Posts by jadetiger37

Just gotta give Alicia her flowers here... She absolutely killed it on screen. 👍

I don't usually jump in to comment, but—man, how bad is this? It’s pure garbage, and it drags on for over two hours.. 🤦

Anyway, just some friendly advice here—I know everyone has different tastes (and honestly, I shouldn't have been taking all these comments personally!), but you're better off putting together a puzzle, walking your dog, or playing a round of Yahtzee. It'll be way more fun and actually good for your soul, mind, and body..

Pure, unadulterated cinematic bliss—the kind of poetry you only get when Forman is behind the lens..
I’m definitely revisiting this one soon—perfectly fits the vibe of these gloomy days and nights.. 🙂

For me personally, it’s easily one of the best biopics ever made..

shadowridge99 said:This is easily one of my all-time favorite movies. 😍
Even if a lot of the historical details aren't exactly accurate,

One of the most powerful moments for me is during the funeral scene—watching Mozart being laid to rest while the Lacrimosa plays in the background.

🙏 🙏

It’s such a shame that F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce were both nominated in the same category for an Oscar; I really wish Hulce had taken it home.

Total respect to that.. 👍

P.S. Does anyone know if there are any other movies where multiple actors were nominated for Best Actor? I can't think of a single other one off the top of my head.. 🤔

Sean Bailey75 said:Look, if we're being real here, most of those massive blockbusters are basically just kids' movies. I mean, seriously—how are you going to argue that Harry Potter, the Marvel Avengers, Lord of the Rings, or Minions belong in the serious Sci-Fi category? Even Avatar is an animated movie at its core. If we start shoving everything into the Sci-Fi bucket, then fine, let's just throw the Mockingjay series or Maze Runner in there instead of calling them teen flicks. At that point, every critic, every fantasy movie, everything could be Sci-Fi. Even if the plot is stupid or totally unrealistic, people would claim it's Sci-Fi just because the script isn't grounded in reality.

That’s exactly why I said I was broadening the topic... 🤷

The way the author "clumsily" labeled Sci-Fi—as in, everything being produced right now—is a whole different story. I think he was trying to emphasize how much they rely on visual effects over actual acting...

I'm definitely not saying that anything stupid or unrealistic automatically counts as Sci-Fi. And regarding those "kids' movies" mentioned—I'm pretty sure a huge chunk of the audience watching them aren't actually "kids," they're just people willing to drop cash on a movie ticket. That's really the crux of it.

But also, I don't get this personal offense being taken about everything being lumped into Sci-Fi. You brought up the Avengers, so I'll add Iron Man and Transformers—all of those have Sci-Fi elements and are categorized as such. It's not jadetiger37 making that claim; it's IMDb and the studios that made them. Look, if it barks like a dog and looks like a dog, there's a good chance it's actually a dog!
Whether they're good or bad movies is entirely up to individual taste.

Personally, I'm a fan of dramas and psychological thrillers, and yeah, I'll admit there are plenty of bad examples out there that don't make the genre itself look any less legitimate. 🍿

Michael Harris20 said:Why aren't we getting movies like we did back in '94 or '95 anymore? You know—real thrillers, dramas, crime flicks... instead, every single year it's just a handful of Avatars, Avengers, Spiderman, Batman, Maze Runner, Planet of the Apes, and suddenly that's considered a massive hit...

Is it because nobody knows how to make a decent movie anymore, or have we just burned through every good idea until all we have left is filming stuff about what the "future" might look like?...

The answer is pretty damn simple...

It is all about the money! — basically, the big production studios are holding the baton and calling all the shots when it comes to the "cinematic direction."..

There was actually talk about this at last year's Oscar ceremony.. Basically, they’re playing it safe by dumping hundreds of millions into a budget where a return of over $500 million is practically a sure thing.. This means sticking to films with huge fanbases, recognizable franchises rooted in the Sci-Fi and Fantasy genre (with Pan being the weird exception that they just keep butchering for some reason 🙂) and animated features..

The whole point is that this "safety net" strategy follows the theory that it's better to sink cash into special effects and build a movie around them—ensuring high ticket sales—rather than hiring a top-tier actor to carry a quality drama or thriller. With those, there's zero guarantee you'll see any profit, let alone an enormous one, no matter how masterpiece-level the film actually is..

