How Do You Spot a Wise Man in a Crowd?

[Hobbes' Choice]

According to the story someone HAS claimed the cash, though they have declined to give their name. I certainly don't know enough about the situation to speculate on the nature of the person who lost the cash but the homeless man definitely sounds like he's way above most of the rest of us in integrity. I don't know if I would have turned in the cash if I were homeless and certainly wouldn't blame him if he kept it but he didn't and to me if a homeless person can set aside self gain in favor of ethics then that says a LOT to the rest of the greedy buggers out there. That IS excellence of character and a "hard act to follow", as they say. No denying it in my book.

Yeah, nice little parable. I bet you believe the bible too?
He's still a fool to refuse the cash.
Maybe you should look for a decent reference for the story?

The Bible has some good parables in it. I don't believe in the genesis account of origins and what not but that doesn't mean the Bible doesn't contain some inspiring words (what little I've read of it). I suspect you really shouldn't be so quick to judge things you don't understand.

You are not probably not smart enough to be a patronising twat. You are not in a position to say what I do and do not understand.

[Gary Childress]

Yeah, nice little parable. I bet you believe the bible too?
He's still a fool to refuse the cash.
Maybe you should look for a decent reference for the story?

The Bible has some good parables in it. I don't believe in the genesis account of origins and what not but that doesn't mean the Bible doesn't contain some inspiring words (what little I've read of it). I suspect you really shouldn't be so quick to judge things you don't understand.

You are not probably not smart enough to be a patronising twat. You are not in a position to say what I do and do not understand.

Sorry to have questioned the great and mighty intellect of Hobbes' Choice. You obviously know it all and have nothing to learn from any of us cretins. Don't mind the misguided. We're not worth the effort. Just continue to insult and combat ignorance. We'll all rightfully thank you for it someday.

[Hobbes' Choice]

The Bible has some good parables in it. I don't believe in the genesis account of origins and what not but that doesn't mean the Bible doesn't contain some inspiring words (what little I've read of it). I suspect you really shouldn't be so quick to judge things you don't understand.

You are not probably not smart enough to be a patronising twat. You are not in a position to say what I do and do not understand.

Sorry to have questioned the great and mighty intellect of Hobbes' Choice. You obviously know it all and have nothing to learn from any of us cretins. Don't mind the misguided. We're not worth the effort. Just continue to insult and combat ignorance. We'll all rightfully thank you for it someday.

What part of "You are not in a position to say what I do and do not understand", are you unclear about?

[thedoc]

You are not in a position to say what I do and do not understand.

When you post on a forum, those who read those posts are certainly in a position to say what you do not understand, based on those posts.

[Hobbes' Choice]

You are not in a position to say what I do and do not understand.

When you post on a forum, those who read those posts are certainly in a position to say what you do not understand, based on those posts.

But you pretended to know what my understanding of Christian parables was: you cannot know that.

[Gary Childress]

You said I "probably believe the Bible too". What exactly does that mean then? Should I disregard everything the Bible says?

[Obvious Leo]

As for the credibility of the story, I've seen no reason at this stage to doubt its credibility or assume it to be false. If it is true then I think it's undeniably a mark of some sort of excellence of character.

Or maybe it's the mark of a bloke whose mate was a journalist who could write this story up in a very profitable way for him. What happened to your "wise man" once he became known for his generosity, Gary? Did he get his job, his feature magazine article, his scheduled round of after-dinner speaking engagements, his slot in a reality TV show? Is he now a celebrity chef with a trophy wife and a McMansion in the inner leafy suburbs?

Maybe it was his own 2 grand in the first place and the whole exercise was just a strategic commercial investment.

Maybe the story is true and money truly means nothing to him, a proposition which I don't find at all remarkable. As a parable the story has some charm and if it succeeded in making some people a little less self-obsessed and a little more compassionate towards their fellow man then I congratulate the person who wrote it for doing so. It actually doesn't matter a fuck whether it's true or not.

[Hobbes' Choice]

You said I "probably believe the Bible too". What exactly does that mean then? Should I disregard everything the Bible says?

