Are we honestly who we think we are behind the avatar?

One thing that I learned a very, very long time ago is that not everyone who talks the talk actually walks the walk. And this too, sadly, goes for many so-called fundamentalist Christians that I've known at various times throughout the course of my life thus far.

I say this because some of the folks I knew as a youngster, who seemed to be constantly asking me, and just about everyone else around them, "Have you read the Bible?" were not actually (behind closed doors) necessarily quite as pure and unsoiled as they were themselves constantly advertising ("virtue signaling") to the general public at large.

And unfortunately, this is also true of people pretty much anywhere you go - and certainly not just Christians, mind you. But then, I guess that that's just the human race for you. So it's unfortunately just a very curious type of posturing behavior that is all too common among people of all walks of life from all over the world.

Therefore, whether any of us really wants to believe it or not, guile (the constant scheming of d'evil within us all) really does exist, you know, and some people really do employ it on quite a regular basis, I'm afraid. Whether, that is, they even fully realize that they're actually behaving in such a blatantly duplicitous manner or not.

Whatever the case may indeed be (for we all surely must strive to be introspective enough to be our own judges - lest we be judged by others, because everybody does, whether they admit it or not), all of the above is why you'll never catch me calling myself a fancy atheist.

But let's not be too hard on the faithful, shall we? Sure, many Christians may indeed fall short when it comes to genuinely walking the walk, but at least they're talking the talk, right? So I guess that that means that they're at least half way there! After all, there are many paths to true self-actualization.

Most importantly, please don't let the fact that I'm specifically mentioning the faithful in this particular missive throw you for a loop. In fact, I strongly believe that hating on (or even outright banning) Christians and Christianity (or religion in general) could never really stop an awful lot of people from being facetious, could it? Nope.

In fact, whether any of us likes it or not, there will always be people who will seek to prosper and practice by needlessly specious means of manipulation, machination, and petty little self-aggrandizement. But then, again, that's just people for ya, I guess.

Some People are Nicer to Animals than They are to Other People

Don't let that title fool ya! Because yes, although some people may indeed treat their pets much better than they do their closest friends, it's also sadly true that far too many people the world over are cruel to animals.

But that's not what I'm about here. Because in fact, I do understand "pet people." I really do. Why, I myself have often kept fish (guppies) over the years, and no matter how small, fragile and typically short-lived this particular species of ornamental fish may in fact be, I always feel a pang of deep sorrow when even one of them dies. Heck! I even say a little prayer when I have to flush a dead guppy down the toilet.

Even better yet, I also sometimes dig a spoonful out of the soil of a potted plant and really give them a proper burial. Yeah, sentimental, I know, but you should see how well plants grow when fertilized that way. So yeah, I get it. I get "pet people," or rather, people who have an especially strong attachment to their little four legged friends. Or their little partners that may even slither, crawl, or swim. I get it. I really do.

But you really have to admit that structuring one's entire life around a specific breed (or breeds) of domesticated animals quite often (not always, but quite often) involves a whole lot of really counter-intuitive, counter-human behaviors, personal compromises and even sometimes rather bizarre habitat adaptations, that... sorry (not sorry) not everyone who visits your home is going to automatically understand or even be properly adapted to.

Yes, you get used to the smell. Yes, the dog doesn't growl, bark at, or try to bite you, but... it doesn't mean that you are not, in fact, co-habituating with what is still, like it or not, an animal. An animal that simply knows on an instinctive (or highly trained) level what it must and must not do to keep riding the gravy train of your worshipful doting personal care and attention.

So, sure, I get it. But is it your pet, or is it your slave? Hell! Who really is the master and who is the slave in some situations, right? Besides, it's probably just your best friend. 'Cause some animals really are "man's best friend," you know. Some animals even end up being surrogate "babies" for childless (or post-child rearing) couples. Some pets even serve as surrogate spouses! And what's wrong with that, right?

