Want to know the two most important things I have learned in 57 years?

[NNN0LHI]

1. If you have some money or even just a good paying job, don't tell anyone about it. And when I say don't tell anyone, I mean no one. Not even friends you have known your entire life. Even the kind of friends you think you could trust with your life. Because jealousy makes people turn into scum. They will do everything they can to take away what you have. And family will do the same thing.

2. Conversely, if you are ever in financial trouble don't let anyone know about your plight. Because they will screw you over that too. They will use the fact that you are hurting and take what little bit you do have away from you because they know you are vulnerable. Even if they really don't need the little bit you have they will still try and screw you out of what little bit you have.

99% of human beings I have known throughout my life would all do what I just described above. They would steal the pennies off their own dead mothers eyes if given the chance.

Nice world we live in, eh?

Don

[lpbk2713]

1. Question authority.

That concept has served me well for 68 years.

[NNN0LHI]

4. I figured that out when I was 7 years old

I was sitting with about 30 other girls and boys about my age in catechism class when the priest came in to talk to us.

The subject he wanted to discuss was masturbation.

He wanted to explain to us how guilty we should feel if any of us masturbated or even thought about it.

I turned around to look into the other little kids faces and seen the look of horror on all their faces. That was the reaction he wanted to see from us all.

Now why would someone do that to a group of little kids like that?

I knew immediately why he did it. That dirty piece of shit priest.

I hate him to this day for doing that.

Don

[MrMickeysMom]

7. Jesus, Don...

You must be an old soul, having figured that out at age 7. Also, I was a little surprised, but really do believe that people can do that. I guess I just don't have as many experiences as you in what family will do.

I wish you the best of experiences in your still rather youthful life. I can say this, cause I'm a year older...

I hope people evolve, as I hope the same for myself. What else can we do but get better as a society at this point?

[RKP5637]

2. Many people get weird about money, really really weird. I would like

to live in a world where money meant nothing, fat chance in my remaining years.

[hfojvt]

3. I must be hanging out with the 1%

I have not noticed either of those things in my 50 years. Most people have known me as a saver, and I have never seen that knowlesge turn them into scum.

On the other hand, I am not sure I have ever really needed financial help, but I have been poor and have gotten help from family, friends, neighbors, aquaintances, strangers.

[dhill926]

5. man.....

sorry you know so many dicks. Not my experience at all.....

[Old Codger]

6. I really feel

Sorry for you that you have been inflicted with so many assholes in your life. Believe it or not there are many many good people in this world who would not treat anyone as you describe your experience, I guess I have been especially fortunate in that I have not met that many who would treat anyone like that. Not that I have not seen some who would but definitely not anywhere near the majority of them.

[AsahinaKimi]

8. Has it always been this way?

Has there never been a time when we had a "kinder, gentler nation?". Maybe as a child you don't see things until you are little more grown up. I know a lot has changed since I have grown up.. This country had things like CARE PACKAGES, and the PEACE CORPS, and charities that seemed to go out of their way to help people. Now the cities are filled with homeless, with no places to go, Companies won't even talk to you any more when applying for work. ("Go on line and fill out this application".) And even Veterans are mistreated.

I don't know this country anymore.

[RagAss]

9. I believe his comments were about people in general, not just Americans.

[AsahinaKimi]

12. well

I guess if he has lived in other countries...but I am just speaking of my experience as an American. I have never lived in another country, though I may know a little about how Japanese think and feel about things... I can't say for certainty, since I have never lived In Japan. I just know how my dad thinks, and hes from Osaka, which maybe entirely different than someone from Tokyo.

[cherokeeprogressive]

10. I don't know about your family, but you sure need better friends.

99% of the humans you've ever known?

You got screwed by the Karma Gods it seems.

[Fumesucker]

11. Eh, I never had a chance to find out about #1, never had what I would call a really good paying job.

The most I ever made was when I owned my own business but that's so damn sporadic you can't really count on it because you know the flow could dry up tomorrow..

As far as #2, that's been pretty much the story of most of my life.