Update Thread and Other Ramblings by BushOklahoma

[Prez Duke]

I think what is being overlook is that most of us actually tried our damnest to help BushOK in the summer when he was going through all of this, but he sat back and told us were were all wrong and he knew what he was doing. When you keep seeing the same basic pattern, the amount of sympathy you have for a person wanes.

That said, I hate he lost his job, and I'd love nothing more than to see him regain his footing. However, until he makes some basic changes to the way he conducts himself, and no I'm not saying he needs to abandon his faith, he'll continue to make these mistakes. His parents are not helping in the matter by continuing to give out bad advice. The sooner BushOK makes decisions for himself, the better. I hope this happens soon because he's definitely in poor health right now.

[Keystone Phil]

How the hell am I being any more arrogant than anyone else here?

Oh God Phil do you always have to be so damn arrogant? It's seriously getting old. If you can't agree to very simple basic facts, that his attitude towards religion (most likely also in relation to his "other problems") is causing a lot of his problems...why are we even "debating" the matter?

Because that's not a "very simple basic fact." You continue to ignore that there are other issues with him that have nothing to do with religion. Why? Because it wouldn't help your little religion bash fest.

I don't give a damn about his or your religion...for the love of God, stop trying to turn this into a conspiracy against religious folks.

It's not a conspiracy. I just think you see this as a perfect opportunity to beat up on a devoutly religious person and blaming his religion for all of his problems.

I'm going to defend him while people like yourself laugh at him and mock him. If that's getting old to you, tough.

Phil read the original thread on this. It's long but well worth it. And should provide some context.

What happened in the other thread? BushOK asked for advice about a job and didn't take it? Shocking. Maybe that has to do with the other problems the guy clearly has. You can sit here and go crazy about how you're justified in lecturing him but there is a very basic fact that you and so many others are ignoring: he has other issues. You could scream in his face and it wouldn't matter. You're choosing not to acknowledge this so you can continue to laugh at him and say, "Hey, he's asking for it."

I think what is being overlook is that most of us actually tried our damnest to help BushOK in the summer when he was going through all of this, but he sat back and told us were were all wrong and he knew what he was doing. When you keep seeing the same basic pattern, the amount of sympathy you have for a person wanes.

Oh God. Maybe I ought to hope you people are just incredibly dense instead of thinking that you're doing this to mock him.

Hey, Duke, do you think there might be other reasons why he's not listening to your repeated advice? Now think hard on this one.

[Keystone Phil]

Very "normal" behavior...

The Eastern Time Zone is only 577 hours from 2011 (at 11:00 pm).

[I left.]

This is just going around in circles. I'm done here.

[Prez Duke]

He doesn't have to listen to my advice, but it's clear his choices are not working and neither is the advice coming from his inner circle. And for the record, I'm not mocking him in that post. I genuinely do not wish ill on that man, but if my advice is somehow counterproductive, then I'll stop.

[Keystone Phil]

He doesn't have to listen to my advice, but it's clear his choices are not working and neither is the advice coming from his inner circle. And for the record, I'm not mocking him in that post. I genuinely do not wish ill on that man, but if my advice is somehow counterproductive, then I'll stop.

I'm asking why do you think he hasn't listened to your and everyone else's advice?

[Smash255]

And his "other problems" would likely not have the same results if he weren't in such a religiously fanatical area, getting useless "advice" from his family and friends.

What the hell does that have to do with anything? Are you really that dense that you don't understand the type of other problems we're hinting at? Take the "religious fanaticism" out of the picture and he'd still have these issues.

The comment is further proof that you're just here to bash religion. You're not interested in giving him any real advice. Save the bashing for some place else.

Even if this is the fault of those big, bad religious dummies, we have no control over it. We don't pick his family and friends. Just let it go or contact him personally to comfort him. There's no point in bashing him or them over it. That's not advice.

Phil, Bushie has other problems, and he would still have those problems without the religious factor.  I don't think anyone here is trying to claim otherwise.  The issue here is whether or not his hyper religiosity adds to his other problems or not.  And I think its very clear that it makes an already bad situation worse.  It just adds to the other problems that he has, and it certainly doesn't help him.

This isn't about bashing his religion as you seem to think it is.  This isn't about bashing him for being religious.  This is about making Bushie realize that if you have that blind faith you can't let it replace actual rationale though process.  I don't care if that is due to religion or another problem entirely, it really doesn't matter.  The fact is regardless of the reason, regardless of the cause, Bushie has put blind faith above reason, and done so on multiple occasions, and that is very dangerous.  He likely would still have the problems without the blind religious faith issues, but those issues make his problems even worse.

[Prez Duke]

He doesn't have to listen to my advice, but it's clear his choices are not working and neither is the advice coming from his inner circle. And for the record, I'm not mocking him in that post. I genuinely do not wish ill on that man, but if my advice is somehow counterproductive, then I'll stop.

