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Like sheep

Posted on November 26, 2019 by backuphill

focus photo of brown sheep under blue sky

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I was reading a little this morning and I couldn’t help but agree entirely with a paragraph in a book that was published in 2004. The commentary is just as relevant today as it was back then. Maybe even more so today.

…people [are like] sheep because we humans have a tendency to follow. “The crowd” has a very powerful effect on us, and popular opinion is far too effective in shaping our thoughts and behavior. We prefer consensus to conviction, tolerance to truth. We can even be persuaded to be critical of some of the most impressive things on earth.

How true it is that people tend to go along with the crowd rather than stand out and stand up for something they feel/believe strongly about/in. And even more true, people and society don’t want “truth” any longer. Instead, they avoid conflict at all cost and call it tolerance. We often hear people say, “It is MY truth.” Sorry, peeps, there is no such thing.

The paragraph caused me to ponder for a bit. Where do I fall? Am I a follower, just another sheep in the flock, or am I standing up for what I believe in? That can be a hard question to evaluate myself against. Sometimes, I don’t think I like the truth. But, the truth is what is most important.

In the context of the quote above, where are you? How do you see yourself?

Get out and vote

Posted on November 5, 2019 by backuphill

I don’t know about your state, but we have elections in ours today. Want to know who’s really stupid? People who choose not to vote.

One thing that has never made sense to me is that people are actually willingly giving up their right to vote by not participating.

They haven’t registered to vote. They haven’t cast a ballot in a long time. They haven’t changed their registration location because they moved. They haven’t voted, for whatever reason…“Oh, I’m not political.”

Whatever! You are political. Every time you complain about the government or those working in it, for it, or around it. You’re political.

Voting is a fundamental right to CITIZENS of the United States. It’s your right. It’s your voice. No vote, no voice. But here’s the thing, it’s REALLY easy to do, if you really care. But even if it isn’t easy, you should still do it! Voting is like breathing, eating, and sleeping. You just should do it because it matters a lot.

Of course, there are those in our country who are not citizens and they vote, which is totally illegal and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. How is it they care more than actual people who are citizens?

Get and vote. Seriously.

Today.

And every other opportunity you have.

Admission

Posted on November 1, 2019 by backuphill

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OK, I’ll admit it.

It’s hard for some to admit, because of their age, and likely it has also been hard for me too, but I have come to the realization that I jut have to admit it. I am 47, and coming up on 48 rather quickly and it is time for me to put it out there.

I like to play video games.

Well, let me rephrase that.

I like to play FPS (first person shooter) games.

Specifically, I really like the Call of Duty and Modern Warfare games. I have also played games in the Halo series (these were really what got me hooked), a few of the Ghost Recon series, and some in the Far Cry series. But, I would have to say my favorites out of all the games (at least of late) are Call of Duty:WWII, Call of Duty: Black OPs IIII, and now the new Modern Warfare.

Why? I don’t know really. I like the stories. I like the competition. I like the shooting and the challenges they pose. I like the temporary escape of being able to do something mindless for a while.

Am I a violent person? No. Do I know they aren’t real? Yes. Do they make me want to be violent? No. Do I know the difference between real and fantasy? Yes. Do I believe that it has desensitized me to violence? No.

Do I waste time doing it? Yes. Are there better things I probably could be doing? Yes. Do I care? No. I am able to balance my time and allot free time as necessary while still maintaining my responsibilities.

Am I very good at it? No. Am I competitive? Yes. Do I play competitively? No. I like the feeling of being able to improve and it is really a competition against myself and my own skills rather than other people, though I do play online with other live players.

Am I out of the ordinary? Maybe; but I have a feeling I am not.

What do you think? Am I alone in this enjoyment? Are there others of you out there that are “old” like me but still like to play video games? If so, what do you enjoy playing?

(Un)Invited

Posted on October 29, 2019 by backuphill

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Don’t you hate it when people don’t RSVP? What’s the deal?

