Choose one truism from Jenny Holzer’s “Truisms,” and briefly explain why it is not–or should not–be true. Post is due before 12 p.m. on Monday 8/29. Keep response under 50 words, por favor.
by Sydney
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Remember, Holzer compiled this list; she did not write it…
“Old friends are better left in the past.”
I disagree with this. Old friends can be with you throughout your life. They can often give you a better perspective on your problems and issues the longer you’ve known them. Taking friends you’ve known forever with you throughout your journey in the world can make the journey less frightening and more interesting.
I agree, I have been friends with this one girl for 15 years. She knows me better than anyone else, and she’s always there for me. She’s become much like a sister and it’s nice to have a long history of friendship! It would be stupid to stop being friends, just because they are a long time friend.
“Bad Intentions can yield good results”
I disagree with this truism. When one dose a bad thing it can never be good, because someone had to do something wrong or bad before it became a good result. Therefore the intention will always start from a bad thought or place, which is always looked back on as something negative. I also believe in Karma.
“Old friends are better left in the past” is a truism i disagree with for an old friend is worth a lot.With an old friend their will always be a special bond that one will share,regardless of any happenings.
“War is a purification rite.”
There isn’t anything purifying about war. Death, dismemberment, grieving families, but most of all a guilty concious and survivals guilty is hardly a purification rite. As a Iraq War vet I deal with the constant guilt of coming home on my own two feet when other have/are coming home in boxes to greving families. War is a monster that sometimes can’t be avoided, but very few know the realites of it and the one that do know suffer in silience.
Very Well Put….. And I want to personally “Thank You” for any sacrifice that you (and other service men & women) have to endure when fighting for our country’s freedom!!!!
“Boredom makes you do crazy things”
I believe that great things can come from boredom such as songs, artwork, a chance to look at who you are without distraction, etc. My room is clean right now as a result of boredom. On the other hand I do believe that people are capable of doing crazy things out of boredom. But at the same time people are also capable of doing crazy things not out of boredom, but just insanity. The two might be correlated but that does not prove boredom causes crazy behavior.
So, the truism is sort of true?
I think it can describe certain people, but in order for it to be true it has to be for everyone. When someone is bored it gives them time to think and if someone decides to do something crazy it is not a result of the boredom, but the person. In our society we are so over stimulated that certain people just don’t know what to do with themselves when they are bored. Personally, when I am bored I am more likely to be productive than do something crazy. This truism is based on each individual, not people as a whole, so it is not true.
old friends are better left in the past
I disagree on this because I think that old friends are the ones who should be kept forever. They are the ones who knows you better and have been there through out your life. Many memories either good or bad that has been made with them that should be treasured for a long period of time.
old friends are better left in the past
I disagree on this because I think that old friends are the ones who should be kept forever. They are the ones who knows you better. Also, they know how to help you out in case of trouble. Many memories either good or bad that has been made with them that should be treasured for a long period of time.
“The cruelest disappointment is when you let yourself down.”
Honestly, I think the opposite is true. It is much more hurtful when someone else lets you down because you put some amount of trust in that person and when they disappoint you, it feels much more personal. If I let myself down, it’s not as intense of a feeling because I [usually] know why I couldn’t pull through, what I can do to fix it, and how to prevent future failures. Trusting another person is very VERY hard to do in the first place, and when it falls through the repercussions echo across your relationships with others for a long time..
LoL Jaqi…. LoL! Too Cute….. Weren’t you on the other-side @ one point?!?!
Truism
“Talking is used to hide one’s inability to act” may refer to those who speak loudly during a fight. To me this is inaccurate and is far from the truth, a vast majority of the country’s decisions, laws, and policies are created by orators. Orators such as J.F.K. , Martin Luther King Jr., and our current president Barack Obama.
“The land belongs to no one”
Yeah, try telling that to my ‘Landlord’.
@Alex–that’s not enough. True, but not enough. Avoid the easy way out…
The truism that should not be true is, “enjoy yourself because you can’t change anything anyway.” There are ways we can change things about ourselves. Surgery can change us on the outside, and simply just acting a different way is how we can change who we are on the inside.
I agree, if we lived a hedonistic lifestyle we wouldn’t stop and think about the power of change that we are capable of. I think that we should make sure that this truism isn’t a valid one nowadays. Instead of having a good time and partying, we should unite and change for peace, end the wars and turmoil.
