integral domain

Just chill out. Successful athiest don't go around yelling "I'm an athiest so f-k you'll!" nor do successful christians shout "I'm saved! you athiests are going to hell!" Even if they're thinking it...

It's about being diplomatic and getting along with other people even if you're in disagreement... it's about being civil.

You're right about needing to go to school... you can't do anything without a college degree these days.

So just take a deep breath, get yourself organized, and take on the world as the cool, collected, responsable person we know you are.

ProNihil

[QUOTE]Originally posted by integral domain
[B]Just chill out. Successful athiest don't go around yelling "I'm an athiest so f-k you'll!" nor do successful christians shout "I'm saved! you athiests are going to hell!" Even if they're thinking it...

It's about being diplomatic and getting along with other people even if you're in disagreement... it's about being civil.

integral domain,
Perhaps I was not all that clear in my posts previously. This wasn't a religion/worldview problem at all. And when I said "f-yall" I didn't mean saying that literally.

Look, it's just that due to the fact that I have a reason to stand up for myself now, I am wondering is that what a "man" does. I truly thought that it would be worse had I stayed there, only to have people look down on me for not standing up like I've got a pair. I understand about things like "the big strong oak gets broken in the windstorm while the willow just bends and stays alive".

I have been reading Nietzsche and Schopenhauer lately not to mention quite a few psychology textbooks and abstracts, (not pop psychology ala david lieberman mind you) but the real deal with tons of research to back it up and the main thing that I have gotten out of all of it so far is that people respect strength, and that they are attracted to it. I mean, we all know the whole thing about the jerks getting all the girls and the nice guys getting nothing. Thats what im talking about, but in the larger context of life, not just dating.

integral domain

Oh, oops... I only responded to the first post... and it sounded like you were fired for getting into a fight with someone over this.

my bad.

-RRH-

Well, I've got into an above-average number of fights from my refusal to back down, and even I think quitting was an over-reaction.

I'm not too sure I can be of much help, having myself been out of work for too long. But don't count too heavily on your education. I've got a computer science degree, and my highest paying job was manual labour for a mining and smelting company. I'm not saying don't go learning anything, I'm just saying don't put all your eggs in one basket. I think there's factors other than your education involved in you finding a job. I don't know what all of them are, (or I'd have found a job already) but one probably involves finding a way to deal with assholes other than quitting.

Nira

The problem with giving advice on a BB is that one does not know the person one is responding to.

Just a little story, ignore if it does not address your situation.

I was a clerk way back when, and had to deal with a lot of different customers. Some was nice, they got good service, some were friendly and they got very good service.

Some however seemed like they were off their rockers, and they seldom got what they wanted. I noticed that many of them was very nervous, had a trembling in their voice and went straight to the jugular from the get go. They were not confident; they were not standing up for them self. They had built up courage for something they dreaded, and had to get it all out before the courage disappeared. They expected the worst, and had decided not to be trampled on. Somehow we did not like the assumption that we would.

They did not get respect.

Some of the friendly customers were not at all weak, they knew their rights, we knew they knew, and we worked things out.

There are different ways of standing up for your self and to earn respect. Quitting _ might _ not be a good way to earn respect.

Gregg

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ProNihil
[B]Your reading deep philosophy "backed by tons of research" notwithstanding, I think this macho, combative view of life is rather simplistic and short-sighted.

As others have pointed out, all you do when you react to a bully this way is agree to play his game by his rules. And what really happened in the end? You RAN AWAY. He's still there, making good money and chuckling with his buddies about the wimp who couldn't take the heat, if he thinks about you at all. Trust me, he's not feeling any respect for you, or reflecting on your courage in "standing up for yourself."

You could, instead, play your own "game," a game based on mutual respect and cooperation. And you can refuse to play any other game. Over time, you'll probably find that you have more players on your team than the other guy does. Sorry if that sounds like pop psychology, but as a point of fact, human beings have demonstrated that they ARE capable of living life this way, instead of by the "law of the jungle."

Bottom line: Treat people as you yourself would like to be treated.

Have you ever read "To Kill a Mockingbird?" IMO, Atticus Finch is what a real man is all about.

Gregg

GunnerJ

SECONDED.

integral domain

THIRDED!

Opera Nut

I can't figure out how to succeed in "Chimp WOrld" either.
I have three college degrees, including a Juris Doctor (law degree), many skills, and have been unable to hold down a job for any length of time since my previous career collapsed in 1996 due to legal changes.

I am always professional, skilled and courteous and I get fired for no good reason. They didn't communicate the rules to me at the outset (like your not knowing about where to hang your uniform) and then they act like i am the one with the problem. It's very frustrating.

I have been bullied by bosses, managers, lawyers and judges who threatened me, and I think they can't stand a smart person around them, it might make them look bad. And i don't think it has anything to do with atheism or religion.

However, I was horribly suicidal when i tried to be a Christian, because there was always someone telling me I wasn't good enough, I was a sinner, etc. I became an atheist again so I wouldn't slash my wrists in response to the constant message that I was a lowly piece of shit in the Christian worldview, just because I was a human being who was doing their best to get through life. I went up to a minister once after a sermon and screamed at him and had a hissy fit. I said "You know how you make me feel? You make me feel like I WANNA CRAWL IN A HOLE AND DIE!!". (this was after a sermon about what a no good bum King David was).

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openeyes

Not to jump on the Atticus Finch bandwagon here, but "To Kill a Mockingbird" is my all-time favorite book!