It's called gentle sarcasm.
You could disregard the bible to little effect. It works for me. But that is not to say, (as you implied), that I am ignorant of its contents.
I also disregard the moral advice of Homer too. But I do have a good knowledge of its contents.

[thedoc]

You are not in a position to say what I do and do not understand.

When you post on a forum, those who read those posts are certainly in a position to say what you do not understand, based on those posts.

But you pretended to know what my understanding of Christian parables was: you cannot know that.

When did I comment on your understanding of Christian parables?

[Hobbes' Choice]

When did I comment on your understanding of Christian parables?

This is getting ridiculous. Here's the whole comment. It was the last sentence I took umbrage with.

The Bible has some good parables in it. I don't believe in the genesis account of origins and what not but that doesn't mean the Bible doesn't contain some inspiring words (what little I've read of it). I suspect you really shouldn't be so quick to judge things you don't understand.

`Since the passage starts with "parables", you final comment refers to them - and my ignorance of them. If the last sentence is not supposed to refer to my ignorance of parables, then it deserves a new paragraph and a covering sentence. This is how shit works in English.

[Obvious Leo]

I have no wish to interfere in a private spat, doc, but I find your position baffling.

Are you suggesting that only those who accept the bible as the word of god will be able to find any meaning in its parables?

[Gary Childress]

I have no wish to interfere in a private spat, doc, but I find your position baffling.

Are you suggesting that only those who accept the bible as the word of god will be able to find any meaning in its parables?

Now I'm confused (not a difficult accomplishment I admit). Where are you getting the idea that thedoc is asserting that only those who accept the word of god will be able to find any meaning in biblical parables?

Wow, all this started over a homeless guy who allegedly does something extraordinary. Of course we can only conclude it never happened, I'm sure. It would be gullible and naïve to think otherwise. It's a conspiracy!!

[Obvious Leo]

Where are you getting the idea that thedoc is asserting that only those who accept the word of god will be able to find any meaning in biblical parables?

I'm asking for a clarification of his position because doc has a bad habit of making sweeping statements without explaining what he means by them, just as he extrapolates specific conclusions from general statements and then applies them to himself for analysis. I'm still waiting on a report from him about his experiences in New Zealand because this is a country well known to me and his observations are a complete contradiction of my own.

To be honest, Gary, I think that doc is one of these god-folk who reckons he's a better person than the godless heathen like me and I like sticking it to arrogant shitheads like that every chance I get.

[thedoc]

I have no wish to interfere in a private spat, doc, but I find your position baffling.
Are you suggesting that only those who accept the bible as the word of god will be able to find any meaning in its parables?

I think I can see the source of the confusion, there seems to be a problem with people misattributing quotes to the wrong person and then being very critical of those posts. Since I don't have a fire extinguisher, I'll restrict my posts to addressing Gary, as he seems to be the only member who recognizes who posted what.

BTW, if there is a spat, it is purely one sided. I don't recall posting anything specifically about anyone finding meaning in parables.

[thedoc]

Where are you getting the idea that thedoc is asserting that only those who accept the word of god will be able to find any meaning in biblical parables?

I'm asking for a clarification of his position because doc has a bad habit of making sweeping statements without explaining what he means by them, just as he extrapolates specific conclusions from general statements and then applies them to himself for analysis. I'm still waiting on a report from him about his experiences in New Zealand because this is a country well known to me and his observations are a complete contradiction of my own.

To be honest, Gary, I think that doc is one of these god-folk who reckons he's a better person than the godless heathen like me and I like sticking it to arrogant shitheads like that every chance I get.

Since when is a forum governed by the formal rules of logic and debate? Sweeping general statements are quite acceptable and common on forums like this. If you don't like it, I suggest that you find a forum where such rules are enforced.

As far as you believing me to be one of those God-folk, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. It is certainly your choice if you want to be wrong. Just to be clear, are you stating for certain that you are a Godless heathen? You appear to be a militant Atheist, according to what I've read here. New Zealand is a pretty country, it's a pity that some people who live there aren't very nice. You and VT live there, and that's enough for me.