The truism, “Enjoy yourself because you can’t change anything anyway” from Jenny Holzer’s “Truisms,” is not true because change is inevitable. Everyone’s body is consistently changing whether it be physically, spiritually, or even mentally. With today’s technology a person who doesn’t enjoy themselves as a whole can change that with plastic surgery, counseling, and even going to church more if that is their interest.
The truism “Words tend to be inadequate” isn’t true because words tend to have the biggest effect in our country and can do the biggest harm to anyone on the receiving end. Especially now in our day-and-age with cyberbullying, thousands of students who are judged or perceived different from their peers are constantly harrassed over social network sites such as Facebook and Myspace. There have been teens who have committed suicide over the harmful effects that cyberbullying does to their self-esteem. The worst of it is that it causes other people to join in on the harrasing thinking it’s cool, not knowing that it does actual harm to human being.
I generally agree with your statement, because its an area where it would make the truism not acceptable; but, i think that if we generalize the statement a little more, I’d have to agree with it. Anyone can talk big, and rant and rave, but without action all it is, is a thought left not acted upon and i think a lot of people have amazing insight at what they’d like to see as change in the world, but that’s all we ever do, talk and in times like the one that we’re living in, action is more important now more than ever.
The truism saying, “Just believing something can make it happen” is most certainly not true. We’ve all wanted to have things, whether it be miracles or material objects. When we are young and without logic we think that this is true. Just because someone wants something to happen doesn’t mean that it will, or that it will appear in front of you out of thin air.
I would like to respectfully disagree. For example, if you are hiking a large and challenging mountain if you believe you will never make it, than you probably wont. However if you believe you can and will make it to the top than I think you will.
“The more you know, the better off you are”
This truism is inaccurate, in my opinion. When reading this “truism” another truism comes to mind, “Ignorance is bliss.” Sometimes its better to keep some things unknown because, “what you don’t know, can’t hurt you.” Although in certain situations, “knowledge is power,” in others, this is not true. This “truism” does not completely fit its definition.
I don’t agree with the idea that sometimes “Ignorance is bliss.” Just because you don’t know about something doesn’t mean it wont affect you. In my opinion the truism “the more you know, the better off you are” is very true and fits the definition of truth very well. I mean can you give me an example when not knowing something will help you? I certainly cant.
“ignorance is bliss”.. it may not help you, but it wont harm you either. if someone said “wow that girl is really fat” in regards to me, i would rather not know, because knowing wouldn’t really help me. The fact that they said it, doesnt harm me, but if i knew they said it, i would be hurt.
Better safe then sorry… Ooh… I just came up with another truism… LOL
“Any surplus is immoral”
I think that this is not a self evident truth in all cultures, maybe some, but not all. For one I think that having a surplus is sometimes a good thing. Like in winter time in other countries they definitely stock up on food to last through the winter and even longer. I like having a surplus of knowledge on every subject i enjoy and i don’t think it is the least bit immoral. w3rd
wait a second. timothy searcy ? as in Tim ? from bonita ?
Maybe she referring to “back in the day”…. When people were morally obligated to give any extra surplus to another person who was in need of it! Say, back in the Depression days…. When one person had a surplus of food, wouldn’t you want that person to give any extra food to a needy starving child?!?! But it would be immorally wrong for that person (with the surplus of food) to squander the food til it was to spoil….. Instead of spreading the so-called “wealth” to the needy child!!!!!
“Labor is a life-destroying activity.” How many retirees have we all heard about that just cannot stay retired. People need something to do, something that they are interested in, something that in the end will give them a sense of accomplishment. And it is very difficult to achieve a sense of accomplishment without earning it.
“YOUR ACTIONS ARE POINTLESS IF NO ONE NOTICES”
Your actions are always important because you will always know what you have done. Our actions influence our self respect. If you are proud of your actions you will respect yourself more. If you are ashamed of your actions than it will damage your self esteem.
I must say that i agree with you on this one.
“A man can’t know what it’s like to be a mother”
Are we talking about the mother who gave birth? I happen to know plenty of men who act more like mothers then mothers do. Men are raising children without wives. In a family with two homosexuals, who is acting as the father? Or do they both act like fathers? What is the role of a mother anyway?
I think she means maybe the act of labor…. A man won’t know the EXCRUTIATING pain a woman goes through during child labor. Also I was raised with just a Father & believe me…. It was VERY difficult for my dad to relate to me when I wasgrowing up what was happening to me physically & emotionally (because he never personally endured it… Wasn’t a 16yo female!!!!)
