Tag: writing prompt

Tell Me The Truth

On By Susan St.PierreIn In my humble opinion...9 Comments

This prompt asks these provocative questions.

  1. What is truth?
  2. Is truth absolute or is it nuanced?
  3. Does our personal experience impact our idea of what is true?
  4. Why does it seem everyone’s version of the truth is somewhat different?
  5. Do you always tell the truth?
  6. Who do you trust to tell you the truth?

    Here are my answers:

    1. Truth is something we know or have come to know that cannot be reduced or modified. It’s like the least common denominator in math. Something basic like the elements that make up the universe. Truth can be questioned but neither yields to criticism nor is it pliable. It often is simply too elusive to find. That’s why we are more often pursuing it rather than finding it.

    2. Truth wouldn’t be truth unless it is regarded as absolute. Quasi-truth or half-truth are oxymorons. They aren’t meant to be literally taken seriously but convey a message we use as a figure of speech.

    3. Truth never changes but how people understand it can vary according to their frames of reference. A cherry pie is a cherry pie no matter if you like the taste or even whether you cannot see it. The cherry pie is constant (the truth) and opinion and viewpoints cannot change it although some people often think they do. The “truth is” they’re wrong.

    4. Any ‘version’ of truth is considered an opinion. The common new phrase of “My truth” is also an oxymoron. No one ‘owns’ Truth. They ether recognize it or not. ‘My truth’ is a narcissistic term that suggests someone’s ‘opinion’ or ‘experiences’ can be imposed on others as “a truth” and is thusly above question or criticism.

    5. No. I’m sometimes not even sure if I know the “truth”. I believe that we all discern who gets the “truth” and how much of it we are willing to offer him or her because most people “can’t handle the truth”. Opinions and instincts are sufficient guides anyway as long as we never convince ourselves that they are “truths”.

    6. I don’t even trust my dog to be truthful once he learns how easily people can be manipulated. My answer is no one. A whole cloth of Truth (every twist and turn) simply takes too long to convey and isn’t really necessary in most cases. The result or bottom-line is all we really need, and the details are just clues used to validate it.
    Yet, I do trust some people’s ‘half-truths’ more than others. 😉
https://fromcavewalls.wordpress.com/2023/02/03/tell-me-the-truth/

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #265- Just a Gob without God

On By Susan St.PierreIn Words 'n' such Poetry, Writing Prompts14 Comments

It is a line prompt this week. Let’s see where it takes you.

You live in a world where no Gods exist.



The king needs your money and fear,
Thus, no Gods are permitted for you.
His demands are supreme and quite clear.
The king needs your money and fear.

Your life is not worthy, nor dear,
Just a replaceable gob in his crew.
The king needs your money and fear,
Thus, no Gods are permitted for you.





https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2023/01/26/reenas-xploration-challenge-265/

RDP Saturday: Without Question

On By Susan St.PierreIn Writing Prompts4 Comments


The prompt word for today, 10th December 2022, is “Question”.




Without Question


You’re always questioning my motives.

Do I?

Yes, every time I say anything!

How so?

I told you I wasn’t coming to the party because I have a headache and then you were silent.

Why does that bother you?

Because I felt you didn’t believe I have a headache.

What does that matter?

You can’t possibly know whether I do or don’t have a headache.

Wasn’t all I needed to know is whether you were coming or not?

Sure.

How might I have eased your worry?

You could have said that you’d miss me, and you hoped I’d feel better soon.

Okay, I will, and I do. Is that better?

Just GET OFF MY CASE!

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2022/12/10/rdp-saturday-question/

Question Time Over Coffee- 11-12-22

On By Susan St.PierreIn In my humble opinion..., Writing Prompts26 Comments

I normally don’t have time to answer questions, but I thought these questions were cool and wanted to play along.



1.You have 11 minutes free time, how do you spend it best with regards entertainment?

