Outcast Posted July 6, 2006 Posted July 6, 2006 brain (HA!) and heart.... So again. I'm talking to a random guy. Who seems nice for a bit. And then proceeds to enlighten me about his prejudices. And drops gems like 'psychiatrists are inventing disorders to remain employed'. Hands up, please, everyone who thinks that uttering worn, tired old myths and demonstrating closed-mindedness will impress someone. Was I supposed to be wowed by the decisiveness? Enjoy the idea of speaking ill of people together or something? Why when we have our perfectly good brains and an entire world of wonderful things to learn and experience do people spend chunks of their lives slamming their minds and hearts shut to people, experiences, learning... I tell ya, a house with ten cats is starting to look better and better to me.
magichands Posted July 6, 2006 Posted July 6, 2006 I'm talking to a random guy. Who seems nice for a bit. And then proceeds to enlighten me about his prejudices. And drops gems like 'psychiatrists are inventing disorders to remain employed'. Hands up, please, everyone who thinks that uttering worn, tired old myths and demonstrating closed-mindedness will impress someone. Oh please. He just hasn't been taking his pills. There's one for just about anything these days. You're probably quite intimidating. And a bit prejudiced against prejudices. Calm down and enjoy letting them dig themselves a nice BIG hole. Do you really think you're the only "nice" person out there?
Author Outcast Posted July 6, 2006 Author Posted July 6, 2006 I'm a pussycat, actually I suspect if I were 'intimidating' he wouldn't have struck up and continued the conversation. And no, I don't think I'm the only nice person out there. But it is interesting that BO can rant about not finding decent men and not get this kind of flak, I must say.
magichands Posted July 6, 2006 Posted July 6, 2006 Well, in a positive light - he was trying to IMPRESS you. Give him some credit for that.
Author Outcast Posted July 6, 2006 Author Posted July 6, 2006 Sure it was nice that he was doing that and I appreciated the interest. It's always pleasant to receive attention of course.
magichands Posted July 6, 2006 Posted July 6, 2006 Well, I think he has potential, anyways. "Some psychiatrists are inventing disorders to... I'm thinking along the lines of, "Farmers just don't know where their second Land Rover is coming from."
Author Outcast Posted July 6, 2006 Author Posted July 6, 2006 Albert Ellis is big on taking a forgiving attitude to other humans. To consider them to be, like we all are, 'FHBs' (Flawed Human Beings). How come nobody does that? Why must there be dislike and disdain?
magichands Posted July 6, 2006 Posted July 6, 2006 Okay... now who's generalising? I guess to be accepting you need to have accepted yourself. Or something like that.
Author Outcast Posted July 6, 2006 Author Posted July 6, 2006 I knew I'd get skewered for that generalization I threw caution to the winds - silly me. I guess to be accepting you need to have accepted yourself. Or something like that. You are correct, sir, I'm sure.
hotgurl Posted July 6, 2006 Posted July 6, 2006 I agree with you when people start saying insane genreal stuff it just shows thier own ignorance. It's a total turn off. And I have found that not a lot of people like to think outdside thier own comfort zone.
quankanne Posted July 6, 2006 Posted July 6, 2006 ignorance indeed! My sister and my daddy drive me nuts with their pronouncements on people receiving psychological counselling and treatment for depression. Using information based on a wonderful site someone posted here way back when, I try to explain that the human body operates much like a car does: you've got to keep the fluid levels topped (or at least at a decent level) for them to work properly, or problems (like depression) will manifest. That depression isn't a big stigma, but a biological and psychological response to an out-of-whack system of body chemicals. But the asses just sit and pick on people, like they're somehow lesser because of someone's bodily response to that whacked out system. my theory is that until someone personally experiences something in particular, they will loudly proclaim their ignorance of that subject. Like creepy Tom Cruise with his "knowledgeable comments" on post-partum depression. really. how stupid can people get? :rolleyes: I wish I could think of a snappy comeback about that guy's remark about invented psychological illnesses, but the only thing that comes to mind is the joke about the proctologist calling to say they found their patient's head! :D
alphamale Posted July 6, 2006 Posted July 6, 2006 Why when we have our perfectly good brains and an entire world of wonderful things to learn and experience do people spend chunks of their lives slamming their minds and hearts shut to people, experiences, learning... because one must first have the DESIRE to learn new things and experience new people and experiences.
Author Outcast Posted July 6, 2006 Author Posted July 6, 2006 the only thing that comes to mind is the joke about the proctologist calling to say they found their patient's head! because one must first have the DESIRE to learn new things and experience new people and experiences. Yeah I guess. I can't imagine not having it but it seems that a lot of people don't. I used to think everyone did.
