Social Construct's Comments (405)

“Thanks. I actually have met some great artists. My wife and three kids all create beauty, awe and wonder in this world just by breathing. And they all tolerate my cranky old behind pretty well.”

“I'm unsure whether what follows is true or not, but aren't there a lot of mental illnesses that the medical community has yet to find persuasive physical causes for? Schizophrenia comes to mind, and I'm unsure about whether bi-polar disorders can be diagnosed with biological testing as well. Isn't there a great deal of mystery concerning how the brain works?
Also, I am leery about the treatment of PTSD with that "positive psychology" I've recently read about. Using positive thinking might be a good tool but should remain as just a single tool in a bag of many in treating complex disorders of the brain.”

“I used the general meaning of what you wrote above and, after acing the exams and assignments, received a 2.0 grade for the one and only art class I took in college. Talk about a sensitive, arbitrary and elitist group of people. Guess I just didn't belong in the club, even though I did learn to appreciate artistic intentions much better from what I learned in that class. Hopefully, I'll encounter more tolerant artists in the future.”

“We're all peacocks from time to time. The trick is to find the dangerous ones.”

“Excellent. Thanks.”

“That's it! I've been trying to formulate in my head why I both agree and disagree with the author at the same time. It's highly contextualized thinking. Through all of Mr. Bishop's articles on the subject, I visualized simultaneous contexts and was always left a bit confused about where I sided. It has to do with whether one finds the advice better at a personal level or a social level. On the personal level, the advice is arguably unarguable (lol). On the social level, it becomes more complex, having multiple layers of actors requiring concerted and interwoven efforts of focus and action in solving social problems.

Also, as a side note:
I would like to make an argument for the working poor. On the whole, one could not find a more focused and active group of people working hard to provide better for themselves and especially for their loved ones. They are masters at survival and pragmatic thinking. As a matter of fact, one might say that these folks are the "template" for what Mr. Bishop advocates.”

“I could care less about whether it's healthy or not. That's how much I love chocolate, in all its forms. From the purist's ideal to a squeeze of Hershey's syrup in my milk; bring it on, my friend!

An Unapologetic Junkie.”

“There's pragmatic optimism, hopeful optimism and blind optimism and, at this point, I do not know which this may be. Me? I'd fall in the "Putting frosting on a cowpie" category. There's just too much that doesn't make sense to me. I hope I'm wrong.”

“I agree, Tom.

Sadly, as an admirer of Abraham Lincoln, President Obama, in his first year anyway, has proven that he is no Abraham Lincoln. Or a Martin Luther King for that matter. Maybe, in our contemporary times, America has become a place where no one of such character can take the true mantle of leadership? I, for one, don't buy it. Hopefully, the second year will hold some better surprises.”

“Um .... my being one of those amused by what I might term as a Danny Devito-esque type of dark humor and holding to a maxim that there are few, if any, sacred cows in humor at large when one is also most willing to laugh at oneself, I found that metaphor appropriately funny in the context that it was made. But that's just me. What the heck, I'm an @$$h0le.”

“Oh, and although the article implies a link between those that work in the housekeeping field and longer lifespans, I didn't find any evidence of that in the piece; just the results of a study suggesting a mind-body effect on attitude, physical activities and weight loss. That is certainly a great thing and I can agree with that as a benefit, indeed. And, as I stated, I was off topic above and did not intend any offense if anybody perceived an offense.”

“I'm going to go off topic and suggest another question: Has there been any studies on the longevity and/or physical ailments of long term work in the housekeepi­ng/janitor­ial industries?
I am aware that the author's article is about something else entirely, however, I think that the study of physical effects of strenuous, long term labor such as that of the housekeeper, especially in the hospitality field, could make a bolder social statement regarding a relationship between low wage, highly physical and repetitive labor, and adequate access to health care. I have some firsthand knowledge of the subject and I'd just like to add that it isn't a pretty picture. Most people in the housekeeping field are arguably subjected to some very harsh, demanding and abusive working conditions for extremely low wages in return for very hard work.”

“"Even with two incomes, they tightened their belts. Families today spend less than they did a generation ago on food, clothing, furniture, appliances, and other flexible purchases -- but it hasn't been enough to save them." - E. Warren.

GRAycon, Although I value and respect your input, I am unable to agree with the premise that if only people exert themselves enough all will be as it is to be: Admission to the middle class by hard work and playing by the rules. As Ms. Warren's information reveals, for tens of millions of people that do exactly as you would have them do, the result is to be marginalized by an ever increasing uneven-ness in the playing field and relegation to the class of the working poor. Those tens of millions need the recognition and assistance of their government and the business class in order for their efforts to elevate their status.”

“Absolutely on the mark there, LeftRight. And that's where certain commenters fail to see the forest through the trees. It was explained in vivid detail by Ms. Warren and yet readers ignore that contemporary households cannot be compared to those of 30 years ago. The rules and mores that insured success, stability and prosperity for our parents and grandparents do not exist at present.”

“Did you read the article?”

“Like Potter Stewart, I know obscenity when I see it. What an elite, powerful and greedy few have wrought and forced onto the American people is unequivocally obscene.

Maybe the populace will awaken when they can no longer afford the electricity to run their flat screens to watch American Idol or some such diversion. Do we learn nothing from history?”

“Hubris is a word that well defines the banking and credit industries. As for a solution that enables transparency and fairness into a system so rife with excesses of greed and arrogance aimed at ordinary consumers, I have little to offer. Until the government chooses to act on behalf of its citizenry more than it acts on behalf of those that wield power from monied interests, the most effective way to bring these neo-robber barons to the bargaining table lies in the hands of consumers by means of actively protesting by boycott. Attack the root causes and suffer severely in the short term or continue treating symptoms and suffer a more longer lasting, and inevitably disabling, sickness. Both attempts at solutions consider sacrifice and discomfort, yet I would choose the former.”

“Outstanding! Thank you.”

“I resemble that remark! Very well stated, indeed. The gifts of companionship, intellect and contentment have no material equal. Thank you for your words.”

“I have grown used to, perhaps even somewhat numb, to all of the commercial advertising compelling the masses to mindless consumption, especially at this season of the year. However, I am always, and increasingly, alarmed and disgusted about the ever growing, blatant promotion advocacy of over-consuming by our news organizations. What a shameful, and I would state un-American, practice! There should be a bright line of separation from the news media and commercial interests, just as there is the ever vigilante and ongoing debates we have regarding the separation of the church and state.”

“"Get your government hands off my breasts!" - This is meant entirely as political parody, i.e., lampooning the healthcare teabag protesters.”

“For the most part, I am apparently tone deaf when it comes to the musicality of words. In other words, I am a "meaning" type of reader, and I did find some good stuff in the above poem. Kudos to poet Waldrop for receiving recognition for his artistic endeavors.”

“LOL!”

“To avoid being my usual, critical self, I simply concur with this commenter.”

“Harsh commentary for a harsh group of people. Many of them deserve no less. Well done.”