Frequently I use little segments of time to read and respond to other writers’ posts. I feel terribly guilty if I don’t get to respond to as many as possible.

2.Are you a fan of feet either yours or others or are you averse to feet?
Why and why?

I don’t have an opinion on feet. But I was that kid who went barefooted any chance I got. Once I started providing childcare when I was 19, I went the other way. I still put my shoes on first thing each day having been formally trained to by the frequency with which kids stepped on my feet! This is proof of how well negative reinforcement works.

3. When you are wrong and you know you are wrong do you admit to being wrong or try and find a right for your wrong?

I certainly will do that. I can’t say that I feel compelled to do that often, though. The reason that’s the case is not from feeling I’m always right but from constantly thinking about and researching ideas to the point that I find it hard to accept the “facts” that others offer conclusive enough as proof. So, if I do something ‘dumb’, I willingly admit I was wrong, but if we’re discussing a topic that I’ve researched and thought about, you may have your ‘hands full’ convincing me. I’m happy to acknowledge good points but unless those points are earth shaking and change the whole dynamic, I won’t be claiming I’m in error.

4. Are you more of a night owl or a morning lark?
I’m definitely at my best in the morning.

5.Do you listen to audiobooks and if so what is the appeal? How many do you get through every month?

I wholeheartedly prefer to hold a book in my hands! BUT recently I experienced an audio book from necessity. When I talk about the book, I can’t even use the term “read it” because it feels like I cheated. My need for audio was inspired by a lack of actual ‘sit down’ time. The audio book allowed me to work around my house as I consumed the content.

6. Do you bore quickly and if so why and how do you combat it and if not, how do you avoid that boredom?
I am never at a loss for a project or task while I’m alone. The situations that bore me are always in the company of others. Small talk and gossip ruin my day because “I’m not interested.” and all I do is daydream about finding my alone space again quickly.

7.What is one thing that you wish your readers knew about you and your blog?
If the readers haven’t taken a peek at my “About” page, they may not realize that I write primarily for myself and my granddaughters. I enjoy feedback of course but I’m not talking to the world, I’m talking to them.

8. What items do you have on the top shelf of your fridge right now, today?
By shelf, I assume this means inside of my fridge. A gallon of milk and assorted condiments take up that area.

9. Are you able to stand on one leg for 25 seconds?
Yes.

10. What are your favorited book titles from the following six categories?
[One item only per genre please – use alternative genre if first choice is not your style]

Comedy or Children’s literature– The Jungle Books (not just for kids)
Horror or Historical Fiction -Year of Wonders (Historical Fiction)
Mystery or Memoir – Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters written by Chesley Sullenberger (memoir)
Thriller or Adventure– Intensity- Dean Koontz (thriller)
Romance or Poetry Collected Works of Robert Frost
Fantasy or Sci-Fi The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury (sci-fi)

11. What twelve items would you take to a deserted island if you were going to be stranded there for twelve months and why those items – how are they functional to your survival?
A gun with lots of ammo
A large amount of writing materials
Paint, brushes, and canvases
Fishing equipment
Lighters- lots of them
Several books
Nylon cord -100s of yards
12 months of potable water
Several Tarps
Canned meat and fruit
Machete
First aid supplies

12.Does the society of today need social media platforms? Are they dying – as is suggested – off or are people simply after something else that is socially oriented but more personable?

I think if they disappeared forever, we’d all be better off. “Social Media” is an oxymoron. There’s nothing ‘social’ in ‘media’. From what I’ve been witnessing lately, more reading, thinking, and personal human contact, would be of great benefit. Paying more attention to the people and things that really matter might do wonders.


https://earthlycomforts.uk/2022/11/12/question-time-over-coffee-4/

Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner #46- The Test

On By Susan St.PierreIn Writing Prompts4 Comments

Photo by  Wassim Chouak on Unsplash

This was my first-ever job interview.

