thedoc wrote:The current topic is suitable for now, perhaps other topics in other threads. I have made some posts on this thread that will do as a start.
Sure. I'm not familiar with New Zealand. I've never been outside the US, other than a trip to the Bahama Islands once upon a time.
What do you think of the actions of the homeless person mentioned in the OP? Maybe it's just wishful thinking or some sort of romanticism on my part to imagine him a very wise person?
I was referring to the OP, not the derailment to New Zealand, I'm sure there are others who will comment on that country.
The story of the homeless man brings up several possibilities, perhaps he felt that there were others more in need than he was, so felt that he should pass the money on to those with more need. That all he wanted was a job, perhaps indicated that he wanted to provide for himself by his own means rather than accepting charity. If he was capable of working and providing for himself, it seems that he wanted the money to go to those who were not capable of doing so. I know this is all speculation, but these ideas should be considered. I apologize if my comments about New Zealand threw you off.
Certainly I'm not sure of the reasons for his decisions either but the possible reasons you give above sound like "wise" ones to me.
I suppose, theoretically, he could equally be unwise and maybe his intent was to turn the 2000 dollars in because he possessed knowledge that the one who lost the cash was plotting to use it to pay for a hit man to kill his wife. Or as Hobbes hypothesized, maybe the whole story is a fraud of some kind so that the guy who advertised on "go fund me" was trying to collect money for himself instead of the homeless guy.
Gary Childress wrote:
Certainly I'm not sure of the reasons for his decisions either but the possible reasons you give above sound like "wise" ones to me.
I suppose, theoretically, he could equally be unwise and maybe his intent was to turn the 2000 dollars in because he possessed knowledge that the one who lost the cash was plotting to use it to pay for a hit man to kill his wife. Or as Hobbes hypothesized, maybe the whole story is a fraud of some kind so that the guy who advertised on "go fund me" was trying to collect money for himself instead of the homeless guy.
It had occurred to me that the homeless man did not know the source of the $2,000, and didn't want to be in the middle of that problem. Also the donated money might have been a problem, as it was publicized and if he knew people who were prone to borrow money if they knew you had it, perhaps he didn't want to be in that situation of having a lot of people asking him for money. Money that you have been given has a different stigma than money that you have earned.
What the hell is it with you guys? Why go looking for complications in a situation where no complications exist? He didn't keep the money because he didn't fucking want it and that's all there is to it. There are in fact people in this world who simply don't care to own such shit.
Obvious Leo wrote:What the hell is it with you guys? Why go looking for complications in a situation where no complications exist? He didn't keep the money because he didn't fucking want it and that's all there is to it. There are in fact people in this world who simply don't care to own such shit.
Why do you begrudge others the pleasure of idle speculation? What are you so angry about?
Obvious Leo wrote:What the hell is it with you guys? Why go looking for complications in a situation where no complications exist? He didn't keep the money because he didn't fucking want it and that's all there is to it. There are in fact people in this world who simply don't care to own such shit.
But are we to take that as wisdom ? The man who crafted the story may wish us to think so. Who then is the fool?
The wisdom in the parable doesn't lie in the story but in the way the reader responds to the story. Examining the way various people respond to the story says nothing about the man in the story but much about the people reading it. Surely nobody is suggesting that there is a "correct" way to interpret the intent of the writer of this little anecdote?
I'm not angry about anything, doc. I'm just a little disappointed at the shallowness of some people who are wholly incapable of walking a mile in another man's shoes without judging him according to their own vacuous standards.
I'm not angry about anything, doc. I'm just a little disappointed at the shallowness of some people who are wholly incapable of walking a mile in another man's shoes without judging him according to their own vacuous standards.
How are we to walk a mile in his shoes when we know so little about him, and what do you expect from so little information, but shallow. Who are we hurting with our speculation, and how are we hurting them. It does seem that our speculations are hurting you, and that is not my intent and I don't believe it is the intention of others. It bears repeating, if you don't like the program, change the channel.