In today’s day and age, there really isn’t any reason to not RSVP. There are so many different ways that invitations get set up and sent out that it really couldn’t be any more convenient.

I mean really. It seems everything is done through social media any more so when something is planned using one of the many different options available and all one has to do is hit the button to instantly respond, there really is no excuse.

Look at the invite date and time, look at your calendar, look at the invite again, and then press a button – Yes, Maybe, No.

It’s that freaking simple!

So, when you are planning something and you get little to no response it’s rather infuriating. Perhaps I just won’t invite any of them the next time.

Maybe it’s time for new friends and family…

Libel

Posted on October 21, 2019 by backuphill

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It’s hard to keep your mouth shut when you’re a Clinton. They have a desire to be in the spotlight that is undaunted by even the most painful of election results and other scandals.

The latest involving “Lady Clinton” is a stunner!

With no evidence offered and nothing to back up her statement, she is politically assassinating a fellow Democrat’s political career and character. The truly unbelievable audacity of such an accusation is mind-blowing. It once again demonstrates that the Clintons believe they are above the law, but this is yet another clearly defined instance where the law should be biting her in the ass.

Tulsi Gabbard should sue the living pant-suit off of Hillary for libel. Make her answer for her unfounded, libelous statement and produce evidence in a court of law to support such a claim, or make Hillary eat her words and reward Tulsi with a HUGE financial settlement.

Such an accusation can’t go unanswered. It just can’t.

Small dollar

Posted on October 16, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán on Pexels.com

Trying to sell your used stuff online is a challenge. I have talked about his before and the trials of unreliable people and people not following though, etc., etc., etc., …let’s just say I guess I like seeing the worst in humanity so I can complain about it. Glutton for punishment maybe?

Anyway, I have several items up for sale at the moment and they are only $5 items. Nothing big, nothing complicated and not looking to make bank.

Yesterday, I had someone contact me about one of those $5 items asking if I could meet him for a sale. If course, he wasn’t in my area and was a minimum of a 45 minute drive away.

Him: “Could you meet me in _________________?”

Me: “Sorry. That is at least 45 minutes away and I am not willing to travel for such a small dollar amount. If you are going to be in ____________________ in the next couple of days I would be happy to meet you.”

Him: “I can’t drive that far.”

Huh? Whatever. Seriously, dude? You’re gonna contact me over a $5 item and have me spend my time and money to bring it to you? Not happening.

These are rhetorical questions and I know the answers already, but “Are people really that stupid? Are people really so wrapped up in themselves that they don’t consider others and what they are asking?”

We are sunk. As a people, a human race, we are sunk.

Clean air

Posted on October 15, 2019 by backuphill

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If you are still doing this, then you’re an idiot.

selective focus photography of man doing vape trick

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Or if you are now doing this, you’re an idiot.

If you are trying to defending doing either of these, you’re an even bigger idiot.

We all know now that smoking is bad for you. There is no doubt about it. Not only does it waste your money, but it destroys your body…and you do it knowing full well the consequences.

However, this whole vaping thing replaced the smoking trend with a “safer” alternative. Yeah, so much for that right? If you have followed the news at all, you know it isn’t going to end well.

This “safer” trend has been around a lot less time than smoking. Yet, it has taken significantly less time to show that it isn’t any safer. But, for some reason people think that putting something that doesn’t come from a cigarette into your lungs is better for you. Weird logic, don’t you think?

Look, it is pretty simple. The only think that should be going into your lung, for any reason, is air. Clean air (as clean as it can be).

That is all. There is nothing you can substitute it with and you can’t logically make an argument for anything else. If the American Lung Association tells you to avoid smoking, smog, and household chemicals, etc. then obviously any foreign substance – “safer” or not – shouldn’t be put into your lungs.

Honestly, I don’t even understand how this can be a debatable issue.

Idiots.

Expectations

Posted on October 8, 2019 by backuphill

reflection photo of man standing on dirt road

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I’ll admit, I have a problem.

The problem? I have too many expectations. I don’t think I am an unreasonable person, but I do think that having expectations in the current days is slowly becoming an exercise in futility.

