I'd like to open this fairyland with a friendly greeting to anyone who might happen by...
Welcome!
Long, long ago, in the computer bulletin board days before the internet (nearly 20 years ago...), I participated a small group like the one I'd like to start with this blog, wherein people of thought might wander by, or might enter together for a time, to share their thoughts with one another, and to leave feeling the richer in mind and spirit for the sharing. Some drifted in and out. Some came to stay. It was a unique, interesting world.
It was a place of impression as much as fact; inductive and deductive reasoning; spiritual and logical influences; observation and projection; faith, hope, thought and deed. The group was multi-disciplinary, and multi-visionary, claiming among its members plumbers, ministers, tv news anchors, teachers, scientists, psychologists, pagans, computer geeks, truck drivers, sci-fi fanatics, gays and lesbians, stay-at-home moms, cops, convenience store clerks, and even a few bright high schoolers. The ticket for admission to the group was a relatively open mind, and the demonstrated ability to think, both in- and outside the box, and to respect that the other group members would be thinking as well. Critical thinking, flashes of insight, esoteric philosophy, music, mathematics, and even the feeling of "being called" were welcome.
Our group theme was at once simple and complex: to see how many events or occurrences in the world we could connect to other events and occurrences, and to see if we might possibly pursue them back to root causes or whether we might project other events and occurrences if the event under review continued. We got pretty accurate for a time. Then, the group faded away and died...
No topic was sacrosanct: anything and everything was open to discussion and debate, with a few, but steadfastly unbreakable cardinal rules:
The first was that no one would claim, with absolute authority, to have "the answer" to a given question or position, whether supported by religion, science, law, morality or "common wisdom." We attempted to look past these "wedges" to the roots and ends of real events and occurrences. (We eschewed the word, "problem.")
Secondly, due to the inflammatory nature of many views, often opposing, absolute respect was required. Flame wars, personal insults, and "my god trumps your god" positions were forbidden, and were dealt with quickly and severely. When in doubt, die-hards were referred to rule one.
And finally: ABSOLUTELY NO MEETINGS in the real world off-list. Again, given the inflammatory nature of many of the topics, the broad admixture of participants, and the inclusion of minors participating in the group, the legal and moral issues were considered too great to allow personal meetings of any kind.
All that said, is there room for such a group in the internet world of today? Fidonet and computer bulletin boards were much quieter, "under the radar," and much more intimate than the internet of today. If there is room, and you might like to participate, the by all means, drop by, leave a comment, or even suggest a topic to get the ball rolling. In the words of 'Mother Abigail," You're all welcome here!
It was a place of impression as much as fact; inductive and deductive reasoning; spiritual and logical influences; observation and projection; faith, hope, thought and deed. The group was multi-disciplinary, and multi-visionary, claiming among its members plumbers, ministers, tv news anchors, teachers, scientists, psychologists, pagans, computer geeks, truck drivers, sci-fi fanatics, gays and lesbians, stay-at-home moms, cops, convenience store clerks, and even a few bright high schoolers. The ticket for admission to the group was a relatively open mind, and the demonstrated ability to think, both in- and outside the box, and to respect that the other group members would be thinking as well. Critical thinking, flashes of insight, esoteric philosophy, music, mathematics, and even the feeling of "being called" were welcome.
Our group theme was at once simple and complex: to see how many events or occurrences in the world we could connect to other events and occurrences, and to see if we might possibly pursue them back to root causes or whether we might project other events and occurrences if the event under review continued. We got pretty accurate for a time. Then, the group faded away and died...
No topic was sacrosanct: anything and everything was open to discussion and debate, with a few, but steadfastly unbreakable cardinal rules:
The first was that no one would claim, with absolute authority, to have "the answer" to a given question or position, whether supported by religion, science, law, morality or "common wisdom." We attempted to look past these "wedges" to the roots and ends of real events and occurrences. (We eschewed the word, "problem.")
Secondly, due to the inflammatory nature of many views, often opposing, absolute respect was required. Flame wars, personal insults, and "my god trumps your god" positions were forbidden, and were dealt with quickly and severely. When in doubt, die-hards were referred to rule one.
And finally: ABSOLUTELY NO MEETINGS in the real world off-list. Again, given the inflammatory nature of many of the topics, the broad admixture of participants, and the inclusion of minors participating in the group, the legal and moral issues were considered too great to allow personal meetings of any kind.
All that said, is there room for such a group in the internet world of today? Fidonet and computer bulletin boards were much quieter, "under the radar," and much more intimate than the internet of today. If there is room, and you might like to participate, the by all means, drop by, leave a comment, or even suggest a topic to get the ball rolling. In the words of 'Mother Abigail," You're all welcome here!
4 comments:
Sounds like a good plan and a solid basis, laissez le bon temps roulez!!!
And, I'm sure a bit of the surreal would be welcome here as well. Are you interested in participating? Would you like to suggest a topic for the group's maiden voyage?
Cheers;
the0wl
Since you asked. No topic strikes me as more urgently pressing than the energy crisis. What are we looking at here? A gradual collapse, reduction in per capita consumption, and radical revision in our way of life, or, an accelerating rush to a massive species (human that is) die-off that is largely self-inflicted?
One could hope for a radical revision, including a combination of solar, wind, hydrogen fuel cells and Tesla Coil electricity. However, I don't see any of these coming to pass without a massive revolt, not merely against governments, but also against capitalism, consumerism, internationalism and organized religion. Do I imply a repeat of the 1918 October Revolution? Hardly. That way isn't healthy for individual growth either. Communal shared labor, maybe? I'm not sure at present which would be the better way to go, but, what most of us have sure isn't working...
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