Neil hit a critical point: “There are so many cognitive biases that I’m pretty convinced humans almost never act based on reason. But then that’s what makes us who we are. Why try to be something we’re not?” Neil is right. Again, from ConCom, we spend most of our time in our Monkey Brains. Being … [Read more…]
————————————————————————————————————————————- Let’s play a word association game. Up – Down Big – Little Minus – Plus Bad – Good Negative – Positive The opposite of something negative is always a positive, right? If you thought “yes”, then you are in NOT politically correct terms “a sh!th@ad”. See how easy it is call someone names? There … [Read more…]
Two observations, unrelated to each other except for the barnyard metaphors. 1) I have officially decided to quit making fun of the chi-meisters. You know, the guys who send their students spinning with a look or stun them with a gesture. The ones demonstrating and teaching no-touch knockouts. As some of you know, I’ve offered … [Read more…]
Thought for the day. In the martial arts and self-defense, you hear a lot of crap about what will and won’t work in the “real world.” Everything is as real as it is, and no more. All things are what they are, and all only extrapolate so far. Written about all that before. So everything … [Read more…]
“Violence is seldom the answer. But when it is it’s the only answer.” The ‘only answer’ version is Tim Larkin. While I heartily agree with the sentiment, I disagree with the phrasing. I scale it to ‘the best answer’, ‘ or ‘most effective,’ or ‘most appropriate.’ Why? ‘ “Violence is seldom the answer, but when … [Read more…]
The temperature is rising, it is just gone 9.30am here in Mexico, the Riviera Maya to be more precise. It is going to be a very hot new years day, the first day of 2016. My office today is beside the triple jacuzzi pool at the small bar La Iguana. Our room is half minute … [Read more…]
Ever wonder why people say and do hateful things to individuals and groups? Here is a test you can try. Think of a group of people you dislike. Everyone dislikes some group of people. After all, those people cause problems for you and society. They are all alike, if you think about it. Wouldn’t it … [Read more…]
It’s a frightening thought. Your friend on Facebook encourages terrorism. But before discussing the indicators of someone who aids terrorists, a little background is required. Terrorism is a tactic. According to the FBI, terrorism is intended to “(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by … [Read more…]
I want to talk about the tyranny of NEVER and ALWAYS thinking. More importantly I’m going to show how if you proceed from these assumptions you have shut your brain off — regardless of how much you tell yourself you are rational, informed, open minded and thinking clearly. Four examples: Violence never solved anything You … [Read more…]
Let’s talk about pain and scars. (This was in response to someone who threw “It’s funnier when you haven’t suffered a genocide” at me.) *** The avowed intent of the study of history is to accurately represent what happened in the past. To see different sides and and to — hopefully — learn from what … [Read more…]