Ask Lemmy

Never admire an entire person, only the aspects of the person you find admirable.

And even without reprimanded - I can damn well guarantee that person will EVER make that same mistake.

Not everything requires a paper-trail.

Stay curious. No one is over educated to the point that they can't learn.

The other side of this is that anyone, no matter their background, can teach you something.

Be slightly more useful than I am annoying... I'm really fucking annoying

/me grabs soapbox

I'll focus on people. I avoid people who consistent or egregiously:

• are assumptive, gullible, or fallacious.
• expect me to be assumptive, gullible, or fallacious.
• are eager to violate the others' autonomy; for example, the "I never take a «no» for an answer" ones.
• defend their actions based on intentions (instead of responsibility, outcome, or info at hand).
• expect me to apologise for things they know I have no blame for.
• claim that fighting back makes me as bad as my enemies, i.e. who expect me to become a punching bag.

Note: "consistent or egregiously" is key here. A brainfart or a derp is fine; but some things happen too often, or are too strong, to be considered simply brainfarts.

Admit when I'm wrong.

Don't spend energy on things you can't change anyway. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good (enough).

Look after your tools, as the old saying goes.

Underpants go on the inside.

Treat others the way you'd like to be treated. When I call customer support, I don't get mad at the person because it's not their fault. If someone flubs up my order I don't say anything. I try to smile to everyone even though I don't want to. Even if I don't make their day better, I try to make it at least bearable.

• Absolutely no littering ever.
• If I drive I don't drink. Not even one.
• No lying. Not even white lies.
• No smoking (tobacco)
• If everyone did what I do and the world would be a worse place for it, then don't do it.
• Good deeds done in secret are twice the karma.

Be unremarkable but no so unremarkable as to be in and of itself remarkable

“First thing you learn is that you always gotta wait.” Taken from the Velvet Underground about buying drugs, but I think it’s pretty applicable to everything.

I have no more right to interfere in someone else's life than they have to interfere in mine.

Avoid people who don't share that view.

I can't save the world, but I can make my corner a little nicer.

Decision results in bad outcome. Oh well, lesson learned.

Quit being poor is the only thing that will remedy most of your problems.

"Always eat your dessert first"

Meaning, when you feel overwhelmed by a huge task or a long list of tasks in front of you, start with the easiest, smallest and most pleasant parts. That way you overcome inertia and the feeling of standing in front of a huge, looming mountain, and get in the groove.

Once you've started, the next task on the list is just a little bigger than the last, which you've just successfully completed. That way you can get a lot done, step by step.

When only the biggest and most difficult tasks are left, you can break them down into tiny steps (don't "clean the house", just "pick up this one thing and put it away"). Again, do the easiest steps first, and celebrate each one as a thing you've just successfully accomplished.

Some people say you should start with the hardest stuff to get it behind you, but I have ADHD and trying that just keeps me from starting anything at all.

On a related note, don't write To-Do lists.
They're a devious trick by your brain to procrastinate. You already know a dozen things that need to be done at any given moment, so instead of writing a list, just do one of them.

ITT Americans using morning news headlines to cope with their miserable 3rd world existence.

Adapt or die.

Go at your own pace, build habits. You can get good at anything if you stick with it long enough and don’t compare yourself to others.

If someone tells you something, that something does not get repeated without asking for permission first. People don't have to say "can I tell you this in confidence?" Absolutely everything is kept in confidence.

When deciding what to do, the order of trumps is legal, then prudent, then right. Do what is legal unless what is prudent is illegal, then do what is prudent. If doing what is right is neither prudent or legal, do it anyway because it's right.

Never start fights with people. Always be prepared to finish a fight someone else starts with you, quickly, without posturing, hesitation, or mercy. Regardless of their size, shape, color, creed, or uniform, bullies can never be allowed to win.

When solving a problem, always start with the simplest possibility first.

Never lend anyone: Your truck, your pen, your chainsaw, or your wife. No matter what, they're going to do something with them that you're not going to like.

You can never have too many pens, flashlights, knives, or bullets.

Im obsessed with truth. Its been a struggle and kept my mind occupied much through my life. It still stays with me but I am more accepting that it is a journey without end. As for the truths the acceptance of the never ending journey and the ethic of least harm. I lean toward selfishness in my morality so am unwilling to compromise for the greater good.

Make it work, then make it work right.

And it’s companion for understanding how things came to be- every complex working system invariably developed from a simple working system

Have strong opinions that are weakly held.

Don’t let “perfect” be the enemy of “good”

Now that I think about it, my principles like my life may be all about engineering…