And I'm not happy that people like FarEasterner or 3rdColumn have left. I understand it was their decision to do so, but I don't get the "if you don't like it here, leave" attitude of a very small minority here. The vibe here has certainly changed.
I was disappointed in FarEasterner - loved what he wrote, and from a point of view I rarely get, but he ultimately left because the moderators would not suppress someone's viewpoint that he didn't like. Completely ridiculous and immature.
The lack of debate here has little to do with the site. It's the modern idea that our views are special and deserve respect. Add a touch of self-importance and most people consider a challenge to their views as akin to physical assault.
I remember Jerome brought someone in to write on a topic - might have been energy related , I can't remember. His views were MSMish. Everyone here tore into him, but used numbers to do it - it wasn't the usual emotional invective that passes for argument elsewhere. Overwhelmed, I suppose, he said "none of you take this topic seriously, so I'm leaving." He had no interest in debate.
I have a fairly thick skin - our Russia argument (or whatever it was) yesterday bothered me, but after twenty minutes here at my desk working on schematics any irritation was gone. I also get far more positive feedback from my posts that are critical of the US vs. those that are favorable to the US. Again, at the end of the day, it doesn't bother me. I'll be here as long as I detect at least a faint level of respect for myself (not my ideas, those pass or fail on their own merits) and enjoy what others are writing.
Most communication serves the purpose of reinforcing bonds between members of a tribe. Even on this site, ostensibly here to discuss politics and policy, we have naturally formed a social group, and communicate with the same dynamic. I think anyone who spends time writing and reading comments here will want that investment to pay off [these financial metaphors bother me ever since deAnander brought them up] with that reassuring social feedback. When it doesn't come, people leave to go find it elsewhere. If my political views leaned further to the right I doubt I'd stick around.
you are the media you consume.
Certainly there is always some social group building. And yes, sometimes it is hard to have discussions with people who propose things I really hate and may even consider extreme measures to defend against such actions, if they would be implemented as policy. But in the end one can't have both things, perfect harmony and increase of knowledge. One has to hear what arguments those who disagree with one have on their side.
After all I can understand that newcomers are a bit scared, when someone is insulting their beliefs/nation/political convictions..., but for an internet community ET is very tolerant to other views, and people are really attacking mostly single positions and not persons, so that after a hot debate, there can be harmony on another topic. It simply takes some time to see that, so maybe there really has to be very special care for new people or some more warning in the users guide that discussions can be hotheaded... However, tolerance even in the face of very fundamental differences is unfortunately a very European value, so I'm not too surprised that FarEasterner left. Der Amerikaner ist die Orchidee unter den MenschenVolker Pispers
these financial metaphors bother me ever since deAnander brought them up]
lol, yes that was heavy for me too, i found myself self-editing for a while in my day to day conversations.
i swung back tho', as i think money is a metaphor, and the fact remains that even if money were never invented, we'd still be all about investment and return, dividends and disappointments, but using another medium.
at the end of the day, it's all about energy, money's nothing but a symbol. what energy do you want in your life, how much are you willing to dedicate, risk, and yes...invest in your relationships? with your lifework, your marriage, parenting, issues that don't go away whether you're rich or poor or in between?
money's become a short cut so used that few remember the old ways that came before, and i'm tempted to say, will come again.
so the tail's wug the dog, a respectable analogy has been perverted by common unwisdom, de anander made us look at it head on.
i would imagine the word 'invest' came along before money, but i wouldn't wager my shirt on it! ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
