A Little Thing Called Common Sense

Introduction:

Hello, everyone. My name is Just_A_Dude here on TH, and after reading various topics (here and in other places) and having experiences in real life, I have decided to make a topic to discuss common sense. I don't plan on making this very short, because I have many points and topics to cover. I've also aimed this at a more mature audience, but I don't mean mature by age. I mean mature by attitude, I don't expect an 11 year old to care for this topic, but all ages are free to read and share their thoughts if they wish (it's not like I can stop you, I'm just letting you know you're welcome to speak you mind here without negative thought toward your age to the maturity of this topic. Example: "Oh, you're way too young to know anything about that," posts will not be tolerated). For the record, I'm only 14, and I know how immature some of my peers can be, so I feel this is a very mature topic coming from someone my age. Maybe I wont word it as mature as I'd like, but oh well. Here goes nothin'.

So if you don't like reading or deep discussions, this is your stop.

Please note that this topic to to discuss opinions and views from our whole community, so no flame war stuff AT ALL. Your view is just as welcome as anyone else's, you are not to come here to put down other's thoughts just because you disagree.

If the mods find this too deep or don't like the idea of this, please close or delete this thread. I just thought this would be a very interesting topic, but I don't think it's breaking any rules.

Let's Begin the Discussion

Okay, let's get to it. As stated above, I plan to cover multiple topics here, and I'm writing this in text editing software because I want this to be really clear and understandable with good points made, not rushed and incomplete.

I really want everyone to read the whole thing if you're going to be a part of this discussion, but feel free to skip around as you wish. Are you ready? Don't worry, I'm not either.

The Way We Treat Other People

Okay, I wanted to start this off with a simple and easy to understand topic that wouldn't scare anyone away right from the get-go. So let's talk about something we've all experienced: Jerks.

(I play the Pokemon TCG, make fun of me if you will, I don't care. I was just going to let you know you might not completely understand some of the stuff in this section due to the fact you probably don't play Pokemon. Also, this was originally written for a Pokemon community, but I post it wherever I go. And I don't feel like going back to fix this whole section up just for you. :p)

One day at a small tournament, a Pre-Releases I believe, we all went to go see the next round pairings. Being held in a small hobby shop, it's kinda crammed getting to and from the Standings sheet when all three divisions are trying to fit between two rows of tables, so we all inch our way up. I find my name on the list and find my table number. I see my oppenent is the "crowd" and call him over. As soon as he gets to me, we're still trying to inch ourselves away. With people in front of me, I can only move so fast. So, he gets behind me and tells me to, "Move faster," and then shoves me. I lose some of my balance and hit the person in front of me, a Junior (Term used to describe a player age 10 or younger) mind you (And him). So I quickly apologize and get to my table. I expressed my feeling toward what had happened to the person who shoved me before we began our match. I just don't understand how someone could be like that. We're all trying to get out, we're all moving slow, and he has to go shoving people? I just don't get it, what's the point? What does he gain from shoving me into other people? Creative name calling before a match? Oh wow, real mature.


I'll end this topic now, you get the point that I'm trying to make. Don't you? Why do people act so rude and mean to everyone, even people who have done nothing to them? What do they gain from this? It's just so wrong the way we treat each other.

The Way Parents Raise Their Kids

So, now that we've discussed the way people act so rude. Let's get to the problem: The way they're raised.


As a parent, your only job in life is to raise your child correctly. Nothing else matters in your world until you're 100% sure your child was raise up right. So how could you make a mistake in this? No, wait, I take that back. Everyone makes mistakes, but why must you make so many? Did you not learn from the first? Second? Fourth? Tenth? 100th?! What excuse do you have to raise someone like the people stated above? How could you let yourself be a failure? I just couldn't imagine not raises my kids right. You are the authority in their lives, they do as you say. You tell them what's right, and what's wrong. When they break the rules, or do something against your wishes, you punish them (Like grounding, I don't mean beating kids up). What else could be easier? It's not rocket science. If you take away the source of the problem, there will be no problem.