I expect that people mean what they say, and say what they mean.

I expect that people will be responsible for themselves.

I expect that people will own their actions, or inaction.

I expect that people will follow through. That they will honor their word.

I expect that family members will be productive citizens when they come of age.

I expect that my rights as a citizen of the United States are paramount to those of a non-citizen (obviously within limit as I am not a lawless individual).

I expect that the media should be fair and balanced.

I expect that my tax dollars are used for legitimate needs.

I expect that good customer service can’t be compromised.

I expect that respecting our elders and law enforcement is a given.

I could go on. But I won’t.

It doesn’t seem that there is a point to having expectations any longer. Yes, we all have our own expectations but there used to be those that everyone agreed upon and that just simply isn’t the case any longer.

What do you think? Is it unreasonable to have expectations these days?

Overstep

Posted on October 3, 2019 by backuphill

contemporary gradient handrails perspective

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Government overstep is the first step to oppression.

Government redefining language for a political purpose.

Government control of thought and speech.

Government gone wrong.

Government legislating what you can or can’t say is a step in the wrong direction.

New York is shamefully destroying your rights in the name of “protecting” others’ “rights.” It is playing politics and redefining language in order to make political point. They have been doing it for a long time and this is yet another step in the wrong direction.

“Illegal alien” is now illegal to say in the state.

This is all kinds of wrong because changing facts and definitions of words to suit your agenda is beyond absurd.

Legal = you followed the law.

Illegal = you didn’t follow the law.

Alien = relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government

So, by looking at the definitions that are agreed upon internationally and also defined by law in the same manner, you are an illegal alien if you are a foreign person who lives in a country without having official permission to live there.

There is no gray area there. You are either legal or illegal.

Even if you entered the US by following the law, but stayed beyond the time set by law upon your arrival, you are illegal. There also is no gray area here.

The government has become the oppressor.

The government has overstepped its design and usefulness when it takes such actions.

…When…it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, …to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. … But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. …

– Declaration of Independence, 1776

As we see governments overstepping their bounds and interfering in the daily lives of every day citizens (at the literal and figurative expense of citizens for non-citizens), then the words of the document become more and more relevant.

History has a way of repeating itself.

You’re a liar

Posted on October 2, 2019 by backuphill

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Unpopular opinion alert!

I am sure someone’s toes are about to get stepped on. It’s fine. Really. You’ll live. You aren’t “holier than thou,” or anyone else for that matter.

I am getting tired of people making the following statement:

I’m not racist.

Why am I tired of it? Well, because it simply isn’t true and you are lying to yourself.

Every one of us has racism built into us. It’s part of our human condition. It’s not something that can be eliminated. We are built to be naturally wary, scared, skeptical, cautious, (whatever you want to call it) about people who are different than us.

When you have that fleeting moment go through your brain about someone different than you, whether it is based on a stereotype or actual experience, that is racism. Denying that it happens isn’t dealing with the truth.

What you do with that fleeting moment determines the degree of your racism. Yes, there are degrees racism. There have to be because some people are better at fighting their natural instinct that others. Is it just a passing moment? Is is something you dwell on and allow to affect your thoughts and feelings? Is it something that you act upon? Therein lies the challenge. What you do with it makes the difference. Can you train yourself not to act on your racism. I believe so. Can you train yourself to eliminate the fleeting moments completely? Nope. I don’t believe so.

Let’s stop pretending racism can be eliminated. It just can’t be. Can actions and words be eliminated? Maybe. We can make people so fearful of actions that they just don’t do them anymore. Think of the reverse Pavlov’s Dogs experiment. We can make sure people are so averse to acting or speaking on their racism that they are afraid to be around other people or go into society. Is that what we really want or need to do? Doubt it. It might actually make things worse. Just a theory, but I think we are getting to that point as we see governments try to legislate what or how you think.

Is racism bad? Of course. There is no debating that. Can it be eliminated? No.

What do you think? Talk amongst yourselves…