- I never do these things. I generally don’t think I’m interesting enough to bother. But I do blog and Twitter, so I’m not as self-effacing as all THAT.
- I like to do things the “right” way. That may or may not be similar to the popular, politically-correct, or even legal way. For example, I have done my best to use typographically correct punctuation throughout this note.
- I did not drink alcohol or smoke anything before the age of 21. I did not become inebriated before the age of 30.
- I really like heavy, dark ales, leggy, dark red wines, and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey. I’m willing to try any liquor.
- I don’t like to get drunk; if my judgement starts to get “off”, I usually go to bed. I don’t like being out of control.
- I enjoy pipe tobacco and mild cigars, but I don’t like smoking too much. Once a week is plenty. If I start smoking daily, I usually quit for a few months to get it out of my system.
- I have never used recreational drugs. I don’t believe it’s possible to get “just a little bit stoned”.
- I have a giant-sized ego. I’m always working on getting better at that.
- I am fiercely individualistic. I sincerely believe that the Universe must be understood on the basis of the primacy of the individual, beginning with Yahweh and his one-on-one relationship with Adam.
- (Or more esoterically theological, with himself in each person of the trinity. The essential nature of God is loving relationship.)
- I believe that humans were created as glorious beings, made poor choices that degraded their own glory, and are destined to be restored to their original glory — and even more.
- I believe it is impossible for any individual human to reach his destiny without a surrendering his complete being to Yahweh, whose purpose for humanity is to restore each human to their original glory through deep loving relationship with himself.
- I believe that I am a thoroughly orthodox Christian. That does not mean I agree with the majority of Christians, or even with the majority of Christian leaders. It means I agree with the basic tenets of Christianity.
- I love to discuss worldviews.
- The most important understanding is: objective reality exists, independent of perception.
- The second most important understanding is: Truth is that which agrees with objective reality. Statements can be more True or less True. It’s really really hard for a statement to be perfectly True.
- The third most important understanding is: Truth is discoverable, through the Scientific Method and other means.
- The fourth most important understanding is: objective Morality exists, and everybody behaves as though they believe it. That’s the only basis for being able to say “That person is evil” or “That is not fair” instead of “Hitler was just following his own reality and path, and was fully justified in his actions.”
- Once we can agree on points 15 through 18, we can discuss any issue from a sensible common ground.
- Most of my discussions with people never get past points 15 through 18.
- I love to talk with people one-on-one, or in very small groups. I am much less comfortable in a group larger than about six.
- This is only partially because I like being able to be the one talking 50% of the time without feeling guilty about it.
- Speaking publicly does not count, because I get to talk 100% of the time, and everybody else gets to listen to me.
- I have struggled with depression since I was 7. Sometimes I take prescription medicine to stay sane. It helps a lot.
- I am not a particularly entertaining writer. I tend to write in a verbose and pedantic style. That’s how I roll.
- My natural tendency is to be a nice guy. I have found, however, that sometimes it’s impossible for a nice guy to get anything done. Sometimes you just have to be a jerk to get people’s attention. Sad, but true.
- It usually takes me a little longer to stop talking than originally planned.
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