I'm asking why do you think he hasn't listened to your and everyone else's advice?

If that or any of these other questions could be answered then this thread would never have gotten this long. If your theory is that he has deeper problems that we can see on the surface, then I agree. And I suppose responding to this thread at all doesn't help matters either.

[So the Heroes Fall]

We need to find a psychology grad student to interview BushOK.

[Smash255]

He doesn't have to listen to my advice, but it's clear his choices are not working and neither is the advice coming from his inner circle. And for the record, I'm not mocking him in that post. I genuinely do not wish ill on that man, but if my advice is somehow counterproductive, then I'll stop.

I'm asking why do you think he hasn't listened to your and everyone else's advice?

Well part of that is likely due to his friends and family.  He already has that blind faith thing in his head, he gets advice from us, and gets more blind faith advice from his friends and family, and goes with the advice from his friends and family.  His dad's advice with that leap of faith thing regarding the On-Company scam, might quite simply be the worst advice I have ever heard anyone give someone else.

[Smash255]

We need to find a psychology grad student to interview BushOK.

My sister actually has a Masters in Psychology and is working on her Masters's in public Health.  A few months ago when she stayed at my apartment for a few days I showed her the job thread (this was about a week after the on company thing IIRC)

[Keystone Phil]

If your theory is that he has deeper problems that we can see on the surface, then I agree. And I suppose responding to this thread at all doesn't help matters either.

There we go.

He doesn't have to listen to my advice, but it's clear his choices are not working and neither is the advice coming from his inner circle. And for the record, I'm not mocking him in that post. I genuinely do not wish ill on that man, but if my advice is somehow counterproductive, then I'll stop.

I'm asking why do you think he hasn't listened to your and everyone else's advice?

Well part of that is likely due to his friends and family.  He already has that blind faith thing in his head, he gets advice from us, and gets more blind faith advice from his friends and family, and goes with the advice from his friends and family.  His dad's advice with that leap of faith thing regarding the On-Company scam, might quite simply be the worst advice I have ever heard anyone give someone else.

Smash, it has been stated why this blind faith issue doesn't matter when the other problems are brought up. The one is more severe and likely causes the other problem so stop bringing it up. You're only doing it as a jab at religion.

Let's assume for a minute that this is a blind faith problem. This and other threads have proven that BushOK isn't going to listen to us. Stop posting the same "advice." He doesn't care. Let a professional handle it. It's way beyond time to let this thread die.

[crypto-fascist superhero]

We need to find a psychology grad student to interview BushOK.

My sister actually has a Masters in Psychology and is working on her Masters's in public Health.  A few months ago when she stayed at my apartment for a few days I showed her the job thread (this was about a week after the on company thing IIRC)

And?

[BushKenya]

I don't know how else to say this.  I don't have any other problems besides jumping into things a little too fast.  That's what it all boils down to.  It's not my faith that gets me in trouble, it's carelessness.  My obsession with numbers and countdowns and Christmas, and such, is definitely not normal, but it doesn't mean I have a mental issue.  It just means I find humor in ordinary things.  That's one thing I have to disagree with everyone here, including Phil.  I don't have any underlying problems other than my reckless abandon at times.  I am a very headstrong person and that gets me into trouble.  I hear advice from all sources and sometimes my mind is made up and my heart is set on that goal that I will run like a bull through a china closet, all the other advice be damned.  Sometimes I see a light at the end of the tunnel, only to find out it's an oncoming freight train.  Again, that's not a mental condition, it's just called carelessness.

Anyway, back to the job search.  I did get an e-mail late this afternoon from Conn's Appliance and Electronics Retail Store for a Sales Associate.  I looked at it, thought about it, looked at the qualifications and the requirements, and applied.  Conn's is an Appliance and Electronic retail store based in Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana.  It's kind of like a Best Buy or a Circuit City only more regionalized.

[Torie]

I don't have any other problems besides jumping into things a little too fast.

You have a severe weight problem, Bushie, that will kill you, and kill you young, and in the meantime, is truncating your energy to meet life, and you health, and yes, your job prospects. Employers don't want to hire fats. That is just taking on an unnecessary risk. One of my first cousins who was also a lawyer, and did in fact work and was self supporting, and with whom I was quite close, looked like you. He died a rather hideous death at about 43 years of age.

But it never ceases to amaze me, just how many of our species do such self destructive things. Why?

[Joe Republic]

Phil, read Bush's post two posts before this one.

You're heavily (and I mean heavily) implying that Bushie has psychological problems, and although you've never actually stated exactly what you believe them to be (and I understand that this is intended as concern for his sake), in any case he denies having any deeper problems as you suggest.