After all, there are many antidotes for loneliness, and pets, quite often, really can, and really do, fill that sweet spot in many a person's otherwise empty life. And I'm definitely for all that. I really am. Such as guide dogs, dogs leading the blind, dogs sniffing out bombs, etc., etc., etc. And hey! Where would good old Charlie Brown be without his Snoopy?

So yeah, I get it. I really, really do. I probably get it more than even a lot of pet owners do. Or rather, I may actually get it even more, honestly, than some folks may think they do. If, that is, they've actually ever even really bothered to think about it all that much to begin with. 'Cause a lot people really don't think all that much about a whole lot of things, you know.

Let's put it this way; if you're one of those people who keeps what, basically, was genetically designed over the course of centuries to react (or overreact) as a "guard" or attack dog - simply because the animal doesn't yet "know" someone who doesn't feed and shelter it the way you do - you might just want to not invite me (or neighbor children, or elderly people, etc., etc., etc.) over to your house. Not ever.

So whatever you do, don't test me. I know the game. And it is a game. It's yet another stupid little human game about hierarchy, boundaries, petty insecurities and all that other unconscious (usually passive aggressive) crap. The question is: Do you know what's really going on in your own family dynamic?

Really?

'Cause here's the thing: I don't care which member of your immediate or extended family suddenly growls and gets unnecessarily aggressive with me or someone that I may love, merely care about, or even just barely even know. If said individual or individuals (regardless of species) really are a member of your family, and you don't have the simple presence of mind, the decency, or common sense to keep your animals, er... familiars, and assorted associates, properly trained (or even on a leash), that just means that I am equally entitled to get all "defensive" right back at your precious animal. And by extension, I also have the right to protect myself against you.

Because, let's face it, if you're the one hiding behind the animal, if you're the big "care giver," ye olde Master of the House to begin with, then you're the one who is ultimately responsible, aren't you? And we sure don't wanna forget about that part of this particular equation, do we? Surely not.

Either way, here's my final point: Oddly enough, none of my guppies have ever suddenly jumped out of the tank and physically threatened anyone. True story. Hard to believe, perhaps, but certifiably accurate, none the less. So please kindly consider that the next time you hide behind an aggressive animal of your very own (more than likely passive aggressive) choosing.

On the Nature of Self Deception

Never underestimate the human capacity for flagrant, baldfaced, unapologetic, and even sometimes outright irrational self-deception. For it is often not what truly is in Life, but what people want to believe that most soothes them on otherwise sleepless nights, motivates their harmful actions, and informs and inhabits the ephemeral dreamscape of their own "necessary" lies and self delusions.

Does Privilege Really Have a Color?

Psst! The truth is that unconsciously (or even blatantly) rude, stupid, ignorant people come from everywhere, and are therefore, quite naturally, affiliated with every single so-called "race," color, sex, religion, anti-religion, and human tribe on Earth. Duh.

You see... I myself was born and raised in a state that (although it may not technically be part of "the South") WAS a slave holding state (from 1821 to 1865), and was, in fact, claimed by the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War of 1861-65.

Yet, perhaps conversely, I also know just exactly how nice, polite and friendly "hillbillies" and "rednecks" really can be in the American South. That's why, in most cases, I actually prefer American southerners to American northerners! Hands down. No matter what color their skin may in fact be. Because although northerners may of course fancy themselves "smart," they, often times, actually aren't really, truly any "smarter" than people anywhere else in the whole entire world. 'Cause, as usual, it really "just depends on the person," right?

Well... right? I mean, we all do believe that, don't we? I mean, we're all supposed to, right?

Either way, most importantly for yours truly, even when Southerners aren't particularly "smart," most were (when I was growing up anyway) at least raised to know how to be polite. And, in most cases, that's all I really care about. 'Cause I honestly don't care what color your skin happens to be. Likewise, I don't care what you look like, or where you're from. I could care even less what you do or don't believe in. Quite simply: I don't care. What I do expect you to be, however, is polite. But maybe that's just 'cause I was raised in southern Missouri, with good, old fashioned Southern style manners.