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/ — here's the cold, hard proof
(Titanic is the outlier, but hey, besides being a one-of-a-kind flick, you've got James Cameron behind it, so... 🙂)

Because, let's be real here—stuff like Avengers, Captain America, Batman, Spiderman, etc.; way, way, WAY more people are going to show up for those than for something like The Godfather, Forrest Gump, or life is beautiful—regardless of how shallow the plot might be in those first bunch of blockbusters..

I drifted a bit off-topic, but I'm still answering the question from the original post..

Look, I don't see any real need for Lowe's either—unless we're talking about an 18+ PDF section (the only reason I even swing by there is for the BDSM stuff). Maybe it makes sense to hide the extra graphic content from casual readers who aren't registered or participating, or just from those of us 🙂 who have zero interest in seeing that kind of crude stuff...

quietfox384 said:Would you date someone with a disability? - Megathread
Would you plan a relationship/marriage with a man suffering from PTSD?

How to blow someone properly?
Would you be with a guy who's small down there?

They're all pretty similar topics, just tucked away in different corners of Lowe's.

Honestly, I don't see the resemblance at all. The first two are actually serious and somewhat educational, whereas the last couple are basically just open invitations for trolls and total bullshit, IMO. 🙂

Kenneth Ramos6 said:If that movie actually ends up being half as good as the game... man, I'm not even ready.🙏 🙏
That game was a straight-up masterpiece—honestly, something we haven't seen in a long, long time.

Man, those words hit home... 👍

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve sat through the Marathon Edition... seriously, it’s absolutely incredible.

But seriously, what they’re saying is absolutely spot on. David Sanders4 It feels like everything today is just one big, massive cash grab aimed straight at the fan base—just total tunnel vision for quick money.

Aside from the casting being actually decent, I really hope the studio nails the music composer—that’s a massive factor right there. If they mess up the score, the whole thing is dead in the water.

Who knows? Honestly, we might actually get a pleasant surprise for once... 🙂

Kyle Vaughn8 said:That’s usually considered the most successful biblical movie, right?

Besides, we don't have to stick strictly to movies about Jesus—anyone from the Bible works, I guess even a Pharaoh would fit here.

Moving away from the Bible for a sec, but it's an interesting topic—though pretty controversial and definitely not for everyone, especially those with super rigid beliefs:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095497/

- Great concept, stellar cast, and you've got Scorsese... 👍

It's kind of hard to picture De Niro as Jesus, but hey, sounds intriguing.



Cool poster,
but honestly, I didn't mind the blonde, blue-eyed Jesus in The Bible at all.
Actually, he was one of my favorite portrayals of Jesus ever.
Morgado did an awesome job.

[URL='http://www.pic-upload.de/view-26612853/image.jpg.html']

Who do you guys think is the best Jesus in film? [/URL]

Ironically, it’s probably the last thing that should be labeled a "Bible movie"... But hey, I get it... 🙂

hard to picture DeForest as Jesus, but sounds interesting.

Yeah, totally fine.. Personally, I think he's a solid actor, so no biggie..
But look, if you actually dig the idea of the movie, you gotta read the book by Nikos Kazantzakis that Scorsese used for his film.. Only thing is, obviously, the book is better..

By the way, the Vatican was dead set against it—they fought tooth and nail to stop the film from ever coming out—which honestly just makes it a better recommendation for reading or watching, unless you've got super conservative church views..

besides, the topic doesn't have to revolve strictly around movies about Jesus; it could be anyone from the Bible, even the King of Egypt fits here.

As for variety, I can't really think of any that blew me away.. Generally, directors and studios are too stingy to actually dive deep and do this kind of subject matter justice, but here's one: that trilogy based on angels and demons: Prophecy, though only the first part is worth your time..

First off, I’d say Ben-Hur is easily the heavyweight in this group—if you can even count it in this conversation..

Not strictly about the Bible, but the subject matter is pretty wild—super controversial, definitely polarizing, and honestly not for everyone, especially if you're one of those people with super rigid, old-school beliefs:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095497/

- Solid concept, killer cast and performances, plus you've got Scorsese.. 👍

Look, most of the people hanging out on this sub are basically kids, so who knows how many actually watched these classics besides the godfather, whose commercial success was definitely his peak...

But regarding Tango—the first time I saw it, before I really wrapped my head around it, it hit me just how fast it became such a cult classic and basically set the blueprint for every erotic drama that actually has some substance to it...