Truism, “This land belongs to no one”
Even though I agree that no one can really own land that is not really how it works in the “real world”. In the United States especially in a time of economic turmoil such as this, one of the best investments is in property. So maybe in a pretty theoretical utopian world this may be true but in actuality it is definitely not.
“Chasing the new is dangerous to society” -Jenny Holtzer
My interpretation of this truism is that if you keep looking for new things or new ways to do things, it will be dangerous to society.
I do not believe this is true because when new technology comes out, it usually benefits society, and people really enjoy new things. The only way I can see it being true is if she was talking about the fact that technology is taking over so that people eventually will just sit at home on their computers, never actually seeing another person face to face.
-Danielle
“Disgust is the appropriate response to most situations”, is one of the best examples of fallacy I have found on Jenny’s list of truisms. Disgust provokes loathing which leads to anger and hostility. Therefore, if everyone used “disgust” to handle situations, the world would be swarming with pissed off antagonists.
haha.. bravo. I like this rant.
“Old friends are better left in the past”
In my opinion, this is not completely true because if you’ve know someone for a long time and stayed in contact with them, couldn’t they be considered an old friend?
I think she means maybe that because we are constantly evolving & growing as people and some people (old friends) choose to stay stationary (not furthering their education or staying at their ol’ ho-hum “comfortable” job) that we sometimes can’t relate to those kinds of people. For Example: one friend goes to college and earns a Masters in say Psychology. Another friend chooses to have 3 babies….. It’s going to be hard for them to relate in what’s happening in their current lives!
“Old friends are better left in the past”
A key step in making a new friend is that an individual must explain who they are, what they stand for and where they came from. An old friend already knows- no explanation needed. A person can not talk to a new friend about something the new friend knows nothing about.
Agreed, it’s better not to have to start over and ‘re-explain’ yourself. I don’t know about y’all, but I don’t like repeating myself tons of times.
“LABOR IS A LIFE-DESTROYING ACTIVITY”
This is a contradicting statement. I believe labor of any kind has a way of helping an individual. Some labor may help you become a better person or cause you to look at something from a different angle or perspective. Labor should not be seen as ‘life-destroying’, it can make someone stronger both mentally and physically.
“Government,” writes Jenny Holzer, “is a burden on the people.” The Tea Party would certainly like you to believe this. How quickly we forget: government is the people. The U.S. Constitution’s preamble makes clear that government is what we make of it and how we use it to better ourselves.
Abraham Lincoln once say,
“Government of the people, BY THE PEOPLE, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.”
Your right Christopher we are the goverment we the people voted them in.
“Children are the hope of the future” is not a true statement. I hear people say this a lot and I disagree. Everyone should be the hope of the future, just like everyone is the hope of their own future. No matter the age, everyone can do something about the future not just children.
I agree with you, anyone at anytime can make a difference. You can’t change anyone, you can only change yourself.
“Enjoy yourself because you can’t change anything anyway”
I don’t believe that’s true because if you’re not happy with yourself whether it’s physically or emotionally you can change something about yourself or life that isn’t making you happy. People are constantly changing something about themselves whether it’s a nose job or changing the people they surround themselves with.
“Abuse of power comes as no surprise.” – Jenny Holzer
Though in many cases in our society this statement is in fact true, I strongly believe that the abuse of power should come as a surprise. Power is entrusted to a person or people, along with the expectation that they be responsible with the power they were given.
Jenny Holzer says, “If you live simply there is nothing to worry about.” This statement should not be true because the essence of life is about overcoming the struggles and obstacles we encounter every day. I believe there is nothing in life that is simple. Every step we make requires hard work.
“Being sure of yourself means you’re a fool”
I feel that this truism is not true in almost every level. When one is sure of themselves it shows confidence, and with confidence it allows you to do countless things. Some better than others, but with out risk where will we be today.
you don’t need to be confident to take risks. you just simply need to be a risk-taker. I completely agree with Jenny Holzer. If you are completely sure of yourself, you leave no room for doubt. no doubt, means you won’t think twice about the given situation. Our world changes, day by day, year by year. We were CERTAIN… according to the bush administration, that there were WMD’s in Iraq. and without question we jumped the gun and found nothing but a now, 10 year war in the middle east.
