Barry Schwartz: Using our practical wisdom | Video on TED.com
Showing posts with label conscience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conscience. Show all posts
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Mind and body age mismatch
Just heard from wife some days ago that son's classmate is a boy who was abandoned by both his father and mother. We know of another boy in our neighborhood whose young parents were separated less than a year after married and he is raised by his paternal grandparents.
We are not social workers. I believe social workers have more to tell.
Physical body grows according to natural laws, while [spiritual] mind grows from life experiences and guidance from parents and elders. There is too much academic education for the brain, yet virtually no proper education for the mind.
We are not social workers. I believe social workers have more to tell.
Physical body grows according to natural laws, while [spiritual] mind grows from life experiences and guidance from parents and elders. There is too much academic education for the brain, yet virtually no proper education for the mind.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
How can it be that easy, to abandon babies?
Just learnt about a the shelter for babies in Singapore, Sanctuary House, which was set up since 2005 in this news. Their "business" has grown, sadly.
Not that I don't pity these abandoned babies, but adopting them is not the way.
Ideally, the parents must ... still be fully, or as much as they could to be responsible for them. Yes, the abandoned ones should be taken care of, but I think it is very unwise to directly or indirectly excuse their parents of their responsibilities.
Shouldn't it be considered a crime for one to not want to raise his/her children? Thus, they should be tracked down, and made to be responsible as much as possible. Similar to bankruptcy, but more than it, at the very minimal, a portion of their income/assets must be given to the child indefinitely.
In addition, since a child is related by lineage to his family members and relatives, as long as can track down any of them, they also be somehow made to bare the financial burden. The objective here is not so much as to reduce number of abandoned, but to make everyone aware of the consequence of irresponsible (aka extra-marrital) sex.
The above is really at the bare minimum because financial is just one of the many aspects in raising up children.
Thus, think about it, at present the society/nation/community is baring the burden, i.e. all of us are bearing such increasing burden. If people are concern enough to tell people off because they let kids step on MRT seats, then shouldn't we be more concern to scold [young] people who gets too intimate, regardless in public or in private.
Not that I don't pity these abandoned babies, but adopting them is not the way.
Ideally, the parents must ... still be fully, or as much as they could to be responsible for them. Yes, the abandoned ones should be taken care of, but I think it is very unwise to directly or indirectly excuse their parents of their responsibilities.
Shouldn't it be considered a crime for one to not want to raise his/her children? Thus, they should be tracked down, and made to be responsible as much as possible. Similar to bankruptcy, but more than it, at the very minimal, a portion of their income/assets must be given to the child indefinitely.
In addition, since a child is related by lineage to his family members and relatives, as long as can track down any of them, they also be somehow made to bare the financial burden. The objective here is not so much as to reduce number of abandoned, but to make everyone aware of the consequence of irresponsible (aka extra-marrital) sex.
The above is really at the bare minimum because financial is just one of the many aspects in raising up children.
Thus, think about it, at present the society/nation/community is baring the burden, i.e. all of us are bearing such increasing burden. If people are concern enough to tell people off because they let kids step on MRT seats, then shouldn't we be more concern to scold [young] people who gets too intimate, regardless in public or in private.
Monday, May 19, 2008
What is good?
Enjoy a Fathom event featuring DeathNote at VCM Fathom. Then, think about what is good?
To have some supernatural power is a dream not only fancy by kids because adults ... too wish to have more power to do good. In this movie based on the successful Japanese manga about the owner of a notebook of a death god can end the life of anyone whose name he writes in the notebook. What seems to be an evil power was put to "good" use by the main character, Light Yagami, who vowed to use it to get rid of evil people. However, he is being hunted by a legendary detective, L, when people, even though criminals, started dying mysteriously.
This reminds me of a line by Martin Luther King, Jr., "We never get rid of an enemy by meeting hate with hate; we get rid of an enemy be getting rid of enmity." Thus, sending the evil people to hell is not a solution. Emptying hell is.
NCM Fathom and Viz Pictures bring Live Action
nationwide in US - May 20th and 21st at 7:30 PM!
nationwide in US - May 20th and 21st at 7:30 PM!
To have some supernatural power is a dream not only fancy by kids because adults ... too wish to have more power to do good. In this movie based on the successful Japanese manga about the owner of a notebook of a death god can end the life of anyone whose name he writes in the notebook. What seems to be an evil power was put to "good" use by the main character, Light Yagami, who vowed to use it to get rid of evil people. However, he is being hunted by a legendary detective, L, when people, even though criminals, started dying mysteriously.