I’d even go as far as saying E. L. James pulled her little "nuances" straight from there—not that she's a total copycat, since she added some modern twists to make it what it is... Seretlek, please... 😁

- And honestly, regarding his performance in Julius Caesar—maybe I'm biased, but he played the best character tied to the Roman Empire. Period. It’s pure joy watching him; the way he expresses himself with that effortless, poetic grace that just felt so right for that era...

redscout46 said:Hello there.
There’s one thing I just can't wrap my head around lately. Why does our society react with such intense hostility whenever someone dares to mention they don't want children? I brought this up recently during a dinner with some older folks and their circle of friends, and one gentleman looked absolutely horrified, as if I’d admitted to a felony. I mean, how am I even supposed to explain it—that I simply don't want them? (Though, apparently, if you aren't eager to be a parent, you're just being willfully ignorant.)
Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about. Every time I hear those tired clichés, like "I spent all morning feeding my son with a spoon just to make sure he actually swallowed his food... kids are life's greatest treasure," I feel a physical urge to recoil. To be perfectly honest—though I try not to let the disgust show publicly—I tell people straight up that I value my freedom, that I want to focus on my career, and that I plan to travel with a partner, only to immediately be condescended to with comments like, "Oh, you just don't understand yet..." 🤦
The sheer audacity of it.
What do you all think? Is it really considered "abnormal" to not want to spend your life cleaning up after someone, feeding them smelly mush, and sitting through endless school meetings? Am I asking for too much comfort by choosing not to spend the next twenty years constantly worrying about someone else or draining my bank account on ballet lessons, English tutors, and soccer camps? Am I truly that selfish if I'd rather come home to a tidy apartment, sink into the couch, and enjoy a quiet moment after a long day at work, instead of cooking massive family meals and stepping on Lego bricks every five minutes? 🤣
I don't know what's going on with America lately, but people seem to have completely lost their minds.😵

🤣
First off, you actually cracked me up with those descriptions and all that stuff about kids...

Why did I bold that part? Well, I think kids *are* a treasure, but if I tried to argue that specific point, this post would be way too long...

All I'll say is that when we talk about "treasure"—not everything holds the same value for everyone by default. We all carve out our own paths and hunt for whatever we personally deem most valuable. But, there are also certain treasures that take on a totally different meaning as we pick up—or lose—wisdom over the years.

To answer your question: No! It isn't crazy or stupid to not want kids. It’s quite simply a choice that every single person has the right to make. Period. Without all the labeling or accusations that you're somehow a "lesser" person because of it.

Unfortunately, society as a whole just can't seem to go through a reality check where they realize their worldview isn't some universal manual everyone else is required to follow. It's way easier to just blend into the majority's "accepted" lifestyle. Being different, having actual personal stances, or just being yourself—that falls outside the rules of what's considered "normal" behavior.

It's twisted and backwards, whatever. 🙂

P.S. It's not just an American thing, either. The rest of the world deals with this crap too. It's just that here, the culture is so fertile for these kinds of issues that they pop up to the surface almost instantly.

Heh, so he wants to handle that "under the table," huh?

Man, you aren't kidding... 😁

shadowridge99 said:I’ll always remember him most as Vito Corleone; that was the first movie of his I ever saw, and it stuck with me from a very young age.

But honestly, I voted for Stanley Kowalski. In my opinion, that was his absolute peak as an actor.

To me, he’s the greatest—sure, he was eccentric, but that’s exactly what makes reading about him so much fun.
🙂Plus, let's be real, he was easily the most handsome actor to ever do it.

Then you seriously gotta check it out. The Wild One. Pure, unadulterated rebellion right there.Trust me, you won't regret it... definitely. 🙂

Amanda Robinson4 said:Oh, totally. In >, he felt so incredibly natural, almost like he’d been living that character every single day before they even filmed it. It makes you wonder... what if we actually had the chance to see him perform it live on stage? 🙂

And then he went back and played that > role again, but this time as a total gag—like a parody of himself! He showed everyone how a sped-up, exaggerated version of that same iconic character could be absolutely hilarious in >. 🙂

I remember when that play came to town a few years back... I can't quite recall who was in the cast, but man, I was all over it—tried everything to snag a ticket.
And I blew it. Just totally missed the mark, man. Honestly though—I can't even wrap my head around which American actor could actually pull off a performance like that. 🙂

analogbear40 said:Honestly, this is exactly why you tune into YouTube, instead of wasting your time with all those mindless cat videos...😁

Marlon Brando - Rebel Without a Cause - Screentest (1947)

I’m pretty sure this marks Brando's first unofficial step onto the Hollywood stage...