Well, I'm only 14, I don't know much about parenting. Now do I? But I do know it's not always the parents fault. That section was mainly just meant to tackle the people who let their kids run off and do whatever the hell they want even though they know it's not good for their kids. Outside sources (such as peer pressure) cannot be blamed on the parents if the kid decides to smoke weed because his friend told him to. Is that seriously the parent's fault? No.

But as a parent, if you think it's bad for him, you should not allow him to continue to smoke weed and hang out with that friend. Encourage him to stop, tell him why it's bad, etc. Don't just let him do it, don't cave in. If you give up, you are a failure, and that is your fault.

Parents aren't a one-stop blame shop, but you can blame a lot of fucked up stuff of the parents that is their fault entirely.

It's time to end this one, too. My point here is simply just trying to say that no matter what you do, parenting isn't something you can do just half-way. You have to stick with it for at least 18 years, if not more. Don't take on the challenge if you can't handle to pressure. Are we going to have to start passing out tests to see if people are suitable for parenting? Get real, people.

TV and Video Game Ratings and Censorship

Ratings are a good thing. They help us decide what to let our children watch based on the content inside. This is definitely a plus, but why are they so strict? I understand why they include sexual and violence ratings, but why do we need one for language? Better yet, why do we have "language" at all? (I'll explain in the next section) And I really don't understand the violence category, either. I know I just said I did understand it, but let me explain.

There are parents who don't want their children to get the wrong idea from watching TV and playing games. I can respect that, but between you and me, I've been playing video games since I was about, ummmm, like, born. I remember playing mortal kombat when I was 4. That's kinda young to be playing video games, much less M rated ones. But take a look at me, even though I've been playing violent video games since I was 4 I still don't walk around beating people up, I've never had the urge to shoot someone, I've never tried to rip someone's head off, I've never hijacked a car. I haven't even ever been in a fight. Do you know why? You guessed it, and it's what this is all about. I was raised with common sense. If parents raised their kids with some common sense like my parents did me, we wouldn't have kids taking guns to school, or kids steeling cars. Or at least, not as many. There's always going to be a mental case out there... We just want to cut down on the idiots.

I can understand one for heavily violent scenes involving lots of blood and gore, guns and stuff, but having a show rated "TV-Y7-Mild Fantasy Violence" What's up with that?

"NO MOMMY I DON'T WANNA SEE THE FARIES HIT EACH OTHER!!!!!"

I know kids who eat the crap up like breakfast cereal. And we have a Rating for it. AHAHAHAH!!

Language

They're just words after all. I mean, if someone were to say, "Holy Crap!" What's the difference if they say, "Holy Shit!"? It's the same exact message, but yet everyone views the second phrase much more offensive. Is it just me, or have we lost our minds? It's just a word, a made up word. What's the problem? We view any of the list of seven, and a few more not on that list that are also considered very inappropriate, and sure, some of them are, but what about the one above? "Crap/poop/dung/turd/etc" over shit? I just don't get it, they're the same to me. Let me put it this way: If you were to put a picture next to both words in the dictionary, you'd use the same picture. Simple enough, right?

So why does everyone view them as "bad words"? We image what things look like as we speak and hear, our brains are an amazing thing. So when you say, "Crap," or when you say, "Shit," you instantly think of the same thing. What makes the other one so much worse?


And it's time for an end to this one, too. My point should be crystal clear. They're just words that mean the same thing, but yet one is worse than the other. No, I don't get it either.

Nudity

Okay, this is a touchy subject, but I'm going to see if I can't handle this sensitively.


First off, before I say anything here I'm going to bring religion into the mix. I normally don't do this, and I really don't like to add religion into discussions that aren't related to religion because everyone has their own views and opinions, and perhaps the strongest are in this area, but I feel it's necessary here.