This reminds me of a line by Martin Luther King, Jr., "We never get rid of an enemy by meeting hate with hate; we get rid of an enemy be getting rid of enmity." Thus, sending the evil people to hell is not a solution. Emptying hell is.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Be skeptical
Few days back I received an email claiming link between drinking cold drink after meal and cancer. Another friend did some research and responded with another email claiming the above is a myth.
Today I received another email forwarded by a friend on some claims that some hawkers melt plastic such as drinking straws or plastic container into hot oil so as to have fried crispy snacks remain crispy for hours. I didn't manage to find strong arguments that this is untrue, but ... may be that's because it was just reported in a newspaper quite recently, near end of February. Or may be it is true, but I doubt so.
I don't mind reading such emails. False information is still a piece of information. However, I mostly don't forward them to others. Especially if the article encourage one to do so.
In this information explosion era, we have to be skeptical with all these information. Not only those myth-like information, but also those myth-buster type. Take for example, in the above first case, the argument against the link between cold drink and cancer is that there isn't scientific evidence. This only say that the first claim is not based on scientific evidence. It doesn't make the claim false. Note that there are many truths that have existed, and some are still existing before any scientific evidence is discovered to support them.
Today I received another email forwarded by a friend on some claims that some hawkers melt plastic such as drinking straws or plastic container into hot oil so as to have fried crispy snacks remain crispy for hours. I didn't manage to find strong arguments that this is untrue, but ... may be that's because it was just reported in a newspaper quite recently, near end of February. Or may be it is true, but I doubt so.
I don't mind reading such emails. False information is still a piece of information. However, I mostly don't forward them to others. Especially if the article encourage one to do so.
In this information explosion era, we have to be skeptical with all these information. Not only those myth-like information, but also those myth-buster type. Take for example, in the above first case, the argument against the link between cold drink and cancer is that there isn't scientific evidence. This only say that the first claim is not based on scientific evidence. It doesn't make the claim false. Note that there are many truths that have existed, and some are still existing before any scientific evidence is discovered to support them.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Be truthful first
There have been much emphasis on speaking positive and encouraging words to children, or anybody, rather than negative ones. Our words are either blessing or curse. Yet, some may over do it by ignoring the need to be truthful, and just say positive words that paint a false picture. Especially when the facts are, sort of, "negative". For example, what should we say to a kid who had scored badly, say 10%, in a test? ... What would you say?
Should we tell him that he hadn't done badly, and should be thankful that he still managed to scored 10%? Is this better than telling him how stupid/lazy he is that he failed badly and scored only 10%? The former is "positive" but to say he hadn't done badly is falsehood. The latter is obviously negative, but rightly state that he failed badly.
In a post a few years back, I mentioned about an article I read that stresses on the importance of consistency in raising up children. Once we started speaking words that are not true, children will notice our inconsistence, and eventually treat our words as unimportant.
Another article I read more recently talks about when parents praise their kids, they need to do it in alignment with the facts. When parents over praise their kids, like the above "positive" statement, kids will be less willing to strive harder for better results.
I think the first pre-requisite in speaking is to be truthful. Then, we choose to speak it in a positive way. In the above example, we should let the child know he has failed badly in the test. Try to substantially work with him on how can we, together, make it better next time. When a plan has been worked out, we can positively emphasize that we appreciate his willingness to want to improve. Thus, there is no falsehood, there is encouragement, and there isn't condemnation.
This is not only about kids. In general, being truthful is so much more important than speaking positively.
Should we tell him that he hadn't done badly, and should be thankful that he still managed to scored 10%? Is this better than telling him how stupid/lazy he is that he failed badly and scored only 10%? The former is "positive" but to say he hadn't done badly is falsehood. The latter is obviously negative, but rightly state that he failed badly.
In a post a few years back, I mentioned about an article I read that stresses on the importance of consistency in raising up children. Once we started speaking words that are not true, children will notice our inconsistence, and eventually treat our words as unimportant.
Another article I read more recently talks about when parents praise their kids, they need to do it in alignment with the facts. When parents over praise their kids, like the above "positive" statement, kids will be less willing to strive harder for better results.