It’s absolutely fascinating to see how things might have played out differently if J. Dean hadn't eventually landed that iconic role for the finished script back in 1955...

Hey, listen—I’m looking back at the original with Dean now, and honestly? He killed it, gotta give him that..

For me, though, I never quite get why people put him in the same bucket as Olivier when talking about the greatest actor ever—especially since they say Olivier was closer to the "acting establishment." Brando always hammered home that theater was true art, while the screen was just pure cash.. And yeah, that basically sealed his fate as being "hated" by the big-shot producers..

Amanda Robinson4 said:He took the absolute best from Stella, his mother, and even Elie's cauldron...

Everything after that is just history. Honestly, the only habit he repeats in every single role is that specific way he mumbles through his mouth, but once you actually watch him, every character has a completely different vibe. If you put all those characters in one room together, they’re so disconnected they probably wouldn't even have anything to talk about!

A lot of people are totally right when they say his best performance was in >. And there's a real reason for that—it's the only film where he played a role he had already mastered in the original stage production before stepping away from the theater to focus on movies, which is a whole different beast entirely.

But man, the way he just lived those roles... that unique delivery of lines, that raw magnetism... it was just something else. In the end, I ended up voting for > because, let's be real, that role is flawless just like all the others, but still. Given the context, he played the ultimate alpha male icon—a god, a father, a king—which is totally disconnected from who > was in private.

He was impossible for many directors to handle; nobody really knew how to work with him, not even Coppola. Just look at >:
That movement, almost like an orangutan, the way he moves his mouth, and boom—mafia king. Coppola, you truly brought out the best in him!

It’s seriously impressive how massive his range was—which, if you think about it, ended with him voicing some old lady in an animated movie, right? And
don't even get me started on his turn as Dr. Moreau.. The movie is straight-up trash, but he handled the role in a way that was uniquely his..

Amanda Robinson4 said:He took the absolute best from Stella, his mother, and even Elie's cauldron...

Everything after that is just history. Honestly, the only habit he repeats in every single role is that specific way he mumbles through his mouth, but once you actually watch him, every character has a completely different vibe. If you put all those characters in one room together, they’re so disconnected they probably wouldn't even have anything to talk about!

A lot of people are totally right when they say his best performance was in >. And there's a real reason for that—it's the only film where he played a role he had already mastered in the original stage production before stepping away from the theater to focus on movies, which is a whole different beast entirely.

But man, the way he just lived those roles... that unique delivery of lines, that raw magnetism... it was just something else. In the end, I ended up voting for > because, let's be real, that role is flawless just like all the others, but still. Given the context, he played the ultimate alpha male icon—a god, a father, a king—which is totally disconnected from who > was in private.

He was impossible for many directors to handle; nobody really knew how to work with him, not even Coppola. Just look at >:
That movement, almost like an orangutan, the way he moves his mouth, and boom—mafia king. Coppola, you truly brought out the best in him!

Now just imagine if they hadn't picked him like they originally planned.. History would have looked completely different..🙂

Yeah, since he basically decided to call it quits on acting altogether.. 🙂

But man.. this poll is actually brutal to vote in.. In principle, I’d say The Godfather is his best work, but that role in On the Waterfront is just flawless.. Honestly, I don't even know how many times I've sat through that one..
Then you've got Streetcar—his first big break and it was sickeningly good. It stuck with me because of that raw 'theatrical' energy, which I think is the most powerful thing you can bring to the screen..

But then again, The Godfather is the absolute peak of his career.. And then there's Last Tango in Paris..
Ugh! This is torture! 😁

analogbear40 said:The one and only—the absolute GOAT.

I highly recommend checking out this TCM documentary Brando (2007)

It’s over two and a half hours of pure cinematic bliss. 👍

Oh man, yeah...

I totally blanked on that one...
🤦 Major props to the legend for the reminder—definitely rewatching it tonight.
👍

First off, for anyone who actually knows his deal—and especially if there are any of you out there who don't—you really need to check out this biography:



- The guy was basically the Mozart film actor—a total legend who served as a mentor and blueprint for just about every top-tier actor working today;

- He was an incredibly eccentric dude—tough as nails to work with—but man, he left a massive mark on everything he touched;

- He absolutely loathed Hollywood and the way the modern industry runs, which is pretty ironic considering he was the ultimate icon of the whole thing;

- A total self-destructive force—he didn't just wreck himself, he often dragged the people closest to him down into the chaos too;

- Super private and introverted, but also a dedicated pacifist and civil rights activist—specifically fighting for Black and Native American rights. He was close friends with Martin Luther King and was involved with Native American movements...

