Posts by Michael Anderson2

crimsoncrane24 said:Look, if you want to shut down this thread immediately, go ahead.
But maybe notify the leadership first—they really need to handle these nationalist outbursts internally before they blow up in the media.

Oh, I see—you’re following right in the footsteps of HbVelid... ☕

Justin Harris12 said:Since when did Iran become a "forbidden" topic on this board? 🤷

Look, nobody actually said it was banned. But honestly—let’s just call it what it is—that’s an Iranian hand crushing Israel. Let's stop playing around with the whole "symbolism of Palestine" routine where Israel is tucked away like some little bird or whatever...

Just be straight with me, man. Call it like you see it... ☕

It's interesting how pale that hand looks, though—not sure if anyone else caught that... 😁

Nathan Price3 said:@Michael Anderson2/">@@Michael Anderson2, watch your mouth—don't be insulting. I’m trying to be civil here, so let's keep it respectful.

Just for the record, those are the three primary colors of the Palestinian Flag, in case you were confused. For what it's worth, I don't see Iran in this at all—I'm certainly not a fan of theirs.

We "infidels" aren't quite as dim-witted as you seem to think... ☕

coppersailor28 said:The "drawing" in the avatar is an integral part of the whole thing. ove Images—posters, pamphlets, flyers, "calls to action"... whatever you want to call them.

Here are two more versions of the posters—or pamphlets, flyers, calls to action... whatever you want to call them—featuring that same "drawing" from the original image: image... image

I'm sorry, I can't see an image attached to your message. Please upload the photo you're referring to so I can get to work on rewriting it for you!
The leader of those seeking martyrdom, Imam Khomeini.
The world needs to deal with Israel once and for all.

(ne "The existence of Israel needs to come to an end.(If that’s even a position anyone could get behind.)

And he’s still out there spinning lies about that.

Nathan Price3 said:I just got the green light from the moderator—not via that Religion PDF, mind you—to keep my avatar. Just to be clear, it isn't meant to be some expression of hatred toward Jewish people; it’s simply a reflection of my protest against the occupation of Palestine. I see that hand is painted in the colors of the Palestinian Flag. What does it actually symbolize when you consider that Israel is essentially inside Palestine—that it isn't Palestine sitting within Israel, but rather Israel existing within Palestine? It’s all about the symbolism.

That isn't the Palestinian Flag—it's the Iranian Flag, my dear Muslim friend... ☕

The Palestinian Flag:



Iranian Flag:



Was that part of your training—learning how to lie?

rowdyhawk10 said:I don't recall anyone receiving a warning from me that proved I was wrong. If it seemed like I was perhaps a tiny bit stricter toward Muslims than others, it’s only because most of them hadn't actually read the forum rules before deciding to post, so they didn't know how to behave. Specifically, was I unfair to you regarding any of your warnings? Please, be honest and link me that post? (you can see all the warnings I've issued you in your profile) just please link me a single warning you didn't deserve.

The main "rebellion" against me happened when the forum was debating whether a Muslim woman could marry a non-Muslim. There were several threads like this, such as this one. Basically, some people started falsely claiming that a Muslim woman ceases to be Muslim if she marries a non-Muslim. 😢 Nik sunshine is actually a Muslim woman married to a Catholic, and she has a good husband and a lovely, harmonious marriage with him. I can't even begin to tell you how much some of our fascists trashed her on that topic; I deleted so many of those disgusting posts that I can't link them now... I think she hasn't returned to the forum since then, though I did thoroughly prevent them from running wild. They literally bullied her out of existence with their filthy language. I banned some of them for 3 or 7 days and permanently banned a few handles. That's when the rebellion started.

It didn't help that the late Semek (may God grant him Paradise) here demonstrated what the Official stance of the Islamic Community is: that doing so does not cause a Muslim woman to stop being Muslim. Instead of the passion dying down once the Official stance of the Islamic Community was provided—which is what I warned here about, saying the discussion had to stop (end of post, in red)—that was exactly when the chaos on the thread began.

For instance, this lunatic thought a woman like that was a murderer of her own children. Not to mention the mockery directed at a female user, which is why she left the forum and never came back. And then this madness... 🙄 Following that, I was branded as the Muslim...provocateur, which managed to catch the eye of one particular flirt, a move I guess I accepted. 😁 Now, Adura (now: Boston) noticed that we’re seeing a mass funeral on this forum—essentially a collective exodus of Muslims... Dervish even goes as far as listing the handles of the anti-rowdyhawk10 clan.

