Theos-Talk Archives (February 2006 Message tt00161)

Hello Bruce, 
Welcome to theos-talk.  I will try, with the best of intentions,  to say 
some things that I would want someone else to say to me in a similar 
situation.  
robert_b_macd wrote:
> In the end, this site is the responsibility of everyone.  If we want a
> civil site, we can't expect the moderator to babysit us, we have to
> stand up for one another. 
>   
Or perhaps, we need to learn to stand on our own two feet and give 
others time and space to learn to stand on their own as well.


< When bad behavior is exhibited, we might
have to hiss a little bit.  Don't be afraid to call someone out for
bad behavior, the rest of us will back you up.>




Recognizing bad behavior in others seems easier than recognizing our own 
bad behavior.  Who is "the rest of us?" This choice of words and tone is 
expected on a children's playground or in a gang-infested neighborhood,  
but seems somehow out of place here.

The original difference of opinion about whether HPB was being treated 
as a deity was between Bart and Carlos.  Bart's ML quote was something 
for Carlos to consider and then dismiss or take to heart.  It was for 
Carlos that Bart wrote.  Perhaps Carlos wrote to you privately and ask 
you to "stand up for" him?  For whatever reason, in choosing a side and 
creating a dispute where none existed before, you did not hasten  a 
peaceful resolution, but instead  your "bad behavior" made room for 
expanding a potentially disagreeable situation to include additional 
issues now solely between you and Bart.  That  you have a gift for words 
is undeniable, but perhaps in the future you might  restrain your ego 
long enough two brothers to reach an acceptable solution between 
themselves?    Consider this:   two wrongs will  not  make  a right, but 
together they  may  make  a catastrophe.

This whole situation is making for some strange  bedfellows.

As for me,  Bart is a friend and it pains me to see him treated this 
way.  Still,  I know Bart and when he is wrong he will apologize, not 
because it has been demanded of him, but because it is the right thing 
to do.  Bruce,  I can't say that I know you that well........yet.

Now, hopefully no one will  view this post  as an  attack upon you and 
feel the  overwhelming urge to stand up for you by writing a post 
attacking me.  That would be  a  further mistake.




peace,


bill