A Little Paranoia Might Be Healthy Skepticism But Too Much Is Unhealthy!
What do I mean by that?
Most people I’ve had acquaintance with throughout my 50+ years of life have not been what I would call ‘paranoid’.
We all know what it is, right? Generally it’s being afraid of one’s own shadow so to speak. Believing that there’s ulterior motive behind every corner, every action. Everything or nearly everything is nefarious, conspiratorial, and not what it is portrayed on the surface.
Healthy Skepticism
There’s something to be said though about having a ‘healthy’ paranoia. I would more accurately describe it as a healthy skepticism.
I myself am skeptical in many ways and of many things. It’s good to scratch beneath the surface to discover if it’s just a veneer or if it is really what it seems…
Some people are entirely non-skeptical and all-trusting. I just don’t get that, but lots are that way. Just the way it is.
Paranoid State of Mind
But my goodness those who are truly paranoid I feel sorry for. It’s just not healthy.
I’m no ‘shrink’, and I don’t know all the reasons why paranoid people are paranoid. But I’m just saying (suggesting) that being overly paranoid may put you in a state of mind that misses lots of ‘reality’.
I have run into some people in this state of mind. It can be frustrating to deal with. Maybe there’s no way out of the thought process for them (just the way their brains are wired).
Just be careful with people who may appear to be overly paranoid. While things are not always what they appear to be, be cautious of accepting as truths from those who are clearly paranoid.
Maybe this would help:
Occam’s razor
“Ocamm’s razor” is the problem-solving principle that the simplest solution tends to be the correct one.
When presented with competing hypotheses to solve a problem, one should select the solution with the fewest assumptions.
The idea is attributed to English Franciscan friar William of Ockham (c. 1287 – 1347), a scholastic philosopher and theologian.
With all things being equal, the simplest explanation tends to be the right one.
Those who appear to be excessively paranoid or delusional may tend to have many (false?) assumptions in their head surrounding their perception of reality.
Perhaps Occam’s razor may help while considering the possibilities.
So why do I bring this up in a post? I’m not poking fun of those who may be susceptible to paranoia. But having interfaced recently with someone who may be paranoid, I felt compelled to touch on it.
When it comes to prepper relationships, I have noticed that ‘some’ appear to be overly paranoid (in my own estimation).
Perhaps some with paranoid personalities will more likely gravitate towards preparedness due to their seemingly very real fears. I’m not knocking their actions of preparedness! EVERYONE should be better prepared.
However I’m suggesting that ‘if’ you tend towards paranoia, try using Occam’s razor. The simplest explanation may likely be the real one.
Now with that said, I have encountered (and dug in to) ‘conspiracies’ which have absolutely turned out to be deep, true, and accurate. That’s where ‘healthy’ skepticism comes into play. There IS some dark $hit going on out there. But don’t let it cloud all of your life.
Okay, that’s my ramble for today ;)
“There is nothing in the dark that isn’t there when the lights are on.”
Rod Serling
“We’ll leave the lights on for ya.”
Motel 6
“WHAT……ME WORRY?” – Alfred E. Neuman
“LET THEM EAT CAKE” -Marie Antoinette
“They ARE real!”
Santa Clause to the M&M dudes
I agree that paranoia is an unhealthy situation . Being skeptical to me makes sense . It is like testing the water to see how warm it is before getting into the shower . I do not want to get burnt I like the “,Occams razor” principle because it helps to keep things simple in reaching a solution to a question or problem.
I also use a “trust and verify” approach to things . I try to be realistic and use common sense in reaching conclusions. We can make logical or emotional decisions . Logical is almost always best.
I have spoken with “prepper” types wanting me join them to live in a bunker in the ground. That’s not living to me and I politely evade those folks . To me that is a bit over the edge into the realm of paranoia.
Bluesman
Maybe a little bit of paranoia saved you from become lunch in the bunker :)
hermit us,
When people start thinking they can live in an underground bunker to escape the reality of what is going on around them , It seems logical to get out my 10 foot pole and investigate further.
Good piece Ken
I think it was our patron saint NRP who said “dont forget to live”
Ok, maybe thats not exactly what he said,
Ok, maybe he didnt say it,
My memory sucks,
I know NRP said something.
But ya get the idea,,,
Hey, T-boy…..
