Theos-Talk Archives (February 2006 Message tt00280)

Is Theos-Talk on the verge of an epiphany?  Are we getting closer to the 
kind of Brotherly interaction that the Movement was designed to foster?  The 
Theosophical Society has been blind and hurt for over 100 years.  Perhaps it 
is the case that a Daniel Caldwell was necessary, a Paul Johnson was 
necessary, and Theo-Talk was necessary.  We are beginning to understand what 
is keeping us divided, it is our IGNORANCE concerning the type of behavior 
exhibited by the likes of Daniel Caldwell.  The members of Theos-Talk have 
had to endure this type of behavior for many years and maybe it is time to 
hear what they have learned.  There are many Daniel Caldwells in the world, 
perhaps it is time to identify their behavior, know why it is inappropriate 
and call them on it.  Ignorance is the enemy.  Understanding this ignorance 
is the sword that will slay that enemy.

For those interested in this discussion, allow me to start it off.  What of 
the practice of calling you on some point you are trying to make and showing 
how you are guilty of the same mistake and then providing close to one 
hundred examples of it and threatening you with more.  What is happening 
here?  Most often, when you look at the examples it is a case of comparing 
apples with oranges.  This leaves you with the task of having to justify 
your point by demonstrating how each example does not apply.  What if one or 
two do apply?  Who cares?  We evolve and change as humans and if in the 
course of a discussion in the here and now we come to new conclusions, does 
that get invalidated by mistakes that we made in the past?  Brotherhood 
means being allowed to make mistakes because that is one of the few ways 
that we learn.  We should not be forced to acknowledge every error that we 
have ever made and make amends for them.  That is what Karma is for, does 
Daniel think that he is an agent of Karma?

What do you do when someone throws such a list at you?  Perhaps one solution 
would be to counter with the following:
"That is quite the list you have there, however, I suspect you are comparing 
apples with oranges.  Perhaps you can take one of the examples and 
demonstrate how you think it is appropriate to the present context."
Make him do the work!  Do not let him take over the course of the debate and 
control it by putting you on the defensive.

Is there any other insights that anyone wants to share on the behavior of 
Caldwell/Green/Hobbes?

Sincerely, Bruce

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