In the time I been submitting my ramblings to LiP, I’ve noticed a vast difference from when I used to Post on the RAO Subic web site, on that site there was no reader feedback, except at beer joints, when someone would comment, but that was face to face, and if the comment was rude, I could answer and make a fool of the idiot on the spot, unless he had a good point or made a fool of me. So when Bob asked me to join LiP I wasn’t sure how I’d handle negative feedback, my first month I’ll admit it was shaky, but I figured it out.
I could be like a very few commenters (less than ½ a percent) who lash out from an undisclosed location, using an AKA’s name, and scurry back under their rock to hide. But since my full name and picture are posted along with my article, I can’t do that, I won’t refute the fact that sometimes I wish I could. “Paul, use humor” is what I came up with, point out with a little sneaky smile why I feel they are wrong.
I use a little humor when I write the article and more humor when I answer the comments. There will always be people who will nit-pick everything you write. Or as I think of them “The Attack Dogs” Humor has served me well throughout my life, if I were hassled by a person in authority, I’d respond in kind.
In the Navy we were required to salute officers. Some, not most definitely deserved a proper hand salute. I was crossing a Navy base with a Seaman walking beside me. I rendered a proper hand salute to a passing Officer, to which the “Zero”* ignored. I turned and said, “Sir when a Senior Chief take’s time out of his busy day to salute, military decorum requires it be returned.” The Zero started to bluster and said, “Chief, do you know who you’re speaking to?”’ I smiled and said, “Yes, the base Commanding Officer as soon as I get your name, and by the way “SIR” it’s Senior Chief, not Chief.” He saluted smartly and went on his way. The Seaman spoke not a word.
If someone asked a foolish question, I’d smile and return a well phrased response, as they walked away I’d watch them scratching their head, and asking themselves, “Did Paul just insulted me?.” Of course I did, and a few times I was called on it.
There are countless people in this world who are smarter than me. When someone I respect gets the better of me, I just smile, and scheme and plot forever. Just kidding, I really do take it well. (Don’t dish it out, if you can’t take it in return.) Some of my dearest friends did not start out that way, it was similar to alpha dogs meeting for the first time, if there is no compromise, and there will be a donnybrook. These were friends that have been in my life forever, and will always be there.
I once wrote to an Attack Dog, “You’re like a ray of sunshine in the Sahara, but who really needs it?” They were being negative for negativity sake. And I never received a response, no surprise there. A few times I just wrote, “Thank you for your kind words.” There are times when I just don’t understand what the person meant to say, and can’t tell if it’s an insult or an accolade, and wonder “Is he smart or just a negative Nick (no insult to those named Nick, as we like you a lot) to those people, I’ll answer “Thank you for your comment.” or “Say what?”
I have received a lot of pleasure both writing and reading on LiP, from the regular contributors, the guest contributors, and those who comment. I’ve found the majority to be intelligent, concerned folks, who share the love of living here. Albeit we all see it through our own perspective as each of us has that right. As an old friend would tell me; “Paul when they’re attacking you, they’re leaving an amateur alone, let them take their best shot.” I know there is no perfection here on Earth, but happiness abounds, everywhere, if you’ll take the time to find it, I found mine here, in a group of islands called the Republic of the Philippines, Dinalupihan, Bataan. And a sense humor helps. Mea Culpa again, to those named Nick.
And if you can’t say something nice… don’t make it personal, as my ego is very frail.
*Zero: Refers to a Military Officers pay grade Ensign = 01, LTJG = 02 on up.
Hi Paul – Another gem from the pen of wisdom. I reckon you must have had a lot of study time when you were in the Navy.
The old saying “if you have nothing good to say about a person say nothing at all” can be very difficult to uphold at times but worth trying to practice. The other saying you mentioned “when their talking about you they are leaving someone else alone” is equaly true.
I suppose the moral of the story is where possible keep your own council until your far enough away to still be heard but not be caught hahaha!
Kind regards.
Jim.
