[Tootsie]

Big subject huh? I was just listening to the pastor of Barack Obama's church ranting and raving and generally just being so awful. It got me thinking of our lives and interactions with each other.

Do you think things are better or worse...let's say over the past 25 yrs.

Doesn't it seem like there are so many people who break laws, use drugs, drink too much, treat animals with cruelty, damage property, join gangs????


Now, having said that is it because we just hear more about these things or what. I'm sure there has always been crime, but I do remember a time when you almost never heard of people harming the elderly, children or women.

Now it's in our faces all the time.

What's your feeling on this?

Tootsie

[sugarboo]

"What's your feeling on this?"

I hate mean people!

I've pondered this as well; has it gotten worse, or are we just hearing about it more. I think it's gotten worse in relation to our lack of moral judgement. I also think it has alot to do with "I'm okay, You're okay"....everything is right and okay to do, as long as you don't get caught.

I'll leave it at that

[southie]

I don't "hate" people; but I do find them
obnoxious, ignorant, rude, intolerable, and
so on - and it's either usually because they
were reared in this manner or developed this
attitude.

But basically from my years of being a ordained
minister and pastor, primarily I've found that
this problematic issue was mostly due to
folks being insecure. They were trying to be
someone that they are not...

And the other issue was low-self esteem, which
they attempt to hide it by covering it up by
being a hot-shot, swelled egos, superiority,
and so on.

Very few of them were a result of being from
dysfunctional families or abuse and were a
result of being defensive mode.

Working with them step-by-step to resolve the
issue, like the 12 steps used in Alcoholics
Anonymous often resolved it, but if I determined
and discerned that the individual had a severe
psychological or psychiatric problem; I would
find out who their Doctor was and consult with
him/her privately so they may deal with their
patient one-on-one. Many times Physicians have
informed me that they have tried to tell such
person that they needed help, then I would
state I would then make my attempts to try
to work with them to get them to seek help,
because such is a sensitive issue and must
be deal with in a special way. Many times the
individual complied after a progressive and
slow counseling, but a few were resistant and
balked to it and it was without much avail.
Neither their own Doctor or the Pastoral Care
could do much for such individuals. It happens.

The individual would want to want help, no one
can force them unless they are a threat or danger
to themselves or others or if they were suicidal,
then force could be used, but other than that;
there was nothing else - except trying via the
family members ... but many times their own
family members didn't want to be bothered.

No, I don't hate people - I care for them, regardless
of how they might be towards me.

[sugarboo]

The word 'Hate' was meant as a stomping of feet on floor, knee jerk response, like ha ha....Sorry you took it THAT way.....I should have added an appropriate smiley I was trying to keep things semi-light.

There are low-life, disgusting human beings in this world who prey on the general population...I wouldn't hesitate to give them a peice of my mind or support justice in their demise...but I wouldn't waste my preciouse energy on such people with feelings of hate. Leave them for the law to deal with.

Some people cannot be helped. Pedophiles are at the top of that list, but I could elaborate. Lock em' up and throw away the key. Even God can't help some of these people until the day they stand before him. Therapists and ministers can only do so much with such individules, and it will never be enough. Further, until one has experienced true horror's and lived it personally, I don't think they have a full understanding of what they are dealing with.

[southie]

Originally Posted by greenjeans

Some people cannot be helped. Pedophiles are at the top of that list, but I could elaborate. Lock em' up and throw away the key. Even God can't help some of these people until the day they stand before him.

People CAN be helped. Only YOU can
make the decision; no one else but YOU and YOU alone.

You have the decision of wanting to move
forward and desiring to seek treatment or
resist it.

There have been what Medical Personnel
have deemed 'impossible' or 'complex',
but it was all because the individual wanted
to be changed and took up the challenged
to receive the treatment and be helped and
the end result was positive.

It's all in the mindset of the individual.
It's true that the older you are, the more
tendencies you become "set in your ways"
and more "programmed" to what you think,
do, et cetera. So that it's easier to treat a
younger individual than it is for an older
individual, because the younger individual's
minds are still fresh and opened.

However; the major key is - if one keeps
themselves from being "set in their ways"
they have a chance. And you can change,
this includes habits, breaking the cycle(s)
of defeat in your lifestyle (things that grabs
hold of, or holds you down), and while the
old adage of "You can't teach a old dog new
tricks" - I don't buy it.

I believe you can; I've seen it done repetitiously,
not just in others, but in my own life as well.

As long as we keep APATHY out of our lifestyle
and keep making changes; and often from
permitting that mind set from setting into
our system, we all have a chance. It also keeps
us in a more positive attitude, motivation and
determination becomes as easy as blinking your
eyes, and depression doesn't have much room
because your mind set is so busy on other issues.

I find that people who are in apathy and set in
their ways are very high and more prone to
depression and sickness to every little thing that
comes by (this is not to imply to those who have
illness, diseases, disorders, and such the like; for
I have neurological and cardiac issues myself, but
rather - I'm referring to individuals who are 100%
healthy and having NO HEALTH problems), and they
are highly negative in their thought process, attitude,
and everything around them. You listen to them for
3 minutes - negative, negative and more negativism.
Not one positive word is uttered.

When you observe their lifestyle: Set in their ways,
same old, same old. It never changes, always
predictable. You can almost time everything according
to them and not need a watch - ever! That's a good
side is, they're never late, they're never early, always
on time.

However, the bad side is - they tend to put the cart
before the horse. Their mindset is so perverted and
frequently distorted, they move under presumption
and assumption. They often assume or presume that
someone is in reference to them (when they are not).
They are easily hurt, offended, and believes the world
is up against them.

