Let me tell you that I would have been better off not knowing because people that I looked upon as friends said some downright unfriendly things.

Which poses the question, is ignorance truly bliss? I say yes, but it’s important to learn from experiences to make yourself and the world a better place. If we were all truly ignorant to what Bush has done the world we be a horrible place because he would get away with whatever he wanted.

In your specific case, ignorance is bliss though.

If you want to remain reasonably happy, stay judiciously (and by design) dumb on some things.

Not there yet with kids, but it’s coming in the next 5 years… I assume you are speaking both generally and specifically (maybe about sex). I think that may be a standpoint the child appreciates too.

Then again, maybe that is something I should never see and just continue on doing what I do…

Amen to that.

I once had a security clearance done. Afterwards under the FOIA, you can ask to see what information the government collected from people they asked about you.

Let me tell you that I would have been better off not knowing because people that I looked upon as friends said some downright unfriendly things.

The corollary to that (and you may learn it later for yourself) is that as a parent, you shouldn’t be too keen to know everything about what your kids do. There’s waaay to much disappointment lurking there. If you want to remain reasonably happy, stay judiciously (and by design) dumb on some things.

This is crucial for anyone trying to convey a message or idea. Some people are turned off by certain words or methods of communicating and if the goal is to convey the message or idea than this should be taken into consideration.

Is the goal just to hear one’s self or to read what one has written? Or is it to have influence on others. One reason why conspiracy ideas never really take off. Those espousing the conspiracies have yet to figure out how to debate their ideas clearly with “skeptics”.

I don’t plan to change my writing style to circumvent profiling tools. When they come knocking for me, I guess I’ll be headed to the gulags.

I don’t really plan on changing my style for such a tool, but I also thought it might be funny to see how myself would be profiled. Then again, maybe that is something I should never see and just continue on doing what I do…

I think people generally write in the digital world with their own passion, emotion, and general feelings on issue x, whatever x may be. Sometimes this writing occurs without regard to the feelings of others. I think this may be due to the disconnect that exists between communicating in the digital world and the real world.

The point of communications is to present your view in an exchange of equals. If one finds themselves tempering their words in order to curry favor or as*kiss, it’s not really communication.

I found it funny because your quoted section is sorta true in my case although I don’t plan to change my writing style to circumvent profiling tools. When they come knocking for me, I guess I’ll be headed to the gulags.