Hi Jim;
The old expression “Bite your tongue” Your advice “where possible keep your own council until your far enough away to still be heard but not be caught” brought a smile to me, as it is funny yet so true. What one learns from the service is mostly real life situations, as you are with people from everywhere, with many varying points of view. You’ll learn things that will never reach the pages of a book. If one doesn’t learn that, they will be in a daily donnybrook.
Jim;
The old expression “Bite your tongue” still holds true. (to complete my thought)
revenge is often a dish best served cold, or as i believe the Sicilians say, revenge is a dish best served….
from what i have read you are capable of looking after your self, say it with humour and you can get a way with lots
keep on writing
Fellow Paul;
Beer served cold is good also. Your comment hit the nail square on the head, humor is a great weapon, as you can whack someone with it, and they laugh! When I figured that out, I was off to the races. (Sorry I left the “u” out of humor, it’s just something Yanks do.) (lol)
HI Senior Chief, you are absolutely right, some things are left without reply or response. Since we are conditioned to salute to show respect, we are also mentoring young sailors and coasties in our days. As they say in the old days, “if it doesn’t move, paint it; it it moves, salute it”. lol.
Mars
Mars;
Back when I was a boot, I hated to salute, until a crusty old Chief smiled and said. “Son think of a long pier, filled with enlisted men, and along comes one lone officer. By the time he gets to the gangway, who do you think hates salutes more?” As to the mentoring part, you knew why I stopped that officer!
Ha ha, many times when stopping at Fort Belvoir army post, since the CG switch in the ’70s to a uniform Coast Guard Blue with blue overseas cap (similar to AF almost) from the traditional sailor suit, soldiers and airmen wasn’t sure if I was an enlisted or officer and they saluted which I proudly return and both us smiles when they see my MCPO collar.
Mars
Shipmate;
I found out the hard way that the Army will salute uncovered and indoors., also never call a Colonel, “Captain”. Also, since we all know that a Maj. is higher than a Lt. in the Army, Why then is a Lt. General, higher than a Maj. General?
Shipmate, the Navy and Coast Guard will also confuse everybody else by calling commanding officers “Captain” regardless of their ranks.
Mars
So true!
I was taught Be My Little General for the ranks of General. BrigiderGen, Major Gen, LtGen, and of course the 4 star Gen.
It was just an easy way for me to remember
Hudson;
And correct you are, but why is a “Lieutenant General” higher than a “Major General”. when Major is a higher rank than a Lieutenant? It’s backwards and doesn’t make sense! But hey, it’s the Army right. (I have two sons in tha U.S. Army as we speak!)
Senior;
Alot of time during my Navy career I was forced by protocal to salute many O’s that were either dummer than a box of rocks or SOO all about their EGO I couldn’t figure out how they got their heads through the hatches of the ships. I just kept telling myself I was saluting the uniform not the pee brain inside.
Seni0r I only stared reading articles (blogs) as young people call the in the cyber world.
An I can see that some people are chickhen s**ts or very hatefull people. They get their courage from the key board because they know they can be totally cruel to someone and know one can whip his @ss. It’s kinda like the jail where I work, behind the bars and glass
these folks will say and do every nasty and harmful thing under the sun to you. But when you
stand infront of the door and open it to confront them man to man the bit#$ up like little girls.
To me these folks don’t even rate the time of day. I love a good argument and some times play devils advocate for fun. But I would never attack people thats wrong.
I like LIP and the writer YEA even Your articles (ok I like you articles alot . Their your warm and fuzzy) Because it’s collective learning and most of us have the same goals living in the Philippines. Also the people here or quick to call someone on their comments if their out of line. Darn that was to much typing for an old BT I need a beer.
Mike;
For a new blogger you got the point, it’s the attack dogs that hide behind their computer screen and lash out. As you said if you were in the room with them, they wouldn’t say crap, even if they had a mouth full of it. If you find a incorrect fact in an article, like you’ll will in most of mine, it’s easy to politely point it out, with out going into the GOTCHA” mode. Or as Bob puts it now. “Speak Your Mind, all opinions welcome except flames and personal attacks” I’m not sure what flames are, but I’ll try my best not to do it. BTW: Hope all goes well today, during your surgery!