When God created Adam and Eve, he created them, you guessed it, naked. When Eve ate the Fruit, they learned about good and evil, and eventually realized they were, ummm... Naked....

If God created us nude, he obviously didn't have a problem with it... Right? Okay, you're not religious, we evolved naked. Happy? Either way, we aren't born with clothes on. Why do we view nudity the way we do? Nudity is just not acceptable in public, that's what society tells us. But why? Why does society tell us this? God didn't mind, we surely didn't (but do now), but yet it's almost taboo today. People just think it's bad. I don't get it. I mean, I'm not against clothes or anything, I love the idea of clothes, I can't stand being cold. I'm just saying we view nudity like it shouldn't even exist. It's a private matter between you and yourself, but you're born naked for the world to see. What made us feel this way? I know we've been wearing clothes for thousands of years, but that's beside the point. Why are we so ashamed of our own bodies, and why are we so offended by other people's? What if it was impossible to make clothes, would we walk around covering ourselves with our hands? And what about animals, why don't they fret over things like this? My dog could care less about being naked as long as he has food and a good belly rub every now and then, and that's the truth.

I'm not trying to convince anyone to become a nudist. I'm just trying to say that your nudity isn't bad. I wear clothes everyday, but I'm also not scared to see myself or other people naked. If there was anything truly wrong with it, trust me, you wouldn't be born naked.


Yep, I done here. I don't want to come across like the whole world should be a nudist community or anything like that. I'm just saying it's natural, and there's nothing wrong with it, and that it's not such a big deal. I'm not saying you shouldn't wear clothes, I'm just trying to figure out why we just can't accept being naked. We as humans are (supposed to be) more intelligent than that.

And please don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about nudity in a sexual manner. I'm just talking about nudity. There is a difference between sexuality and nudity, that's why they're two different words.

People, is it just me, or have we lost our common sense?

I just don't get it, what has the world come to? You see, Japan has the right idea, or at least they're closer to it than us. They don't care if their kids hear a few "bad words" in their cartoons, they don't freak out about the smaller things like we do. Why are we so worried about things like this? Are we that focused on trying to be perfect? And I know we're not the worst, other countries are even stricter, but we're the "free nation" right? I'm just lost for words as to how stupid we all really are. I sure do type a lot to be lost for words, huh? Oh you just wait, I'm not even done yet. I had your hopes up with this little section here, didn't I?

Religion

Okay, I want to talk about religion now. I'm going to tell you a little story that happened to me and my mom in the grocery store one day. Well, like any day you go to the grocery store, we were buying food. My mom was wearing some shirt that had something to do with the band Black Sabbath. It was a rock concert t-shirt, I think, but that's irrelevant.

For those of you who don't know, Black Sabbath is a metal band. One of the first and most influential actually... But anyway, this person walked up to us as started basically preaching to us about how if we listen to that music we won't get into Heaven and all that nonsense. And obviously liking Pokemon, you know I've heard I'll go to hell for it, too.... BECAUSE PIKACHU IS SATAN!!!!
So, basically I can't do anything I want to without going to hell. How lucky am I?

Now I'm not trying to attack religious people here, I can respect your beliefs, but I expect you to respect mine in return. I understand that in the Bible it tells you to spread the name of the Lord, but there is a limit on this. You can't just force someone to do something they don't want to, you just can't. They can ask me anything they want, invite me to their church, or anything else because I respect their beliefs and I'm not a rude person. But when you tell me I'm not going to Heaven because I listen to a noise (because that's all music is: a sound) you've crossed the line. I ask of you to find me one verse in the Bible that says I'll go to hell for listening to rock music. Find one, just one. When you find that, you've won the argument, but until then don't threaten me on assumptions. God didn't give you that right.

So my question is: Where do they get off? What gives them the right to threaten someone like that? What makes them better than me? If they truly believe I'll go to hell for listening to rock music, then why don't they care? I want to listen to it and I'm going to listen to it, I've made my choice. Let's say I will go to hell for it, let me go. I obviously knew the risk, and as far as your concerned I'm lost anyway. Just because you don't like my music doesn't mean it's bad. And what about the metal genre of religious songs? Those aren't bad, now are they?

