Thursday Thoughts

Posted: Thursday, April 26, 2012 by Travis Cody in
12

I think that extremism in any form makes it easier to dehumanize.

I think it is never necessary to deride one thing because you like another.

I think it is never necessary to uplift something you like beyond it's reasonable value as something you like, just because you like it.

I think that a person doesn't have to be made into the demonic representation of all that is evil, just because his opinion is different than yours.

I think that if a person dislikes something or someone, he should be honest with himself about why he dislikes the something or the someone.

I think that disagreement with a course of action doesn't make the path wrong.  I think it simply means you'd prefer a different course of action.

I think that snide remarks may make one feel superior in the short term, but they don't accomplish anything of significance in the long term.

I think that "uncompromising values" might be a good philosophy for a beer company like Coors, but I think that digging in your heels and refusing to examine new information and facts is irresponsible in government.

I think that if I'm legally and rightfully occupying a space, you have no right to expect me to let you shove me out of your way just because that's what you want.  I think you should go around, wait for me to move, or ask me politely if you can be in the same space or get past me.  And I think that if I ask you to wait for me to finish what I'm doing, then you can respect that and patiently wait your damn turn.

I think that's probably more than enough thinking for today.  I'll have my CAKE now.

12 comments:

  1. TopChamp says:
    26 April, 2012 05:39

    I think that it is not always easy to establish why you like or dislike someone.

    I was thinking about this yesterday.

    There is a woman I know - and I don't like her. She has never done anything horrible to me, we have never exchanged cross words, there is no animosity between us. We don't know each other well, so why don't I like her? It makes no sense. It will never affect my actions, though I would not choose to go out with this person unless it was necessary. I would hope that she will never know that I feel this way towards her. It does not makes sense though.

    So is my honest reason just to acknowledge to myself that there is NO reason?

    (I'm more likely to think someone is nice than nasty - so it's unusual for me to feel this way)

  1. Travis Cody says:
    26 April, 2012 05:58

    TC: That's an excellent point. I think that the fact that you can make such an admission is the honest reason. We're not always going to like everyone, or be liked by everyone. Thanks for this...more stuff for thinking on Thursday, and every day.

  1. Jeni says:
    26 April, 2012 06:05

    The first comment here made perfectly good sense to me -sometimes there are people or things we dislike and just can't put a finger on the exact reason why. Maybe that's there in us just to keep us thinking or guessing.

    Trav -I agree completely with your post this morning. Very good words, for sure now go have your cake! LOL

  1. Jean(ie) says:
    26 April, 2012 06:54

    TC- sometimes I get those vibes, too. Many times I find out that I'm wrong about that person. But on the flip side I'm right.

    Human relations are kinda funny that way. Big hugs y'all!

  1. Charles Gramlich says:
    26 April, 2012 08:56

    Great points. I've done this, uplifted something I like to a greater level than it deserves. Fortunately, I usually catch myself on that eventually and slink sheepishly away

  1. Anonymous says:
    26 April, 2012 12:02

    Interesting thoughts on this Thursday. For me, I think liking someone is more work that not liking them. It's easier to write off, or blow off, or tell off a person I don't like. But if I like someone, it's work to find the right words, or the right behavior, or the right timing. I like that I don't like everyone. Not liking someone is not the same as hating them. Hate takes work, too. Had to go anonymous today. Blogger didn't take my ID. GGG

  1. Vinny "Bond" Marini says:
    26 April, 2012 12:49

    Some great thinking here today. I am going to presume the last thought came out of an actual event in the last week and it drives me mad when people pull that crap

    So....Playoffs in 2 years for the national Title...I like it!

  1. Cherie says:
    26 April, 2012 17:05

    Yup! The only thing that I think that an individual would have trouble determining would be, "It is never necessary to uplift something you like beyond it's reasonable value as something you like, just because you like it."

    The person who likes it is probably going to think that "reasonable value" is significantly higher than the average bear. Unless you're talking about cake. Obviously, the virtues of cake cannot be overstated. ;)

  1. Linda says:
    26 April, 2012 19:33

    Wow, that's some cake-worthy thinking right there if ever there was some!

    Sometimes I find myself not particularly liking someone for reasons that I can't explain also but like you said, we're not always going to like everyone, or be liked by everyone and that's just the way life is.

  1. Travis Cody says:
    26 April, 2012 20:42

    Jeni: I really appreciated TC's point too. Gave me more to think about!

    Jean: It's a lot more than like or dislike, isn't it? There's all the stuff in between.

    GGG: I'm with you. In fact, I found myself working really hard at not liking someone today at the office. It was embarrassing when I thought about what I had posted today.

    V: That last thought happens just about every day when I try to merge onto the freeway. People in this state don't know how to merge, and everyone has to be in the same space at the same time.

    Cherie: That's right. We have to remember to define terms. One person's reasonable is another's ^&@)$^&^. I suppose we could attempt to state the virtues of CAKE, but it's more fun to eat it.

    Linda: When CAKE is the reward, I am a thinking machine!

  1. Debra says:
    28 April, 2012 01:39

    I'm thinking I agreee with all of these points. Great thoughts!

  1. Lydia says:
    07 April, 2013 22:31

    Hi there,

    I happened upon your blog googling for this "Think, think, think" Pooh pic you used on this blog entry. I wanted it for the purpose of illustrating to a friend that he 'thinks too much.' I'm commenting because ironically, his name is Travis. His response when informed I'd obtained the pic from a page for 'Trav's Thoughts'? "Apparently, our name comes with a certain amount of baggage." :) lol

    I read this post, and I must say I agree with your thoughts entirely. :)

    Best wishes,

    Lydia

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