Mike;
A comment here, an e-mail or something! How did the surgery go????
Many times
I have told Philippino ‘s
(mostly street Standbys making rude comments to my GF)
If you can’t say something nice.
it is better to not speak at all.
To a fellow American or Foreigner, speaking like that.
I say If you can’t say something nice.
SHUT UP.!!
Douglass;
I could not agree with you more. But why did you shorten it to shut up, I’ve heard it as Shut the Hell Up! (there is one more way to say it, but…..)
Hi Paul: I salute you for your wit! Your joy in life shows in your article.
Roselyn;
Thank you for that, I really never had a bad day. Oh, days that I’d not want to repeat but all were survivable.
Paul. why do they call camels ships of the dessert?
Boss;
There is no way you’ll get me to answer that!(lol)
Boss;
Did you know that a camel is nothing but a horse, that was designed by the U.S. Congress?
I’d believe that…the hump must be the air bag
Hudson;
I believe you’re right about that hump, we have a lot of humps and air bags in congress, so that makes perfect sense. Now is it the dromedary that has two humps, or is that me on a lucky day?
This entire post was a pointless waste of my time! (just kidding)
Tony;
And yet you still took the time to respond! (lol)
One should forgive one’s enemies…but not before they hang !!
Brian;
Words to live by! I enjoyed that.
Hey Paul,
I like your style of writing. Don’t sweat the small stuff (it’s all small stuff).
There was a time when I was in the Air Force in Utah. It was a blistering cold minus 10 degrees. A couple of us were walking our way back to the hanger from the chow hall all bundled up in our parkas. A Bird Colonel rolled up in his staff car and asked if my hands were cold. “YES SIR” I answered….And I just kept on walking as I knew he wasn’t going to get out of his nice warm car just to get a salute.
Hudson;
But small stuff is all I have!
Funny salute story, and you’re right, there was no way he was getting out of that car.
ha ha, Beetle Bailey was right. When asked by General Half-track if he’s got a change for a dollar, he replied: “yeah, I got a change”. The general not losing the opportunity to mentor, ” Private, you’re suppose to salute and say Sir, yes Sir, now let’s do that again, now Private do you have a change for a dollar?” He replied in attention, saluted and said: Sir, no sir” lol.
I think the story went something like that.
Mars
Shipmate,
That was funny, Private Bailey was a cartoon after my own heart.
Yeah, along with Cookie, always getting blame for the perceived lousy food in the military.
Mars;
The Chief Stewburrner said to a seaman on the messdecks after supper,
“I’ll bet this food is nothing like your mother cooked?” The seaman answered, “You’re right Chief, this food is good!”
It’s all in your frame of reference.
Hi Paul,
That dog in the pic looks like a black German Shepard, my favorite! Even with the teeth hes so cute 🙂
Anyway, I have been around on the net for a very long time now and you get use to the “keyboard Nazi’s” Its my past time to watch them get so rilled up you know they are spitting teeth. its hard to fight back when your name and pic is on the site but remember this, you live in a different county then a lot of them 😉
I have been wondering for ever how the hell you guys know if a higher rank is walking toward you ??
Jack;
I’m not sure if “Cute” would be the word I’d use, but I agree, a beautiful creature it is.
“Keyboard Nazi’s” Jack you hit it straight on with that term, the only thing wrong with it, is I didn’t think of it while writing this article. I tend to look at things this way, if the attack dog is paying for my food, or power bill, then I might give them an once of consideration, but as they are not, then they don’t exist within my world. (That was hard to say without using an expletive)
Jack;
About knowing the rank, Navy dress blues the rank is bright gold at the bottom of the coat sleeve. Otherwise rank is worn on the coller, either silver or gold. (we military love shiny things) So pretty much if it’s shiny you’ll salute. Then there are Chiefs to Master Chiefs, we also wore shiny things on our coller but it’s an anchor with or without stars. Hell I’m getting confused now, if it moves salute it, and you’ll never be wrong. (MarsZ told me that!)
