Mac did you add to my text? All good!

I was referring to you taking the first swing at certain people, instead of the whole of the subject.

Hence the "first swing you don't take".

Taking the first swing “creates a problem” in juvenile corrections and LE you won’t last long doing that is the reason that its ingrained in me you react to the problem rather then taking it personal once it becomes personal your losing ground quickly.

Hired a lot of adults that were not mature enough to work with kids they reacted to the children like the children at their level, it was shocking to hear the words, “ he started it” rather then working the problem out like a adult would the ways you would think they would. LOL

People no longer take time to think logically in the present let alone reflect on the past.

Yes to the OP. I agree that quality storytelling is a vanishing concept in the USA.

As a professional story-teller, all I can say is hear, hear.

I often don't agree with you Lawdog (and I don't take it personally), but that was a good post.

Jim

What got me thinking about the topic is the theological reflection techniques we're being training in here at seminary. The professors agree that as each decade goes by, the written submissions get shorter from more of the students and there's consensus there's also a lowering of the ability to simply listen, observe, and document a situation as a case study, which requires intense listening skills focused at attempting to learn what is going on.

I wonder if the medical field (and others) are witnessing the same thing?

Storytelling about others requires the ability to reflect on the overall situation versus a rush to judgment.
We're taught that a shorter paper being submitted in a case study is fine if the relevant refections and witness are being documented accurately. Short and sweet is ok if the case is short and sweet.
We're warned against the pattern that has been occurring during the decades long careers of these teachers of the faith which seems to be more along the lines of a rush to generalizations (personal positioning) and judgment (opinion) in the papers being submitted.

There is little to no reflection in a story when you assume you already have ALL the answers a brief way into it.
That's not reflection we're taught.

I tell my professors I train with the best of them who keep me humble and reflective each and every day. Coyotes. No two the same. The more I generalize them, the more get away untrapped!
. My profs get a kick outta me for sure. Us trappers are hard to reflect upon. Well some of us anyway.

Appreciate the thoughts y'all.
Blessings,
Mark

kind of curious why you singled Christians out.

as humans, we are sinful. I *strive* to live a better life, but I fail often...sometimes, miserably so. I've been mean and hateful to at least a few here. But I do recognize and pray for forgiveness for that.

I'll bet if you looked harder, you'd find failed devotees in EVERY religion...even Human Secularism.

If someone does not agree with whatever position you take and argument you make, I dont think its necessarily an inability to reflect, no matter how well thought out your argument is.

The art of story telling is diminished. I blame that on TV and radio. People dont gather of an evening and family members entertain each other anymore.

TV Radio Video Games, IMO have really changed the way human minds process. Good or bad its to early to say.

Being a Christian myself I don’t pretend to be what I’m not and like you I strive to be a better person every day my policy is hurt no one and let no one hurt others or me. I see many saying one thing and doing another often the Christian part they are trying to sell to others their actions don’t match their words is why it came up that way. In contrast there are a lot of great folks on here you have no clue what they believe in but seem to be good folks and walk the walk.

Too many devices, not enough campfires.

mostly people don't want to take responsibility for their words, their action , their work .

if they didn't get called out on it they certainly are not going to call them selves out on it.

the wife and I pre covid worked or ran a number of events , driving home was a time to assess what went well , what could we change , notes were taken

there was an interview with a Navy Seal team cheif soemone posted here a few weeks back, he had some very good words of wisdom for his New LT , "I don't care how you cover it up in the paper work , we OWN or *poop* here among the men , every mistake we own it , and we address, it so that we can learn form it. If we ignore it or try and cover it up then we don't learn."


that is what needs to be understood , your team needs to own everything it can remain among your team but you need to own it. be it you as a one person team , you and your spouse , your family , work. own it

I think if history was taught more, people would reflect more.

I'll often shut the boat motor down while running traps and just let the current take me, nice and quiet. I remember telling a fellow member here about floating past a locally known area that was an Indian settlement. This place I often see white squirrels and have for years. Not sure why they pop up in this particular area, but every couple years, ill spot one.

This gets me to thinking about what the Indians thought when they saw one, an ancestors spirit maybe? The movie about a white Buffalo gave me that line of thinking.

Anyhow, out in nature is when I get to reflecting and history along those lines is where most of my reflecting heads. I don't really Consider thinking about current problems as "reflecting".

Me too. I feel sorry for people that don't get that

Electric communications is a part of the problem today so many things are lost and the meanings distorted with the lack mannerisms, voice inflection and facial expressions that often define a message more the words alone. Just by listening to a known voice I can hear a change in their stress level without them even asking for any help I’m already on my way to them.

You can type all day with a sincere smile on your face and still tick someone off it seems like.

They don’t tell the newer generations “NO” they have no reason to figure problems out for themselves often.

Once upon a time what people revealed to us mattered. Its not that we don't reflect, its just that the only reflection that we pay any attention to is our own and immediately fall in love with our wonderful selves, lol.
As far as the Christians carrying some blame when not reflecting what a Christian looks like, we should be blamed. I think it fits with scripture that when those who know to do good and don't its more of a shame than when those who know no better do those things. Same thing for lawmen, teachers or any other group to be looked up to. Do as I say and not as I do just doesn't impress young minds.
When young minds ask too many questions and are very annoying, attention deficit is diagnosed and Ritalin prescribed and all live happily ever after.

There is no pride or shame or work ethic in alot of kids not all alot of the parents and grandparents on this site are instilling these in general most are not .

I see the tricked out trucks some of the kids drive here in high school now that don’t even have jobs and I shake my head, I did not own a truck like that until I worked several years. LOL Little is earned today that is some of the problem I believe.