acceptance

On Wisdom

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A badass individual acknowledges that no one, including oneself (as Badass as one might be), has the capacity to know everything. And because of this, the Badass is on a constant mission to gain knowledge, and by any means necessary.

There once was a wise, silly old Badass with a bushy-ass mustache, and under the pen name Mark Twain was believed to have said,

“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”

In other words, don’t speak of what you don’t know.

Ain’t that some truth to keep you and I out of trouble?

Damn straight.

But the true Badass wouldn’t stop there. The Badass would investigate and research the topic so that if the conversation was ever revisited, the Badass would have something worthwhile to add. (And a Badass is always worthwhile.)

The above quote attributed to Twain, for instance, has been known to have been coined not only by Twain, but Abraham Lincoln, the Bible, and various others. The Badass would not post or share that shit until further investigating just to be sure Mr. Clemens, a.k.a. Mr. Twain, did in fact give this wise-ass piece of advice (so as not to misquote or mislead some motherfuckers). This golden rule would apply to Badass journalists, writers, teachers, and friends as well: Don’t speak of what you don’t know; if you don’t know, find out.

Which leads us to another Badass. Enter the Badass Quote Investigator, Garson O’Toole from Yale and shit.

“Just why is Garson O’Toole deemed a Badass?” you ask.

As made evident by his website, this bastard is unstoppable when it comes to researching the source of quotes. And more importantly, he doesn’t just keep the information for himself and laugh at the blatant stupidity of the rest of our sorry asses–he shares that shit with the world. That’s right–makin’ the world a better, more informed place and shit–one curiosity at a time.

That, Commander, is Badass defined.

He shared that the quote can most likely be attributed to Maurice Switzer, in her book “Mrs. Goose, Her Book” published in 1907 and with slightly different wording (though the same meaning):

“It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it.”

Read that shit.

That quote is one for every Badass to hold dear and as doctrine. That quote, with it’s source found, is one that a Badass can share with confidence.

Badass bottom line:

The Badass won’t speak of what they don’t know; if they don’t know, they’ll find out.

On Tolerance

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It is much easier to judge than to love, which is why you are more likely to find folks flappin’ at the mouth rather than listening to others with open hearts and minds.

You’ll know a righteous Badass by their keen ability to listen, accept, and tolerate those who disagree with them.

The Badass is confident enough to not feel threatened by disagreements and differences, but instead is intrigued and ultimately enriched by them.

All unshakable and shit.

On Filtering Bullshit

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A Badass individual, through trial, error, and life experience, has mastered one of nature’s most pertinent arts—when and when not to give a shit.

Hence, the Badass Bullshit Filter.

As insecure children, we feared others—their glaring stares, their blatant lies, their stinging gossip, their mean-spirited manipulations. No one liked being called “Smelly Kelly” or “Stupid Stan”. So our voices shrunk, we ceased owning our own space on the planet, and we became smaller than small. We lusted for invisibility cloaks. As we grew older, we hid behind dramatic bangs. We quietly and submissively gave value to everyone’s thoughts and opinions about us, whether true to us or not—teachers, students, siblings, grocery store clerks, the ice cream man, and the like. Why? We were ignorant to and had not yet begun to develop our own custom Badass Bullshit Filter.

Now, if Kelly had a genuine problem with properly washing her own funky ass, and Stan was too goddamned lazy to learn some shit, that is clearly something Kelly or Stan needed to take responsibility for and fix (and not for anyone but themselves in regard to their own health, hygiene, and success, of course).

Every Badass knows taking responsibility for oneself is the number one rule for becoming a true Badass (which would put Kelly and Stan in the lead, if this was, indeed, their chosen course of action).

Steps to building your very own Badass Bullshit Filter:

1. Recognize what you value in life and in others.

If you prefer kind-hearted people over mean sons o’ bitches, then only place value on and consider the thoughts and opinions of the kind-hearted.

2. Filter out the rest (which is all bullshit, Chief).

Disregard, discard, and disown anything that comes from a mean son of a bitch. Why?

Anything and everything that comes out of an asshole is shit.

 

You’re welcome.

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On Knowing One’s Beliefs

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A genuine badass individual, in order to promote inner tranquility and freedom for all, may (or may not) choose to follow or practice a religion, philosophy, or a particular belief structure. Upon making an educated effort to ascertain the foundations, origins, and historical facts of said religion, philosophy, or particular belief structure, one becomes secure enough in one’s own badass state of being to allow others the very same freedoms. Like one of those badass peaceful manatees, all cute and cuddly and shit.

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Badass Manatees

A Badass is secure enough in his/her own beliefs to learn the traditions and rituals of others and not feel threatened by them. Hate comes from fear. That’s right. I said it. Know this Sugar-Cheeks, and don’t forget it: hate (for anything or anyone) comes from fear. Fear comes from the unknown. The unknown to you is your own ignorance. So basically, if you fear someone or something (a person of another culture, a religion, a gay coworker, a straight politician, a juicy-ass Jerusalem cricket, your neighbor’s Doberman Pinscher) it’s because you don’t have an understanding or any familiarity with that someone or something. So, if you hate something or someone due to fear, NEWS FLASH: your ass is ignorant. BOOM. Don’t you argue with me, honeychile. Just sit your ass down and meditate on that sweet-ass shit for a while.

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Welcome back. ॐ

I’ll tell you what the problem is . . . it falls within our own goddamned domestication. We weren’t often taught as children at home or in school to venture outside of our own comfort zone and get to know others. We stay away from the people, we preach our own beliefs, we kill the bugs (and sometimes the animals and people). We are taught only to compete with others, feel sorry for others, or stay away from others. Violence is given more tolerance than tolerance itself.

Let’s go down the rabbit hole a bit and dare ask . . . who the hell benefits from fear? You? Me? Certainly not the Badass individual. But like good little puppets, fearful individuals do buy a lot of motherfuckin’ shit . . . .