Comments on: The Virtues: Be Passionate http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Tue, 6 Jan 2009 21:46:45 +0000 By: chiz http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-32671 chiz Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:44:48 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-32671 Good post. You make some great points that most people do not fully understand. "There is substantial truth in the Bible's injunction to be "cold or hot", but not "lukewarm" (Revelation 3:16). The most important reason why evil and suffering still exist in this world is not the activity of the relative few highly motivated wrongdoers, but rather the complacency of the majority who hold the attitude of "it's not my problem" and refuse to take effective action to work toward happiness and justice. There is far more need in this world than any one person could hope to alleviate, but if all people had a proper understanding of the importance of being passionate and were willing to work for the benefit of others, there would be more than enough motivation and resources to sweep away most of the suffering that occurs." I like how you explained that. Very helpful. Thanks. Good post. You make some great points that most people do not fully understand.

"There is substantial truth in the Bible's injunction to be "cold or hot", but not "lukewarm" (Revelation 3:16). The most important reason why evil and suffering still exist in this world is not the activity of the relative few highly motivated wrongdoers, but rather the complacency of the majority who hold the attitude of "it's not my problem" and refuse to take effective action to work toward happiness and justice. There is far more need in this world than any one person could hope to alleviate, but if all people had a proper understanding of the importance of being passionate and were willing to work for the benefit of others, there would be more than enough motivation and resources to sweep away most of the suffering that occurs."

I like how you explained that. Very helpful. Thanks.

]]> By: Everyday Atheism http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-18186 Everyday Atheism Sat, 03 Mar 2007 03:38:39 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-18186 Being Passionate Ebonmuse has a wonderful post about being passionate, part of a series of posts about cardinal atheist virtues. This is my favorite excerpt: The slogan “bread and circuses”, coined as a satire of how Roman emperors placated the masses, sti... Being Passionate

Ebonmuse has a wonderful post about being passionate, part of a series of posts about cardinal atheist virtues. This is my favorite excerpt:
The slogan “bread and circuses”, coined as a satire of how Roman emperors placated the masses, sti...

]]> By: Matt R http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-17530 Matt R Tue, 27 Feb 2007 14:05:12 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-17530 <blockquote> ...Smart bombs, dumb kids...</blockquote> Classic! Matt

...Smart bombs, dumb kids...

Classic!

Matt

]]> By: Polly http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-17346 Polly Mon, 26 Feb 2007 18:08:21 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-17346 Matt R.- LOL! I know, what was I thinking?!? Luckily, the DHS has since set me straight. So, you won't be hearing any more of that hippy, clap-trap coming out of MY pie-hole. No siree. Smart bombs, dumb kids, that's where my votes goin'. Peas, -Polly Matt R.- LOL! I know, what was I thinking?!?
Luckily, the DHS has since set me straight. So, you won't be hearing any more of that hippy, clap-trap coming out of MY pie-hole. No siree. Smart bombs, dumb kids, that's where my votes goin'.

Peas,

-Polly

]]> By: James Bradbury http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-17251 James Bradbury Sun, 25 Feb 2007 21:26:53 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-17251 Alex, I'm not any kind of doctor, just an armchair psychiatrist, but here's my take on it. The action of psychiatric medication varies with people and much of what it does and how is poorly understood, but it could be at least partly responsible for what you describe. On the other hand, the perfectionism that drives some people to acheive great things is often considered a negative thing for that person's mental health. It is linked to the fear of failure and a narrowly defined sense of self-worth. Perhaps if you were a nervous child and overcame this difficulty it gave you a sense of perspective at the expense of motivation. I'm not really a high-acheiver and could often do with more passion, but I am basically happy. Alex,
I'm not any kind of doctor, just an armchair psychiatrist, but here's my take on it. The action of psychiatric medication varies with people and much of what it does and how is poorly understood, but it could be at least partly responsible for what you describe. On the other hand, the perfectionism that drives some people to acheive great things is often considered a negative thing for that person's mental health. It is linked to the fear of failure and a narrowly defined sense of self-worth. Perhaps if you were a nervous child and overcame this difficulty it gave you a sense of perspective at the expense of motivation. I'm not really a high-acheiver and could often do with more passion, but I am basically happy.

]]> By: LeGrande http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-17240 LeGrande Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:54:01 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-17240 Well written, excellent points. Well written, excellent points.