And why are they leaving? Because I stood up for the forum rules!

That was actually one of the sparks for the rebellion. Basically, some people were bothered because I voiced support for the UN charter and defended the Constitution of the US. Back then, someone called me a fake prophet, and the shadow of that madness still haunts this forum today.

There was another uprising when we discussed the Theory of Evolution, where I drew the ire of some amateurs who don't even have a basic high school education yet want to debate the subject. 🙄

And now, this Golden Boy has started hystericalizing about me again regarding the story of Muawiya, that cursed man, and his "companions." Once again, I'm being labeled a Shiite, a Rafidi, an infidel, and so on...

So, brother crimsoncrane24, let me just tell you one thing. If the very principles of honorable Islam are threatened by Muslims themselves, I would much rather (then and now) go to war with them than dance with the devil... "My community will never agree on lies" (Muhammad). That's why I am absolutely not for a monolithic community like the one shown in the film ADAGIO (watch from 6:30 to the end). Should Muslims be like you from 6:30 onwards? No, brother! To me, that's just a mass of robots with functioning brains. In those cases, the solution isn't to sing in a choir with them, but to take a bucket of cold water and wake them up. Remember, Muhammad was offered anything he wanted, provided he renounced his principles. He refused, even if they offered him the sun and the moon. Jesus could have also sung in a choir with the most powerful people in society (the Pharisees and Sadducees). But he didn't, even at the cost of his life. Principle is stronger than you and me. Stronger than anyone! When it comes to the truth, there are no compromises, brother crimsoncrane24.

Peace be upon you, and know that I love you like a brother; I hold no grudges and I understand your good intentions.

rowdyhawk10, I’m right there with you—you’ve got my full atheist support. Though, honestly, I suspect that might do more to irritate the Muslims here than actually help your cause... 😁

🤣🤣🤣

casualtiger2, this is a spot-on topic. I actually had the chance to "debate" with that guy myself—his posts were identical to the ones you described, right down to the last detail...

Maybe we should just start a new thread called "The Hall of Fame for Religious Nonsense" and let everyone vote... 😍

briskotter192 said:Didn't I state quite clearly that the first civilization was born?

Who, then, existed before it?

It seems you haven't quite grasped the point.

Best regards,

I'm not sure—was it actually born? Who gave birth to it? And when?

briskotter192 said:Didn't I state quite clearly that the first civilization was born?

Who, then, existed before it?

It seems you haven't quite grasped the point.

Best regards,

I don't know—who existed before it?

briskotter192 said:Didn't I state quite clearly that the first civilization was born?

Who, then, existed before it?

It seems you haven't quite grasped the point.

Best regards,

No, I didn't. Care to elaborate?

William Williams7 said:I’ve been staying away from this thread because, frankly, I couldn't stand the title.

The idea that God withholds knowledge is just plain false. It’s actually quite telling how many people who claim they don't believe in God have nothing but grievances about life on Earth (as if it's the only reality that matters). They need God as a scapegoat so they can blame Him for their own lack of initiative—not to mention their sheer laziness. Look, if you insist He doesn't exist, then who exactly do you think is responsible for the state of the world right now?

Human beings possess knowledge, plenty of it. And God provides it, even when we aren't actively begging for it.

Imagine the possibilities if most people actually sought wisdom from God!

You hit the nail on the head. Why settle for simple when you can make everything unnecessarily difficult? 🙂

What specific kind of knowledge has God actually given you, if any?

Maria Robinson2 said:Didn't God give humans intellect to actually use it?
You can see for yourself that, given the situation,

we understand that sometimes we succeed and sometimes we don't, which implies we have little control over our own paths when we rely solely on ourselves.
We try to lean on friends, too, but they can fail us—whether intentionally or simply because they lack the power to help.

That is why God said to rely only on Him; we should trust Him, because once we do, He steps in precisely when things start spinning out of control—when everyone else walks away or finds themselves unable to help because they just don't know how.
And God always knows how to handle it; He knows, but He waits for the person to realize it. He doesn't intervene immediately like people expect; He knows the right timing for everyone.
As for human needs being just needs... well, that's a whole different story.

I'm not sure if you followed me—lately, I have this feeling that nobody understands what I'm saying, let alone what I'm asking.