I think the first pre-requisite in speaking is to be truthful. Then, we choose to speak it in a positive way. In the above example, we should let the child know he has failed badly in the test. Try to substantially work with him on how can we, together, make it better next time. When a plan has been worked out, we can positively emphasize that we appreciate his willingness to want to improve. Thus, there is no falsehood, there is encouragement, and there isn't condemnation.
This is not only about kids. In general, being truthful is so much more important than speaking positively.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Be yourself
In the Taiwan variety show 国光帮帮忙 I watched recently, they accounted a very casual and short encounter in a toilet. An advice by 孙鹏, who is a more senior artiste, to 林宥嘉, who was participating in 超级星光大道, a singing competition, is taken seriously by the latter. The advise is be yourself (做自己). 林宥嘉 eventually won the champion of the competition.
However, this phrase, when used unqualified, might encourage people to do all sort of funny things, immoral things, or evil things. This phrase should not be seen as an excuse for doing wrong things.
On one hand, we dislike people to tell us how we should live. On the other hand, we ourselves need to be very clear how we should live. "Be yourself" doesn't mean it is up to each person's choice with no regards to the society. As what is said below, the essence is if our life is honorable or not.
The late Mormon church president Hinckley said in an interview with The Associated Press in late 2005. "We're a little different. We don't smoke. We don't drink. We do things in a little different way. That's not dishonorable. I believe that's to our credit." Quoted from the news report of his death.
Be yourself means don't be overly dictated by what others tell you, but it doesn't mean there is no guideline. It means you have to make up your own guidelines consciously and in accordance to the societal norms.
However, this phrase, when used unqualified, might encourage people to do all sort of funny things, immoral things, or evil things. This phrase should not be seen as an excuse for doing wrong things.
On one hand, we dislike people to tell us how we should live. On the other hand, we ourselves need to be very clear how we should live. "Be yourself" doesn't mean it is up to each person's choice with no regards to the society. As what is said below, the essence is if our life is honorable or not.
The late Mormon church president Hinckley said in an interview with The Associated Press in late 2005. "We're a little different. We don't smoke. We don't drink. We do things in a little different way. That's not dishonorable. I believe that's to our credit." Quoted from the news report of his death.
Be yourself means don't be overly dictated by what others tell you, but it doesn't mean there is no guideline. It means you have to make up your own guidelines consciously and in accordance to the societal norms.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Adam, where are you?
Just like the first man in the Bible, Adam, humans hide when we are shameful. Very true, isn't it? However, the hiding is an illusion. Just like the song "God is watching us from a distance," we may try to hide and think that we are hidden, but in fact, we can't hide.
How about hiding from other mortal human beings? It is getting more difficult. We are now empowered with easily available information. The author of the book "The World is Flat" mentioned in it how did his daughter easily found the addresses of her friends by searching their phone numbers using Google.
I bet you know Google is not an address book, but a powerful search engine. Thus, anybody can do a background check, and this "anybody" could be our potential employers, future parents-in-law, future spouse, school mates, colleagues, etc.
I hope these are not scary, but beneficial to many by better knowing their potential partners in work and life. However, Google search is general and form the cyberworld that has both true and fake information. SentryLink provides search services on specific backgrounds such as driving, credit, property, and one of them is Criminal Background Check using public records obtained from state and local government offices. I hope this does not make job hunting more difficult for ex-criminals. Instead, may be such available knowledge can help to avoid awkward situations since employers can know in advance and can be better prepared to work with ex-criminals from the very start if they decide to employ any of them.
Furthermore, there are jobs which are not suitable, and vice-versa, for ex-criminals. Thus, respective bosses can do a criminal check through SentryLink on their potential employees.
Although it reminds me of the book "1984", it is not about the technology, but about how the technology is used. I doubt we can prevent these technological advances. Thus, the best is not to have anything to hide and live according to our conscience. Such transparency should encourage an honest society and world.
How about hiding from other mortal human beings? It is getting more difficult. We are now empowered with easily available information. The author of the book "The World is Flat" mentioned in it how did his daughter easily found the addresses of her friends by searching their phone numbers using Google.
I bet you know Google is not an address book, but a powerful search engine. Thus, anybody can do a background check, and this "anybody" could be our potential employers, future parents-in-law, future spouse, school mates, colleagues, etc.
