Theos-Talk Archives (February 2006 Message tt00281)

Robert Bruce MacDonald wrote:
> 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?
>   


Bruce,  Thank you for this perspective.

One thing that I have noticed about the prosecutor personality is the 
tendency to focus on others almost exclusively.  For example,  one might 
hold others to relentless task for small changes to the original words 
of HPB and yet at the same time one might quote HPB or  master's 
original words inside an e-mail or on a web page and change  the 
emphasis, perception, and sometimes even the meaning of those words 
through the liberal and extensive use of (...), "CAPS ADDED," 
underscores, "emphasis added' etc.  I understand that these practices 
are universally accepted in order for a writer to emphasis key words and 
phrases to make a point. 
My point is that every word, sentence, phrase, paragraph, and idea from 
HPB and masters, is a finely tuned balance between understanding and 
misunderstanding.  If HPB or masters had desired to emphasis one aspect 
of an idea over another, such editorial functions as "CAPS ADDED" and 
underscores for emphasis were available to them.  Before one goes about 
changing the balance HPB and masters originally struck, one should be 
very careful that, through the use of these editorial devices in an 
e-mail or  publication,  one is not being untrue to the original theme 
presented by the original authors as they were writing to the original 
readers.  At the very least, one should be fully aware that one is 
altering the original writings.  This alone should give one reason for 
pause and self-reflection.


peace,


bill
> Sincerely, Bruce
>
>
>