Are You Useful?

[Wyatt]

“But today’s society is characterized by achievement orientation, and consequently it adores people who are successful and happy and, in particular, it adores the young. It virtually ignores the value of all those who are otherwise, and in so doing blurs the decisive difference between being valuable in the sense of dignity and being valuable in the sense of usefulness. If one is not cognizant of this difference and holds that an individual’s value stems only from his present usefulness, then, believe me, one owes it only to personal inconsistency not to plead for euthanasia along the lines of Hitler’s program, that is to say, ‘mercy’ killing of all those who have lost their social usefulness, be it because of old age, incurable illness, mental deterioration, or whatever handicap they may suffer. Confounding the dignity of man with mere usefulness arises from conceptual confusion that in turn may be traced back to the contemporary nihilism transmitted on many an academic campus and many an analytical couch.”

― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

I am a right above knee amputee as a result of a drunk driver leaving me to die in a ditch after broadsiding me off my motorcycle.

Hitler is alive and well in the hearts and minds of many here in the USA who treat the disabled contemptuously.

The great Covid panic has proven to me that the United States is within a hair's breadth of becoming Nazi Germany made over.

The amount of people ratting out their neighbors for masking violations proves it.

The amount of people that treat the disabled like sh*t proves it.

 

[angie_nrs]

I am not speaking for society, only myself. I adore people who do whatever it takes to make their own way. Everyone can be useful, if they want to be. Finding that 'want' today is more of a challenge than it ever used to be. Remember the old saying 'no work, no eat'. That was the way the unmotivated were handled in the past, and it seemed to work pretty well from my understanding. A dose of this for our coddled youth should be in order. Put down the phone and video game controller and go and weed the garden for goodness sake!

I have a healthy respect for the elderly and the disabled. To have a body that won't do what the mind wants it to is not easy to deal with. There is a reason that many of those folks are depressed. I have even more respect for those who find a reason to get up every day and do something meaningful for themselves despite their limitations, whether it's working, volunteering, or just socializing with others. I often see greeters at box stores in wheelchairs. They always make me smile and I'm glad to see them there. I'm a sucker for that 'never give up and never give in' attitude.

 

[Neb]

George Bernard Shaw...



Ben

 

[catsraven]

Define Useful

 

[Wyatt]

George Bernard Shaw...



Ben

He was a piece of work.

I'm sure that just like every elitist he meant everyone but himself.

 

[Wyatt]

Define Useful

That question is relative to whoever is in power at the moment and whether or not you are of any use or importance to them.

 

[Haertig]

Useful or not depends on who you ask, and in what context.

For example: In regards to voting, I am totally useless in the eyes of a libtard. So I respectfully ask that you not query any Democrats regarding my usefulness, before drawing any conclusions.

 

[dademoss]

 

[Biggkidd]

I have a healthy respect for the elderly and the disabled. To have a body that won't do what the mind wants it to is not easy to deal with. I'm a sucker for that 'never give up and never give in' attitude.

Every dang day!

 

[Hooch]

"I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul"
...from that poem Invictus (spell??)
I give no one the power..ever..to define how useful I am
I go along with the rules in general society, jobs, as a trade of some sorts.
I give zero #@(%$ for any one who by virtue of wealth, social status or perceived social or political standing that presumes to think they can dictate n dish out social scores or some other label those rich jerks would like to impose.
...please..lol..
What brought this topic on? Curious ...

 

[Wyatt]

What brought this topic on? Curious ...

It was an attempt to spotlight and reflect upon the shallowness of current society, where youth, movie stars, the wealthy and spoiled sports figures are worshiped while the wisdom and worth of the aged and infirm is despised.

Are you useful?

“No man is completely useless; he can always serve as a bad example.”

 

[Wyatt]

Useful or not depends on who you ask, and in what context.

Aye, there's the rub.

In the event that we have to justify our existence based upon our usefulness, who is sitting in the judgment seat is entirely relative to whether we live or die.

 

[LadyLocust]

George Bernard Shaw...



Ben

Will have to watch tomorrow.

Define Useful

This was the first thing that came to my mind.

 

[SheepDog]

Aye, there's the rub.

In the event that we have to justify our existence based upon our usefulness, who is sitting in the judgment seat is entirely relative to whether we live or die.

Or whether the judge lives or dies... a useful man can take care of his own life.
The judge is only useful to those he deems useful. Only the useful will survive.

 

[Magus]

Useful? to whom? myself not so much. to others I try to teach what I've learned to, might save their lives someday, might even win a war. but as a rule of thumb, I'm a useless eater.

 

[Frodo]

Useful?
By whos standards?


If you see a person as a non useful person. Is it actually you that lacks the imagination to find that person useful ? their by making yourself useless?

 

[Wingnut]

Or whether the judge lives or dies... a useful man can take care of his own life.
The judge is only useful to those he deems useful. Only the useful will survive.

Haha, Sheepdog, I was thinking the same thing... a bullet through the judge's greasy skull would solve his problem permanently, lol.

And George Bernard Shaw's work sucked, William Butler Yeats was in a better class altogether...

 

[bkt]

Aye, there's the rub.

