Re-Post: More than Justice

November 30, 2019 by Joe Gray in Cultural Musings, Ethics, Philosophy, Psychology, Rants, Thoughts

Why are we not satisfied with the prosecution of a mass shooter or terrorist?

Maybe it is due to the mysterious nature of these crimes that we crave additional action. They come out of nowhere and strike the innocent with violence that shocks and infuriates. These acts remind us that we are not in total control over the environment and that the barbarism of our past has not been lost to modernity. While violence in the world is going down we still find ourselves subject to nature's wrath but when it is by human hands we seek explanation and prevention.

An Educational Miss

November 15, 2019 by Joe Gray in Cultural Musings, Rants, Thoughts

If kids can vote at 18 and everyone thinks they should vote then why is there essentially no formal education related to political philosophy? They should also be practiced in evaluating candidates and understanding the process and its consequences.

Who is this "We" you speak of?

November 08, 2019 by Joe Gray in Cultural Musings, Balance, Ethics, Free Will, Philosophy, Rants

When I listen to certain people prognosticate about what we all are doing or should be doing I can't help but become curious about what they mean by "we". "We" is a collective noun that takes on different forms depending on the context it is used in. A Christian can address a group of Christians and say the word "we" and it is to whom they are referring. Namely, Christians. But if that same Christian was in a room full of atheists and used the word "we" he might be referring to his fellow Christians or he might be appealing to a more general "we" as in "we are all humans," or "we are all Americans".

Pretending Entertainment

August 18, 2019 by Joe Gray in Balance, Cultural Musings, Gaming, Lifestyle, Psychology, Thoughts

I used to work for a large video game store. One where you might Stop to buy Games. I mostly sold bullshit. Grown men coming up and saying "I wanna pretend I'm driving a car. Is there a game for that?" Pretending and having imaginary friends was once relegated to children but now, it seems, that children do not grow up. Looking for any excuse to feel accomplishment in virtual worlds to distract from the reality of a failure to accomplish personal goals is the purview of men who've been neglected by their parents and devalued by society. Getting self-esteem from simulated successes creates a fog of delusion that, if cleared away, reveals an inflated ego ready to burst.

Hero Problem

August 01, 2019 by Joe Gray in Cultural Musings, Philosophy, Psychology, Thoughts

The problem with the story of Jesus and any other Hero stories is that we start looking for them in real people today. We look at famous people and categorize them as either the Hero or the Villain because we're so used to integrating stories into our thinking and communication. The truth is that real people are almost never all good or all bad. Stories try to simplify morality in a way that is easy to understand for many ages. The simplest and most effective parables are directed at children. Stories create context without requiring real turmoil and so can teach lessons "the easier way".

Re-Post: Bro Virtue Signalling

June 06, 2019 by Joe Gray in Cultural Musings, Lifestyle, Personal Development, Podcast Reviews, Reccomendations

"Bro Virtue Signalling, or BVS, is when someone who is super cool also espouses virtues in a cool way. It is important that the signal is not preachy or trying to actually make someone feel worthless. It has to be empowering being perceived as being a "big deal".