This, That, and the Other

Rory, over at Earthly Comforts, has once again posed a number of intriguing questions this morning. Let’s see if I can come up with some equally intriguing answers.

1. Are you more socially or community-minded regarding people, or do you not think there is a difference between the two?

The truth is that my wife and I are not particularly social anymore (other than with family) and I would say that we are minimally community minded.

2. On a scale of 1 – 10, how ethically minded do you think you are? What behavior do you consider to be ethical?

On a scale of 1 to 10 I’m not going to answer because Rory didn’t set the parameters. Does 1 mean totally without ethics and 10 mean ethical to a fault? Or vice versa?

What do I consider to be ethical behavior? I would say that ethical behavior is characterized by honesty, fairness, a respect for the dignity, diversity, and rights of individuals and groups of people. As to me, I would characterize myself as being an ethical person. I don’t steal, I don’t cheat, I don’t lie, I don’t commit crimes. And with respect to others, hey, whatever floats your boat.

3. Tattoos are a very personal lifestyle choice by those who have their bodies inked. So, do you think tattoos make people more confident or less? Do tattoos look good on everyone?

I have chosen not to have my body inked (or pierced). As to others, I will once again say whatever floats your boat.

4. What enrichment do you personally receive from being social? Have you become noticeably more socially isolated or socially interactive after the pandemic and the lockdowns?

As I mentioned in my answer to #1, at this stage of my life, I’m not a very social person anymore, other than with family and a small circle of friends. And yes, the pandemic and lockdowns partially contributed to that. I’m not even on social media. The place where I’m most social is right here on WordPress.

5. What would be your top sustainability tip?

This is a tough one. I guess I’d say to be a minimalist in order to reduce your carbon footprint. Use less energy and water, buy sustainable products, avoid purchasing plastic products, buy hybrid or all electric cars, buy organic, and just be cognizant of your impact upon the environment.

6. We live in a world that treats being open and vulnerable as a taboo and something to be frowned upon. So, do you find it easy or hard to talk to your friends and family about your health?

I’m not sure I agree that being open and vulnerable is frowned upon. Personally, I’m a stoic person and I don’t talk much about my health, which, fortunately for someone my age, is reasonably good. But I’m confident that my family, in particular, would not frown upon me openly discussing with them any significant health issues I was facing.

7. What will you be doing this weekend?

Not much today. Tomorrow we’ll be visiting with our son and daughter-in-law and our grandkids.

8. As the writer and author of your blog, how connected do you feel to your audience? Does your blog reveal too much, too little or just the right balance of you to your readers?

I feel very connected to my fellow bloggers and look forward to reading their posts and interacting with them on a daily basis. As to the second question, while I blog anonymously, my posts reflect my personal observations, opinions, and perspectives on life, society, and politics.

9. If you were granted a day at being one of your favorite book characters, who would you choose to be and why?

I enjoy reading about the characters in books, but I prefer to be me reading about them than being one of them, even for a day.

10. What do you believe is the greatest threat to our planet today?

Human beings. Particularly the greedy, selfish, and willfully ignorant kind.