Robert (Bob) Lewis

Since I’ve got some new people on my page—welcome!—it’s probably a good time to once again mention my books. The Case Files of the Rocky Mountain Paranormal Research Society books are haunted histories and reports from open minded but skeptical paranormal investigations. Arithmophobia is an anthology of mathematically inspired horror stories. In the Woods is an anthology of horror and fantasy in woodland settings. A little something for everyone. Hope y’all enjoy!

@MASKEDMANIACXXX 10/10! My favorite film!

On a Scale of 1 To 10 How Do You Rate THE EXORCIST?

@HouseOfHorrorCo I have a love/hate. A couple of the movies are wonderful. A few are weak. But I *really* don't like the Warrens.

Do you like 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 franchise?

@HouseOfHorrorCo I'm usually drawn to the quieter more serious horror. But yeah, I love 'em. Sometimes you just want over the top slasher fun.

Do you like the 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐫 franchise? 🩸

My message to grubhub today! The sandwich was $23 I will not even give to my dog

@AdamKinzinger @CynicalPublius Can we go ahead and extend credentialism to require basic reading comprehension for Congressmen? If we do, we might have fewer former Congressmen who miss the point so badly.

@CynicalPublius “Learning” things and “understanding” stuff is so dumb! I don’t care if you’re a “doctor” or “trained pilot.” I want someone not woke flying my plane!

RE: Credentialism I despise credentialism and believe it is a disease that is eating away at the soul of the USA in the same way that matters of class and nobility have festered in countries like England for centuries. I define “credentialism” as follows: A individual’s unwarranted belief that one is morally, physically and/or intellectually superior to others based solely on something written on a piece of paper (diplomas, resumes, etc.). When I speak on credentialism, I often have red herrings thrown in my face in a attempt to refute my position, so let me please make clear that there are two things that are NOT “credentialism”: 1. Indicators of basic competency are not credentialism. Certain fields require certain credentials to be trusted for a minimum level of competence. I WANT my dentist to have a DDS or a DMD. I WANT the guy servicing my A/C unit to have an HVAC certificate. I WANT my Army Infantry platoon sergeant to be a Ranger school graduate. These are all indicators of a basic level of competency in a chosen field, and a functioning society cannot exist without them. 2. Statements of lived experience are not credentialism. A survivor of a Nazi death camp possesses valuable views on the Holocaust that others do not. An experienced EMT has valuable views on the consequences of fentanyl addiction that others do not. An Olympic gold medal champion understands the discipline of athletic training better than most. When such people cite their lived experience to back up a claim directly related to that experience, this is not the same as credentialism. Credentialism eats away at our nation when presented as follows: -When a credential is presented as a marker of all-around intellectual, physical and/or moral superiority. -When like credentials are dismissed based on an unwarranted sense of superiority; i.e., a mistaken belief that a degree from Yale is somehow superior to a degree from Clemson. -When credentials are used as an unjust gating item to dismiss an otherwise highly qualified individual. -Credentials as exclusionary clubs—“Sorry dear, he’s not one of our kind.” -A mistaken belief that only one with a certain credential can understand certain things when knowledge about those things is generally available to all. -Dunning-Kruger credentialism: “Because I have credentials in one area, this makes me an expert in areas for which I have no credentials.” Put simply, credentialism is snobbery, and snobbery is antithetical to the American way of life. In America each of us can rise and fall on our own two feet based on what we demonstrate as INDIVIDUALS in our actual deeds, accomplishments and failures, and mere pieces of worthless paper do not change that. One last thing: nothing is more cowardly and despicable than the credentialist who trumpets their own credentials while dismissing the credentials they lack as being irrelevant. If one wants to commit the sin of credentialism, one also needs to accept that the credentials they lack are a mark against them, using their own standard. People who engage in such a practice are morally bankrupt, insecure, sniveling weasels. This was on my mind.

@horrormuseum Depends a bit on what you mean by "with limits." If you mean limits on content or offensiveness, no way. If you mean limits on defamation, fraud, or direct incitement to violence, that's different.

Should FREE SPEECH be completely free, or with limits?

@Headshok1962 Of COURSE she was talking about walking. Nobody needs to see your shortcomings.

Yep

This is part of my problem. If IQ and disability are mitigating factors that mean he should serve life in prison or go to an insane asylum instead of being executed, fine. I'm open to that debate. When we're talking about life and death, we need to be open to all the arguments. But that should be settled at trial or on a first appeal, not decades later.

This is exactly why our justice system is broken. A monster Jeffrey Martin who raped and murdered 12-year-old Gabrielle Miranda Bechen gets his death sentence erased over old IQ claims and “disability” excuses. Twenty years of hell for her family, and the state sides with the killer instead of delivering justice. When did we start valuing predators’ sob stories over innocent children’s lives? We need to protect our innocent and give justice to those who are victims.

