I Think

@edgarblythe,

We used to use cardboard boxes for our sleds; we weren't privy to galvanized tin where we lived. Mr. Green

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The tin was a discard from the re-siding of a shed. I had some deep cuts from careless handling of it.

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I think the hardest thing in the world is to repair a shattered confidence. The second hardest is learning to live with it.

I think Nelson Mandela will always be remembered by history but with his importance eventually reduced to mouthing slogans once a year, as the world awaits a next Nelson Mandela. But you already know that.

I think one of the most difficult movies to watch in its entirety is 1941. The frantic pace, the gags that usually miss - I have yet to see the end.

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Quote:

Edgar said: I think the hardest thing in the world is to repair a shattered confidence. The second hardest is learning to live with it.

It depends what shattered it in the first place.
For example one of the first girls I asked for a date in my early teens replied "**** off and kill yourself you ugly b*****d" and i felt like i'd been kicked by a mule, but a lot of girls said that to boys and none of us took it too badly.
On the other hand my dad tried to wreck my confidence all through my childhood; I mean if your dad is always telling you you're no good, you tend to believe him, so I grew up feeling insecure and worthless. But in my late teens the turning point came when i realised he was just an evil-minded little **** of a dad, and my confidence began improving from then on.. Smile

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@Romeo Fabulini,

Romeo Fabulini wrote:

. . . On the other hand my dad tried to wreck my confidence all through my childhood; I mean if your dad is always telling you you're no good, you tend to believe him, so I grew up feeling insecure and worthless. But in my late teens the turning point came when i realised he was just an evil-minded little **** of a dad, and my confidence began improving from then on..

That's funny, not funny hah ha, funny coincidence. I had similar trouble with my own dad. So did my brothers. Then, when he developed Alzheimer's, and we started talking to those who knew him, we found how he used to brag to his friends and workmates about his sons' accomplishments, PHDs, sports championships, business successes, etc.

We were stricken! Finally we realized how difficult his life must have been, never close to the sons he loved.

We all then vowed to end the family sickness in our own generation. But it's harder than one might think. Ingrained habits are hard to break. I often relate to my children and grandchildren how sure I am that my parents would have behaved much differently if only they had known the truth. I think I am making progress. Maybe.

I'll bet the same in your case.

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@neologist,

The important thing is that a difficult parent didn't ruin your whole life. I think most children know the difference between right and wrong treatment from parents, and adjust their thinking early on in their lives.

I ended up the only atheist in our family of christians, because I learned early on that all religions has biases that doesn't make sense; such as, our's is the only one god recognizes.

I even married a buddhist.

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@cicerone imposter,

Part of growing up is forgiving your parents' mistakes, mentally going back to 're parent' yourself, and moving on.

Not all religions fail to make sense.

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@neologist,

Making sense is a subjective perception; that's the reason why this world has so many different religions.

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@cicerone imposter,

That makes a lot sense.

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@cicerone imposter,

Actually, the reason for religious proliferation is the desire to create a mystique permitting moral license.

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Quote:

Romeo said: my dad tried to wreck my confidence all through my childhood; I mean if your dad is always telling you you're no good, you tend to believe him, so I grew up feeling insecure and worthless

Neologist said: I had similar trouble with my own dad. So did my brothers. Then, when he developed Alzheimer's, and we started talking to those who knew him, we found how he used to brag to his friends and workmates about his sons' accomplishments, PHDs, sports championships, business successes, etc

I doubt if my old man bragged to anybody about me! He hated me while I was still in the womb because him and my mam had to have a shotgun wedding, and in his twisted way he must have blamed me for it!
Things got worse as I got older because I was a smart kid and he couldn't handle the thought that I might grow up to be brainier than him, so he did everything to shoot my confidence full of holes and take the wind out of my sails, I got no encouragement or words of support from him in anything I did, just sneers and ridicule but at least it taught me how evil humans can be.. Wink

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@neologist,

By "religious proliferation", I assume you mean the growth of heretical cults. One would have no desire for moral licence if one already had it. Such a desire could only exist where moral licence is absent.

I think you might expect nothing else when Church and State are separated. They are not separated in the UK and we have these cults although they are weak and have no influence. When they are separated religious proliferation is certain due to the strength of the desire for moral licence. Such a moral licence might have been necessary in late 18th century America if the beach-head was to expand. And whoever heard of a species that didn't expand given the chance. Darwin could never have explained such a thing in a month of Sundays.

Have you not come close to saying that the Catholic Church is the only true religion? It does not approve of moral licence even at the real risk of losing its followers who are all too ready to succumb to the chimera of moral licence when it can be allied with respectability. That's the task of cult leaders.

Juvenal blew it away 2,000 years ago.

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Moelarry a cheese.

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@Romeo Fabulini,

Quote:

I doubt if my old man bragged to anybody about me! He hated me while I was still in the womb because him and my mam had to have a shotgun wedding, and in his twisted way he must have blamed me for it!
Things got worse as I got older because I was a smart kid and he couldn't handle the thought that I might grow up to be brainier than him, so he did everything to shoot my confidence full of holes and take the wind out of my sails, I got no encouragement or words of support from him in anything I did, just sneers and ridicule but at least it taught me how evil humans can be.

There is Cash's Man Called Sue to consider Romeo.

Look how tough you are. You wouldn't like to be a big softie baby like me would you? Your Dad must have known what the world was like and was preparing you for dealing with it. Just looking at one of your knives makes me feel a bit queasy.

My father was too busy to worry about me one way or the other and when he wasn't busy he was too lazy. I have no idea what he thought of me. Nor would it have entered my head to wonder what it might be. The thought of him participating in anything I was engaged in makes me cringe.

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@spendius,

There was an exception. We both played golf but never together so it was unusual when he invited me for a round.

We drove off and after strolling up the fairway for about 50 yards he said--"Now spendi--what's all this about another woman?" I said "**** off Dad" and he never mentioned the subject again.

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@edgarblythe,

Thanks for getting back to the subject at hand.

Until. the last sibilant, chee ..ee .. se
rhymes with bee . . ee .. r

And, how well they marry.

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@neologist,

I once encountered a specialty hamburger in a fast food (sic) joint. It had a big patty, plus an assortment of cheeses. Ordinarily I am no fan of cheese, although I have been known to fan some. Since I generally like cheeseburgers, I tried one. The big bite I took filled my mouth with the most horrible taste I had known since the last time I let the taste of okra invade my mouth. It took at least a whole minute to find enough water to begin to wash it out. Who was it - Joyce - called cheese corpse of milk? Whoo. Don't ever be the first among friends to try new innovations at fast food places.

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