I think to be unsure of yourself is to be wise, because you’re always OPEN to a different possibility, a different solution, a new way of thinking.
“trading a life for a life is fair enough”
I do not think that is fair enought because killing is never good, even if someone kill another person, taking his or her life gives kind of realive, but what really happens is that all the saddnest that you felt goes to the relatives of the other person, and is a chain that would never end if you do not stop killing.
“an eye for an eye make the whole world blind”
Truism, “Moderation kills the spirit”, not true because look at America. Americans indulge in gluttony thus exceeding our obesity rates. Not to mention having everything in abundance enables a person to appreciate what they have little of. Moderation leads to variety, and variety enhances life and spirit. AND moderation can teach an individual to learn self discipline.
The truism “In some instances it’s better to die than to continue” is not true because death affects other more than ourselves. Dying may seem as the best outcome if we live in fear or comitted a horrible crime but, its actaully the worst outcome to the people around us. For example, if a cold blooded killer is convicted of murder and is sentence to death it does not facilitate the victim’s family’s life by dying because, it does not bring back the loved one who they’ve killed. Also, the murder has a family that,surely regret his bad actions but, would suffer emotionally from his death.
“Illness is a state of mind”
I read a quote one time that said “Think of your mind as a dangerous neighborhood, don’t go there alone.” From Augusten Burroughs. It reminded me of this truism from Jenny Holzer. Most of the time when we are fixated on a problem or when something is bothering us we blow it way out of proportion. Once this idea is laid out in writing or in speach it seems so mediocre. Keeping problems bottled up will often drive a person crazy, it is always good to express your opinions in either words, writing, or any creative way.
I agree with you Patrick, and I absolutely love the second quote you mentioned.
I too, like the neighborhood quote, though I think the truism about illness is quite dangerous…
“Mostly You Should Mind Your Own Business” and “Sometimes All You Can Do Is Look The Other Way”
How many instances have crimes occurred with little to no intervention. Take for example 11-year old Jaycee Lee Duggard who was kidnapped and held in a concealed area behind her kidnappers house in a residential area of Antioch, CA for 18 years! Maybe she would have been found a LOT earlier if neighbors were more aware of their surroundings and questioned circumstances that were happening right underneath their noses!!!!!
I also wanted to touch on another case….
On March 13,1964; a young woman (Catherine “Kitty” Genovese) was walking from her car to her apartment complex (approx. 100 ft) and was brutally attacked, stabbed and raped in a 30 minute time span and none of her neighbors intervened or attempted to call the police. Her assailant attacked her, in (which the victim screamed “Oh My God, He Stabbed Me! Help Me!”) he was alarmed by some nearby ruckus…. Left and came back to further assault and rape her. Not one of the approximately 38 neighbors called the police for help…. Which to this day, is known as the “Bystander Effect” (where individuals do not offer any means of help in an emergency situation to the victim when other people are present…. Believing “Someone ELSE With Help!!!!!!!”)
Now do you believe if people would WAKE UP and get a little more INVOLVED in what’s happening around them that Kitty Genovese would be alive today? Or Jaycee Duggard would have been brutally kidnapped, raped & held against her will for 18-years!!!!!
I have heard of that case before! I read about it last semester in my English class. I agree with you, people should stop turning the other cheek so that people’s lives would be saved more.
“YOUR ACTIONS ARE POINTLESS IF NO ONE NOTICES”
Many of us show actions for someone to notice. We feel so good about ourselves when we know we did something good. Whether a person see’s someone’s actions or not I do not believe it is pointless. You should accomplish things for yourself. You may not realize it, but someone is always watching a good deed happen.
“It’s better to to study the living fact than to analyze history”
I have to disagree with this truism because history is there and is a part of us. Where we come from and our long line of ancestors is a part of history. My history teacher for this semester told me and the class we study history so we can understand the culture and the events that are happening in this country a lot more, and I very much agree with her because how are we able to understand what is going on in Libya if we do not study their history when their culture and these events are all linked to history?
“Enjoy yourself because you can’t change anything anyway”
I feel this is wrong on so many levels. Change is what keeps life going as well, change keeps life interesting. Everything and everyone is constantly changing. I for one have made drastic changes in my life in the past three years to get where Im at today and if I felt this truism was true I would be screwed.