If I was being bullied on the internet, and somebody was defending me against the attacks by implying that I'm some kind of autistic retard or whatever you're getting at, I'd probably find that more offensive than any of the actual attacks themselves.

Just saying.

[Secretary Polnut]

Phil, read Bush's post two posts before this one.

You're heavily (and I mean heavily) implying that Bushie has psychological problems, and although you've never actually stated exactly what you believe them to be (and I understand that this is intended as concern for his sake), in any case he denies having any deeper problems as you suggest.

If I was being bullied on the internet, and somebody was defending me against the attacks by implying that I'm some kind of autistic retard or whatever you're getting at, I'd probably find that more offensive than any of the actual attacks themselves.

Just saying.

Yes, I see clear intimations of autism/aspergers in the posts.

[Joe Republic]

As I mentioned in an earlier post here, I more or less agree.  However, I'm not quite as emotionally attached to this whole debacle, and don't particularly feel obliged to defend BushOK, hence why I feel that I can level this criticism against Phil.

[BushKenya]

I don't have any other problems besides jumping into things a little too fast.

You have a severe weight problem, Bushie, that will kill you, and kill you young, and in the meantime, is truncating your energy to meet life, and you health, and yes, your job prospects. Employers don't want to hire fats. That is just taking on an unnecessary risk. One of my first cousins who was also a lawyer, and did in fact work and was self supporting, and with whom I was quite close, looked like you. He died a rather hideous death at about 43 years of age.

But it never ceases to amaze me, just how many of our species do such self destructive things. Why?

Ok yeah, I do have a weight problem, but I was talking more mental than physical.

However, I have lost 5 pounds.  It may be water weight, but 5 pounds is 5 pounds.  A big downfall for me is I live on the street with all types of fast food joints you can think of.  I'm within 3 miles of just about every fast food chain imaginable, plus a IHOP, Little Caesars, and a lot of sit-down restaurants.  Just about all of them have had my business on numerous occasions.

I am determined, though, to keep losing weight.  I know what I need to do.  Right now I am 266 lbs, my goal is to be down closer to 200 by next Thanksgiving.  This gives me 11 months to accomplish that goal.  However, I am not going to focus on a long term goal as that will only discourage me.  Instead, I have a goal of losing another 6 pounds by Christmas.  Then, once I reach that 260 mark, I would like to be down to 250 by February 1 and so on.

I guess if there is any mental issue I deal with it would not really be depression, but it would be easy discouragement.  I get discouraged so easily it makes me sick and it does hamper my ability to be rational.  I'm trying to work through that, but that's the only real issue I have.  Part of that, or a good part of that, is caused by my weight.  When I lose weight, I'm sure I'll be a happier individual and able to think things through a lot clearer.

[BushKenya]

Phil, read Bush's post two posts before this one.

You're heavily (and I mean heavily) implying that Bushie has psychological problems, and although you've never actually stated exactly what you believe them to be (and I understand that this is intended as concern for his sake), in any case he denies having any deeper problems as you suggest.

If I was being bullied on the internet, and somebody was defending me against the attacks by implying that I'm some kind of autistic retard or whatever you're getting at, I'd probably find that more offensive than any of the actual attacks themselves.

Just saying.

Yes, I see clear intimations of autism/aspergers in the posts.

Well, I do have Tourette's and Tourette's is a cousin to Autism/Aspergers.

[Secretary Polnut]

I don't have any other problems besides jumping into things a little too fast.

You have a severe weight problem, Bushie, that will kill you, and kill you young, and in the meantime, is truncating your energy to meet life, and you health, and yes, your job prospects. Employers don't want to hire fats. That is just taking on an unnecessary risk. One of my first cousins who was also a lawyer, and did in fact work and was self supporting, and with whom I was quite close, looked like you. He died a rather hideous death at about 43 years of age.

But it never ceases to amaze me, just how many of our species do such self destructive things. Why?

Ok yeah, I do have a weight problem, but I was talking more mental than physical.

However, I have lost 5 pounds.  It may be water weight, but 5 pounds is 5 pounds.  A big downfall for me is I live on the street with all types of fast food joints you can think of.  I'm within 3 miles of just about every fast food chain imaginable, plus a IHOP, Little Caesars, and a lot of sit-down restaurants.  Just about all of them have had my business on numerous occasions.

I am determined, though, to keep losing weight.  I know what I need to do.  Right now I am 266 lbs, my goal is to be down closer to 200 by next Thanksgiving.  This gives me 11 months to accomplish that goal.  However, I am not going to focus on a long term goal as that will only discourage me.  Instead, I have a goal of losing another 6 pounds by Christmas.  Then, once I reach that 260 mark, I would like to be down to 250 by February 1 and so on.

