|
Grok
Has Been a Bad Boy
Registered: 12/03/03
Posts: 1,262
Loc: Greener Pastures
Last seen: 9 years, 6 months
|
Understanding others, and writing them off
#7284239 - 08/11/07 11:19 AM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Lately I have observed an increasingly prominent trend around these parts. It basically happens like this: a poster will make an assertion, based on experiential knowledge, for instance, and then they'll be wolfed by people who say that because they offer no proof, that they're a fluffer making completely worthless and fraudulent claims, etc. Some of it gets a bit nasty and speaks quite poorly of some of the characters here, IMO.
What I seek to do is keep an open mind and always try to understand where someone else is coming from. I'm not attached to the line of thinking that "if there ain't proof it ain't truth". Maybe some of these claims are crazy but I would much rather experience for myself and try to understand exactly what would drive someone to assert them rather than immediately write them off as a self-deluded placebonaut. It reeks of arrogance. It's better to step in their shoes, see from their perspective, and go from there.
-------------------- Entropy is increasing. To send me a PM, go to my journal
|
Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: Grok]
#7284252 - 08/11/07 11:22 AM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Keeping an open mind is a good thing.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
|
shakercee
Atheistic Mystic
Registered: 04/08/07
Posts: 606
Loc: Here and there
Last seen: 11 years, 1 month
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: Grok]
#7284342 - 08/11/07 11:51 AM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
I found this quote from Ayn Rand interesting.
Quote:
"What objectivity and the study of philosophy requires is not an 'open mind,' but an active mind - a mind able and eagerly willing to examine ideas, but to examine them criticially."
-------------------- Pray, v.: To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy - Ambrose Bierce Medical science has confirmed what the male world has known intuitively for millenia: that scratching your ass is a great aid to complex thinking. Its God's responsibility to forgive the terrorist organizations such as Jaish, Lashkar etc. Its our responsibility to arrange the meeting between them and god." - Indian Armed Forces "Hey Monkey!! Get Funky" - Tarzan and Jane
|
Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: shakercee]
#7284355 - 08/11/07 11:56 AM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
True; also with many ideas here there is not enough evidence present to critically come to any conclusion on the validity of the idea.
If one presents their ideas or experiences with an open mind (that means they realize they could be wrong or it may be valid only for them) then it is much easier to keep an open mind about their ideas.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
|
shakercee
Atheistic Mystic
Registered: 04/08/07
Posts: 606
Loc: Here and there
Last seen: 11 years, 1 month
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: Icelander]
#7284414 - 08/11/07 12:18 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Yes, it is vital to keep both an open and active mind. If the mind grasps the truth, i think it also gives rise to this feeling:
Just this day, i had this wonderful feeling of unity - it comes and goes - with other people, people close to me, my family and friends, and the people i come across everyday, of all classes and religions. It was like i was able to see beyond their outer differences, looking straight into what makes all of us one...ha only if it stays on; this feeling.
-------------------- Pray, v.: To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy - Ambrose Bierce Medical science has confirmed what the male world has known intuitively for millenia: that scratching your ass is a great aid to complex thinking. Its God's responsibility to forgive the terrorist organizations such as Jaish, Lashkar etc. Its our responsibility to arrange the meeting between them and god." - Indian Armed Forces "Hey Monkey!! Get Funky" - Tarzan and Jane
|
Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: shakercee]
#7284433 - 08/11/07 12:24 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Life comes and goes and all that goes with it.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
|
shakercee
Atheistic Mystic
Registered: 04/08/07
Posts: 606
Loc: Here and there
Last seen: 11 years, 1 month
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: Icelander]
#7284488 - 08/11/07 12:39 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Then what's the point of this life, what's the point of the Universe existing for at least 15 billion years and then there arising, at least to our present knowledge, conciousness and self-awareness in one species, only for the species to realize that life comes and goes and death is the end of it all, finito.
-------------------- Pray, v.: To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy - Ambrose Bierce Medical science has confirmed what the male world has known intuitively for millenia: that scratching your ass is a great aid to complex thinking. Its God's responsibility to forgive the terrorist organizations such as Jaish, Lashkar etc. Its our responsibility to arrange the meeting between them and god." - Indian Armed Forces "Hey Monkey!! Get Funky" - Tarzan and Jane
|
backfromthedead
Activated
Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 3,592
Last seen: 15 years, 7 months
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: shakercee]
#7284521 - 08/11/07 12:49 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
When reality is broken down completely... You are left with a formless but eager fluid-like substance. It wants to be poured into challenging networks of interconnectedness. It knows that it can always be withdrawn and taken back up if it doesn't 'fit'. Practice. Exercise. "...a mind able and eagerly willing to examine ideas, but to examine them critically."
What if...??
Its fun.
--------------------
|
shakercee
Atheistic Mystic
Registered: 04/08/07
Posts: 606
Loc: Here and there
Last seen: 11 years, 1 month
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: backfromthedead]
#7284540 - 08/11/07 12:56 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
When reality is broken down completely... You are left with a formless but eager fluid-like substance. It wants to be poured into challenging networks of interconnectedness. It knows that it can always be withdrawn and taken back up if it doesn't 'fit'.
I loved that.