“You have to hurt others to be extraordinary”
I completely disagree, there are people who do so much good–that become extraordinary people; I don’t believe you have to take someone down to reach that level. People who are willing to work hard, and give 110% in all levels can reach that status, although there are exceptions in every aspect of life.
I felt the need to do a second one due to the recent event (my car was broken into in mid-day and no one ‘saw’ it).
“Mostly You Should Mind Your Own Business”
There are some people who cannot stand up for themselves, or are not around to do so. In the case of disabled individuals, if they are being mistreated someone should report this offense. They can’t stand up for themselves so they need someone to be their voice.
Yeah I definitely agree…. U am ADDICTED to this show on NBC called “So What Would You Do?” (Fridays @ 9 or 10 PM). The show is a hidden-camera show in which they set up everyday scenarios that reflect on how people react, why they react, and when they decide to. Scenarios that are staged are usually injustices or illegal activity; things you do not experience in everyday life. (Taking place on a sidewalk right next to the public, three teenagers are beating on and taunting a homeless man! Or a grocery bagger notably has Down syndrome and is insulted and raged at by a shopper, who calls him a “retard” just because of his condition.)
The Show Is AMAZING and really makes you think about “What You Would Do” if you were in that situation!!!!!!!!!
Oh yes, I’ve seen it before. I watch it on Hulu. It’s really a great show, and I love when someone actually stands up for the victim. Such a great use of television!
Truisum: “Noise can be Hostile”- Jenny Holzer
This quote caught my attention because of the word “noise”. There are different tyes of noise, and each type is paired with a different thought/emotion. For example; Hearing someone you care about breathing quietly beside you, as you think how wonderful it feels to enjoy someone’s company. How lonely would the world be without noise? Sometimes, noise can be ones only companion.
“it is a gift to the world not to have babies”
I think this “truism” is completely false because babies are the future. Technology is booming and one day the babies of today are going to be the Einsteins and technology genious’ of the future. The babies of today are going to help save our lives when we are old and wrinkly and our generation can’t figure out how to use the new technology.
“People are nuts if they think they are important”
Everyone has certain traits and characteristics to there person that make them unique and significant in some way. Every being, everything in existence, has a unique value that can not be denied. People, with their enigmatic and dynamic ways are truly amazing. Every one is significant and ultimately meaningful, without letting arrogance or selfishness overpower their ideology, individuals should always believe in their self importance.
“Being sure of yourself means your a fool”
I believe that this truism is true, It is one thing to be confident or sure of yourself in some things, but being overconfident is when someone has the mindset that they are the champion at everything – they never doubt their abilities.That to me is foolish. No one is perfect. Sometimes the whole being sure of yourself thing means that your hiding whats really bothering you inside. Its a defense!!!
I agree with that fact that being overly confident is foolish. The truth of the matter is that in the end, we’ll never be FULLY sure of ourselves. There’s always going to be some questions that we have about our own self- at least I believe so. Knowing everything is ignorance (which is another truism on our list).
“Repetition is the best way to learn.” – Jenny Holzer
Repetition definitely is a way to learn, it plays a part in most learning processes. Certain level of repetition is necessary to move short term memory into long term memory. But to say it is the Best? To learn anything? There are better ways to learn about addiction then repeatedly succumbing to your vice of choice and experiencing the results. Ways that don’t sacrifice your long term health or compromise your present experiences.
“Noise Can Be Hostile”
This particular truism should not be interpreted as the truth, however the opposite could be. In most situations, figuratively speaking, silence can be more hostile than noise. For example, in public people are more comfortable when there is noise. When a silence falls upon a group of people it can be awkward, create unwanted pressure on people, and sometimes cause major miscommunication.
“Expressing anger is necessary”
I completely disagree with this truism. While anger is a common human emotion, it’s not one we benefit from. I find that when immediate anger is expressed, situations become blown far out of proportion. Many negative situations caused by anger could have be avoided if the people just take the time to step back, clear their heads and look at the situation logically.
I agree with your statement of immediate anger can cause problems, but at the same time I think that suppressed anger can be just as problematic.
“It’s better to study the living fact than to analyze history”
I would have to disagree with this truism because history makes us who we are today. If no one went back and analyzed past events, society would not have progressed to where it is. . History also helps us understand other cultures around the world which is imperative since we live in a global community.
”Government is a burden on the people.” -Holzer
One need only look to the political thoughts of Thomas Hobbes or John Locke to find fallacy in this statement. Both men believed that society required a sovereign authority to provide both law and order. They believed that a society void of any central leadership would be doomed from that start and ultimately collapse. (Not to mention the public/economic/security services provide by the government).
