Just How Certain ARE You?

[Simulist]

Hello, everyone.

I've had a very simple question for all of you for quite some time, but haven't quite known how to ask it. So here's an attempt. And the nice thing about answering this question in this manner is that, since it's in the form of a poll, the answer can be as anonymous as you want it to be. Verbal replies in this thread are appreciated, but totally optional of course.

(Oh, and yes! — you're free to change your answer along the way too, if you want. In other words, this poll is designed for the possibility that you might change your mind. Since those are options in the poll itself, this seems only fair.)

[Nordic]

Uh ..... what is this in relation to? Conspiracies? Politics? UFO'S? God?

Might want to narrow it down a little.

My answers would vary wildly based on these considerations.

[Simulist]

It's in relation to everything we talk about in the General Discussion area.

It's about what makes you, you — as regards where you're coming from when you post.

I purposely put it in General Discussion rather than in the Lounge because I think the overall orientation of each of us on this question touches upon how we choose to engage here, in the General Discussion area.

[brainpanhandler]

I know damn well what's going on, and I'm certain about what I believe.

Is there anyone here who self identifies with this as a general principle? And yet some members here maniacally accuse others incessantly of having this rigid mindset, here, at RI. Duh.

I've done the research. So... from here on out, my beliefs may change a little, but probably not that much.

This of course applies to a limited extent on a wide range of topics here. But I don't really like to associate myself with the statement, "my beliefs may change a little, but probably not that much", even if it is de facto true more than I would like to admit.

I've got some good information and a few intelligent ideas — but nothing is really certain.

I imagine this will be the majority vote here by a healthy margin. This provisional, humble stance is always a good starting point.

I'm still very much putting together my mosaic. Who really knows where the evidence may take me!

Down a rabbit hole, that's where. I suppose this is pretty close to the most honest answer I can give among the choices. Except I would say that I don't expect that my mosaic will ever be finished or that I can't disassemble and reconstruct any part of it at any time.

I'm a smart person, but when it gets right down to it... I really haven't a clue.

There is such a thing as false modesty.

______________________________________

You need another category:

I'm an idiot and when it get's right down to it I'm full of shit... but I like pretending I know what I'm talking about and telling everyone else they are the blind idiots while being blissfully unaware of the concept of projection and being completely incapable of honest self reflection.

[82_28]

[Searcher08]

I know damn well what's going on, and I'm certain about what I believe.

Is there anyone here who self identifies with this as a general principle? And yet some members here maniacally accuse others incessantly of having this rigid mindset, here, at RI. Duh.

I've done the research. So... from here on out, my beliefs may change a little, but probably not that much.

This of course applies to a limited extent on a wide range of topics here. But I don't really like to associate myself with the statement, "my beliefs may change a little, but probably not that much", even if it is de facto true more than I would like to admit.

I've got some good information and a few intelligent ideas — but nothing is really certain.

I imagine this will be the majority vote here by a healthy margin. This provisional, humble stance is always a good starting point.

I'm still very much putting together my mosaic. Who really knows where the evidence may take me!

Down a rabbit hole, that's where. I suppose this is pretty close to the most honest answer I can give among the choices. Except I would say that I don't expect that my mosaic will ever be finished or that I can't disassemble and reconstruct any part of it at any time.

I'm a smart person, but when it gets right down to it... I really haven't a clue.

There is such a thing as false modesty.

______________________________________

You need another category:

I'm an idiot and when it get's right down to it I'm full of shit... but I like pretending I know what I'm talking about and telling everyone else they are the blind idiots while being blissfully unaware of the concept of projection and being completely incapable of honest self reflection.

Simulist, could you change from Radio buttons to Check Boxes?

[Luposapien]

You need another category:

I'm an idiot and when it get's right down to it I'm full of shit... but I like pretending I know what I'm talking about and telling everyone else they are the blind idiots while being blissfully unaware of the concept of projection and being completely incapable of honest self reflection.

I'm almost entierly certain this qualifies as a subsection of I know damn well what's going on, and I'm certain about what I believe.

[Harvey]

I happened to be online and just happened to visit RI so... From now on I'm gone fishing for the rest of my days, so I'll see ya around. I'm the one who went all in. For the record, there has to be at least one absolutely monumental asshole on this board or else where's the fun?

[Ben D]

Simulist, there is a presumption in your questions that all RI member's sense of consciousness are limited to/identified with their lower mind's ego predisposdition to see reality through a subject - object perpsective. The thing is that this subject - object dualistic perspective of apprehending Reality prevents the apprehension of the fact that there really is only ONE Absolute Reality, the subject - object perspective being a relative one, and though it can be developed to an extraordinary degree in the service of material life and science and Cosmic evolutionary goals, it will forever be a limited perspective,...a relative observation of Reality comprising two primary aspects, me the observer, and not me, the observed.

That's the real goal of meditation and like minded religious practice which is meant to lead to the transcending of the lower mind's 'one trick pony' Dualistic faculty through the development of the higher mind's faculties of Intuition, then Wisdom (Buddhi), and ultimately Enlightnement (Non-duality/Cosmic Consciousness).

[kafor]

After 62 years, a huge amount of reading and research in a variety of areas, I've come to see that everything has been spun and filtered. If not by external (to me) sources, then by my own preconceptions and beliefs. It seems that recently, "Follow the Money", is pretty accurate. And, I'm about 99% sure I like some music.

[Marie Laveau]

I don't think anyone has a clue. We don't know if the information we are being fed is straight up, or straight out of some .gov milieu.

I think when everything comes out in the wash we're all going to be shocked as hell....er, heaven....whatever.

All I do is put my two cents worth in. And that's about all anything anybody says is worth. It's interesting, no doubt about it. But truth? I highly doubt it. Bits and portions, perhaps. But not in the same sentence.

[brainpanhandler]

I happened to be online and just happened to visit RI so... From now on I'm gone fishing for the rest of my days, so I'll see ya around. I'm the one who went all in. For the record, there has to be at least one absolutely monumental asshole on this board or else where's the fun?

I assume you're talking about me Harvey, which is fine. Despite the fact that you are apparently no longer with us I have to ask, just how certain are you?

[Searcher08]

I happened to be online and just happened to visit RI so... From now on I'm gone fishing for the rest of my days, so I'll see ya around. I'm the one who went all in. For the record, there has to be at least one absolutely monumental asshole on this board or else where's the fun?

I assume you're talking about me Harvey, which is fine. Despite the fact that you are apparently no longer with us I have to ask, just how certain are you?

What if certainty is not a spectrum from total uncertainty to total certainty, but states?

How certain are you regarding Schrodinger's cat?

[Forgetting2]

How many people might say that they 'know who they are?' Or are 'to their own selves true?'

[Harvey]

I happened to be online and just happened to visit RI so... From now on I'm gone fishing for the rest of my days, so I'll see ya around. I'm the one who went all in. For the record, there has to be at least one absolutely monumental asshole on this board or else where's the fun?

I assume you're talking about me Harvey, which is fine. Despite the fact that you are apparently no longer with us I have to ask, just how certain are you?

Huh?

Brainpan, the idea that you might think I could suggest that of you not only surprises and pains me, it probably speaks more of the topic of uncertainty than anything else we'll read here. Well, you dragged me back to answer. No I wasn't talking about you. That was a hell of an assumption!

In fact, I'm the monumental asshole who voted for I know damn well what's going on, and I'm certain about what I believe. Just goes to show, some people can't see an asshole when it's right in front of them, instead of behind them where it ought to be!

Let that be a lesson to you, there's at least one joker in every deck.