Vain Jangling
“That’s not who I am.”

Sometimes people act or speak—or both—like a fool. Some more than others. There are those who usually require some type of stimuli to bring out “that side of them.” While others seem to have foolish behavior woven into the “very fabric of their being.” In any case, it is vain jangling to claim the outburst or hostility a person displays is somehow “not who I am.”

The fact is:
It is who we are; for it was [I] who acted unbecoming a moral, sensible, intelligent, adult, human being. True, it may not be “who I am” all the time, but it is very well “who I am” when, where, how, and why [I] want to be. It is a heart issue. A bad, wicked, evil thought, word, or deed most often blaming others, rather than to examine oneself to admit, repent, and apologize of fault, sin.

For “those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man.” [Matthew 15:18-20]

We must stop the vain jangling of denial and projection of guilt or fault onto others, acknowledge and repent of our word or action, cleanse our heart and mind, and refrain from repeating such foolishness. We would all be better for it.

Vain Jangling
Some crimes are okay. Victims need to forgive and forget.

There used to be a saying, “If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.”
However, the modern version seems to be, “No worry of time, do the crime.”

John Adams noted that, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” James Madison echoed that our Constitution requires “sufficient virtue among men for self-government” and that “nothing less than the chains of despotism can restrain them from destroying and devouring one another.” However, today, more and more of society seem to believe we can be immoral and irreligious without any negative consequences. At least until it happens to them or someone they care about. Then suddenly it matters.

Have we really degenerated so far from teaching our children the difference between right and wrong, to now allowing crimes in our society to go unpunished? Where is accountability? Is it now the responsibility of the victim (the moral, the religious person) to endure and pay for the sin of those who disregard God and neighbor? Where are our leaders who “are not a terror to good works, but to the evil?” “The minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” [Romans 13]

If we want America to be better, then Americans need to expect, educate, and encourage better from everyone. It is mere vain jangling to believe we can punish the victim and reward the criminal and remain a civilized society. That is pure nonsense and poor leadership, who should be the biggest defenders of good and punishers of evil. If laws are being used to unjustly hurt people or certain people groups, then work to stop the abuse and to remove those who do so from office. However, stop the vain jangling notion that somehow ignoring crime and punishment (and virtually the victims of such) is doing individuals or society as a whole any good.

Vain Jangling
Those who attend higher education are believed to be mature, intelligent, future leaders for a productive society.

What is the purpose of attending higher education? To pursue further learning? To develop skillsets for a specific job market? To achieve a degree or degrees toward opportunities in leadership positions? Students attend for various reasons—But one would think it would include to better themselves and those around them.

However, what we are seeing today is anything but higher education, mature, intelligent, future leaders, with a (honest) desire to better themselves, others, and the institutions. What is being exposed is the depravity of mankind, by way of misinformation, rejection of truth, with a desire for destruction of property, persons, and the very rights that give them free speech and peaceful (peaceful) protests.

It is vain jangling to believe one is achieving moral high ground and are worthy of respect when their chants and actions point toward anarchy, extremists, terrorists, and the like. We should not expect or accept lower expectations by higher education. If one believes change is needed—Go about it the right, moral, legal, intelligent way. It is mere vain jangling for one to believe these actions are anything other than hatred, riotous, intolerance.

“We do not negotiate with terrorists.”
One who favors or uses terrorizing methods for the accomplishment of some object, as for coercing a government or a community into the adoption of or submission to a certain course; one who practises terrorism.
—American Heritage® Dictionary

Vain Jangling
AI won’t enable persons or companies to use my words against me.

With companies integrating AI into their code, applications, features, and selling points, what does that mean for privacy? Sure, each company has a Privacy Notice and wants end-users to trust them and their platform, but we already know many sell what data they do have of persons to other companies, etc. This is often why we receive random ads, texts, emails, and phone calls we never subscribed to. And who really reads those long notices?

Consider that AI grazes the internet for its knowledge base (based on its development, programming, design, and access). Are we to believe its integration into email and applications that read, create, reply, and otherwise access PII, PHI, confidential, and other sensitive information will not feel free to graze in those pastures as well? That seems just a bit naive vain jangling.

It is less about fearing AI and more about trusting those in control of it. Knowledge is power, and the more knowledge, experience, creativity someone can learn from, borrow, steal, or repurpose from someone else is concerning. Especially, if it can be used against you or without your permission to benefit others. So, maybe let’s keep the grazing to a minimal area of our choosing and not our whole farm.

Vain Jangling
AI will help stop racism and misinformation.

While AI starts to take centerstage, there are great expectations and serious concerns.

While some see the benefits of knowledge and many uses (such as intel, coding, writing, artwork, etc.), others understand (or have been victim to) its potential for biased misinformation, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.

AI is not self-aware. However, even if it were, it has been programed (or would be taught) and have the (same or worse) biased of the creators (programmers). We are already seeing this, even in the overcompensation of seemingly trying to not have racism or misinformation. Again, who is to judge what is or is not biased, racist, or misinformation: the person, team, company, government controlling the code. It is merely vain jangling to believe we can naively trust them.

Vain Jangling
I will worry about being hacked—after I am hacked.

Recently, it has been brought to concern (again, not new) about foreign governments wishing to attack America with the use of hackers. Specifically, cyber-hackers who “hack” into the computer systems (including mobile devices) of persons, companies, governments, infrastructure, etc. that will cause the individual or society financial, informational, political, structural, etc. difficulties short or long-term.

The issue is:
> Many see this as a company, government, “other person” issue.
> Many do not consider the poor security and vast info shared (freely) online.

Why would someone care about my data? In short: Because it connects to more data. Phishing attempts make their way through the pool of emails, websites, social media, and ads. We see or experience fake accounts impersonating those we know (or ourselves), giving little thought as to how they took/use the information they have obtained or by clicking the new “friend request” without question (continuing the phishing expedition down the stream to the next persons on the hook).

It is mere vain jangling to believe we (or specifically our data) is non important or that securing our information and devices with proper pins and passwords are too much hassle. We can be part of the problem by ignoring the (numerous, continuous) warnings or part of the solution by diligently doing what it takes to help prevent hacks (of any kind). 

Don’t get hacked off when you are hacked, if you aren’t taking it serious today.