Posts by Jerry Bishop4

graniteeagle3 said:So, you're suggesting that some pedophiles are actually intimidated by kids? And you honestly think there's a chance that *I* am one of them?
What if my frustration isn't sexual? What if even after trying everything you suggested, nothing changes?

Man, you aren't a predator, relax.
If you were, you wouldn't be writing long essays on an American forum; you'd be looking for ways to get close to children and making excuses for it, rather than avoiding them entirely.😲

Death is just a natural part of life.

The only thing we can be certain of is that death comes eventually.

Everything that has a beginning also has an end, and life is no exception.

😲

There's really no reason to fear it, right?

Kenneth Wood9 said:Yeah, could be that too! Look, I'm not claiming I'm always 100% honest... honestly, I even get annoyed at myself sometimes when I tell people exactly what they want to hear just to keep the peace. But I still think you gotta aim for honesty. Lying isn't exactly a minor thing... it's right up there with the heavy stuff.

I try to be honest, but when I voted in the poll saying it’s sometimes better to lie, it’s because people often can't handle the truth straight up. Then I end up being labeled as difficult, stubborn, or harsh—even though I wasn't actually lying about anything. People just say, "That sounds harsh." Honestly, who cares if someone thinks I sound blunt? 🙂 Besides, what defines the truth? And what makes it painful? No one ever seems to have an opinion on that. 🙂

briskrider20 said:Super, because there are plenty of people older than me who aren't immune to these pathetic daily realities, even if it looks that way to an outsider. And unlike certain people on this forum, I’m certainly not claiming to be perfect. ☕
I'm not naming names.

Well, obviously you aren't perfect—nobody is! Who actually is?

But what really gets to me is when people don't offer feedback to be helpful, but just to act superior and put others down. ☕There's nothing worse than that.

briskrider20 said:I have little patience for those who cling to the status quo simply because they believe age automatically grants them authority. While I respect seniority and those who have mastered a trade, wisdom isn't a birthright, and spirituality certainly isn't defined by how many years you've been on this earth.

I'm with you on that. I hate it when someone tries to lecture me just because of their age or because they've "seen it all" and survived enough hardships to justify being condescending—especially when they clearly don't know what they're talking about. Why should seniority give anyone a free pass to be wrong?☕

silvertrucker96 said:exactly—a dictator. why even bother arguing? 🙂 they walk around thinking they're the smartest people in the room, convinced everyone else needs to adopt their exact worldview. honestly, it doesn't bother me if someone actually is smarter than I am—I'm certainly not claiming to be some genius—but I don't have such a massive ego that I need to win every single interaction. 😁

Honestly, it’s just those types of people who won't back down even when they know they're wrong. There's really no point in engaging with them, right? I'd much rather save my energy for open-minded folks who can actually trade ideas and respect different perspectives. Wouldn't that be a much better way to live?

I just love it when I lay out my thoughts and the other person responds with, "You know, I never actually looked at it that way before." Isn't that the best feeling? 😲

silvertrucker96 said:It doesn't bother me either, and there's nothing wrong with getting lost in a good debate... but some people just can't wrap their heads around any opinion but their own. They just talk and talk at you without actually listening. Those are the types I really can't stand. 🙂

At that point, it isn't a discussion, it's a dictatorship, right? Once I realize that's what's happening, I just stop trying. What's the point of talking to someone if it always turns into this loop:

Me 1.

Them 2.

Me 3.

Them 2 again.

In those cases, I just say "you're right" and keep my actual thoughts to myself. 🤣

briskrider20 said:Yes, just imagine—I might actually get killed for it.

Come on, why so serious? It's actually a good thing, especially for everyone else who feels the same way. 😍

briskrider20 said:I personally don't care for it, though one could certainly lose themselves in it for hours on end.

Just philosophizing? 😲

silvertrucker96 said:It’s tough, man... really tough. I feel like genuine friendships where people aren't constantly trying to outdo one another are incredibly rare. There's always this one person trying to play the leader, while everyone else just follows along like sheep. Personally, I can tell you I actually prefer hanging out with people who are sharper than me—it gives me a chance to learn something new—but I absolutely cannot stand it when someone tries to lecture me or talk down to me. I hate that. And the irony is, it’s usually the ones who don't have a clue who try the hardest to act like they do. From what I've seen, women tend to play those little games too, especially when guys are involved... God forbid someone else catches her eye before you do, we're heading straight home 🙂

I truly love being around people who challenge my way of thinking. It doesn't bother me at all if someone is smarter than I am; in fact, I see it as motivation to keep growing. Who doesn't love a good deep conversation? 😲

What can I even say? It all just feels like manipulation.