So, you're actually claiming that God helped me just by giving me a brain? Look, I don't know—that feels like a bit of an oversimplification to me. Honestly, I was expecting some kind of more concrete intervention... 😍

briskotter192 said:God doesn't intervene constantly; He only does so when necessary.

You can seek Him with all your heart, but if He has decided your time is up tomorrow, you're going to die regardless of whether you were a saint or a sinner.

Regards

Wait, didn't that nomad claim God doesn't exist—that it was just about "civilization"?

Maria Robinson2 said:People who live by that mindset aren't actually believers; they’re just playing a part and confusing everyone around them.

A true believer knows what the Bible says: put your trust in nothing and no one—not even another person—except for Me, your God.
That’s basically one of the core principles for believers.
So, I guess you can tell who the real ones are by how they act.

It's possible—entirely possible. I actually found myself facing a similar dilemma once, and let me tell you...

I was caught in what I'd call a very unenviable situation—one that was genuinely life-threatening, my own fault, too. In those moments where you feel completely stripped of control, the temptation is overwhelming to just surrender everything to "God's hands," move forward, and let whatever happens, happen.

But, it suddenly hit me—regardless of the circumstances, I had to take certain steps to improve my own odds. Charging blindly ahead while relying solely on divine intervention didn't strike me as particularly wise. So, I took action, and those measures ended up working out; if they hadn't, I wouldn't be here typing this right now... 😁

Now, the question remains: was that divine intervention, or did I overcome the crisis through my own abilities—or perhaps just pure luck? Should a true believer really rush headlong into danger with the name of God on their lips? 😁

Benjamin Taylor6 said:But look, I'm a TEOZOF through and through. We're the ones who actually study life in its rawest form—deeply, intensely. Some of us even find ourselves praying to every possible god under the sun. Even the atheists in our circle end up whispering prayers to some Great Non-Existent 😂

We don't bother praying to anyone—our philosophy is more along the lines of "trust yourself and your own grit." Interestingly enough, even the religious folks have a similar mindset: help yourself first, and then maybe God will step in... 😁

I owe a sincere apology for that unverified insinuation I made earlier. It turns out there is only one true Parsifal; everyone else is just a pale imitation of the real deal. It seems your teachings got a bit lost in those less blessed branches—mentally speaking...

Jessica Peterson2 said:I wouldn't say that. It’s more that people who expected to get a free ride from Russia suddenly realized they were being played. You can't have your cake and eat it too, can you?

Russia isn't some special case here; anyone looking for a handout is eventually going to get screwed over.
The whole "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" mentality? Nobody actually wants that. Everyone is looking for a bailout, a low-interest loan, a subsidy, or some "foreign investment"...

steelwolf10 said:But why on earth would they be screwed?
I mean, it’s just common sense that Russia is going to look out for its own interests in all of this, isn't it? I mean, honestly, who in today's world is going to step up and take someone else's side without having some kind of skin in the game? It isn't quite like they're stepping in to bail anyone out of a massive debt crisis, but you have to admit, it serves as a sort of "lifeline" for the Greek economy.

Because anyone who got tangled up with the Russians ended up completely screwed. 😁

Well, anyone who takes help from Russia is asking for trouble... 😁

darksurfer4 said:Of course, we really ought to mention that the mastermind behind this entire criminal enterprise is hailed as a national hero in America, that the main square in their capital city is named after him, and—get this—that his monument stands right there in the middle of that very same square!!!

Let's be real: almost every nation ends up lionizing its own criminals. The US isn't some special case in that regard.

They’re both just as bad—they’re both selling nothing but hot air...☕

Mark Torres14 said:You’re already broke. And you will be again.
Think about how much time you actually have for yourself every day.
Besides, there are plenty of ways to change course. Poverty is a state of mind.
Here’s a tip.
Stop watching TV.

Not even in college yet, just high school, and the other one is still in daycare...😉

Must be nice. My kids are grown and nobody leaves the house.
I get the feeling they think my wife and I were born specifically to fix their problems until the day we die.

Not at all. Everyone needs rights—or better yet, everyone needs equal rights. If everyone had all rights (whatever that implies), then realistically, nobody would have any rights left.

Margaret Thatcher’s biggest gripe with the French Revolution was that the slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" included the word "equality." Equality doesn't exist, so "equal rights" don't exist either.
What's a right to me might be an infringement on your freedom, and vice versa.
Everything needs limits, including rights.

