I was reading a novel the other day and it’s set in about the 1940s. It’s was a true-ish account of someone’s life and in it a group of young men were drunk and causing a bit of trouble in the hotel. Nothing too bad they were just loud and being young they were as we used to say “boys being boys”. In the novel the hotel concierge approaches the young men and asks them to quiet down, has a bit of a joke with them and suggests that if they cannot control themselves he will be forced to eject them from the premises. I was thinking about all this and how the concierge negotiated with the young men, how he could see that they were young and a bit rambunctious and that if they could meet him half way all would be well. He didn’t want to throw them out. Nowadays I think the cops would be called or hotel security would probably just toss you out, fine you and crack you over the head with a baton for good measure. We have lost much of our negotiation skills and our tolerance for behaviour anything outside the norm. The concierge dealt with the young men successfully because that was his job. To manage such things in a civil way to achieve a win-win outcome.
The phrase "Be kind" is very popular these days. I even have a little reminder at my desk that simply says Be kind. My problem with this is not that kindness is bad or undesirable but that the meaning of being kind has gotten lost. Sometimes kindness is just being honest, even though that honesty may not be easy to accept. But it would be unkind in some instances to not be honest as that could lead to greater negative consequences.
I would also rather be alone than have to be around people who don't like me or value me for me. Thanks for saying so out loud Rob.
I appreciate that you have an opinion and are willing to speak to it. If something is on your mind, speak about it. It is very likely that many more people have also had similar thoughts and really just want a chance to talk about it and thanks to your "ramblings" they can.
Thanks as always Brian. Your encouragement means a lot! Yeah, I've been accused of being brutally honest. lol. But you know what? I've found that honesty really does work best. It's how we deliver that honesty that matters most. I can't remember where I heard/read it, but there was a great example of a way to deliver honesty in a way that doesn't destroy the other person or your relationship with them. It went kind of like this: Two friends go out to eat. While enjoying their meal together, one friend asks the other: "Do you think I have a big nose?" The friend thinks about it for a second and says, "Yep, you do have a big nose, but it doesn't matter at all to me." There was honesty and compassion at the same time and also solidified the friendship between the two people because one friend knew that the other wouldn't lie to them about what they thought and would support them no matter what and the other friend knew that they were able to be honest with their friend without being afraid of offending etc. Standing firm and being who we are is important. Especially in a world of masks. (figurative masks! lol) Thanks again Brian.
Well, even if what you said didn't come out the way you wanted it too, I understood everything and did not get confused at all. There are so many things that are on point and nothing you said isn't true. It IS real, it IS happening, and the sooner people wake up to these truths and facts, the better the world would be.
I think if people would get over the "fear factor", of, oh would if so and so doesn't like me, or gets mad at me...because I speak my mind, because I live for me, because I do what I want.....then this world would be a better place.
The example you gave of the hardware store, is similar to places I have been, and experiences I have had. We need to stand ground and fight for what we believe in, and most of all, just say NO to all the things we do not believe in or stand for.
Thanks Rachelle. It means a lot that you are here. I'm glad you understood my "rambling". It is so important that we all stand for something (even if others think it's wrong) and stand our ground. That doesn't mean that we don't change sometimes (we all have views and opinions that change over our lives), but we must have some core principles that cannot be moved. Especially if those principles affect our health, our lives or the health (mental or physical) and well being of our family/friends. See you next time!
The issue stems from the very in-vogue idea of Utilitarianism - “for the good of society.” Well that’s not the way a society functions best. A society is a bunch of free people making their own choices. Sure it’s messier and less “efficient” but it’s a heck of a lot more fun and far better at dealing with change and innovation. 
That's a fact! Although I prefer to surround myself with people that agree, I also truly do enjoy a society where there are myriads of different viewpoints, opinions and personal principles. I've learned so much from people that I didn't necessarily agree with. In some cases, their opinions/views changed my own. In other cases, the other person's opinions only served to cement my own. I believe we can only grow, evolve and become better people by having a society just as you described. Oh yes, there is always going to be that small percentage of sociopaths and psychopaths that throw a wrench into a free society, but I think a society that truly works would make that small percentage pretty much obsolete. We actually had that in America for a long time. But times are a changin' and I don't like the direction one bit. A society where "one size fits all" will ultimately destroy itself in the end I think. Thanks again for being here.