I hope these are not scary, but beneficial to many by better knowing their potential partners in work and life. However, Google search is general and form the cyberworld that has both true and fake information. SentryLink provides search services on specific backgrounds such as driving, credit, property, and one of them is Criminal Background Check using public records obtained from state and local government offices. I hope this does not make job hunting more difficult for ex-criminals. Instead, may be such available knowledge can help to avoid awkward situations since employers can know in advance and can be better prepared to work with ex-criminals from the very start if they decide to employ any of them.
Furthermore, there are jobs which are not suitable, and vice-versa, for ex-criminals. Thus, respective bosses can do a criminal check through SentryLink on their potential employees.
Although it reminds me of the book "1984", it is not about the technology, but about how the technology is used. I doubt we can prevent these technological advances. Thus, the best is not to have anything to hide and live according to our conscience. Such transparency should encourage an honest society and world.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Do educators serve the students or their school?
Some JC classmates had a short "reunion" at the 1st month celebration of the daughter of one of them. A friend mentioned about the recent issue of a principal told 27 girls the school wanted 100-per-cent passes, and advised them to seek transfers to the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) since they were unlikely to do well in the GCE O levels.
In general, we think it is better for students to be told frankly and honestly which road might be better for them. The friend said, rather than at the end of the year a boss telling him he wasn't performing well, he would preferred to be told at the beginning that this job or career does not suit him, if the boss already confidently foresee it from his experience. Further, it would be better for a road map be shown at the various decision making junctions in a student life. This should reduce the wastage of resources for many to be trained in a profession but never practice it, and many who are practicing, but unhappily because they made the wrong choice when young.
However, for a principal do so because his school wanted 100% passes is ridiculous! Yet, this has been happening all along I think. My own experience is as early as before mid 80's where half of my class repeated a grade because, according to rumors, the school don't want high failure rates at O level while public is not informed of their passing rates at other grades. Nevertheless, most of them got into university compared to those who "luckily" and barely avoided the repeat.
When the alternative of taking only 3 A level subjects, Junior Colleges (JC) principals started to persuade students from taking 4 A level subjects. Someone I knew experienced that "coercing" when she started JC1 in 2005, but she insisted, which I did encourage her to. It must be some uneasy days or weeks for her to insist. The good news is that she achieved straights A's and distinctions, and also passed S-paper. There seems to be a struggle between being students' principal/teachers and being a school's principal/teachers.
In general, we think it is better for students to be told frankly and honestly which road might be better for them. The friend said, rather than at the end of the year a boss telling him he wasn't performing well, he would preferred to be told at the beginning that this job or career does not suit him, if the boss already confidently foresee it from his experience. Further, it would be better for a road map be shown at the various decision making junctions in a student life. This should reduce the wastage of resources for many to be trained in a profession but never practice it, and many who are practicing, but unhappily because they made the wrong choice when young.
However, for a principal do so because his school wanted 100% passes is ridiculous! Yet, this has been happening all along I think. My own experience is as early as before mid 80's where half of my class repeated a grade because, according to rumors, the school don't want high failure rates at O level while public is not informed of their passing rates at other grades. Nevertheless, most of them got into university compared to those who "luckily" and barely avoided the repeat.
When the alternative of taking only 3 A level subjects, Junior Colleges (JC) principals started to persuade students from taking 4 A level subjects. Someone I knew experienced that "coercing" when she started JC1 in 2005, but she insisted, which I did encourage her to. It must be some uneasy days or weeks for her to insist. The good news is that she achieved straights A's and distinctions, and also passed S-paper. There seems to be a struggle between being students' principal/teachers and being a school's principal/teachers.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Conservative
The first definition found through Google search for conservative is "resistant to change"
In this modern world, I suppose most are not resistant to change. However, that doesn't mean they welcome any change. Change by itself is neutral. Thus, to label someone as conservative or liberal is too simplistic.
Wait a minute. What does liberal mean? Google search returns:
broad: showing or characterized by broad-mindedness; "a broad political stance"; "generous and broad sympathies"; "a liberal newspaper"; "tolerant ...
tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition
Wow! Reading these, I wonder how many would still consider himself/herself as a conservative person?
Are those being careful in deciding before making changes conservative? I think they aren't resistant to change by being careful.
Do liberals accept any kind of changes, regardless of if its consequence is obviously bad?
In this modern world, I suppose most are not resistant to change. However, that doesn't mean they welcome any change. Change by itself is neutral. Thus, to label someone as conservative or liberal is too simplistic.