In the event that we have to justify our existence based upon our usefulness, who is sitting in the judgment seat is entirely relative to whether we live or die.

I'm useful to my family, friends and myself. That's good enough for me. What others think outside that group really doesn't matter to me.

That said, I love to share knowledge and provide help to others - even people I don't know. I only wish I could do more of it locally.

 

[Neb]

I'm useful to my family, friends and myself. That's good enough for me. What others think outside that group really doesn't matter to me.

That said, I love to share knowledge and provide help to others - even people I don't know. I only wish I could do more of it locally.

By Shaw's standard I would not be useful now that I am retired and serving only God and the family.

Ben

 

[LadyLocust]

I've thought about the initial post of this thread and what keeps coming back to my mind is multigenerational living. All ages, mentalities and capabilities are useful. A two year old can hand Gpa nails as he's hammering. Someone who is "slow" can still gather eggs and feed chickens. Someone who's missing part of a leg might help solve complex issues for someone who can do a task when directed And of course, we can each lend and ear or a shoulder when needed which might be more important and useful than any of what was mentioned above.

 

[Magus]

By Shaw's standard I would not be useful now that I am retired and serving only God and the family.

Ben

The two highest callings,screw Shaw.

 

[Frodo]

Went to the second night of revival Had one eye on the door incase a squirrel got in there

Paul's Letter to Titus in Crete

 

[Frodo]

Facebook Live | Facebook

 

[Dani]

@Wyatt I understood at a very young age what a disability was. . I have a handicapped mom, basically from her birth. So I did grow up in that atmosphere.
Mom gave up her DL when both me and Sis got out license because she knew both of us could do errands. She knew that she would not be able to pass a driving test when she went into the DMV to get her license renewed, just because they would see how she walked. . . I do find my mom successful in life, even though she has not had a "job" since 1971. She was able to raise her 2 daughters, even though she was " HANDICAPPED". . . That really was a great accomplishment on her part! Oh how I remember those threats. . . sometimes it happened when Dad came home, but for the most part no. But the threat of a spanking was there.

 

[Wyatt]

I've thought about the initial post of this thread and what keeps coming back to my mind is multigenerational living. All ages, mentalities and capabilities are useful. A two year old can hand Gpa nails as he's hammering. Someone who is "slow" can still gather eggs and feed chickens. Someone who's missing part of a leg might help solve complex issues for someone who can do a task when directed And of course, we can each lend and ear or a shoulder when needed which might be more important and useful than any of what was mentioned above.

syn·er·gy
[ˈsinərjē]

NOUN
synergism (noun)

1. the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects:
   

 

[Wyatt]

By Shaw's standard I would not be useful now that I am retired and serving only God and the family.

Ben

To the godless, the innocent, helpless unborn and anyone serving God are unworthy of life.

 

[Wyatt]

@Wyatt I understood at a very young age what a disability was. . I have a handicapped mom, basically from her birth. So I did grow up in that atmosphere.
Mom gave up her DL when both me and Sis got out license because she knew both of us could do errands. She knew that she would not be able to pass a driving test when she went into the DMV to get her license renewed, just because they would see how she walked. . . I do find my mom successful in life, even though she has not had a "job" since 1971. She was able to raise her 2 daughters, even though she was " HANDICAPPED". . . That really was a great accomplishment on her part! Oh how I remember those threats. . . sometimes it happened when Dad came home, but for the most part no. But the threat of a spanking was there.

One does not need to be able-bodied to be able to accomplish this.

Love is the only way to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his/her personality. No one can become fully aware of the very essence of another human being unless he/she loves him/her. By his/her love he/she is enabled to see the essential traits and features in the beloved person; and even more, he/she sees that which is potential in him/her, which is not yet actualized but yet ought to be actualized. Furthermore, by his/her love, the loving person enables the beloved person to actualize these potentialities. By making him/her aware of what he/she can be and of what he/she should become, he/she makes these potentialities come true.
-Viktor Frankl

 

[Magpie]

I've thought about the initial post of this thread and what keeps coming back to my mind is multigenerational living. All ages, mentalities and capabilities are useful. A two year old can hand Gpa nails as he's hammering. Someone who is "slow" can still gather eggs and feed chickens. Someone who's missing part of a leg might help solve complex issues for someone who can do a task when directed And of course, we can each lend and ear or a shoulder when needed which might be more important and useful than any of what was mentioned above.

I agree with this; balance is the key. Everybody has their place. I consider myself useful- I can make a meal out of nothing, can knit, sew, grow and do some small amount of butchering. My aim isn't bad either! I'm also creative, and I believe you have to have some creativity in your life to make your world a better place. However, I am physically not able to do some things and I know this will get worse- therefore I won't be as useful. Sure I can shell peas in my chair but it would frustrate me to see others doing things, which makes me a bad patient lol, and so my grumpiness might outweigh my usefulness!

 

[Curmudgeon]

Are You Useful?

Depends on who you ask, lol.

 

[Curmudgeon]

To have a body that won't do what the mind wants it to is not easy to deal with. There is a reason that many of those folks are depressed.

You got that right! We aren't what I consider elderly, but we do struggle some days to get things done. It frustrates me that I get pooped way sooner than I used to.