Austin Nelson2 said:There are countless individuals who struggle to express any semblance of emotion—largely because they were never taught how. So many things simply went unaddressed; certain topics were treated as strictly off-limits within the family home. Consequently, children grow up learning that keeping secrets and maintaining an impenetrable exterior is the only way to navigate life.

I always found myself blaming my zodiac sign instead!😲

Henry Lopez13 said:Truth. Being vulnerable is hard

Isn't that just giving people permission to walk all over you?
I don't practice stoicism just so people can misinterpret who I am or to put on some kind of act. By pushing everything away and staying so neutral, I ended up losing most of my connections.
I wouldn't say I'm happy about it, but it's the reality. I usually just end up feeling empty. Now, I'm finally just being myself without the act.😲

Carl Rivera43 said:So, I wanted to throw some thoughts out there regarding the main topic here.

Also, I’d love to hear your take on why alcohol seems to unlock such deep emotional layers for so many people?
Do you think that constantly bottling up our feelings eventually leads to total burnout and a loss of focus?

How do we explain this current era where hiding how we actually feel seems almost encouraged? Does seeing people who are overly emotional or brutally honest inspire you, or do you find those habits a bit much?

Anyway, those are just some jumping-off points for the discussion. Maybe in this online space, we can actually talk more freely about stuff like this—topics that rarely get any airtime in the mainstream media.
Do you ever dive into these kinds of deep conversations with your friends or people you know?

Personally, I tend to hide my feelings in real life. I was pretty open when I was a kid—if someone hurt my feelings, I'd cry, or if they made me mad, I'd get aggressive. Eventually, I realized that people will just use any emotion you show against you. So, since then, I don't really express much. Sometimes I might snap at someone, but that’s about as far as I go with showing how I feel.😲

Sam Robinson said:Honestly, I’ve reached a point where I just don't care anymore whether I can trust someone or not... People are going to interpret whatever you say through their own distorted lens anyway, so why bother? It’s gotten to the point where I find myself trusting fewer and fewer people every single day.

But if we look at chronic distrust through the lens of empirical observation, there are usually a few specific psychological drivers behind it:

1. The individual is a liar themselves—someone who manipulates, plays dirty, and smears anyone in their path just to get what they want. Because they aren't delusional enough to deny their own shady tactics, they naturally assume everyone else is playing the same game.

2. The person has been repeatedly victimized—someone who has been exploited, lied to, manipulated, and brainwashed over and over again, eventually developing a deep-seated cynicism as a survival mechanism.

3. A toxic combination of both scenario 1 and scenario 2.

And frankly, that last one seems to be the most common pattern I see out there...

I struggle with chronic distrust myself. In the last few years, I only truly trusted one person, and let's just say I got burned pretty badly. I definitely don't see myself making that mistake again.☕

casualridge6 said:Man, being an oversensitive person is such a heavy burden. We’re honestly our own worst enemies.
I swear, I wish I didn't have these internal sensors constantly nagging at me. Sometimes it feels like I can actually read people's minds, and it is just exhausting. And no, I'm not being delusional. People who actually know me believe it because they've dealt with it firsthand—it gets pretty spooky for them, and even creepier for me.

It’s easy for the shallow types; they just coast through life without a second thought. But us? We torture ourselves by overanalyzing every little thing, which just makes everything harder.

I'm at my best when I'm slammed with work. As soon as I have a spare moment to actually think, I end up ruining my own day. Though, I still manage to overanalyze things even when I'm in a total rush, 🙄but at least then I don't have the luxury of letting it kill my mood.

I get people. I can read body language pretty well—I mean, I'm not some perfect psychic or anything, but I'm decent at it. It's the same on online forums; I can quickly pick up on what's being read between the lines and what kind of person is actually behind the screen. But honestly, knowing all that is totally unnecessary and just draining.