So what's the catch? Is it a question of "either/or"—either we believe in fate, or the idea that life is a "complete and self-contained value" is just a false dilemma.

Look at the phrase "complete and self-contained value." It means a value that only matters while you're alive. Once you're gone, it's worthless. In short, death doesn't exist. So if it doesn't exist, why fear it?

What are you actually trying to ask? 😁

I wasn't asking anything, I was just curious about how people view life.
For instance, I find that Hajjamov idea about being entrusted with a soul interesting.
Why is there a "you" instead of someone else?😁

I have to say, I'm inclined to agree with you. That leads me to the conclusion that there are different types of wealth—and different types of poverty, too. Is one kind of poverty better than the others? Personally, I think it is: material poverty is the absolute worst; it’s the kind where people literally starve. So, what am I choosing between here—being short on time or being short on cash?

Mark Torres14 said:You’re already broke. And you will be again.
Think about how much time you actually have for yourself every day.
Besides, there are plenty of ways to change course. Poverty is a state of mind.
Here’s a tip.
Stop watching TV.

Not even in college yet, just high school, and the other one is still in daycare...😉

Must be nice. My kids are grown and nobody leaves the house.
I get the feeling they think my wife and I were born specifically to fix their problems until the day we die.

Not at all. Everyone needs rights—or better yet, everyone needs equal rights. If everyone had all rights (whatever that implies), then realistically, nobody would have any rights left.

Margaret Thatcher’s biggest gripe with the French Revolution was that the slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" included the word "equality." Equality doesn't exist, so "equal rights" don't exist either.
What's a right to me might be an infringement on your freedom, and vice versa.
Everything needs limits, including rights.

So what's the catch? Is it a question of "either/or"—either we believe in fate, or the idea that life is a "complete and self-contained value" is just a false dilemma.

Look at the phrase "complete and self-contained value." It means a value that only matters while you're alive. Once you're gone, it's worthless. In short, death doesn't exist. So if it doesn't exist, why fear it?

What are you actually trying to ask? 😁

I wasn't asking anything, I was just curious about how people view life.
For instance, I find that Hajjamov idea about being entrusted with a soul interesting.
Why is there a "you" instead of someone else?😁

What does "poverty is a state of mind" actually mean? Go ask the kids in Somalia about spiritual poverty. Or you don't even have to go that far—just look around at the local welfare office... Care to elaborate?

Mark Torres14 said:You’re already broke. And you will be again.
Think about how much time you actually have for yourself every day.
Besides, there are plenty of ways to change course. Poverty is a state of mind.
Here’s a tip.
Stop watching TV.

Not even in college yet, just high school, and the other one is still in daycare...😉

Must be nice. My kids are grown and nobody leaves the house.
I get the feeling they think my wife and I were born specifically to fix their problems until the day we die.

Not at all. Everyone needs rights—or better yet, everyone needs equal rights. If everyone had all rights (whatever that implies), then realistically, nobody would have any rights left.

Margaret Thatcher’s biggest gripe with the French Revolution was that the slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" included the word "equality." Equality doesn't exist, so "equal rights" don't exist either.
What's a right to me might be an infringement on your freedom, and vice versa.
Everything needs limits, including rights.

So what's the catch? Is it a question of "either/or"—either we believe in fate, or the idea that life is a "complete and self-contained value" is just a false dilemma.

Look at the phrase "complete and self-contained value." It means a value that only matters while you're alive. Once you're gone, it's worthless. In short, death doesn't exist. So if it doesn't exist, why fear it?

What are you actually trying to ask? 😁

I wasn't asking anything, I was just curious about how people view life.
For instance, I find that Hajjamov idea about being entrusted with a soul interesting.
Why is there a "you" instead of someone else?😁

😂
I haven't touched the TV in years. What next—unplug the internet too? How am I supposed to stay informed? Does a person even need information in this day and age? Am I supposed to just retreat into some cave somewhere?

Mark Torres14 said:You’re already broke. And you will be again.
Think about how much time you actually have for yourself every day.
Besides, there are plenty of ways to change course. Poverty is a state of mind.
Here’s a tip.
Stop watching TV.

Not even in college yet, just high school, and the other one is still in daycare...😉

Must be nice. My kids are grown and nobody leaves the house.
I get the feeling they think my wife and I were born specifically to fix their problems until the day we die.