- He raked in 33 acting awards and snagged 8 Academy nominations, winning Best Actor twice;

- Along with George C. Scott, he’s the only actor in history to ever turn down an Oscar...

- He was a huge lover of women (who, let's be real, absolutely adored him)—he had three wives and at least eleven kids (as far as we know);

Look, you might not agree with me that he was the greatest actor to ever live, but two things are non-negotiable: he was one of the most unforgettable figures of the 20th century and an absolute cinematic genius...

Listen up, folks; there is only one— Marlon Brando (04/03/1924 - 07/01/2004)

Lawrence Bailey77 said:🙄 Regarding those quoted above... I am honestly just waiting for someone to start rationalizing murder; I wouldn't even be surprised if that happened. I mean... facts.. what does an opinion matter when someone is actually stabbing you with a knife?! Would anyone even bother discussing this while sharing their experience watching a performance? Ask yourselves; you don't need to answer me.

Keep-Calm
Having recently become a mother, I find myself occasionally reflecting on the fundamental nature of humanity—specifically how it appears at its inception. From my perspective, I see nothing but good. There is this innate craving for attention, love, and patience. What might superficially be perceived as "malice" actually seems to stem merely from a misunderstanding of one's surroundings and a simple desire to have one's needs met.

🙏 I truly wish you abundant health and happiness, and perhaps even more children if life allows; I say this from the bottom of my heart 😍. Regardless of the environment we inhabit, people like you make life significantly more beautiful and worth living—and perhaps, in my estimation, even worth dying for! 👍

P.S. I suspect that if an individual in that specific performance had begun acting toward the audience in such a way, they would have been instantly branded a lunatic or a maniac. I doubt there would have been nearly as much "debate" or controversy regarding beliefs about human nature. However, when the issue shifts toward COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY 😠, that incredible protective instinct
kicks in.
P.P.S. I am honestly unsure if Hitler ever killed anyone personally, yet all the blame is placed solely upon his shoulders as the ultimate embodiment of evil, whereas Stalin arguably slaughtered more of his own people than Hitler did others... not to mention the history of the United States, stretching from the past right up to the present day! ☕ ... the tally doesn't stop, and it shows no intention of slowing down.

.. I suppose this is an endless topic of discussion 🕺

🤷
I honestly have no clue how you reached that conclusion, but hey, maybe you've got some way of perceiving things that—frankly—is completely lost on me..

Lawrence Bailey77 said:🙄 Regarding those quoted above... I am honestly just waiting for someone to start rationalizing murder; I wouldn't even be surprised if that happened. I mean... facts.. what does an opinion matter when someone is actually stabbing you with a knife?! Would anyone even bother discussing this while sharing their experience watching a performance? Ask yourselves; you don't need to answer me.

Keep-Calm
Having recently become a mother, I find myself occasionally reflecting on the fundamental nature of humanity—specifically how it appears at its inception. From my perspective, I see nothing but good. There is this innate craving for attention, love, and patience. What might superficially be perceived as "malice" actually seems to stem merely from a misunderstanding of one's surroundings and a simple desire to have one's needs met.

🙏 I truly wish you abundant health and happiness, and perhaps even more children if life allows; I say this from the bottom of my heart 😍. Regardless of the environment we inhabit, people like you make life significantly more beautiful and worth living—and perhaps, in my estimation, even worth dying for! 👍

P.S. I suspect that if an individual in that specific performance had begun acting toward the audience in such a way, they would have been instantly branded a lunatic or a maniac. I doubt there would have been nearly as much "debate" or controversy regarding beliefs about human nature. However, when the issue shifts toward COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY 😠, that incredible protective instinct
kicks in.
P.P.S. I am honestly unsure if Hitler ever killed anyone personally, yet all the blame is placed solely upon his shoulders as the ultimate embodiment of evil, whereas Stalin arguably slaughtered more of his own people than Hitler did others... not to mention the history of the United States, stretching from the past right up to the present day! ☕ ... the tally doesn't stop, and it shows no intention of slowing down.