Wait a minute. What does liberal mean? Google search returns:
broad: showing or characterized by broad-mindedness; "a broad political stance"; "generous and broad sympathies"; "a liberal newspaper"; "tolerant ...
tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition
Wow! Reading these, I wonder how many would still consider himself/herself as a conservative person?
Are those being careful in deciding before making changes conservative? I think they aren't resistant to change by being careful.
Do liberals accept any kind of changes, regardless of if its consequence is obviously bad?
Saturday, November 3, 2007
I've the power
I just reserved and abandoned a PayPerPost opportunity.
It feels good to be able to choose not to earn by choosing not to take up an opportunity to promote things that are not aligned with my views.
It feels good to be able to choose not to earn by choosing not to take up an opportunity to promote things that are not aligned with my views.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Posted for the G, the L, or the H people to read
--------------------
In his WorldNetDaily column, "How a Gay Rights Leader Became Straight," Glatze writes:
Part of the homosexual agenda is getting people to stop considering that conversion is even a viable question to be asked, let alone whether or not it works.
In my experience, "coming out" from under the influence of the homosexual mindset was the most liberating, beautiful and astonishing thing I've ever experienced in my entire life….
I believe that all people, intrinsically, know the truth. I believe that is why Christianity scares people so much. It reminds them of their conscience, which we all possess….
As a leader in the "gay rights" movement, I was given the opportunity to address the public many times. If I could take back some of the things I said, I would. Now I know that homosexuality is lust and pornography wrapped into one. I'll never let anybody try to convince me otherwise, no matter how slick their tongues or how sad their story. I have seen it. I know the truth.
--------------------
I am not saying people with such [G/L/H] tendencies are wrong. However, I do feel that it is wrong to suggest that such tendencies as within the natural tendencies.
In his WorldNetDaily column, "How a Gay Rights Leader Became Straight," Glatze writes:
Part of the homosexual agenda is getting people to stop considering that conversion is even a viable question to be asked, let alone whether or not it works.
In my experience, "coming out" from under the influence of the homosexual mindset was the most liberating, beautiful and astonishing thing I've ever experienced in my entire life….
I believe that all people, intrinsically, know the truth. I believe that is why Christianity scares people so much. It reminds them of their conscience, which we all possess….
As a leader in the "gay rights" movement, I was given the opportunity to address the public many times. If I could take back some of the things I said, I would. Now I know that homosexuality is lust and pornography wrapped into one. I'll never let anybody try to convince me otherwise, no matter how slick their tongues or how sad their story. I have seen it. I know the truth.
--------------------
I am not saying people with such [G/L/H] tendencies are wrong. However, I do feel that it is wrong to suggest that such tendencies as within the natural tendencies.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Three ugly sisters
In an article, Ann Widdecombe said "We have to take on the three ugly sisters: the rights culture, the compensation culture and political correctness."
Hey I like this! I am sure there are many who think so. Wonder how may we join force to take on these ugly sisters and many more.
The rights culture = selfishness, because of my rights, it is OK even if all the rest gotta suffer.
The political correctness = selfishness, because I need to remain in position to do more good things in the "future" [and to earn a good living] it is excusable to say wrong things at the moment, where this moment = the whole term in office.
I am not familiar with the compensation culture, which I am glad that my government is still striving hard to avoid.
Hey I like this! I am sure there are many who think so. Wonder how may we join force to take on these ugly sisters and many more.
The rights culture = selfishness, because of my rights, it is OK even if all the rest gotta suffer.
The political correctness = selfishness, because I need to remain in position to do more good things in the "future" [and to earn a good living] it is excusable to say wrong things at the moment, where this moment = the whole term in office.
I am not familiar with the compensation culture, which I am glad that my government is still striving hard to avoid.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Suffering
The word 'suffering' was mentioned on Sunday. Am I suffering? By what standard do I measure or compare against? Comparing to those starving in Africa, how can I say that I am suffering? However if I ask is my conscience at ease? Am I able to answer ‘yes’ comfortably? Then, if my conscience is not at ease, how can I say that I am not suffering? In a way, if we are not able to live a life of the highest moral standard, our conscience will not be at ease. Thus, deep inside us, we are actually suffering.
Then, there are probably two main ways to reduce the suffering, by living a life of the highest moral standard, or by ignoring the voices from our conscience.
Then, there are probably two main ways to reduce the suffering, by living a life of the highest moral standard, or by ignoring the voices from our conscience.
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