You been fermentin’ Kula again?? LOL
Hang in there buddy…..it’ll all come back to ya.
Tommyboy; I believe NRP said “don’t forget the TP”, among other things.
Old Chevy aka Neighbor;
Actually it’s;
“Is 600 rolls really enough?”
Tommyboy;
The original quote I believe is from ― Mariska Haring
“Remember yesterday, Dream of tomorrow, But live today.”
I like to elaborate it somewhat (that’s something new huh?);
“Remember yesterday with all of your heart, for memories will be all that’s left in the end
Dream of tomorrow, for dreams are what life builds from and feeds the soul with hope
Live for today with Joy in your soul, for today is all you really have, memories fade, dreams disappear, yet today is here now.”
Yeah I know kinds foolish for an Old Fart, but something to think on.
PS; Paranoia is an instrument that kills most of the above. As Ken mentioned, be cautious but don’t let it destroy your “Living for today”.
A popular saying in the 70’s was “Just because you are paranoid doesn’t mean they are not out to get you.”
Was William of Ockham burned at the stake like so many scholars of the day?
Ken,
Thanks for the article, and keeping it real. I fear too many are getting spun up a wee bit to tight with all that is going on these days. Occam’s Razor- good call, something easy to pass along to help others keep calm and focused.
Minerjim
Perhaps many more citizens should get spun up as the dems take the House. We keep loosing a little slice of freedom at a time – you see the encroachments every month. Some already got hit directly like the wedding cake baker, or the photographer, or the school shower situation, … just to name a few. So we get complacent and forgiving each time until it is too late, when they come for our freedoms.
Where is the red line for each of us? They are boiling us slowly like the frog.
“When you hear hoof beats think horses not zebras.” And here SA kicks in for if you are near Big Sur it just might be the zebras on the Hearst ranch. But it’s not going to be unicorns.
People like to have control over their environment. When events are out of their control they are likely to seek an explanation that involves events being controlled by some entity or organization. And some let their imaginations run wild, as if just because it can be imagined it must be actively in place. There’s even a group in a large city here in WA that meets weekly to share the latest conspiracy theories and whip up their paranoias. They tend to be easy prey for scammers.
Not discounting at all that there are evildoers and that we may run across one or more of them in our lifetimes. Persecution informs wariness.
I lived for a time in an animist culture. Those poor souls lived their lives in fear and believed themselves to be helpless against an unseen horde of evil spirits. Superstition and ritual behaviors ruled the day and the night.
I take comfort in 2 Timothy 1:7
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
and try to help others into light and peace.
Life is like river and wave. Never the same, but not necessarily random. Can be ridden, but not controlled while riding. There’s a Zen to be found, and exhilaration, and the safety at the shore.
Wishing you all love and joy during the holidays and on this very stormy night.
It is so hard to get people to find a balance sometimes. It seems the majority are all trusting. Then some think everything is a conspiracy…
Ive been at the edge of both spectrums…with that being said, balance is an overused word in the preparedness lifestyle. Its more like a juggling act, some days there are more items than others.
Acceptance of the world we live in is key. That things arent always as they appear and you cant prepare for everything. Im learning to do more with less and that helps.
Heres a quote from an article over on monsterhunternation,
Pretty much says it all
A friend of mine who is a political activist said something interesting the other day, and that was for most people on the left political violence is a knob, and they can turn the heat up and down, with things like protests, and riots, all the way up to destruction of property, and sometimes murder… But for the vast majority of folks on the right, it’s an off and on switch. And the settings are Vote or Shoot F-ing Everybody. And believe me, you really don’t want that switch to get flipped, because Civil War 2.0 would make Bosnia look like a trip to Disneyworld.
Theres a real good read over on monsterhunternation,
Fits right in with the thread of paranoia and what one of the demons people are paranoid of.
Title starts “The Second Ammendment is obsolete”
Good read, and is pretty much what ive seen
Tommyboy,
That article does an outstanding job of pointing out the truth of how a nationwide gun confiscation attempt would go down. Good analysis and reality lesson for progressives. As I’ve said before, those they expect to enforce this Constitution destroying mission are the very ones who not only exercise that right, but their family and friends are also likely to be gun owners. Very good read. Thanks for pointing it out.