Thus, it begins to harbor resentment towards people,
then grows to bitterness, then strife, discord, hostility,
hate, and even violence if it gets that extreme. It's
a process and it doesn't happen overnight, it grows,
just like you plant a seed in the ground, eventually,
it will bear fruit and manifest itself. They end up being
loners and keep much to themselves.

Many of them often end up one trouble after another
with the Law, because they do not know how to do
anything, all because their mindset isn't clarified and
programmed (a terminology I like to use) properly.

It can be done whether via counseling: Clergy/Rabbi,
Psychologist/Psychiatrist - or via Hospitalization.

But it all goes back to square one: The individual will
want to want help. Compliance and Cooperation from
the individual is needed. You can't have an individual
who is haphazardly half in and half out; either you're
all in or you're all out. 100% Compliance and Coopera-
tion is an absolute, or otherwise its not going to be
productive for that individual's own well being overall.

[clouds z]

sometimes i hate life and society

or i hate going outside, or downtown

the woods are ok
america is one lost country i think either because we eat wrong or the goverment is addicted to craeting more laws and prisons and wars

usa is a dumbed down nation

but some people are good like those that do voluteer work for the poor etc

so all isnt bad

i feel we live in ninevah or sodom or some wicked culture half the time-not that i hate gays but the greed and sins of what sodom was -bible says they didnt help poor actually and were rich scum

i think god will bring judgement soon

[sugarboo]

Originally Posted by southie

People CAN be helped. Only YOU can
make the decision; no one else but YOU and YOU alone.

You have the decision of wanting to move
forward and desiring to seek treatment or
resist it.

.

I have to respectfully disagree. Since I used Child Molesters as an example, I'll elaborate. I like men. Nothing will change that. I want to have sex with men, well, my DH specifically

Some men like men, and you can't change that. Some women like women, can't change that either. Some people like both....and flip flop between the two regulary. Some try to 'overcome' this, but inevitably they can't stop their desires.

Pedophiles like little children. Nothing will change that. I've never seen one of these people change. They get out of jail, and re-offend. Go back, get out, do it again. They get more dangerouse every time. I did see a man once who had his testicles removed to prevent himself from being able to act upon his sexual desire. But his desire for children did not change. He is still a sick individule. All the intervention in the world has not changed the hearts and minds of these sick (mostly) men.

Cloudz...I agree that God will bring judgement soon. Anyone who has studied the bible (if this is your belief system, and actually most religions) will have to acknowledge that prophacy is unfolding before our eyes. Sure, many generations thought this too, but its more true today than it ever was.

As for 'Good people' in this world, I've often thought that 'yeah, you just don't see what they are doing behind closed doors'. Anything from cheating on spouses, beating their children, stealing when no one looks, coveting, addictions and pride....we are all sinners in the sight of God. None of us can escape it. God sees all sin the same. People don't. Someone who comits murder is seen the same in his eyes as someone who commits adultry. Also, pride goes before the fall...referring to pride being sinful.

God has the authority to forgive, God has the power to heal. He also gave authority to evil to run amuk during this time, and we are all victims to it at some point in our lives.

I don't think age has anything to do with it. In fact, I think after years of experience, we learn self control and exercise it better than we did when we were young. Further, older people begin to turn to the God that they turned their back on in their youth. Some become bitter, granted, and refuse to change....

We have become comfortably numb as a nation, hiding in our homes, watching TV and talking on the computer....who even knows their neighbors name anymore...


Alright tootsie...you started this...come on in

[TheSleeper]

I don`t go to church, just not a believer. Last time I went, like 20 years ago was to a father and son banquet with my FIL to humor my wife.

FIL is a Baptist, his minister no sooner started talking to the group and started knocking people that weren`t of his belief or particular brand of so called religion.

I don`t need to hear it, if that`s the stuff they are preaching who needs their god? I just view it as another from of mind control, you don`t need a god to be a good person.

LOL I don`t have problems with any one, except morons, some people don`t know how to act and don`t seem particularly interested in learning, even from their own mistakes.

I learned at the school of hard knocks, a rough way to learn, I encourage my kids and their friends to act right to avoid the knocks. My wife and I have had kids with troubled homes stay with us, some for extended periods, one here now. I tell it like it is, the past is past, straight up, walk right or I will boot you out.

Show a little respect! I caught Barrack`s ministers spiel, dude sounds like Hitler? Can`t change the world spewing trash like that, and unfortunately he is probably not the only one doing so.

Are you a black? a white? whatever? leave the junk at home and become an AMERICAN! Show some respect! Don`t expect a free ride! If it`s not yours don`t mess with it.

[clouds z]

ever seen this movie?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sterile_Cuckoo

Pookie (Minnelli) is an oddball, quirky teenager who meets Jerry Payne (Burton) on a bus heading to their colleges, which are nearby each other, where they have enrolled as freshmen. Jerry is straitlaced and stiff, and their different personality types conflict as they achieve a relationship.

Pookie comes from a dysfunctional family, and is needy. She also has an attitude of contempt toward the outside world. To Pookie, most people are "weirdos." This repells Jerry, but he is attracted to her and they become boyfriend and girlfriend. The film traces the ups and downs of their relationship during their first year of college.

[Abbie]

My general feelings about our world....


IT'S MESSED UP!!!!

Everyone's to blame and No one's to blame....


I still believe that kids on the playground could run our world better than any adult anywhere.


Peace all!!
Abbie