Not at all. Everyone needs rights—or better yet, everyone needs equal rights. If everyone had all rights (whatever that implies), then realistically, nobody would have any rights left.

Margaret Thatcher’s biggest gripe with the French Revolution was that the slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" included the word "equality." Equality doesn't exist, so "equal rights" don't exist either.
What's a right to me might be an infringement on your freedom, and vice versa.
Everything needs limits, including rights.

So what's the catch? Is it a question of "either/or"—either we believe in fate, or the idea that life is a "complete and self-contained value" is just a false dilemma.

Look at the phrase "complete and self-contained value." It means a value that only matters while you're alive. Once you're gone, it's worthless. In short, death doesn't exist. So if it doesn't exist, why fear it?

What are you actually trying to ask? 😁

I wasn't asking anything, I was just curious about how people view life.
For instance, I find that Hajjamov idea about being entrusted with a soul interesting.
Why is there a "you" instead of someone else?😁

Whose fault is that? Theirs or yours?

Mark Torres14 said:You’re already broke. And you will be again.
Think about how much time you actually have for yourself every day.
Besides, there are plenty of ways to change course. Poverty is a state of mind.
Here’s a tip.
Stop watching TV.

Not even in college yet, just high school, and the other one is still in daycare...😉

Must be nice. My kids are grown and nobody leaves the house.
I get the feeling they think my wife and I were born specifically to fix their problems until the day we die.

Not at all. Everyone needs rights—or better yet, everyone needs equal rights. If everyone had all rights (whatever that implies), then realistically, nobody would have any rights left.

Margaret Thatcher’s biggest gripe with the French Revolution was that the slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" included the word "equality." Equality doesn't exist, so "equal rights" don't exist either.
What's a right to me might be an infringement on your freedom, and vice versa.
Everything needs limits, including rights.

So what's the catch? Is it a question of "either/or"—either we believe in fate, or the idea that life is a "complete and self-contained value" is just a false dilemma.

Look at the phrase "complete and self-contained value." It means a value that only matters while you're alive. Once you're gone, it's worthless. In short, death doesn't exist. So if it doesn't exist, why fear it?

What are you actually trying to ask? 😁

I wasn't asking anything, I was just curious about how people view life.
For instance, I find that Hajjamov idea about being entrusted with a soul interesting.
Why is there a "you" instead of someone else?😁

To even have this debate, we’d need to define our terms first. What does "equality" actually mean? It’s obvious we aren't all equal in a physical or mental sense, but we ought to be equal under the law, regardless of what those rights look like. Sure, rights have to be bounded by some kind of social contract, but they should apply to everyone—why shouldn't everyone be equal when it comes to their rights?

Mark Torres14 said:You’re already broke. And you will be again.
Think about how much time you actually have for yourself every day.
Besides, there are plenty of ways to change course. Poverty is a state of mind.
Here’s a tip.
Stop watching TV.

Not even in college yet, just high school, and the other one is still in daycare...😉

Must be nice. My kids are grown and nobody leaves the house.
I get the feeling they think my wife and I were born specifically to fix their problems until the day we die.

Not at all. Everyone needs rights—or better yet, everyone needs equal rights. If everyone had all rights (whatever that implies), then realistically, nobody would have any rights left.

Margaret Thatcher’s biggest gripe with the French Revolution was that the slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" included the word "equality." Equality doesn't exist, so "equal rights" don't exist either.
What's a right to me might be an infringement on your freedom, and vice versa.
Everything needs limits, including rights.

So what's the catch? Is it a question of "either/or"—either we believe in fate, or the idea that life is a "complete and self-contained value" is just a false dilemma.

Look at the phrase "complete and self-contained value." It means a value that only matters while you're alive. Once you're gone, it's worthless. In short, death doesn't exist. So if it doesn't exist, why fear it?

What are you actually trying to ask? 😁

I wasn't asking anything, I was just curious about how people view life.
For instance, I find that Hajjamov idea about being entrusted with a soul interesting.
Why is there a "you" instead of someone else?😁

So, you're stuck with the dilemma: is life predetermined by fate, or is it just a self-contained value that ends at death? I’m still not following. Even if someone believes in destiny, they still view life as a "self-contained" value, so I don't see where the dilemma lies.