.. I suppose this is an endless topic of discussion 🕺

I don't think I've ever used this emoji in my entire time on this forum, but hey, there's a first time for everything. So, here we go;
🤦 🤦

1. - So, you're claiming you don't know if Hitler ever killed anyone, but you were probably an eyewitness to what Stalin and Americans did, right?

2. - The sheer claim that Hitler didn't kill anyone is so "brilliant" it belongs in a hall of fame for the biggest nonsense ever written.. And if you were trying to say something else or using some weird allegory or whatever regarding everyone mentioned—man, you are totally missing the mark..

Unbelievable! 🤦

Hazen said:So, I was falling down a rabbit hole recently looking into Marina Abramović, and I ended up stumbling upon one of her most legendary pieces from back in '74—"Rhythm 0."

So, it’s this performance where the artist basically hands total control over to the crowd—zero consequences, zero accountability. She sets out 72 different objects on a table—stuff that could cause pain or pleasure—and tells everyone watching they can do whatever they want to her using those items. For six straight hours, she just stands there, completely motionless. At first, people were pretty hesitant, playing it safe—but by the end? It turned aggressive fast. Once those six hours were up and she finally moved—naked, bleeding, and crying—the audience actually scrambled for the exits. It was like they couldn't handle seeing her suddenly "alive" again, or worse, having to face what they'd actually done to her.

But even that doesn't cut it—not by a long shot. Pure bliss. It’s all about inflicting pain on others—just a total, complete lack of any empathy for someone else's obvious suffering.

I don't even need to dig through history books to prove this—you could find endless examples if you actually bothered to look. Honestly, I can’t think of a single instance where someone with actual power didn't eventually turn it against someone weaker or totally helpless. It's just how it works. They have the leverage, they take it, and deep down? They absolutely love it.

Watching this performance, I can't shake this one thought—it’s kind of stuck in my head. Aside from the fact that humans clearly get a kick out of inflicting pain, we seem to express our rawest curiosity through violence. It’s like this creepy little game where people just want to see what happens if they push things too far—just a "let's see what breaks" kind of mentality. It's pretty grim.

Look, you can't argue with the facts—when a huge chunk of people finally let go of their moral compass, they turn into straight-up monsters. It’s enough to make you wonder if this whole "human nature" thing is just a polite way of describing a collective descent into madness.

How do you guys actually deal with the realization that violence is just baked into being human? Like, do you try to convince yourselves that it’s not our true nature—that we're somehow better than that? Or if you don't buy that crap, how do you function? Are you just totally numb to it all? Do you just shrug your shoulders and go about your business like nothing happened?

How much do you guys think a person is actually worth? I don't even know where to start with this one—it’s just pure chaos. Honestly, looking at the state of things right now, you have to wonder if anyone is actually paying attention or if we're all just drifting aimlessly through the madness. It feels like everything is hitting the fan at once, and frankly, I'm exhausted just watching it unfold. Just my two cents, though.?

Look, I just want to point out one way of looking at this whole situation—I’ve worked alongside all kinds of artists who pull off all sorts of performances, ranging from the stuff that actually shocks you and keeps things interesting to the total nonsense that doesn't have a single point to it.
Look, they’ve got one massive, glaring issue—they’re basically invisible when it comes to the big money. We're talking zero footprint in terms of actual funding, marketing, or major sponsorships across the entire art scene. To take some of that anxiety off your plate, though—most of these shows are basically rigged from the jump. They’re pre-planned and pre-negotiated just to dodge failure because the market here is so incredibly tiny and stingy. Honestly? I think this piece of hers is a perfect example of exactly that.

Nah, whatever—it’s just about how you send the damn message, you know? 😉

I gotta admit, I spend way too much time spiraling about the human psyche—specifically when it comes to all the violence and pure destruction baked into our DNA.
Look, it’s easy to just throw our hands up and say violence is hardwired into our DNA—I mean, look at the state of the world, right?—but I always find myself circling back to the way a kid's brain actually works. It’s like this raw, unshaped block of clay. A child doesn't just wake up knowing the difference between right and wrong—it isn't instinctual. They don't get it until someone shows them, or until they're taught. Period.
So I'm sitting here looking at this performance—it’s basically just some high-brow attempt at "education," right? As if they actually have to teach us how to do art or whatever... give me a break.