Obvious Leo wrote:The wisdom in the parable doesn't lie in the story but in the way the reader responds to the story. Examining the way various people respond to the story says nothing about the man in the story but much about the people reading it. Surely nobody is suggesting that there is a "correct" way to interpret the intent of the writer of this little anecdote?
Then perhaps there is something to be learned about some of the members of this forum, from this thread. Analyze away, if it gives you pleasure.
Obvious Leo wrote:The wisdom in the parable doesn't lie in the story but in the way the reader responds to the story. Examining the way various people respond to the story says nothing about the man in the story but much about the people reading it. Surely nobody is suggesting that there is a "correct" way to interpret the intent of the writer of this little anecdote?
Well according to Gary I'm not capable of understanding the story, so at least he thinks there is one way to see the story.
Obvious Leo wrote:The wisdom in the parable doesn't lie in the story but in the way the reader responds to the story. Examining the way various people respond to the story says nothing about the man in the story but much about the people reading it. Surely nobody is suggesting that there is a "correct" way to interpret the intent of the writer of this little anecdote?
Well according to Gary I'm not capable of understanding the story, so at least he thinks there is one way to see the story.
I said I didn't think you were capable of understanding why the guy may possess wisdom. I was basing my assumption on your statement a while back:
I am truly puzzled why you think this story relates to the Title of the Thread?!?!
Where is the wisdom? What has the story got to do with spotting a wise man?
I suppose I'm just one of those "idiots" who post wholly irrelevant topics and give them entirely inapposite titles. My apologies.
Gary Childress wrote:
I suppose I'm just one of those "idiots" who post wholly irrelevant topics and give them entirely inapposite titles. My apologies.
Well, you are certainly not alone in that, welcome to the club.
Obvious Leo wrote:The wisdom in the parable doesn't lie in the story but in the way the reader responds to the story. Examining the way various people respond to the story says nothing about the man in the story but much about the people reading it. Surely nobody is suggesting that there is a "correct" way to interpret the intent of the writer of this little anecdote?
Well according to Gary I'm not capable of understanding the story, so at least he thinks there is one way to see the story.
I said I didn't think you were capable of understanding why the guy may possess wisdom. I was basing my assumption on your statement a while back:
I am truly puzzled why you think this story relates to the Title of the Thread?!?!
Where is the wisdom? What has the story got to do with spotting a wise man?
I suppose I'm just one of those "idiots" who post wholly irrelevant topics and give them entirely inapposite titles. My apologies.
That's a weird account of the facts.
I perfectly capable of assessing the wisdom of any situation. My puzzlement was about YOUR interpretation. As is obvious.
You put it out there that is was self evident that wisdom was to be found in a person too stupid to accept a deserved gift. When I questioned that you called into question my capability.
Gary Childress wrote:I said I didn't think you were capable of understanding why the guy may possess wisdom. I was basing my assumption on your statement a while back:
I am truly puzzled why you think this story relates to the Title of the Thread?!?!
Where is the wisdom? What has the story got to do with spotting a wise man?
I suppose I'm just one of those "idiots" who post wholly irrelevant topics and give them entirely inapposite titles. My apologies.
That's a weird account of the facts.
I perfectly capable of assessing the wisdom of any situation. My puzzlement was about YOUR interpretation. As is obvious.
You put it out there that is was self evident that wisdom was to be found in a person too stupid to accept a deserved gift. When I questioned that you called into question my capability.
So to clarify, you see no way anyone could possibly interpret the situation as the homeless guy possessing wisdom or anything else exceptional or out of the ordinary (other than being "stupid") based upon his alleged actions? Is that the case or is that not the case? And why or why not?
Gary Childress wrote:
So to clarify, you see no way anyone could possibly interpret the situation as the homeless guy possessing wisdom or anything else exceptional or out of the ordinary (other than being "stupid") based upon his alleged actions? Is that the case or is that not the case? And why or why not?
I knew you were a bit dull, but not that fucking stupid.
