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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2020 12:43:03 GMT
I woke up, took three hours to get ready, went outside, forgot I had to ditch my dogs. Was planning to go to Tauronitis to visit my cousin. A ten minute walk to withdraw cash - on this particular route you have to pay an actual person. No tickets.
Anyway, as I'm walking someone stops me, a young guy about twenty, twenty-five, and asks for a cigarette. I was a bit annoyed because for a split second I thought, if he asks for money I'm going to say no.
But he asked for a cigarette, and I said, "A cigarette? Yes, I can give you a cigarette." So I pulled out my pack, pointed it in his direction and let him take one. Then he asked for a light. For a super tiny split second I was annoyed at that too, not sure why. Maybe because I avoid all physical contact or touching of objects that others touch.
I didn't offer to light it for him. I just gave him the lighter, and I watch him light up. My heart fell to the floor as he pulled out his arm, with a missing hand to light that cigarette.
I left, ashamed. Give the bloody money from now on, you wretch, I thought, and stop complaining about your problems.
Human suffering. So much of it around.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2020 12:50:12 GMT
I woke up, took three hours to get ready, went outside, forgot I had to ditch my dogs. Was planning to go to Tauronitis to visit my cousin. A ten minute walk to withdraw cash - on this particular route you have to pay an actual person. No tickets. Anyway, as I'm walking someone stops me, a young guy about twenty, twenty-five, and asks for a cigarette. I was a bit annoyed because for a split second I thought, if he asks for money I'm going to say no. But he asked for a cigarette, and I said, "A cigarette? Yes, I can give you a cigarette." So I pulled out my pack, pointed it in his direction and let him take one. Then he asked for a light. For a super tiny split second I was annoyed at that too, not sure why. Maybe because I avoid all physical contact or touching of objects that others touch. I didn't offer to light it for him. I just gave him the lighter, and I watch him light up. My heart fell to the floor as he pulled out his arm, with a missing hand to light that cigarette. I left, ashamed. Give the bloody money from now on, you wretch, I thought, and stop complaining about your problems. Human suffering. So much of it around. Any epiphany stories, anyone? Human stories? I wouldn't mind not feeling alone as the loser. I mean, flawed human.
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Post by BlueAndGold on Dec 10, 2020 13:15:59 GMT
All humans are flawed. Relax.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Dec 10, 2020 14:45:07 GMT
Part of the way humans are wired mentally is to make quick assessments of strangers, often forming an opinion [positive, negative, or indifferent] within the first few seconds. If you see someone wearing stained ragged clothing it's easy to assume the person is of low class and or morals even though the person in question may have a lot of money.
As a young child I remember seeing a man of African descent with no legs below mid-thigh on a homemade platform [wood with roller-skate wheels] using two old cast-iron clothing irons to pull himself down the side walk. The man could have lost his legs for any reason, but the most likely one due to his age and scars was he'd been in combat. Due to his ethnicity and the era [about the time Johnson was launching the great new society programs in 1964-65] he couldn't get a wheelchair so he made do with what he could devise.
No human is perfect and without flaws, meaning the best any of us can manage is resolving to and doing better, which isn't the easiest feat to accomplish.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2020 18:47:35 GMT
Part of the way humans are wired mentally is to make quick assessments of strangers, often forming an opinion [positive, negative, or indifferent] within the first few seconds. If you see someone wearing stained ragged clothing it's easy to assume the person is of low class and or morals even though the person in question may have a lot of money. As a young child I remember seeing a man of African descent with no legs below mid-thigh on a homemade platform [wood with roller-skate wheels] using two old cast-iron clothing irons to pull himself down the side walk. The man could have lost his legs for any reason, but the most likely one due to his age and scars was he'd been in combat. Due to his ethnicity and the era [about the time Johnson was launching the great new society programs in 1964-65] he couldn't get a wheelchair so he made do with what he could devise. No human is perfect and without flaws, meaning the best any of us can manage is resolving to and doing better, which isn't the easiest feat to accomplish. I read so much garbage before reading your post that I breathed in deeply; it was like oxygen. Thank you. And then I read BlueandGold's and laughed, and smiled. Ain't that the truth. Relax...Miss Maggie (just this once)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2020 18:49:30 GMT
All humans are flawed. Relax. Ok.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Dec 10, 2020 20:18:21 GMT
I simply commented upon an aspect of human nature most people never stop to think about. Understanding the reasons behind why others do what they do lends itself to avoiding mistakes that have the potential to be exceedingly traumatic.
As stated, "No human is perfect and without flaws, meaning the best any of us can manage is resolving to and doing better, which isn't the easiest feat to accomplish."
Perhaps if you see the person who asked for a smoke again, you might have a pack to give him. True, enabling someone else's bad habit isn't ideal, but adults make their own choices in life. You never know, that person might offer some insight into life you haven't encountered before.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2020 5:38:05 GMT
I simply commented upon an aspect of human nature most people never stop to think about. Understanding the reasons behind why others do what they do lends itself to avoiding mistakes that have the potential to be exceedingly traumatic. As stated, "No human is perfect and without flaws, meaning the best any of us can manage is resolving to and doing better, which isn't the easiest feat to accomplish." Perhaps if you see the person who asked for a smoke again, you might have a pack to give him. True, enabling someone else's bad habit isn't ideal, but adults make their own choices in life. You never know, that person might offer some insight into life you haven't encountered before. If he asks for a smoke again, I'll offer him my pack. What a drag this life thing sometimes.
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