I just don't understand how people who claim to follow God, the person whose, "love is unconditional," can be so rude and mean to fellow human beings at times.

I'll end this one here. Now, like I said, I'm not against religion. I respect it, all I want is a little respect in return. Is that too much to ask for? I can grantee that if I told a religious person that their bodies will rot away in the Earth after they die because they preach about the Lord and that He isn't real and they just waste a whole bunch of time... Well, that would offend them.
Well, if you tell me I'm going to burn in hell, guess what. I'll be offended too.

I've come to the conclusion that we've lost all common sense.

Alright everyone, I've said enough and I'm tired of typing. I'm sure I've managed to offend numerous people with this thread (probably with the religious part more than anything), and I'm sorry, but I just couldn't take it any more. I had to say something.


If anyone would like to add a topic to discuss, feel free to do so, this isn't just about how I feel. And thank you for taking the time to read this huge post. It means a lot, because personally, I'd probably skip around.

Oh, and after reading this you'll probably think that I'm crazy. Well, you're probably right, but I never claimed to be sane, now did I?

Well, there you have it, I've left my mark here. This will most probably be my best post ever, sorry if that's disappointing.

Rock on,
toxictaipan

How is any of it wrong? I thought I made great argumentative points.

You can't justify that dude shoving me, parents should raise their kids right, there is nothing wrong with nudity, everyone has their right to their own opinion when it comes to religion, you aren't automatically wrong because you don't agree, and "bad words" mean the same thing as "good words."

I fail to see where any of that's wrong....

The protection wouldn't be gone. Like I said, I'm not saying run around naked because I want you to. I'm just if you really want to, you should be able to. Public nudity is illegal in some places, but it's natural. WTF? :confused:

Oh, and nice bluff!

But everyone wont be nude, you would still have the choice to wear clothes. And may I ask you... What would happen if clothes were illegal to wear in public? What if we never invented clothes in the first place? What then?

And about rape.... That leads back to bad parenting. Someone who was raised right would have more respect for a fellow human being than that.

For protection from the elements. Not other people.

Protection from the element(s). Clothes not only keep you warm, but light colored clothes also reflect sunlight, reducing heat....

If we didn't have guns or knives (etc.), we wouldn't need bulletproof clothes. You invent things you need. Clothes weren't invented to prevent rape, that's just a handy little coincidence.


But I agree, there is more than one reason. Each reason varies from person to person. And like I said, there isn't anything wrong with clothes, but there isn't anything wrong with nudity either. It shouldn't be illegal. It's natural. You (society) are denying me the right to be natural? Control freak much?

Something natural is something that can happen naturally in the world without man's interference.

Since you are born naked without man's artificial interference, it is natural.

Oxford Dictionary: Natural: Existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by mankind.

Because your nudity isn't caused by mankind, it is natural.


But not everyone can control themselves even with clothes.... People still get raped. What's your point? If someone has the intentions of rape, clothes wont stop him, it's will just slow him down. And really, it wouldn't take that long for an average man to tear through underwear. You also wouldn't have to completely remove the clothing either, pulling it down just a little bit would be enough...

We are natural, but the things we do are not. Anything we can do without help from tools is pretty much natural. Building a house from twigs and palm leaves is natural. Taking nails and timbers and hammers is not. Nails and hammers do not appear naturally in the world without us crafting them.

For it to be natural it already has to be there, without our help. We must craft the hammer, we didn't harvest it from a tree that grows hammers naturally. If there was a hammer tree, hammers would be natural. But since they are manmade, they are.... Manmade.

Screw whatever example I gave, ^that's what I meant to say.^

Do cell phones occur naturally in the world without man? No. Do clothes? No. Does nudity? Yes.