I just read the article. Wow, a great read. Long, but it’s worth absorbing.
http://monsterhunternation.com/2018/11/19/the-2nd-amendment-is-obsolete-says-congressman-who-wants-to-nuke-omaha/
😎🤙🏻
I knew you would like it,,,
And Dennis, knowing that you are a vet and also LEO i figured you would be interested.
Tommyboy,
Yep. What many folks don’t realize, even big city cops mostly come from conservative small town, rural-America.
Larry Correia is amazing.
Lauren,,,
I kinda want to download a few of his books, bet they are pretty good.
What was the scoop with getting your stuff? Does Amazonian have it?
He’s an amazing writer and an amazing person. His books just suck you in. I was hooked on Monster Hunter with the first line. “On one otherwise normal Tuesday evening I had the chance to live the American dream. I was able to throw my incompetent jackass of a boss from a fourteenth-story window.”
Yes, Amazon has my books. Three of the four I’ve published are fantasy, and fairly short. My writing name is Lauren Ritz.
Spirit
Dark Spirit
The Heart of the Castle
The other (Without A Voice) is contemporary religious. I haven’t finished the “Riot” book yet, but I’m working on it. Spirit and Dark Spirit take place 60 to 80 years after the riots that decimated the world, when everything is back to some version of normal.
I love that first line you quoted. I might have to try his first book and see how it goes…
Right on Lauren,,,
Thank you,,,
Keep writing!
I didnt water any of those fields i planted out with the oddball veggie cover crop, so far are still lush and green wish we could post pictures!
Really, let’s encourage such thinkers to practice what they plan. It’s illegal to own guns in Chicago. So let’s have Chicago LEOs go door-to-door in gun crime-ridden neighborhoods and vehicle-to-vehicle at checkpoints and confiscate weapons from the citizenry.
But wait, “they” will cry, what about due process, isnt this racial profiling, where’s the probable cause? And when those officers come under sniper fire every time they get near the crime-ridden areas, they will quickly find reasons not to enforce existing laws. And when all police resources are tied up confiscating illegally-obtained and -held weapons what about all the other full-time police activities like school security, transit security, court activities, etc.?
Is it reasonable to think that such confiscation could ever take place in less populous areas? Tend to think not.
A liberal relative of mine posted this on Facebook:
Imagine highways using traffic laws written in 1791. Imagine radio, television, and internet run by 1791 regulations. Imagine limiting yourself to the medical care available in 1791. The Second Amendment was written in 1791.
I’ve learned to not even try to point out the flaws in her thinking, as it will not change her mind and it only causes her liberal friends to pile on and state more ridiculous and short-sighted arguments.
That article was refreshingly encouraging and well written.
Woodpile report has some excellent reading this week,
Remus has really done a hell of a job finding some very good and pertinent articles.
…and he links to Modern Survival Blog once in a while. I appreciate that.
Ken,
Thanks for letting these post stay, i know they are in the wrong place,
With all that has been going on if folks are really paying attention you cant help but wonder and ask, what next?
Was reading about that call to prayer in NY city,
Now thats just nuts, but this is the result of just going along with the left,
That switch will get flicked eventually,
Can feel it
Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean that they’re not out to get you. Madwolf :-)
The original Occam’s Razor said that once a mathematical theorem was proved there was no need to add additional proof. Quite a bit different from its current meaning which was popularized in the arguments over Oswald’s role in that shooting deal…
And yet, what constitutes “proof”? My nephew was in a science class and they were doing an experiment based on a proven fact. He decided to run the test it was based on and came up with an entirely different result. Turns out it was one of those “obvious” proven facts that no one had bothered to test in close to 100 years. (FYI, I have no idea what test he ran or what the result was–I’m more the throw everything together and see what happens type)
“Objects in mirror are closer than they appear” There are some illusions we should pay attention to. :) Paranoia, skepticism, or reality?
“I have encountered (and dug in to) ‘conspiracies’ which have absolutely turned out to be deep, true, and accurate.”
The piece in bold (hope I did the tags right) is the key. A paranoid person won’t dig for the truth, or if they do it will be with the expectation that everything they find that runs counter to their expectations is buried in more conspiracy. If they find something that doesn’t fit their worldview, they’ll find a way to fit it in rather than taking the chance of their worldview changing.
Real eyes
Realize
Real lies