What's more, some of the Southern style folks from Missouri (who often have the same, or a very, very similar accent to the typical southern drawl that you'll find in abundance in states such as Arkansas, Georgia, Texas, etc), actually are, quite often, extremely intelligent individuals -- despite the twangy, "uneducated" sounding, heavily discriminated against accent. Many, on the other hand... just plain aren't quite as "smart" as they really could be. But, hey! You find that everywhere, right? Well, don't you? You know, that old axiom about how "common sense isn't really common," and all that.

And it doesn't take long to figure out who is who if you live amongst... well, just about any old group of people. And believe me, I have lived with some very different groups of people over the years! But, to be fair, I've lived longer, much longer, in fact, in Missouri, than I've lived anywhere else in the world. Thus far, anyway.

Funny thing is though... I was under the distinct impression that people everywhere were like that! As in, some people (regardless of "race," color or tribal affiliation, etc, etc) are just plain smart, while a veritable crap ton of our other fellow human beings (regardless of so-called "race," color, tribal affiliation, etc, etc) just plain aren't quite as clever as we really would prefer them to be.

And how does one know when certain people aren't all that smart? Gosh... one would think that it's pretty obvious. You simply observe all the stupid things that a given group of people just plain tend to do. And come on! We already know just how stupid most people tend to be when they allow "the group" (any group) to dictate their actions. Don't we?

What's more, South Korea, China, and Taiwan (all places I have lived for long periods of time) all have more than their share of "hillbillies," because all three places (especially Taiwan - with some of the highest mountain peaks in the world - and Korea - which, topographically speaking, quite naturally IS very hilly and mountainous) are chock full of Asian rednecks. They just happen to be "yellow," rather than "white."

Duh.

I therefore assume.... No, actually, I know that the dreaded "N word" does actually refer to rude, ignorant, or otherwise not all that "smart" people. Well, I think that was the original intention anyway. The problem is, over the years, "the N word" has just plain completely and totally gotten, way, way, way out of hand!

So, I guess it's just that the particular people that are commonly targeted with that particular "racial" slur ("the N word"), just don't happen to be "yellow" or "white." In most cases (that they actually know of). Because, of course, given the dichotomy of the now long since defunct Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, most present day "African Americans" don't know their family lineage in any real detail anyway.

But perhaps most telling of all, is the fact that many of us "white" "crackers" really don't mind terms (aka, SLURS) like "redneck" or "hillbilly" all that much. Because, as they say, in a truly free and democratic society, with genuine free speech, it really should be okay to "call a spade a spade," after all. Shouldn't it? 'Cause, even if you're wrong, that's your opinion, right? And in a truly free society, you really should have the right to say what's really on your mind. Shouldn't you?

But... maybe all that fancy democracy has, in recent years, just become a reality for only some people, and definitely not for everybody. Yes, sadly, most definitely not for "all the people." Not anymore anyway. Apparently. Especially if you happen to come from a CULTure with some sort of "special" status. You know... a CULTure with a race card.

So, the only real difference that I can logically see, is that the terms "redneck" and "hillbilly" usually don't carry a shameless and quite pathetically obvious double standard when applied, suspiciously enough... only to white people. Therefore, "the N word" is only "the N word" because, in most cases, pretty much only one group of people are actually allowed to say it.

Not that I even WANT to say "the N word," mind you! In fact, having been raised in a Southern style state, "the N word" really upsets me a lot. A whole lot, in fact. But I think what upsets me most is when I am forced to hear "the N word" in all too typically violent, socially irresponsible Hip Hop music. And also... pretty much anytime that anybody (regardless of "race," color, sex, or tribal affiliation, etc) uses that awful, awful word that only some people are apparently able to say....

But maybe that's just another kind of "privilege." Maybe? Maybe... it's just not "white privilege." Hmm....