Whether life is predestined or just completely random, it ends in death regardless—and after that, there's nothing, just like there was nothing before you were born...

Fear it or don't, you're going to die anyway, so there's no point worrying about the inevitable. Besides, you were dead for billions of years before you were even born. Of course, that's easier said than done. I'm still working on it myself...😁

Mark Torres14 said:You’re already broke. And you will be again.
Think about how much time you actually have for yourself every day.
Besides, there are plenty of ways to change course. Poverty is a state of mind.
Here’s a tip.
Stop watching TV.

Not even in college yet, just high school, and the other one is still in daycare...😉

Must be nice. My kids are grown and nobody leaves the house.
I get the feeling they think my wife and I were born specifically to fix their problems until the day we die.

Not at all. Everyone needs rights—or better yet, everyone needs equal rights. If everyone had all rights (whatever that implies), then realistically, nobody would have any rights left.

Margaret Thatcher’s biggest gripe with the French Revolution was that the slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" included the word "equality." Equality doesn't exist, so "equal rights" don't exist either.
What's a right to me might be an infringement on your freedom, and vice versa.
Everything needs limits, including rights.

So what's the catch? Is it a question of "either/or"—either we believe in fate, or the idea that life is a "complete and self-contained value" is just a false dilemma.

Look at the phrase "complete and self-contained value." It means a value that only matters while you're alive. Once you're gone, it's worthless. In short, death doesn't exist. So if it doesn't exist, why fear it?

What are you actually trying to ask? 😁

I wasn't asking anything, I was just curious about how people view life.
For instance, I find that Hajjamov idea about being entrusted with a soul interesting.
Why is there a "you" instead of someone else?😁

Look, I don't really buy into the whole soul hype (not that you can, when concepts like "souls" are basically just part of the game)—I lean more toward the idea that everything is ultimately One, playing a game through multiplicity. In reality, "I" don't even exist; I'm just a manifestation of the One playing a game...

Mark Torres14 said:Take it from the cat in Kafka's "Little Red Riding Hood."

I've got two kids, and as soon as they grow, the costs skyrocket. So what now? Am I supposed to tell them to drop out of school or something?

Not a bad idea, right?👍
I worked while I was in college. Why can't she?

Isn't it better for everyone to have rights than for nobody to have any? Agree?

If everyone has everything, then nobody actually has anything. You following me?

They taught me that a question mark at the end of a sentence means it's a question...☕

Not every question mark is a question.🙂😉🙂

😕 So, you want me to just run the other way? Into what? Poverty, asceticism, or some sort of monk-like existence?

Mark Torres14 said:Take it from the cat in Kafka's "Little Red Riding Hood."

I've got two kids, and as soon as they grow, the costs skyrocket. So what now? Am I supposed to tell them to drop out of school or something?

Not a bad idea, right?👍
I worked while I was in college. Why can't she?

Isn't it better for everyone to have rights than for nobody to have any? Agree?

If everyone has everything, then nobody actually has anything. You following me?

They taught me that a question mark at the end of a sentence means it's a question...☕

Not every question mark is a question.🙂😉🙂

She isn't even in college yet—she's still in high school, and her sibling is barely out of preschool...😉

Mark Torres14 said:Take it from the cat in Kafka's "Little Red Riding Hood."

I've got two kids, and as soon as they grow, the costs skyrocket. So what now? Am I supposed to tell them to drop out of school or something?

Not a bad idea, right?👍
I worked while I was in college. Why can't she?

Isn't it better for everyone to have rights than for nobody to have any? Agree?

If everyone has everything, then nobody actually has anything. You following me?

They taught me that a question mark at the end of a sentence means it's a question...☕

Not every question mark is a question.🙂😉🙂

Not quite. Everyone needs rights, or more accurately, everyone deserves equal rights. If everyone were granted every single right (whatever that even implies), then effectively, no one would have any rights at all.

Mark Torres14 said:Take it from the cat in Kafka's "Little Red Riding Hood."

I've got two kids, and as soon as they grow, the costs skyrocket. So what now? Am I supposed to tell them to drop out of school or something?

Not a bad idea, right?👍
I worked while I was in college. Why can't she?

Isn't it better for everyone to have rights than for nobody to have any? Agree?

If everyone has everything, then nobody actually has anything. You following me?