“You must disagree with authority Figures”
I disagree here, authority figures are there for a reason. Police protect us, they keep rules in order, and they are someone you can trust. People call police pigs and stupid cop for giving me a ticket. That is what they are there for to remind us to be safe, remind us that we do have rules that help us and make us safer.
“calm is more conductive to creativity than is anxiety”
I totally disagree with this truism because from personal experience my anxiety has make me think of certain sonorous that are creative and mostly to the extreme. I do believe that good creative concepts can come out of being in a “calm” state of mind, but I personally have been at my best in creative writing when I feel some sort of anxiety qualities inside of myself.
“Just believing something can make it happen”
I have to disagree with this because you have to go after what you believe in. If you just think you can do something and not act on it then its most likely not going to happen. It takes a lot of effort to make your beliefs come true. you have to work at it every day if you want your dreams to come true.
Truism: “a man can’t know what it’s like to be a mother.”
To be a mother does not mean you have to be female. It doesn’t even mean that your child is genetically yours. Men can experience the emotional ties to a child as a mother does. When one takes a role as a parent, he or she do whatever they feel necessary to accommodate the needs of their children. A man has the ability to posse all the tools as a mother do, including a protective maternal instinct.
“Freedom is a luxury not a necessity”. From moment I read this I knew this truism should’t be true. Freedom shouldn’t be a luxury, although this country is blessed to have freedom unlike other countries, we often take it for granted. Every country deserves freedom and shouldn’t have to be control by a government or a higher power.
“Words tend to be inadequate”
I believe that words are just a very minute way of expressing what we are thinking. Our thoughts, our dreams, our concepts are so precious that I find it impossible to truly express what our minds are processing. Words only add up to a fraction of what we could be “saying”.
“Absolute Submission can be a form of freedom”
Although, absolute submission can be viewed as a form of some freedom, it should not be viewed as any type of freedom, because it is limiting your capabilities to excel in life. By submitting to everything, you are giving all your freedom. You are not allowing yourself any freedom of speech.
“the idea of revolution is an adolescent fantasy”
I would like to think that revolution is more than just a fantasy at this day in age. We have seen many countries in the past overthrow tyrannical kings and queens to get to a better place. If we absolutely needed a revolution here in the states, I’d like to think the people would get up and motivated and start making changes.
“It’s better to study the living facts than to analyze history.”
I disagree. Three seperate wars (The Franco-Prussian War [1870], WW1 [1914], and WW2 [1939]) were simply the continuation of hostilities, simply because people could not look into the past and realize that destroying one’s enemy utterly is a recipe for disaster. The Prussians beat the French, who then returned the favor, who then started a war (and ultimately lost) to return the favor.
“The cruelest disappointment is when you let yourself down.”
This one may be true for some people, but it isn’t a truism. In my eyes letting yourself down, however bad that might feel, is nothing compared to letting someone else who you care about down. If you let yourself down then you can easily get back up and try again. Truly letting someone else down though; It could take you an eternity to make it right again.
Sorry this went over limit.
“You never know what people really think about you.”
I find this to be a very impractical truism considering that people ask questions. Anyone may know what another thinks of them, they must simply ask the right question.
“Enjoy yourself because you can’t change anything anyway”
Many people in the past have proven that this is not a truism, for example Albert Einstein and Martin Luther King. These two people had a huge impact on the society of their day and changed the way things are seen today. I think this mentality is very prevalent in today’s society, making people think this is a truism when it really isn’t.
“its heroic to try and stop time”
I would have to disagree with this truism. Trying to stop time is a wasted effort. I believe that its better to live in the moment and except getting older then to try and bend time to our will. I don’t think there is anything heroic about not excepting change.
“Expressing anger is necessary”
Expressing anger is not necessary. I consider anger to be a secondary emotion, there usually is either sadness or fear hidden behind anger. If people would take the time to ask themselves what they truly feel before becoming angry there would be a lot less violence in the world.
“Your actions are pointless if no one notices”
I strongly disagree with this truism. Actions are what make you who you are. It shouldn’t matter if someone was there to catch you doing a good deed or not, it’s what’s in your heart and concious to know that your doing what is right without needing a “reward” for it. It’s like unconditional love, you do it because you want to despite the credit you’ll receive.
