Each day is new and there is no history that matters at all to you. Today and now is all that counts. Is that truly you?

Here's why I ask Sharon. From the way chump behaves he seems to have no recollection of yesterday and no understanding of consequences or results based on what he does/says today. Each moment seems disparate separate unconnected. I think the folks who support him be similarly wired. Don't you think? Thank you for your thoughtful reply and Happy Tuesday! :)

It is not what I said.  But, I forgive you. You need to read 3 books. Or at LEAST one book.  

Then we can talk about this.  It is impossible.  It is like telling the atheist that the answers are in the Bible.  You know?  It takes a little preparation for the message.

This post was edited by WM BARR . =ABSOLUTE TRASH at September 2, 2019 11:07 AM MDT

I was only referring to this sentence you wrote:  "It is an accumulation of everything you have experienced." 

You said a lot more and made a number of points---I did not mean to imply that yours and my answers were saying the same thing.

If we had been "on" at the same time, we could have compared and contrasted our answers quickly.

I'm ADD---sitting down and watching a 1:26:27 long video will have to be a piecemeal project; but I have saved the link.

OH OHHHH

You are a blessing.  And an obstacle.  Do you read books?  You are very astute and well-read.  How do you manage to absorb stuff?  Tell me.  I am very interested.

Are you perhaps looking for the word "frustrating?"---lol

I learned how to think in college. 

One of my college professors in theology once commented to me while we were discussing morality, "Tom, do you think that I do not believe that what I am teaching you is true?" 

That was a defining moment for me---I realized that he thought that "Truth does exist and is the proper object of study." So, for the next approximately 16 years, I sought the "truth" about any and everything that interested me....And I had the time and the motivation to do that.

That quest had the happy result of becoming familiar with some of the best ideas that we humans have come up with over time.

How do I absorb "stuff?"---If you have learned how to think, and you have had the exposure to some of the best ideas produced by mankind over the years, anything I want to absorb usually fits into some category that I already have.  Plus, since I have a degree in theoretical physics, I can honestly say I have yet to be surprised by developments in that field---although I am frequently impressed.

And one definitely positive thing about being ADD is that it is frequently associated with an excellent memory and high intelligence---what I sometimes refer to as God's compensation for having ADD.

And, I do not read books---ans I haven't for years.  Here's an example---I have 3 boys, ages 55, 50, and 37.  When they had children, they asked me to tell them the name of the books I used to raise them so they could also do a good job.  (Your Child's Self Esteem by Dorothy Corkille Briggs is an excellent one.)  When the 3rd boy was born, I knew I already knew all I had to know about raising a fully function human adult.  So, I had no need for additional reading on the subject.

In other words, I have sufficient knowledge of a number of things to the extent that I wished to achieve knowledge in those areas.

If I want to know more or have a new interest, then I proceed to become well enough informed to have an opinion.

Edit---And I learn 90% visually and 10% auditorily. This post was edited by tom jackson at September 3, 2019 1:58 PM MDT

The question I ask is based on what I perceive to be what chump is. A today right now person. He is very reactive all the time but he doesn't seem to connect to anything in the past or have the ability or desire to project futurely about the consequences of what he does/says today. He can flip from one position to the other within minutes and has.  The folks who support him seem similarly wired. So that's what I'm wondering tom. Are there NOW people to whom everything is always brand new and valid no matter what was said/done before? And if there is never a tomorrow then what you do/say today stands alone on its own without effect? The only scene I see going on with him is the same one repeatedly and is very confusing. Not that chump is as he is...that isn't confusing. He's simply crazy. But that millions seem to think that's just fine. Not just fine but extraordinarily wonderful! Go figger! Thank you for your reply and Happy Tuesday! :) This post was edited by RosieG at September 3, 2019 1:19 PM MDT

I always personalize each question so that I am speaking for and from myself---that way I am confident in the accuracy of my answers.  Sometimes I make generalized observations which may or may not directly apply to the specifics of the question.

Unless you are a programmed robot filled with answers provided by a programmer doesn't everyone do that? Personalize? If folks are victims or hostages of a particular rigid political mantra or religious belief we all attempt to communicate to one another how we see it don't we? There are certain political propagandas believers MUST embrace and there are certain religious tenets the faithful must believe or they are considered to be fakers. Perhaps my understanding of the word "personalize" differs from yours. I often will say that I speak only for myself because I have no right or int4rest in speaking for others. Also...and this is far afield but I read your reply to Sharon wherein you say you don't read books because you know enough about some things. Surely that is not true in your field of theoretical physics. There are always news things being discovered...new theories being supposed...new avenues for exploration. You must want to keep up with those don't you? Inquiring minds want to know tom.  Well at least my inquiring mind! :)

Not in my experience they don't---unless unenlightened self interest qualifies one to have valid opinions.  (Everyone has opinions, but not everyone has opinions that have any value.)  Most people just know what inconveniences them and they base their opinions on that rather than on whether what inconvenience them is of value in and of itself.

