Hold on hold on my brother,
my sister hold on tight.
I thought it appropriate to start this thread with a quote from the well mannered artist that inspires people to visit this site.
The line of discussion that has caused several members to proclaim departure is not worthy of dignifying with participation. Nor is it a good reason to depart and thus allow the lowest common denominator to hijack the original purpose of these forums such that discussion of Leonard's work, other similar artists, poetry and songwriting to be displaced by petty bickering. We have better things to do with our time and our very short lives than to pursue the negative path that the naysayers so effectively seem to divert us towards.
It is worth reiterating that while there was no explanation for the dilemma of the human condition-- for why humans have been competitive, aggressive and selfish when the ideals are to be cooperative, loving and selfless-- humans had no choice other than to block the whole issue from their minds, for the condemnation they otherwise experienced from these ideals was dangerously-- even suicidally depressing.
Faced with the unjust criticism that the cooperative, loving, selfless ideals of life represented, humans eventually learnt they had no choice other than to accept their divisive reality as normal and deny the whole concept and truth of ideality.
This quote from the writer and biologist, Jeremy Griffith seems a good analogy as a general description for the specific problems that this board repeatedly encounters. The aggressive and selfish naysayers are succeeding in their efforts to pervert the cooperative and selfless ideals of those members whole wish nothing more than to engage in warm, well meaning and intelligent discussion. Do not forget that for the naysayers, this is nothing more than banal entertainment and they get their jollys from seeing others in conflict.
Maintain the good ideals of this board ignore the "shit droppers" and pursue the worthwhile discussions. Only this way can this website survive as a place worthy to visit.Do not stoop to strategies like this.
Regards Witty Owl.