“It’s better to study the living fact than to analyze history”
I don’t think this truism is true because history makes today. There are some problems that are happening today relate to history, so we need to know the history to understand the problems.
“Old friends are better left in the past”
I believe that this truism is not true. Although there are acquaintances that we know but then drift apart, real friends stay in your life and grow with you. Old friends can be very helpful in your life because they know you and can give you better advice and will be more honest.
The truisms “Eating too much is criminal” should not be true. Even though people who getting too much foods that they supposed to have, is not good for their health.However, people who want to eat too much is because eating can help them to forget sadness, and make them feel relax and happiness after getting more food. It’s not feel like getting in jail, it’s like going to the heaven.
The “truism” people are boaring unlesss they’re extremists makes me cringe, because I can only tollerate loud, aggressive, obnoxious people in short doses, or they start to get on my nerves. Also extremists like to stick to their beliefs, and tend to be somewhat charismatic and likeable, which isnt necessarily a bad thing, unless they are crazy.. like say, Charles Manson, or Hitler.
anger or hate can be a useful motivating force:
this is true, but should not be, in reference to another truism “bad intentions can yield good results” we live in a world where the only thing that matters is the end result and we would rather ignore the journey, when really you can get more from the journey, the world is upside down. Yes hate can motivate but why let it? Its better to enjoy the fruits of you labor, which if they are attached to hate you never fully can. Like the man who wanted to win the lotto just to buy the business he worked for to fire his boss, or make his life miserable. Or the boss who got the ball rolling. Why
“Boredom makes you do crazy things”
I don’t think this truism is true simply because when someone is bored their mind doesn’t go crazy, instead i think your mind gets more innovative and expands your creativity.
“The desire to reproduce is a death wish.”
So the desire to create life is an act that can cause death? This makes no sense to me. I, personally, would love to have a child someday and I don’t believe that it will have a negative outcome on my life. Parents that i know, say that their life does change after having a kid, but mainly for the good. Maybe the death wish is for their social life, which changes drastically after being a parent.
“Animalism is perfectly healthy”
I consider this statement true in regards to human beings simply because of the fact that our very nature is one of animalistic needs that urge us to fight, hunt, compete, and reproduce. We are animals, but animals with the ability to form intellectual complexes. Because of this we tend to forget where our roots lie. A balancing of the two and remembering to satisfying our natural drives for such instinctual ways could only help on the way to growth and evolution of the human race.
Often you should act like you are sexless
Personally, I believe in evolution. People are animals and most animals are polygamous. The concept of “monogamy” is one that was brought upon by people dictating religion. Ironically, confession and a few prayers can absolve those sins. We feel guilty and try to stick to limited partners, but in reality, some of us are not meant to be with “one person for the rest of your life.”
‘Ignoring enemies is the best way to fight’ is not true. You can’t always ignore enemies, especially if they are constantly putting down what you believe in. There’s a point when ignoring them does you no good, and eventually you will have to stand up for yourself or for others. It will not necessarily be and easy task to stand up to them but once you get going and get your point across then they are less likely to fight with you about anything in the future.
i don’t agree with the truism “raise boys and girls the same way.” boys and girls are completely different and i think it would be impossible to raise them the same way if someone tried to do so. for example, during the first two years of chilld development, girls develop faster than boys so they cant be taught how to walk at the same time or potty trained at the same time.
“Letting go is the hardest thing to do”
I can’t say that I believe this is true. It really isn’t. There’s a thing called denial and I believe it’s still a method of letting go. It may take a while to let go but it’s certainly not hard. Most people just don’t know how to do it.
To me, I believe that living is the hardest thing to do, or even success. But I don’t mean the type of living where you lay on the couch and watch TV. That is not living. Living as in going out there and doing what you want, having fun, networking, etc. while still keeping your life beautiful and sane.
“CHILDREN ARE THE CRUELEST OF ALL”
Is the word “cruelest” best used in this statement, I think not. Having a child is seen in our society as something beautiful and spacial. I assume most people would like to have children at some point in your life. Children may act badly or even play games when not desired but all in good nature. Children must have the opportunity to learn and develop.
“Trading a life for a life is fair enough.”
I completely disagree with this truism. I believe that every action comes with a consequence. If somebody choses to take the life of another, he should suffer by spending the rest of his life in jail. I feel that ending his life is actually the easy way out.