Just figured I’d share a little of my philosophy and world view as to how we can make this a better world. It has been said that to change the world you must first change yourself. This is very true I think. I tend to be very observant when *I want to* see and I see any number of common failings that feed into the bullcrap that will and has been screwing up our world and making any sort of peaceful world nothing more than a impossible dream. If this post ticks you off just maybe you’re part of the problem. I don’t pretend to be perfect, nor do I think it’s even possible, but, I am trying.
1) YOU, yes YOU can be wrong.
Your thoughts/beliefs/actions/words/whatever can in fact not be correct. I don’t care how right you think you are, history is full of people that thought with great conviction that they were right and thought they had ample evidence to prove their “rightness”. Why do you have any good reason to think that you are any different? It does not reflect badly on you, does not make you stupid. The ability to allow for and if need be admit the possibility we can be incorrect shows great strength of character and is by and large an admission that you are in fact human and thusly fallible. *gasp* I know, scary thought huh? But being human is hardly a crime and being wrong is not the end of the world, seeing as to how we all are, despite great pains taken by some to pretend they are something more.
2) You are an individual NOT a label.
Stop pretending arbitrary titles and group names define you completely. You are not completely like every member of a particular distinction you identify yourself with I hate to tell you. You can aspire to be exactly like everyone else that carries your favorite label but you will only signing yourself up for constant BS. Much like we see strewn throughout history. We are all human, get over it and be yourself. And allow others to do the same without any bull crap from you.
3) Consensus does not equal correct.
This is a common failing I have noticed. All that I said in number 1 applies here as well. Groups are made up of a collection of individuals and if each element of said group has the capability to be fallible where does that land the consensus of said group? Peer review means for pot, as does democracy, neither are transcendent of the human beings that make up the group and is just as suspect as the individuals that make up the group. In short, the world could get together and agree that ice cream is the basis of all matter, doesn’t make it true. Stop pretending otherwise. You AND your group contain within the ability to be incorrect. Regardless of whatever other distinctions you may choose to pretend is significant *PhDs, position in a clergy, whatever* a fool can just as easily have those same distinctions. Nothing is foolproof.
4) Treat others as you yourself would like to be treated.
This is a very true, very old and very ignored adage. If you want to be treated a certain way you, you should treat others that certain way. Would you like to ridiculed/belittled/insulted/assaulted/etc because you disagree/are different with/from someone else? Most likely not, no matter what you may say while reading this, no one does when it is happening to them. And no, being different/disagreeing is not a personal affront against you. Everyone’s crap stinks to someone.
5) You are not the center of the universe.
Yes, you are the center of your universe, but to the rest of us you are simply nothing more than extra most of the time. Sure, some people will shove you fairly close to their center but that is not all of us and no name echoes through the ages, everyone that has ever existed will most likely be eventually forgotten, no matter how “famous” or “infamous” they maybe now. That includes you. Also, not every action that might inconvience you or disagreement with you is aimed specifically as an attack on you. Most of us are hardly aware you exist, if aware of you at all. Basically, get over yourself.
6) Concentrate less blaming everyone else for problems and more on fixing the problem.
The human predisposition towards scapegoating is well documented throughout history and has never truly fixed any problem. What it has done is allow people to pretend they are addressing the problem when all they are really doing is making the problem worse and creating a air of false infallibility that will only cause more problems in the future. Also, complex events, very seldom have a very easy source to blame, particularly human events.
7) Sounding correct and being correct are not the same thing.
It seems to be a very common sentiment amongst a great many that if you win an argument, you are in fact correct about whatever the argument was about. This is wrong. Sure, it may make you feel like you are correct but it does nothing but provide you with an illusion. It should also be noted, that words are subjective and your personal *or group provided* definition is not universal.
8) Analyze yourself as much as you analyze others.
Too many people go through life with a great big microscope on certain other people as if they themselves are completely blameless of any possible wrong doing. All the while missing the fact they often behave like those they condemn.
9) You are not better than anyone else, just different.
This feeds into numbers 1 and 5 particularly.
10) Think for yourself and allow others to do the same, even if they disagree with you.
11) Very little is just black and white.
In fact things aren't. Only by missing things *limited thinking* is the dualistic view taken.
More to come if most likely, but that’s all I can think of right now.

Okay buddy but when Maitreya is speaking to your mind on TV one day and aliens are with him you'll think differently. It's the Anti-Christ though not the real guy and that guy that will be with him who looks like Jesus in the paintings is not Him. He will come on the clouds to defeat the Anti-Christ.

Its a shame someone try to derail your thread right at the start.
But they demonstrated many of the items listed.

I generally apply all of those to my life and I would like to add one.

12) Be honest with yourself and others.
So many people lie to themselves and live in a fantasy land, living their lies in their minds.
Honesty with others make life simpler for everyone.

Forgot to reply that I agreed with the OP basically 100%. Although that is probably not a surprise to anyone who's read much of what I type. You got one of my rare S&F's.







[edit on 6/27/2009 by badmedia]

I really like your ideas, they come against the ego which is the downfall of most everyone. l used to be one of those people that just knew that I was right and my ideas were the only ones that could be right, WRONG! Only when we stop preaching to the choir can we open ourselves to information that can transform our views and ultimately our lives.

Gotta love the xian smiters don't ya! It is people like YOU that give Jesus a bad name, I really think the term christian should be done away with since most of them do nothing but act in complete opposition to the love that Jesus taught. Funny, the only people Jesus railed on were the religious ones that ran around smiting or wanting to smite everyone.

Ok i agree with like 20% of what you say. but what and who are you speaking to? I mean its bad enough the world is so messed up. No one likes to hear from some total stranger that they need to change. And most people are happy where they are. I think before changing action, change inner intent. Then learn. Then if needed change a bit. But the way you talk is as if we all just got called to the principles office for a lif changing talk. No one is really that compliant with others demands on them unless they like being dumb adulent slaves? No offense but the whole reason there is war is because two sides keep saying to each other they have to change. No one has to change..
just dont be dingus face to each other. I.E. Get over yourself.