Needles seem to hold a certain amount of fear for people. The fear seems outsized in comparison to the harm needles actually do. Why do you think this is?
Share any *shudder* needle horror stories if you wish.
Month: March 2021
How Can You Love Someone Who Does Something You Hate?
There is a common idea that love is more important than hate. When given an option, we should choose love over hate every time. But that’s easier said than done.
Are you familiar with the aphorism, “Love the sinner, hate the sin”? Or how about “Hate cannot be stopped with more hate. Only love can do that”? These are noble sentiments, but can you actually manage that in real life?
That means everyone, no matter what they do, or say, or how they treat you. The driver that cut you off in traffic. The partner who cheats on you with someone else. The rich jerk who refuses to leave a tip.
Republicans have to love Nancy Pelosi and Hilary Clinton. Democrats have to love Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell. Pro-lifers must love women who get abortions; people who favor gun control have to love the guy who takes an assault rifle to get his morning coffee.
Related: Listen to an episode of the Intellectual Roundtable Podcast, where we discuss the questions ‘How can we encourage debate?’ and ‘What is the value of inefficiency?’
Now it is true that loving someone doesn’t mean you have to love everything they do, or everything they stand for. But you can’t say you love someone and then hope that they die.
Sometimes it seems like there is an epidemic of hate in the U.S. (and throughout the world), hate based on differences between individuals. That might include gender, religious beliefs, skin color or ethnic origin, sexual preferences, and on and on.
It is easy to say that we should all love each other rather than hate each other, but how can that be accomplished? How do you love someone who is different from you? Or worse, how do you love someone who actually does something you hate?
Related questions: Why do we hate? How can we encourage debate? Why is love important?
Desktop, Laptop, Or Smartphone?
For your computing needs, what is your preferred system: a desktop computer, a laptop, or a smartphone? Or is it something else?
Share why if you wish.
Desktop, Laptop, Or Smartphone?
Do You Have Trouble Sleeping?
There are many ways that people can have trouble sleeping; insomnia, sleep apnea, wake up throughout the night, and so on. How well do you sleep?
Share why if you wish.
Do You Have Trouble Sleeping?
What Role Should Government Play In Our Lives?
We pay taxes — income, property, sales — to the government. We vote for the people who hold public office at the local, state, and federal levels. What, then, should we expect in return?
In some circles, government is seen as a bad thing. However, it must play some part in our lives.
For example, perhaps that role is to protect us from other countries and threats across the world. A strong military would perform that task.
Maybe, though, the government can keep us safe from other dangers besides bad actors around the world. The current pandemic is an example. A strong state or federal entity can coordinate efforts that individuals, or even powerful companies, might not be able, or motivated, to do.
Does that also extend to other threats? Climate change? Dirty food or water? Guns?
Related: Listen to an episode of the Intellectual Roundtable Podcast, where we discuss the questions ‘Where does authority come from?’ and ‘What does your favorite music say about you?’
Whenever disputes between individuals arise, there needs to be some intermediate to resolve them. The legislative system serves as a way to codify this, and the courts allow for interpretations of those laws. Is this a valid governmental role?
There are many other tasks that the government oversees: education, land governance, roads and bridges, libraries, postal service, and on and on. Are there areas that the government currently manages that they shouldn’t, in your opinion? Conversely, are there roles it should have, but currently doesn’t?
If you like the government or not, it is true that in a democracy the government is a manifestation of the will of the people. In your mind, what do you want our civic institutions to do? What role should the government play in our lives?
Related questions: What are our responsibilities to others? Where does authority come from? What role does technology play in your life? How much power does an individual have?