I guess if there is any mental issue I deal with it would not really be depression, but it would be easy discouragement.  I get discouraged so easily it makes me sick and it does hamper my ability to be rational.  I'm trying to work through that, but that's the only real issue I have.  Part of that, or a good part of that, is caused by my weight.  When I lose weight, I'm sure I'll be a happier individual and able to think things through a lot clearer.

As someone who was once nearly 240lbs - now around 180, it's tough.

But, losing weight will not make you happier or think more clearly. What I did was manage the underlying reasons why I felt compelled to overeat or eat at unusual times. You'd be amazed what a serious psychological spring-clean can do when you're trying to lose weight.

Suddenly all of those dangerous compulsive activities seem exactly that... why on earth was I eating that? then etc etc...

That's the reason why I've pretty much maintained a 10lb range for nearly 8 years...

[Keystone Phil]

As I mentioned in an earlier post here, I more or less agree.  However, I'm not quite as emotionally attached to this whole debacle, and don't particularly feel obliged to defend BushOK, hence why I feel that I can level this criticism against Phil.

So because you're not involved and don't feel obligated to defend the guy, you can criticize me even though you agree with what I'm hinting at? What?

Saying he has deeper issues isn't an attempt to offend him. After all the time I've spent defending the guy, I really hope you're not trying to say that I'm screwing with him worse than the people that literally laughed at him after he lost his job right before Christmas.

The guy claims he doesn't have any other issues...and goes on to say that he might. He hasn't once said he was more offended at what I've been implying so I think that ought to clear things up a bit.

[BushKenya]

As I mentioned in an earlier post here, I more or less agree.  However, I'm not quite as emotionally attached to this whole debacle, and don't particularly feel obliged to defend BushOK, hence why I feel that I can level this criticism against Phil.

So because you're not involved and don't feel obligated to defend the guy, you can criticize me even though you agree with what I'm hinting at? What?

Saying he has deeper issues isn't an attempt to offend him. After all the time I've spent defending the guy, I really hope you're not trying to say that I'm screwing with him worse than the people that literally laughed at him after he lost his job right before Christmas.

The guy claims he doesn't have any other issues...and goes on to say that he might. He hasn't once said he was more offended at what I've been implying so I think that ought to clear things up a bit.

Alright, let me set the record straight here.  I'm not offended at the defense.  I'm also learning to let the criticism roll off my back like water off a duck.

[Joe Republic]

As I mentioned in an earlier post here, I more or less agree.  However, I'm not quite as emotionally attached to this whole debacle, and don't particularly feel obliged to defend BushOK, hence why I feel that I can level this criticism against Phil.

So because you're not involved and don't feel obligated to defend the guy, you can criticize me even though you agree with what I'm hinting at? What?

Why so confused?  You and I agree about his psychological problems, but the difference is that I don't particularly care about BushOK, tbh.  You, however, have decided to crusade against the ne'erdowells who are laughing at him, and your primary line of defense is that he has serious mental issues, which he denies having.  To me, and I'm only speaking for me, that's about the lamest defense ever, and just as insulting if it were me.

That's my only criticism:  you're calling out people for jokingly calling him a retard and so on by heavily implying that he actually is one.

[Keystone Phil]

As I mentioned in an earlier post here, I more or less agree.  However, I'm not quite as emotionally attached to this whole debacle, and don't particularly feel obliged to defend BushOK, hence why I feel that I can level this criticism against Phil.

So because you're not involved and don't feel obligated to defend the guy, you can criticize me even though you agree with what I'm hinting at? What?

Why so confused?  You and I agree about his psychological problems, but the difference is that I don't particularly care about BushOK, tbh.  You, however, have decided to crusade against the ne'erdowells who are laughing at him, and your primary line of defense is that he has serious mental issues, which he denies having.  To me, and I'm only speaking for me, that's about the lamest defense ever, and just as insulting if it were me.

He goes on to admit that maybe he does. I don't know about you but I think bullying someone that has other issues on the Internet is pretty damn low. I would think that with what has happened recently more people would step up and try to stop it. Unfortunately, there aren't enough people like that here.

That's my only criticism:  you're calling out people for jokingly calling him a retard and so on by heavily implying that he actually is one.

No one is jokingly calling him that and even if they were, that makes it right? Are you serious? If someone has other issues, it's not right to point them out so people stop making jokes about it?

People are making fun of him because they see him as a silly, folksy, weird religious lunatic. Those types are fun to make fun of because a lot of people here don't like them. There isn't actually anything wrong with them so they are fair game. Once people are told there might actually be something else wrong with the guy, they either a) pretend that no one is bringing it up, b) say there is no way we can really know so just continue to do whatever you want or c) blame his problems on religion, his family, etc. No one would dare say, "Yeah, there's something else wrong but we can continue to mock him."