duty to try not to be.  Failing knowing whether I'm wrong I will try not to misrepresent myself as right.

Believing something on principle, faith, or the word of an infallible authority is vastly inferior to believing something on the the basis of an honest evaluation of its truthfulness and failing that of the extent of agreement about it by credible experts.  "Because it says so" is not good enough, no matter the "it" that "says so."

Religion is wishful thinking at best, and a diseased state of mind at worst.  However, unless a person's religion is inclining them toward harm, it is none of my business what a person wants to believe.

Nevertheless, ideology of any kind is merely a pretext for tribalism. Humans are organized by tribes, and tribal feeling is a natural impulse, but all ideologies are xenophobic to a degree.  Raising xenophobia to an -ism is a sign of stunted thinking, not a virtue.  Pure ideologues are to be pitied, not admired.  It's terribly easy to purify ideology, and the process is cheap.

Humans are apes.  So what?  Get over it.  Learn from it.

You don't need to have an opinion about everything.  I don't need to hear every opinion you have the minute you have it.  Maybe wait until you have more facts.  Maybe think it through.  Maybe your initial gut reaction won't withstand 5 more minutes of information and thought.

There are 2 types of trolls.  Those who provoke with what is heinous to the sincere for the mere thrill of the reaction.  These are the amateurs!  Then there are those whose main aim is to manipulate the sincere through cunning, deception and, failing that, browbeating into adopting the view opposite to their most sincerely held beliefs.  Be on the lookout.

The most pathetic cause in the world is self-interest.  We get it, you're unevolved.  You're on your own, and yet we're all in this together.  No one gets out alive.  Seek help when you need it and give help when you can.

Be Mindful.

The Only Pure Thing is Doing.

Try not to Suck.