]]> By: Alex Weaver http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-17186 Alex Weaver Sun, 25 Feb 2007 02:22:19 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-17186 *shows the title of the post to Trish ~.^* Anyway, this is probably the one I have the most trouble with. I have issues with losing focus easily and something of a problem with getting started on producing concrete results from concepts in my creative endeavors. One thing I notice is that I was put on psychiatric medication between 7th and 8th grade and my grades dropped somewhat after that; I had been an almost ridiculous overachiever previously. Does anyone know anything about a relationship between antidepressants and/or mood stabilizers, and lack of initiative/motivation? *shows the title of the post to Trish ~.^*

Anyway, this is probably the one I have the most trouble with. I have issues with losing focus easily and something of a problem with getting started on producing concrete results from concepts in my creative endeavors. One thing I notice is that I was put on psychiatric medication between 7th and 8th grade and my grades dropped somewhat after that; I had been an almost ridiculous overachiever previously. Does anyone know anything about a relationship between antidepressants and/or mood stabilizers, and lack of initiative/motivation?

]]> By: Matt R http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-17185 Matt R Sun, 25 Feb 2007 01:10:01 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-17185 Wait just a second there, Polly! Are you trying to say that there are other solutions besides military action? That is just plain CRAZY! Cheers, M.R. (I was being really, really, reallyreallyreally sarcastic there, in case you missed it) :) Wait just a second there, Polly! Are you trying to say that there are other solutions besides military action? That is just plain CRAZY!

Cheers,

M.R.

(I was being really, really, reallyreallyreally sarcastic there, in case you missed it)

:)

]]> By: Polly http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-17001 Polly Fri, 23 Feb 2007 18:21:33 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-17001 J - Why on Earth do you hate Orson Scott Card? Stephen King, I could understand. The drivel he's unleashed onto the big screen would merit such acrimony, but what did Card ever do? I see your main point, though. Getting involved in the squabbles of petty, backward nations can have disastrous effects IF you insist on military solutions. However, limiting ourselves to aiding the victims of war all over the world could never result in that kind of escalation. I'm not talking about "peace-keepers" but strictly humanitarian aid delivered directly to civilians as best as logistics will allow. Military force could still remain a contingency option for only the most dire of situations. These would have to be the result of extremely well thought out, critical evaluations preceded by repeated attempts at mediation and negotiation and not just a leap into the fray. Also, financial and information dissemination support for pro-freedom (not just Pro-USA) movements within a dictatorship are another avenue to effect positive change without resorting to bombs and bullets. J - Why on Earth do you hate Orson Scott Card? Stephen King, I could understand. The drivel he's unleashed onto the big screen would merit such acrimony, but what did Card ever do?
I see your main point, though. Getting involved in the squabbles of petty, backward nations can have disastrous effects IF you insist on military solutions. However, limiting ourselves to aiding the victims of war all over the world could never result in that kind of escalation. I'm not talking about "peace-keepers" but strictly humanitarian aid delivered directly to civilians as best as logistics will allow.
Military force could still remain a contingency option for only the most dire of situations. These would have to be the result of extremely well thought out, critical evaluations preceded by repeated attempts at mediation and negotiation and not just a leap into the fray. Also, financial and information dissemination support for pro-freedom (not just Pro-USA) movements within a dictatorship are another avenue to effect positive change without resorting to bombs and bullets.

]]> By: J http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-16977 J Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:34:53 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/02/be-passionate.html#comment-16977 "<i>In the meantime, important information that affects all of us - scientific discovery, political developments, world affairs - is ignored because it is viewed as too complex, too remote from everyday concerns, or too "boring". Being passionate means coming to the realization that these things matter far more, and affect us far more directly, than the endless and frivolous frenzy of pop culture.</i>" I suppose. I hate (hatehateHATE) Orson Scott Card, but he did come up with a neat idea for an extra Commandment, "I have no quarrel with my neighbor's neighbor's neighbor: When they argue, I will go into my house and shut the door." The whole twentieth century went down to disaster because all of Europe decided that they had a life-or-death stake in what happened in <i>Serbia.</i> "In the meantime, important information that affects all of us - scientific discovery, political developments, world affairs - is ignored because it is viewed as too complex, too remote from everyday concerns, or too "boring". Being passionate means coming to the realization that these things matter far more, and affect us far more directly, than the endless and frivolous frenzy of pop culture."

I suppose. I hate (hatehateHATE) Orson Scott Card, but he did come up with a neat idea for an extra Commandment, "I have no quarrel with my neighbor's neighbor's neighbor: When they argue, I will go into my house and shut the door."

The whole twentieth century went down to disaster because all of Europe decided that they had a life-or-death stake in what happened in Serbia.

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