Comments for Thinking Out Loud

Comment on Multiplier or Diminisher? by acmyers

acmyers — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:18:29 +0000

Good thoughts for pastors.

Comment on That’s Not What Happened! by acmyers

acmyers — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 02:39:29 +0000

Right on, Bob!! This is such a vexing situation for people who prize their “rationality”, their ability to recall conversational sequences in detail, etc. And a spouse’s version of an event may be so different as to feel crazy-making when it so does not agree with what the other spouse “remembers”. This may be one of the hardest knots in relationship, and you’ve nailed it, descriptively.

Comment on After a Fight by Rodney

Rodney — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:34:30 +0000

Excellent piece. Peace-making is such an important component of having sustainable relationships. Thanks for breaking it down into a clear format.

Comment on The Look on Her Face by Rodney

Rodney — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:06:58 +0000

This is a tremendous story. and…i must say that the way you wrote it is very sensitive and beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.

Comment on Something Shifted by acmyers

acmyers — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 20:11:15 +0000

Spot on, Bob!! Excellent essay on the topic, “the elusive — but absolutely real — shift”. Thanx.

Comment on Active Noticing by Rodney

Rodney — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 02:58:57 +0000

Right on! I believe this to be true and highly valuable. I think the term “active noticing” describes this well.

Comment on Stop Signs by acmyers

acmyers — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:56:36 +0000

What about Dylan? Don’t you have to work with both boys?

Comment on Joe’s Wall by Rodney

Rodney — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:41:29 +0000

Such a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it and for telling it in such a compelling way. As the story unfolded, I could “picture” Joe making positive changes.

Comment on Mom and the Pediatrician by Angela

Angela — Sun, 08 May 2011 15:47:00 +0000

Hi Bob,
Judy forwarded this to me and I really enjoyed reading it. Ironically, just the other day I was thinking about Logan’s next appointment and the things I would like to discuss with his pediatrician. I thought about calling ahead to regarding the topics that I would rather not discuss in front of Logan. After reading this, I have decided to do just that. Thanks.

Comment on Cursing by acmyers

acmyers — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 22:32:59 +0000

You could usefully elucidate what is meant by “curse words”. Cursing is calling god’s judgment and wrath down on someone — a perhaps archaic usage, but one worth preserving: the curser intends harm to the other. “Swearing” is making an oath, also an arcahic usage, but also worth preserving. Quakers, for example, decline to swear allegiance or other oaths in court proceedings, preferring instead to “affirm” their willingness to uphold the Constitution, tell the truth, etc.
Though your article touches on both of these, I doubt that most people using “Anglo-Saxon four-letter expletives” for basic body functions applied to others in pejorative ways think of themselves as either coursing or swearing in the the above senses.
As you say, it is the emotion behind the words that carries the message, along with the choices of words considered (for the most part, at least in some places) as “dirty” or “unacceptable in polite society” — i.e., it is their shock value that heightens emotional content.