After filling out a generic three-question application,
I was escorted to an empty room and told to sit in a lone rocking chair until someone comes for me.
Then the lights went out!

At first, I sat silently but soon I began to rock nervously.

I started whispering to myself,
“I get it. This is a psychology laboratory, and this is some kind of an experiment. Okay guys, I’m game.”

Then, the creaking from the rocking began to wear on me causing me to wonder if my rocking was “good’ or “bad”. What could this mean?
So, I stopped and let the darkness and silence envelop me. The stillness was unsettling, though.

I don’t know how much time went by, but it wasn’t too long before I started hearing my own heartbeat and it kept growing louder and my heartrate was getting rapid!
How long had it been? Was I passing or failing this test? Should I rock or wait?
I was starting to lose my cool! Was this job worth this torture? Who do they think they are playing psych games on me?!

When I finally pressed the button on my watch, I found that I’d been in the room for two hours and forty-five minutes. What the hell?!

“HEY! Anybody want to tell me what’s going on?!”, I finally shouted.
Immediately a panel in the slanted ceiling slid open and a voice said, “You’re done.”. Then the lights came on, blinding me for a minute, the door opened, and I was shown to the main exit.


Two days later I got a postcard with a picture of the clinic building on one side and on the other side was this note:

Lacks Initiative. Thanks for your interest. The job has been filled.


299-words

https://flashfictionforthepracticalpractitioner.wordpress.com/2022/11/09/flash-fiction-for-the-purposeful-practitioner-2022-week-46/

E.M.’s RWP~#293 quantitative- Overwhelm to Conquer

On By Susan St.PierreIn In my humble opinion..., Writing Prompts12 Comments

As hard as it is, for some, to imagine, human beings have several limitations on their ability to perceive their environment.
We have all known the phenomenon of our ‘eyes playing tricks’ on us. Deer hunters experience this constantly. They are searching for deer. Their brain is solving every visual image attempting to configure a deer or just a portion of one. Branches, at a glance, are antlers. Any bright or white flash of light is a flagging tail. And when their ears are tuned in, scurrying chipmunks in leaves are instantly recognized footsteps of one-hundred-pound deer. Hunters soon learn how unreliable first impressions can be from their senses jumping to comically foolish conclusions more often than accurate ones. Yet, the single focus of a hunter on that one single pursuit can eventually, with further investigation, produce success in what he’s seeking. Imagine if he were texting, jotting notes, and rehashing the argument with his wife the night before, as he’s hunting. His chances of doing any of those things well, are greatly reduced. This my friends shows how easily we can be overwhelmed. Human beings are excellent problem solvers if given the time and allowed to focus on one task at a time. I don’t make the rules but ignoring that those are the ‘rules’ our brains follow is ignorant and naive.
The central tenant in Rules for Radicals- a guidebook for forcing change in culture, society, and countries-is to overwhelm the system targeted for radical change. This quantitative assault is done by creating too many ‘troubles’ for people to solve, or even pay attention to, thus inspiring them to pack up their proverbial ‘hunting gear’ and ‘go home’. It’s an effective dehumanization tool which can disarm very large populations.
Now consider all of the ‘crisis’ themes we are currently being subjected to… Border Crisis, Energy Crisis, Climate Crisis, Pandemic Crisis, Homeless Crisis, Inflation Crisis, Racism Crisis, Crime Crisis, etc… this large quantity of proposed unsolvable troubles is not accidental.
How many of you know several people who claim they just stopped watching and caring about the ‘News’ for their own sanity? I can’t blame them on one level but their numbness and disconnect is a tool being used against all of us and our futures. Powerful totalitarian forces are undermining the traditional foundations of our country as so many have been lulled to ‘sleep’.
My advice to everyone is to ‘wake up’ and focus on the one thing that makes everything else we do possible … the preservation of our beloved country.


https://emkingston.wordpress.com/2022/10/09/e-m-s-rwp-293-quantitative/