And occasionally, my answers state (without apology) that there is a better way to do things than what has already been proposed by some. 

I don't generally speak for others but too many people were raised with the assumption (as taught in school) that you can say anything you want as long as you can back it.  Unfortunately, there is never the requirement that they have to have commensurate knowledge beyond, "Well that's what I think."  Some things are said that are simply false---and I usually point that out.

If you have a good degree in a field of expertise to begin with, keeping up is what you do easily and naturally. And Einstein predicted various things proof of which did not occur until way after he died.  And technological forecasting is a useful tool that can make the future less surprising.  After all, we stand on the shoulders of giants in science.

"....not everyone has opinions that have any value". Who determines value tom? You determine them for me or do I do that? How do you measure value to others? If you have no interest whatsoever in something then there is no value to you to whatever it is. But if I have a deep and abiding interest in it why wouldn't my opinion have VALUE to me? I think that is a very AUTHORITARIAN view don't you?  I hope this difference is due to semantics and not different beliefs. I would never assume I had the insight or knowledge or experience or wisdom to decide value for other people. You understand where I'm coming from I expect. Am I wrong or are you wrong? Now it may not have any value to you. But deciding that there is no value at all? I dunno. That doesn't sit well with me. It seems imperious. Thank you for your reply.

Let's assume for the sake of this example the Abrahamic God does in fact exist.

Then what actual value does the opinion of an anti-theist have with regard to the existence of the Abrahamic God?

In a similar example what does the opinion of a color-blind person about the actual color of a colored array laid out before him.

Or the person who thinks that 1 + 1 = 3.

Truth exists, whether it is known or not known by the person with the opinion. 

I care for individuals and their feelings, but those who are enamoured of their consequent ignorance and evidence hubris in their defense of critiques of their opinions simply prevent the truth from being known.

Why do we dislike Trump when he implements actions consistent with his opinions with regard to governing?---Because his opinions on so many things are unsupportable by anything but his warped ego.

Opinions matter to those who have them. They also matter to those who love those who have them. They may not matter at all to you. That is not the point tom. However absurd or dumb an opinion of mine might seem to be to you you are not the arbiter who gets to decide the importance/value of things FOR OTHERS. You may only decide for yourself. I have no problem with your deciding that my opinions are ludicrous absurd ridiculous dumb stupid. You have a right to perceive me as you will. But to assume you have the right to decide "value" of things FOR others? Surely you cannot be that conceited? Wanna go another round? I think you are trying very hard to have me understand where you are coming from and I keep seeing you coming from the same AUTHORITARIAN place. Okey dokey. Your turn if you're game to continue. This post was edited by RosieG at September 23, 2019 12:38 PM MDT

Alexis de Tocqueville commented that the behavior that members of democracies prefer to engage in are not always the types of behavior that foster the preservation of that democracy.

Values are Important and lasting beliefs or ideals shared by the members of a culture about what is good or bad and desirable or undesirable. Values have major influence on a person's behavior and attitude and serve as broad guidelines in all situations.

So an opinion based on erroneous values are worthless to anyone else than those who have them and to those who care about those who have those opinions.

Aye there's the rub. What I label anything is a function of who I am, what I believe, what I've experienced and most importantly WHAT I UNDERSTAND which is based on my level of intellect or lack thereof. If something is abstruse esoteric arcane and I say it has no value it simply means I don't understand it and until I do or can there is no value to it FOR ME. That does not mean there is no value to it. It means the observer is unable to see it. Some are never able to see it tom. Partisan pols are infamous for that "talent". Some who don't see get their eyes examined and wear glasses and then they are able to perceive what they could not perceive priorly. Some get it immediately and need nothing to enhance their vision. So as always it resides in the eye of the beholder..in the brain in the heart in the soul. I could not label any opinion VALUELESS. That would mean I knew everything and could logically and truthfully say what it is and judge it. I don't know a lot more than I do know. At least I KNOW THAT MUCH. Thank you for your reply and Happy Tuesday! :) This post was edited by RosieG at September 24, 2019 4:10 AM MDT