True, True. We are so conditioned to salute, it’s almost second nature. Since we are enlisted personnel, warrant and commissioned officers “out rank” us and expect us to salute, so even the newly commissioned officer in the grade of 0-1 “out rank” a crusty old Master Chief (E-9) but any Ensign with their heads up their behind crazy enough to pull ranks would find out real fast who really runs the farm. Heck, we salute everybody, we salute the Prez, when we come aboard the ship, all officers including officers of foreign countries, during colors, when we hear national anthem, Hail to the chief; Heck, when acting as gate guards, we even salute the car when it has officers sticker whether the wife or kid is driving the thing—so like I say, when it moves, salute; when it doesn’t, paint it. Lol, just make sure you follow the Paint Manual–yes we have that too.
Mars;
Tom Cats are doing bingo’s on the airstrip out on NALF San Clemente Island, I was at the UDT Buds camp with a few of the Seal Instructors, every time a F-14 did a touch and go, I saluted. Master Chief Al Huey asked what the hell I was doing, (BTW: beer was involved) I explained that in boot camp I was told to salute any vehicle with an Officer in it. F-14’s are a vehicle.
Ha Ha As long as that beer can do not become FOBs, I don’t think the care. Are those Seal Team one or Three? I hosted them at Kodiak Alaska for some of their needs when they were starting their Cold Weather Training and the CG gave them one of the old LORAN STA for their Base. Showed them the best salmon fishing spot and keep the beer cold when they disappear for 3-4 days out in the snowy mountain. Some of them have long hair and could speak Russian linggo. Interesting folks. New group every few months or so.
Mars;
Those Seals were the Instructors for Seal Training at Coronado/ San Clemente Island CA., off the teams for awhile.
When I read an article here I always like reading your comments and your articels. I have also used humor to get myself out of jams or to just keep me sane .Looking forward to your next anything.
Eric;
Humor works, doesn’t it! I’d be a basket case without humor, and my blood pressure is normally 120 over 80 even living here. A young lady called yesterday and said my car would be in the shop one more day, she knew that I’m a Kano, and was waiting for me to blow up. I answered in a pleasant tone and said that I understood, and I’d just check with her bukas. Then I thanked her for calling. To handle it any other way would be counter productive, and I’d still wait the extra day. Debar?
Hi Paul,
It’s off topic, seeing you’re in Bataan, have you been to that place called, “las casas de Azucar”? Saw photos of the place, looks awesome.
Alex
Alex;
Off topic is fine with me as I tend to ramble anyway. But to answer your question No I have not heard of it, but I’m googling it now (I’ll be right back) Wow thanks for pointing that out. It’s really not that far from me and I’ll freely admit that I’ve not been there yet. But after seeing the pictures and reading the info. I’m going soon. I promise to use my wife’s new camera and write on LIP about my trip. Alex, thank you very much!!! Ya gotta’ love LIP readers!
Paul,
My g/f lives one hour from las casas de azucar near balangas city. She said it is really nice there and you should really enjoy it. Can’t wait till get back to bataan. Keep up the good humor, its really enjoyable and who knows maybe we will meet one day on bataan.
Paul: I must share this story with you as you’ll probably see the humour. While attending graduate school at a women’s university in Texas, we were sent outside by the figure drawing instructor to sketch the statue of the pioneer woman, representing the spirit of the traditions of the university. The instructor did not go with us, so we got into all kinds of verbal mischief. This statue looked more like a man than a woman. A student (jokingly yelled out loud): “Roselyn, she looks like your mother!”. I said, “She certaintly does, but my mother wears a gun!”. The instructor from behind us replied, “Correction, your mother wears an AK-47, I’ve seen her with it!” It was hilarious.
Roselyn;
That was a cute story about your school days, there is always time for a good laugh!
I have seen statues of the pioneer ladies, and must admit they pale in comparison to the ones I saw in Italy (it could have been by the way they were dressed, or not). Was it in the talent of the artist, or was it, early Americans were just homely? After seeing the photos of the ladies of the Temperance League, I then understood why their husband would rather drink than go home.