I was reading a novel the other day and it’s set in about the 1940s. It’s was a true-ish account of someone’s life and in it a group of young men were drunk and causing a bit of trouble in the hotel. Nothing too bad they were just loud and being young they were as we used to say “boys being boys”. In the novel the hotel concierge approaches the young men and asks them to quiet down, has a bit of a joke with them and suggests that if they cannot control themselves he will be forced to eject them from the premises. I was thinking about all this and how the concierge negotiated with the young men, how he could see that they were young and a bit rambunctious and that if they could meet him half way all would be well. He didn’t want to throw them out. Nowadays I think the cops would be called or hotel security would probably just toss you out, fine you and crack you over the head with a baton for good measure. We have lost much of our negotiation skills and our tolerance for behaviour anything outside the norm. The concierge dealt with the young men successfully because that was his job. To manage such things in a civil way to achieve a win-win outcome.
Brilliant! You said in one paragraph what I was trying to say in a half hour. Haha. Thanks Dollyboy.
The phrase "Be kind" is very popular these days. I even have a little reminder at my desk that simply says Be kind. My problem with this is not that kindness is bad or undesirable but that the meaning of being kind has gotten lost. Sometimes kindness is just being honest, even though that honesty may not be easy to accept. But it would be unkind in some instances to not be honest as that could lead to greater negative consequences.
I would also rather be alone than have to be around people who don't like me or value me for me. Thanks for saying so out loud Rob.
I appreciate that you have an opinion and are willing to speak to it. If something is on your mind, speak about it. It is very likely that many more people have also had similar thoughts and really just want a chance to talk about it and thanks to your "ramblings" they can.
Thanks as always Brian. Your encouragement means a lot! Yeah, I've been accused of being brutally honest. lol. But you know what? I've found that honesty really does work best. It's how we deliver that honesty that matters most. I can't remember where I heard/read it, but there was a great example of a way to deliver honesty in a way that doesn't destroy the other person or your relationship with them. It went kind of like this: Two friends go out to eat. While enjoying their meal together, one friend asks the other: "Do you think I have a big nose?" The friend thinks about it for a second and says, "Yep, you do have a big nose, but it doesn't matter at all to me." There was honesty and compassion at the same time and also solidified the friendship between the two people because one friend knew that the other wouldn't lie to them about what they thought and would support them no matter what and the other friend knew that they were able to be honest with their friend without being afraid of offending etc. Standing firm and being who we are is important. Especially in a world of masks. (figurative masks! lol) Thanks again Brian.
Well, even if what you said didn't come out the way you wanted it too, I understood everything and did not get confused at all. There are so many things that are on point and nothing you said isn't true. It IS real, it IS happening, and the sooner people wake up to these truths and facts, the better the world would be.
I think if people would get over the "fear factor", of, oh would if so and so doesn't like me, or gets mad at me...because I speak my mind, because I live for me, because I do what I want.....then this world would be a better place.
The example you gave of the hardware store, is similar to places I have been, and experiences I have had. We need to stand ground and fight for what we believe in, and most of all, just say NO to all the things we do not believe in or stand for.
By the way, I think you are a terrific writer.
Thanks Rachelle. It means a lot that you are here. I'm glad you understood my "rambling". It is so important that we all stand for something (even if others think it's wrong) and stand our ground. That doesn't mean that we don't change sometimes (we all have views and opinions that change over our lives), but we must have some core principles that cannot be moved. Especially if those principles affect our health, our lives or the health (mental or physical) and well being of our family/friends. See you next time!
The issue stems from the very in-vogue idea of Utilitarianism - “for the good of society.” Well that’s not the way a society functions best. A society is a bunch of free people making their own choices. Sure it’s messier and less “efficient” but it’s a heck of a lot more fun and far better at dealing with change and innovation. 
That's a fact! Although I prefer to surround myself with people that agree, I also truly do enjoy a society where there are myriads of different viewpoints, opinions and personal principles. I've learned so much from people that I didn't necessarily agree with. In some cases, their opinions/views changed my own. In other cases, the other person's opinions only served to cement my own. I believe we can only grow, evolve and become better people by having a society just as you described. Oh yes, there is always going to be that small percentage of sociopaths and psychopaths that throw a wrench into a free society, but I think a society that truly works would make that small percentage pretty much obsolete. We actually had that in America for a long time. But times are a changin' and I don't like the direction one bit. A society where "one size fits all" will ultimately destroy itself in the end I think. Thanks again for being here.