I have friends, but not a ton of them, which I think is pretty normal. I don't trust anyone 100%, but I don't really need to. Everyone is human, and it's just stupid to expect perfection. If you really dig deep into yourself, who among us is ever truly, 100% honest all the time? We don't even have to be. Being brutally honest isn't just wrong for other people—it hurts us too—it's also just rude and unnecessary.
I only finally figured that out once I grew up and dealt with enough social disasters...

The less we expect from people, the happier we'll be!
The world doesn't owe us a custom fit; we have to step up and meet it halfway too.

I learned the exact same thing growing up. People just don't like hearing the truth.
Whenever I'm blunt, people tell me I sound harsh.
But if what I'm saying is logical and true, 😲 they still hate hearing it—whether it's about themselves, me, or anyone else.

If you don't expect anything from people, you won't end up getting screwed over. 😳

ambercrane722 said:Everyone’s got their own vibe, I guess... but honestly, I don't think people actually hate each other, they just love to sit in judgment. Like one day I'll hear someone whining, "Oh, let the taxes hit the rich, let them pay for the luxury SUVs and those overpriced designer bags," and I'm just sitting there thinking, WTF? Who actually gives a damn? It's just pathetic. Seriously, the attitude in this country is just bottom-of-the-barrel. Such a joke.

It's true what they say about seeing the speck in someone else's eye while ignoring the log in your own.😳 You're totally right, especially in this part of the country. Everyone is so obsessed with judging how others live, yet they never want to mention it when they do the exact same thing. Such a shame.😳

Carol Sullivan said:I stopped trusting people a long time ago. Now, it’s strictly my immediate family or nobody at all.
It isn't just about doubting what people say. I find myself constantly reading between the lines, dissecting their actions and reactions. No matter how crazy it sounds, I always end up spotting the cracks...
Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for perfection. I know nobody is perfect—I certainly am not.
But I look for basic decency. A shred of genuine goodness. And yet, I always end up disappointed by the sheer amount of greed and envy that slips through in even the smallest comments or gestures.
People probably think I’m some kind of perfectionist or a nitpicker. Maybe. But honestly, I’m just exhausted by everyone trying so hard to curate this flawless image of themselves. My contact list has dwindled down to just a few names because I simply don't have the energy to hunt for the best in people anymore... especially when I'd rather be alone than settle for fake connections just to avoid loneliness.
I used to be very social. I have my flaws, sure... but if I make a promise, I keep it. That seems to be a rare commodity these days. When I give an opinion, I’m brutally honest. I say what I mean. I think that's why my circle is so small—very few people actually want to hear the truth, and even fewer truly care about others... at least not in the way I do.

How do you view people? Do you trust too easily? If so, why? If not, why not?

I'm in the same boat; there isn't a single person left that I can point to and say I trust 100%. To be honest, I'm not even sure if such a person ever really existed. ☕

About ten years ago, an old history teacher told me to just rely on myself and my own instincts, and that's stayed with me. 😳

Kenneth Martinez82 said:It is frankly pathetic when you arrive at a destination only to find everyone glued to their phones.😵 Face-to-face communication is becoming a lost art. It leaves you in an awkward limbo where you can't tell if you should actually speak up or just sit there silently waiting for them to finish tapping away at their phone. 😠

Exactly. You try to contribute to the conversation, but he isn't even listening. He just keeps talking at you, completely stuck in his own loop. 🙂

Yeah, it really is sad. 😲

I can't stand it myself, though I have one close friend who struggles with it. I actually told her she needs to put the phone away or I'm heading out! 😳

Kenneth Martinez82 said:Personally, I find it incredibly grating when people spend our entire coffee meetup staring at their phones. If you wanted to scroll through social media, why even bother asking me to grab a drink? Unless you're actually showing me something specific, it's just disrespectful. I also have zero patience for monotone voices; they act like a lullaby that puts me straight to sleep. Furthermore, I can't stand being interrupted mid-sentence. Let a person finish their thought. And don't laugh in my face if I’m not laughing with you. There is nothing worse than someone bursting into laughter halfway through a conversation because they remembered a joke, leaving me feeling like the butt of the joke. As for speech cadence, moderation is key. You shouldn't be rushing, nor should you drag things out. It isn't an issue of IQ—some people simply struggle more than others to articulate themselves, plain and simple. 🙂

That drives me crazy too! Honestly, I sometimes feel like throwing their phone across the table. Out of respect, I don't even look at mine when I'm grabbing coffee with someone. 😳