Hi Paul: Ha, ha, ha! Those statues and photos are indeed too homely.
Homely: Is when they cry, and the tears flow to the back of their head.
As a blogger who writes something about my life and views about America, and with a “controversial” blog title that stirs intrigue, offense and both of them, I am no longer new to “trolls”—I call them either trolls or negas (short for negative people). These people who hide behind the anonymity behind their PC’s and computer devices have have nothing to do but to put down others to make them feel good because their lives are so miserable. In fact, I wrote a lot of articles about my experience with them and the dissing I constantly received then.
I used to get affected by negative comments because most of them are “personal attacks” . At first, I would react with anger, and respond with something negative too. There were times I cried and I would dream and devise a plan how to get back to that person. But most people who read my posts are the ones who encourage me , uplift me and push me to go on despite the the personal criticism.
Now, I learned to just shrug them off because one commenter told me, “If you are now being hated for something you said, you know you’re made and had made a significant role in changing minds and attitudes.” So, what I do now, I put a comment policy on my blog, and if there is still a troll, I block their IP’s and proxy servers, names and emails. It’s sometimes good to receive a negative comment or something bad because in some way, you have won and had the ability to tell the whole world what you need to let them know.
Hi Bingkee,
You are right of course about the “Trolls” However If I’m on a blog or even Facebook where people are posting political opinion, I feel compelled to respond if they are factually incorrect. There have been times that people have dropped me as friends on FB because I point out things that just aren’t true. I even try to give a reference to make my point. Facts, logic and reason are not always enough, as I think people post this stuff so they they can preach to the choir.
My point is: If you don’t want to be challenged, don’t post it. A free exchange of ideas is always good (without getting mean or name calling of course).
Opinions are like bellybuttons, everybody’s got one, and they all smell. 🙂
Hudson
Did you really mean “Bellybuttons”?
Hi Bingkee, (I do like the name)
From the Latin: “Argumenturn ad hominem” (attacking the character of the person vice the subject)
Never play the game the “Trolls” way. Make them play it your way, it’s your site, take the high road (as Roselyn did in Great Expectations, here on LIP), answer them by saying something funny or nice, don’t argue as that is what they want. When they know they can’t win, they will leave your site on there own. Remember, if you woke up in the morning in a great mood, and during the day you allow that troll to alter your mood and hurt your feelings, than you let them win. And we never want to let the ignorant win.
BTW: I went to your site, after I saw it noted in Bob’s New Site. I found it to be a fun read, and a great point of view, the name didn’t put me off a bit, after I read it.BTW: If the trolls are so smart, wouldn’t they have their own site???
Hi Paul: Pure drops of wisdom from your finger-tips. Reminds me of the new recruit at company inspection by the commanding officer, who asked the recruit, “how long have you been in the navy sailor” where by the recruit replied without batting an eye, “all day sir, and I like it just fine”. Bringing a smile, and “carry-on” from the officer.
Cheers:
Roberto;
That was my first time to hear (or read) that, and it made my day. Feel free to do that again!
Paul,
I’ve used humor my entire life to diffuse nasty situations or just make it through the day. Most people I work with say I make the day enjoyable because I find the humor in most everything and am not afraid to express it…of course on the other hand it’s also why I’ve got the job I have now because I once cracked wise when I should have used a little more self control…ah well live and learn. I was never in the service but my Dad was in the Navy or in the Navy’s employ for 39 years so saluting at my house was second nature. I still do it at work every day and that usually elicits a smile from people I pass in the halls! Tough habit to break…
Hello Mark;
Ah, times when humor will bite you on the ass… I know just what you’re saying, you can be sure it has happened to me a few times But not enought to make me stop. My brothers would tell me to stop and think first, but I had to explain that it wouldn’t be funny if you have to wait. As you know, timing is everything. Yet I will bite my tongue if I think it will hurt someone I like or respect. All others are fair game. Keep up the good work!