Look, when you step back and really look at things, animals don't have "evil" in their DNA—everything they do is just following the cycles and the raw rules of nature. But then we humans come along, gifted with this massive intellect that’s supposed to set us apart—you know, the whole "higher evolution and progress" thing—meant to be used for the greater good of everyone. The catch? In way too many cases, we use that brainpower for the exact opposite... pure destruction.
And here’s another thing—no matter how much good and positive stuff gets done, the bad and evil crap will always have a wider, louder impact... How much of those two extremes we actually allow to seep into our own mental wiring basically determines which one ends up surviving in the long run.

Here’s a situation that’s crucial for what I’m getting at... It was about some domestic violence where the father—and I’ll be blunt here—was a straight-up monster, abusing his kids for years, extremely brutal and loud about it. When we asked the neighbors if they knew anything and why they didn't report it, their response was basically that they shouldn't meddle in other people's business and it wasn't their problem, even though they'd admit it was horrific.
One thing specifically bugs me, and honestly, worries me too—looking at how many people on this forum, even in "lighter" situations, run away from stepping up because of this exact excuse, or just out of fear and worry about the fallout from their actions...

The point is—ramping up traits like apathy, indifference, egoism, selfishness, alienation, and asocial behavior, while letting empathy, altruism, responsibility, compassion, and other pro-social behaviors slide, puts us in a spot where we aren't just dropping below the level of functioning animals, but we eventually start viewing every other human being as a threat.

So, my summary is that constant education in these areas is vital—even through sending messages like this, reminding us that we need to stay active in everything happening around us and with the people we can reach. Even though evil exists and always will, we still have the chance to protect ourselves from it, regardless of how it keeps finding its way back.

Hazen said:All in all, the feeling that there are who-knows-how-many potential monsters walking the streets around me makes me want to binge movies like "Life is Beautiful" or "Dances with Wolves" just to "recharge my batteries" somehow. I also feel this weird sense of insecurity.

It's exactly what I was talking about—I don't feel that much fear about being surrounded by those kinds of people, but what really worries me is what happens if it *does* occur and nobody around me reacts or feels the need to jump in and help?

btw, Hazen, great topic... 👍

It's a shame that, for some reason, things aren't more active on this forum lately...

🙂

Brian Allen18 said:it seems like this topic is really getting under people's skin...

It’s honestly laughable how people try to pass off cheap jokes as actual arguments. 😁

Spirituality is an entirely individual matter, and its path is often dictated by external circumstances far more than internal ones. How on earth can you link spirituality to mere comfort and safety? Unless, of course, you meant the exact opposite...

The idea that women are "practical" is just as much a biological reality as it is common sense, given that it involves caring for another living being. One could argue the author is simply jealous of what women are capable of birthing. One could even say we all start out as girls before undergoing that certain deformation later in life... frankly, during my own early stages of spiritual maturity, that realization might have somewhat dampened my sense of 😁 what constitutes physical superiority... or is that where the real issue lies? 😁

Regardless, the author failed to actually define spirituality, and I find myself wondering why there is such a desperate need to elevate oneself at the expense of everyone else...

Look, a smart person will just filter out the jokes and won't mistake them for actual points. Failing to do that isn't a crime—it's just a massive lapse in judgment.. 🙂

I wouldn't go that hard on the author (even if the topic was set up poorly)—we're basically just here to fix the course of the Mississippi River.. 😁
To be real, though, I wouldn't even dream of trying to define spirituality myself.. mostly because it’s tied so closely to consciousness, and everyone's got their own version of that..

Brian Allen18 said:it seems like this topic is really getting under people's skin...

It’s honestly laughable how people try to pass off cheap jokes as actual arguments. 😁

Spirituality is an entirely individual matter, and its path is often dictated by external circumstances far more than internal ones. How on earth can you link spirituality to mere comfort and safety? Unless, of course, you meant the exact opposite...

The idea that women are "practical" is just as much a biological reality as it is common sense, given that it involves caring for another living being. One could argue the author is simply jealous of what women are capable of birthing. One could even say we all start out as girls before undergoing that certain deformation later in life... frankly, during my own early stages of spiritual maturity, that realization might have somewhat dampened my sense of 😁 what constitutes physical superiority... or is that where the real issue lies? 😁

Regardless, the author failed to actually define spirituality, and I find myself wondering why there is such a desperate need to elevate oneself at the expense of everyone else...

I took it upon myself to interpret what the author was getting at.. But hey, why couldn't those things be connected in a way that actually fuels spiritual growth?🤷

Sure, I'm not ruling out the drive to care for another being—but let's be honest, sometimes that's just a way to feed your own ego and satisfy yourself.. 🙂