Craig Posted July 6, 2006 Posted July 6, 2006 brain (HA!) and heart.... So again. I'm talking to a random guy. Who seems nice for a bit. And then proceeds to enlighten me about his prejudices. And drops gems like 'psychiatrists are inventing disorders to remain employed'. Hands up, please, everyone who thinks that uttering worn, tired old myths and demonstrating closed-mindedness will impress someone. Was I supposed to be wowed by the decisiveness? Enjoy the idea of speaking ill of people together or something? Why when we have our perfectly good brains and an entire world of wonderful things to learn and experience do people spend chunks of their lives slamming their minds and hearts shut to people, experiences, learning... I tell ya, a house with ten cats is starting to look better and better to me. FHB (Flawed Human Beings) ideally (to me) would be able to admit as much and also agree to disagree, but I'm a dreamer in the habit of nailing sand to trees. LOL. Did you ask him, "what information do you have that leads you to believe that psychiatrists re inventing disorders to remain employed?" Just because he utters worn, tired old myths does not mean that in reality he doesn't have a mind that is open or can be opened. Being willing to be wrong about something can help. Why when we have our perfectly good brains and an entire world of wonderful things to learn and experience do people spend chunks of their lives looking for reasons to slam their minds and hearts shut to people, experiences, learning...
alphamale Posted July 6, 2006 Posted July 6, 2006 Yeah I guess. I can't imagine not having it but it seems that a lot of people don't. humans tend to project their own thoughts and philosophies upon others. I used to think everyone did. that was a naive outlook. the minority of people are enlightened in such a way...and usually its the most educated ones.
Author Outcast Posted July 6, 2006 Author Posted July 6, 2006 does not mean that in reality he doesn't have a mind that is open or can be opened. Being willing to be wrong about something can help. I guess. I gave him cred when he listened to what I said about folks with disabilities. But then he went on to ethnic prejudices. I'm sure he's a perfectly nice enough person but I spend a lot of time already on LS hoping to get people to ease up on each other and open up their hearts - I'd prefer to make friends with people who have done it for themselves already.
Blather1213 Posted July 6, 2006 Posted July 6, 2006 these were your first conversations when meeting?
quankanne Posted July 6, 2006 Posted July 6, 2006 that's a scary thought, someone revealing all those prejudices at the get-go. On the one hand, you know where that person stands. On the other, it's real easy to come across as a redneck jackass. No offense to your acquaintance, outie. He just doesn't sound like someone who understands the need for compassion or understanding.
a4a Posted July 6, 2006 Posted July 6, 2006 I guess. I gave him cred when he listened to what I said about folks with disabilities. But then he went on to ethnic prejudices. I'm sure he's a perfectly nice enough person but I spend a lot of time already on LS hoping to get people to ease up on each other and open up their hearts - I'd prefer to make friends with people who have done it for themselves already. He probably thinks he needs to show people/you his ways as well..... why you should be prejudice......see you have this in common! Sharing your thoughts and ideas. You could have wonderful debates. Where is your compassion for this man? It is not his fault he is this way. Shoot.... reach out and show him some love....... :p :p
Craig Posted July 7, 2006 Posted July 7, 2006 But then he went on to ethnic prejudices. Are you absolutely certain that he has true generalized ethnic prejudices? Some people may come across that way at first but really aren't "true believers." Maybe he thinks he has a good reason to come across the way he does. Maybe he's had direct experiences that color his beliefs. On the other hand if he has so many prejudices that you just can't keep up, maybe it is time to say NEXT!
HokeyReligions Posted July 7, 2006 Posted July 7, 2006 'psychiatrists are inventing disorders to remain employed'. OMG! What if he's right? I guess you could have said something like "yeah, but I think its really because they don't have the brains to be psychics and palmreaders - those are cheaper. Lemme see your hand?"
Author Outcast Posted July 7, 2006 Author Posted July 7, 2006 Where is your compassion for this man? It is not his fault he is this way. Shoot.... reach out and show him some love....... Oh I wasn't mean to him or anything. But I don't think I'll be showing him any 'love' thanks Are you absolutely certain that he has true generalized ethnic prejudices? He was quite clear that he had specific ones. Maybe he thinks he has a good reason to come across the way he does. Maybe he's had direct experiences that color his beliefs. The way some men have 'direct experiences' with a couple women that make them decide to denigrate all women. Not really all that impressed by that. On the other hand if he has so many prejudices that you just can't keep up, maybe it is time to say NEXT! It's about the negative energy. It's very draining to me to deal with people whose discussion features 'why I dislike X people and Y ideas' etc. Now I have a good friend who jokes around about that but my friend is just frustrated; not actually angry or hating anyone. That's fine. But actual dislike, anger, prejudice - all that negative junk just poisons you. And the air around you. My folks were like that and they'd wear me out after a couple of days. So maybe I'm more sensitized to it but I just can't see spending a lot of time with anyone like that. I guess you could have said something like "yeah, but I think its really because they don't have the brains to be psychics and palmreaders - those are cheaper. Lemme see your hand?" ROTFLMAO!! I'll file that in case I need it next time
HokeyReligions Posted July 7, 2006 Posted July 7, 2006 "Maybe there ain't no sin and there ain't no virtue, they's just what people does. Some things folks do is nice and some ain't so nice, and that's all any man's got a right to say. " -- Casey from The Grapes of Wrath. I don't know why, but the thread made me think of that line. That one and this one: Grandpa Joad: I smell spare ribs. Somebody's been eatin' spare ribs. How come I ain't got none?
Alexandra Posted July 7, 2006 Posted July 7, 2006 And drops gems like 'psychiatrists are inventing disorders to remain employed'. Wellllll.... stranger things have happened. Not any that I can name this late at night though. However, did he say "Psychiatrists" or "some Psychiatrists"? That alone would make a difference On a serious note though, yes he was trying to impress you, yes you are intimidating -thank God- and yes, someday later rather than sooner Mr. SuperBrains will come along.
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