@MatthewBockholt Indeed. Just try not to overuse them. The rule against their use is wrong, but it became the received wisdom because too many editors saw too many poorly used adverbs.

Writer friends, it's ok to use adverbs.

Rarely does a meme so accurately capture my state in life! 🕯️

@politicalmath Well said. It's refreshing to see all the weirdos again!

I'm having the same experience. It almost makes me want to follow some more normie news accounts b/c my entire feed is finally filled with my favorite weirdos.

@doogadoo11 I think we can reform them a bit. That could be legit. Some people belong in insane asylums instead of prisons. Non-violent offenders might be made to work off their debt rather than costing us prison beds. But abolish them? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!

Anyone who wants to abolish prisons probably belongs in one.

@rebekah_creates Most of our people seem to be. I exclude myself. I can be a schmuck.

@RobertlewisIR The best kind of person, then

This reminds me a bit of Stephen King's The Mist. The movie version, not the book, because it's the ending we're talking about and the movie's ending is better. [Warning: Severe ending-ruining spoilers ahead if you've not seen the film.] Throughout the story, Mrs. Carmody is presented as a secondary villain (after only the Mist itself and what it contains). She's portrayed as a misguided religious fanatic whose proclamations will make everything worse. After all, how could she suggest that we need to sacrifice someone to make the Mist go away? A good friend of mine saw it with his young son--must've still been kneehigh to a grasshopper--when the film came out. As they left the theater, the boy said, "I didn't think Mrs. Carmody would be right." He went on to explain that despite her portrayal as villainous, she was indeed right. After the main character kills everyone, the Mist goes away. And that ending is far better than what King wrote, and that interpretation of that ending is far better than I think the screenwriter intended. So if you're going to go with such a lazy trope as "the religious person is evil and crazy and backwards," at least make them turn out to be right in the end. It's more interesting. 🕯️

I'm of mixed minds. I have some moral hesitations but overall I think it's licit. However, I still have a lot of practical concerns about what happens when juries make mistakes. I think it should remain on the books as a sign of the seriousness of certain crimes, but I think it should be used so sparingly it's almost never actually applied. Almost. Its actual application should be reserved for the most heinous crimes, with no doubt as to guilt, and then it should be expedited.

I used to fully support the death penalty, but as time went on, it became obvious to me that the elites rarely get the death penalty if they are even found guilty. I changed my opinion.

@frankkolnacki Generally, I say get the test and then figure out what to do with whatever information you learn. If it's not covered, you may need to think about the price or get a second opinion before moving forward, but I wouldn't just ignore it.

The doc said I should get this chest thing done to see if i have calcium or whatnot building up in my heart area, even tho I'm low risk. should I listen to him and get it done? Copay doesn't cover that.

@YouKnoImHim I'm terrible at it. But I'm trying to make moves toward doing the same.

There was a time when my faith was just convenient. Bare minimum. Hell, I’m barely past that point now, honestly. I’d throw up half assed prayers when I was desperate, ask God to pull me out of whatever mess I’d made, and then I’d go right back to the same old shit after He helped me pull myself together. I’ve made decisions that left deep scars on my soul. I’ve come up short as a man many times and let down the people I love most. After Charlie was assassinated, I spent so much time watching every video of his I could find… his faith and courage forced me to ask myself a question that I avoided for a long time: “What kind of man am I?” I don’t want a comfortable faith anymore. I don’t want to be like so many others who label themselves a “Christian” while living like God only gets the pieces that are left over after I mess it all up again. I’ve decided that it’s long past time that I give Him everything… My pride, failures, regrets, my future… ALL of me. I’m not doing it because I’m finally strong enough to do it… I’m doing it because I realize I never was strong enough. I’m all in on being the man that God and my daughters deserve… A leader, a protector, a man whose actions speak louder than his words, a man who stands on his feet always, no matter the storm, and eventually, someone who brings others to God I’m still broken for sure, and maybe I can’t even be saved… but I’m learning, I’m trying, and I’m done living without God until it’s convenient for me to talk to Him.

Credentialism is also the view that the credential is required to *speak* on a matter. Yes, the doctor or lawyer should licitly require a credential to *practice* but that credential does not make his opinion any more valid than one of us mere mortals who may have read more on the subject than he did while he was drinking his way through grad school.

Dear cable companies, utility companies, government permitting offices, and bureaucrats of all types, I know your game. I'm better at it than you are. And I will make an absolute nuisance of myself through every possible lawful avenue available to me until you make your mistakes right. Do with this information as you will. Sincerely, An angry citizen

@QueenAnticommie Probably. But I'm just here to chat about books and movies and philosophy and sometimes current events. I really don't care which of them I'm talking to if the conversation is interesting.

Have any of my friends ran into this situation?😂