Why...why....why
-------------------- Pray, v.: To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy - Ambrose Bierce Medical science has confirmed what the male world has known intuitively for millenia: that scratching your ass is a great aid to complex thinking. Its God's responsibility to forgive the terrorist organizations such as Jaish, Lashkar etc. Its our responsibility to arrange the meeting between them and god." - Indian Armed Forces "Hey Monkey!! Get Funky" - Tarzan and Jane
|
mushbaby
woodswalker
Registered: 09/30/06
Posts: 2,645
Loc: in my own lil world
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: Grok]
#7284617 - 08/11/07 01:22 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
This has to be one of the nicest posts I have read in awhile. Thank you for posting it!
|
Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: shakercee]
#7284628 - 08/11/07 01:26 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
shakercee said: Then what's the point of this life, what's the point of the Universe existing for at least 15 billion years and then there arising, at least to our present knowledge, conciousness and self-awareness in one species, only for the species to realize that life comes and goes and death is the end of it all, finito.
No one (to my knowledge knows) check my other threads on this subject. Our consciousness may be only an emergent property of complexity and have no real spiritual value at all.
You may and most likely will never know. I suggest you make up your own meaning to life.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
|
OrgoneConclusion
Blue Fish Group
Registered: 04/01/07
Posts: 45,441
Loc: Under the C
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: Grok]
#7284707 - 08/11/07 02:05 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Maybe some of these claims are crazy but I would much rather experience for myself and try to understand exactly what would drive someone to assert them rather than immediately write them off as a self-deluded placebonaut.
You must still be relatively young. When you have seen endless claims over many decades as I have about crystal and pyramid power, telekinesis and Nessie; the Harmonic Convergence and 2012, it is fairly easy to call 'bullshit' on some new twist to an old fable.
WHEN EVERY SINGLE PARANORMAL CLAIM THAT CAN BE TESTED TURNS OUT TO BE NONSENSE, how much more tripe can one swallow? Its not as if 1 claim in a thousand has validity. Not one of them does.
What is so important about understanding why? There are only about a half dozen reasons, and they will cover almost all cases. These reasons do not change when dealing with Crap Circles or UFOs or levitation or religion.
Edited by OrgoneConclusion (08/11/07 02:26 PM)
|
Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: OrgoneConclusion]
#7284730 - 08/11/07 02:15 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
And what causes these folk to "assert them" is fear IMO. (death anxiety)
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
|
adrug
Registered: 02/04/03
Posts: 15,800
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: Icelander]
#7284789 - 08/11/07 02:39 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Their egos (and yes, fear) won't let them face their utter insignificance in the grand scheme of things.
|
Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: adrug]
#7284794 - 08/11/07 02:42 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
I think all of us have a little or a lot of this to contend with.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
|
adrug
Registered: 02/04/03
Posts: 15,800
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: Icelander]
#7284801 - 08/11/07 02:47 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Most definitely.
|
Veritas
Registered: 04/15/05
Posts: 11,089
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: Grok]
#7284804 - 08/11/07 02:49 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
While you are certainly free to refrain from debating ideas in this forum, that is, in fact, what it is for.
If anyone attacks the poster, as opposed to their assertions, they are warned & will be banned if they continue.
Much of the "nastiness" I have seen here has been posted by those who assert baseless claims are factual, and get pissed off when other posters debate their assertion. They usually resort to angry personalisms against those who have questioned their claim, and often follow up their personalisms with angry 0-shroom ratings.
The forum for making experiential claims that you do not wish to debate is MR&P. No one there is allowed to dispute the stated beliefs of others, and it is designed to promote the "open-minded" discussion of ideas.
IOW, if your ideas can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.
|
backfromthedead
Activated
Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 3,592
Last seen: 15 years, 7 months
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: Veritas]
#7284882 - 08/11/07 03:34 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
"Crap Circles or UFOs or levitation or religion."
All in the dirty pile?? Laundry day.
"You must still be relatively young."
Less armour against something that seemingly doesn't exist in the first place.
Easy to call bullshit and sidestep thousands of years of human spiritual history for lack of proof. No faith??
IMO, it is worth finding out what all the fuss is about. One large stone in the foundation of modern humanness. A piece of the truth. Fuck physically testing a subjective experience anyway. But good luck in awaiting the results.
The old fable is sufficient.
--------------------
|
leery11
I Tell You What!
Registered: 06/24/05
Posts: 5,998
Last seen: 8 years, 11 months
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: backfromthedead]
#7284922 - 08/11/07 03:58 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
which old fable.
-------------------- I am the MacDaddy of Heimlich County, I play it Straight Up Yo! ....I embrace my desire to feel the rhythm, to feel connected enough to step aside and weep like a widow, to feel inspired, to fathom the power, to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain, to swing on the spiral of our divinity and still be a human...... Om Namah Shivaya, I tell you What!
|
backfromthedead
Activated
Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 3,592
Last seen: 15 years, 7 months
|
Re: Understanding others, and writing them off [Re: leery11]
#7285092 - 08/11/07 05:07 PM (16 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Which ever spills the beans, or seeds. I figure its about the soil, no?? Does it grow?? Is it a shade tree??
--------------------
|
|