Posted by Raul on June 6, 2011
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In any relationship that might be: marriage, parenthood, friendship, etc. the use of bad words or insults in reference to the person we are talking to as a way of joking is something I really dislike. I do understand and accept their use as part of the joke, and we know there are times when a thousand words cannot explain what one single bad word does.
But when those words are used to directly refer to the other person, it is my opinion that slowly but surely it helps deteriorate the relationship.
Say for instance, you make a silly joke to a loved one and the response to you, as a joke, is: “Jerk!”
It might be just a joke, just a word, nothing that has a real meaning or that comes from the heart of the person saying such word, yet (unconsciously) it does become already traveled road that opens the door for another road, and then another, then another, to the point that, without even knowing, the use of insults becomes the norm, putting the relationship interactions too close to the side of disrespect.
Everything we do repeatedly will become a custom and will loose its original intensity.
Having sex before marriage as another process of getting to know each other before deciding if marriage is for them, that I agree; while having sex as a normal element of any party, and just for the temporary pleasure it gives; that I disagree.
Discovering new technologies by their use as a way to learn, adapt to the new times while improving our efficiency, I agree; but getting the latest just to be with the crowd and don’t look like left behind, that I disagree.
In everything we do, if we do it very often, we will loose the magic involved in the process, and it’ll become just the base for something else to acquire in order to recover the lost magic of the first times.
For the same reason, if it becomes the norm to use insults to joke with a loved one, then pretty soon it’ll be necessary to use stronger words to retain the “fun” of it, to the point that someone external to the circle will become shocked by the way they joke with each other.
What has become a natural thing for some could be an extreme for the rest.
Joking with bad words brings resentment in the long run, and also creates a situation of disrespect, even if there was no intention of such thing from the part of those using the bad words.
That’s why I disagree with the use of insults as jokes when referring to a loved one. To keep a positive relationship in the long run, sometimes we have to “invest” in not going too far, as a way to always remain within the range of respect and love each other deserves.
My personal opinion of course.
What is your take on that? Do you accept the use of bad words as jokes with your loved ones?
Raul
Posted by Raul on June 2, 2011
The other day I received this joke in an email. I thought it was funny, but also makes you think of what’s happening in the US, and how people around the world see Americans. (The email was in Spanish).
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The David returns to Italy
After two years loaned to the US, the David of Michelangelo is returned to Italy
Its proud sponsors were:
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Crazy, Isn’t it?
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Posted by Raul on January 27, 2011
So the sheep keeps dreaming of being a wolf, yet spends an entire life being a sheep. But because it doesn’t work, the sheep pretends to be a wolf. Then the sheep talks, walks and smiles like a wolf, but still remains a sheep. The corral is covered with signs saying “You Are a Wolf!” And with contentment, the sheep accepts the lying words as the truth of its world.
So the sheep learns one day it has to step on the other sheep to be above, but has to fight the common thought of holding hands with love. So the sheep rebels and fight the common thought, just to find itself being left alone.
Until one day it discovered the common thought was promoted by the creators of the signs.
<How could it be? Such a contradiction on its own! Who’s behind this?> the sheep asked in a thought, and “Mirrors” was the response word.
So the sheep types and types, while the sheep reads and reads, while the sheep cries and cries, while the sheep dreams and dreams.
“My goodness, you are a sheep!”
“I’m sorry ma-a-a-a’am, I’m a wolf”
“But you have a wooly skin”
“But I have cold thoughts!”
So one day the sheep woke up from its daydreaming and found a wolf by its side, seating on the floor.
“What are you dong here?” It asked.
“I’m your counselor” was the wolf’s response.
Plop!
Posted by Raul on January 3, 2011
Looking at a child immersed in playing at something; a child’s wonder with the world around; when they look intently at a flower or the clouds going by in the sky. How amazing it is that they can become so absorbed in the now, in the moment of observation; that they can become in their games whatever they want to be.
Then as adults we tend to go by lists of activities and responsibilities that have to be fulfilled as proper adults.
This is all fine and appropriate in a mechanical society fed on productivity and trade, yet we soon experience the lack of wonder and the magic of moments that, as responsible adults, tend to disregard as childish behavior.
And the problems of attention and the sense of unhappiness settle in…
So what if for a moment, while in a secured environment, like at home, we let ourselves to just become that lost child that still lives inside us? What if we let ourselves to be that child and accept the possibility of becoming amazed by simple things like the clouds going by in the sky, maybe the strange flying path of a house fly, or perhaps the perseverant march of an ant in a day’s work? Or even for a moment to believe we can become whatever we want to be!
Taking in the possibility of becoming a child again, even if it’s against society concepts of adulthood, we can experience for a brief moment the wonders of nature, the pleasures of life, the amazing elements of this planet all around, and with it, recover also the lost capability of intently attention based on the marvel of a moment.
We trick ourselves not even knowing what we are doing, but just by following the established path by previous generations, and taking in the concept without questioning, we accept a condition as the proper way to behave, even if it is at our own demise.
Let’s try for a moment the childish ways of complete, undivided attention to a simple situation, like observing the images of winter; the colors and the changing world around, and let ourselves enjoy a brief moment of living, rather than a big chunk of wasted life.
Raul
Posted by Raul on December 27, 2010
It is said that the most intelligent creature born in planet Earth is a human being. It is said that the main characteristic of a human being is its capability of feelings; love, hate, distrust, confusion, etc.
Is it the capability of feelings proper and unique of human beings? Dogs can experience the same feelings at a lower degree, yet they aren’t considered humans.
At the other hand, there are “humans” that, throughout history, have shown very little “humanity” by their actions towards other fellow humans.
So what about extraterrestrial beings? If they aren’t considered humans since they weren’t born on Earth, but somewhere else in the universe, does it means they are not considered capable of love? (Being love a human characteristic?).
But if they have the capabilities of love (which they should have), then shouldn’t they be considered humans? Unless the capability of love is not a characteristic proper of a human being, or should I say, an Earthling?
In that case, feelings would not be the characteristic of being human, but just one of its properties.
So then, should we greet an extraterrestrial being as a fellow human? Or should we consider ourselves as human or not, mostly depending on our own actions, and not just because we were born in this planet?
Hmmm…
Raul