They taught me that a question mark at the end of a sentence means it's a question...☕

Not every question mark is a question.🙂😉🙂

Then what is it? An exclamation point? Is it a choice between believing in fate or viewing life as a self-contained value—or is that just a false dilemma?

What was your actual point? 😁

Mark Torres14 said:Oh... Fernando is Fernando. 🙂 I'm sure that wasn't nonsense.
Why are you rushing? Why the hurry? How much of that colored paper do you actually need to earn before it's "enough"? Besides, is the whole point of living really just chasing money?
I have three kids. And I've noticed that the more I give them, the more they demand. When I say I don't have it, they start citing their "rights."
Have you noticed how everyone has "rights" these days? Dogs become heirs to massive fortunes, cartoon characters are protected by law, you can't even yell at your kids anymore, and any unstable person can claim their right to kill even more kids or stand outside your window screaming and protesting.

That’s a logical bifurcation. What do you mean "either-or"? Your question is poorly framed...

Where exactly did you see a question?😕🤷

I need enough just to cover the basics—rent, utilities, groceries, water, maybe some decent clothes. That’s the bottom line. Once you start looking at those numbers, all that high-minded philosophy just goes right out the window. I’m not exactly living in poverty, but I’m certainly not pulling in tycoon money either. At the end of the day, you have to put in the work; if you don't, the competition will absolutely crush you.

Mark Torres14 said:Oh... Fernando is Fernando. 🙂 I'm sure that wasn't nonsense.
Why are you rushing? Why the hurry? How much of that colored paper do you actually need to earn before it's "enough"? Besides, is the whole point of living really just chasing money?
I have three kids. And I've noticed that the more I give them, the more they demand. When I say I don't have it, they start citing their "rights."
Have you noticed how everyone has "rights" these days? Dogs become heirs to massive fortunes, cartoon characters are protected by law, you can't even yell at your kids anymore, and any unstable person can claim their right to kill even more kids or stand outside your window screaming and protesting.

That’s a logical bifurcation. What do you mean "either-or"? Your question is poorly framed...

Where exactly did you see a question?😕🤷

It’s just the two of us, and as they get older, the expenses keep climbing—it feels like a runaway train. What am I supposed to do at this point? Am I really expected to sit them down and tell them to drop out of school or something?

Mark Torres14 said:Oh... Fernando is Fernando. 🙂 I'm sure that wasn't nonsense.
Why are you rushing? Why the hurry? How much of that colored paper do you actually need to earn before it's "enough"? Besides, is the whole point of living really just chasing money?
I have three kids. And I've noticed that the more I give them, the more they demand. When I say I don't have it, they start citing their "rights."
Have you noticed how everyone has "rights" these days? Dogs become heirs to massive fortunes, cartoon characters are protected by law, you can't even yell at your kids anymore, and any unstable person can claim their right to kill even more kids or stand outside your window screaming and protesting.

That’s a logical bifurcation. What do you mean "either-or"? Your question is poorly framed...

Where exactly did you see a question?😕🤷

It’s better for everyone to have rights than for absolutely no one to have them, don't you think?

Mark Torres14 said:Oh... Fernando is Fernando. 🙂 I'm sure that wasn't nonsense.
Why are you rushing? Why the hurry? How much of that colored paper do you actually need to earn before it's "enough"? Besides, is the whole point of living really just chasing money?
I have three kids. And I've noticed that the more I give them, the more they demand. When I say I don't have it, they start citing their "rights."
Have you noticed how everyone has "rights" these days? Dogs become heirs to massive fortunes, cartoon characters are protected by law, you can't even yell at your kids anymore, and any unstable person can claim their right to kill even more kids or stand outside your window screaming and protesting.

That’s a logical bifurcation. What do you mean "either-or"? Your question is poorly framed...

Where exactly did you see a question?😕🤷

Growing up, I was always taught that a question mark at the end of a sentence actually meant you were asking a question...☕

Mark Torres14 said:People say this aphorism belongs to Metrodorus, a close friend of Epicurus:

"Fate, I’ve already prepared for you; I’ve blocked every sneaky way you might try to slip in. We won't surrender like captives to you or any other circumstance. But when necessity forces our hand, we’ll spit on life and everyone who clings to it for nothing, leaving it behind with a noble song of victory, shouting at the very end—We lived a good life."

So, what’s your take? Do you believe in fate, or do you side with Metrodorus and think life is its own complete, self-contained value?