How important is your posting to you?

[lkwdblds]

How important is your posting on ESMB to you?

Do you put a lot of effort into it and take it very seriously. Are you proud of things, such as being clever, or exhibiting that you are knowledgeable, smart, humorous or whatever?

What if you are challenged by someone or a group of people who see things differently? Can you handle it in stride or do you have to make yourself right and defend your positions.

Do you resent certain others who post on the same threads as you do?

I. for one. have been all over the map in these areas. Now, I have gravitated over to just posting when I feel the impulse to say something or contribute. If people agree or expand on a point which I made, it feels good. If someone bitterly opposes my post, it no longer bothers me. They are entitled to their opinion and that is that!

I'll tell you this, both posting here and reading the threads of others has lead to an enormous increase in wisdom and critical thinking skills for me. Participating in an open panel type of forum is a fantastic method of acquiring information and becoming better educated. Also it is very entertaining. Do the rest of you agree with this?

It would really be great to get the opinion of other people on these interesting matters!
Lakey aka Gary Hart

 

[Pooks]

How important is your posting on ESMB to you?

Do you put a lot of effort into it and take it very seriously. Are you proud of things, such as being clever, or exhibiting that you are knowledgeable, smart, humorous or whatever?

What if you are challenged by someone or a group of people who see things differently? Can you handle it in stride or do you have to make yourself right and defend your positions.

Do you resent certain others who post on the same threads as you do?

I. for one. have been all over the map in these areas. Now, I have gravitated over to just posting when I feel the impulse to say something or contribute. If people agree or expand on a point which I made, it feels good. If someone bitterly opposes my post, it no longer bothers me. They are entitled to their opinion and that is that!

I'll tell you this, both posting here and reading the threads of others has lead to an enormous increase in wisdom and critical thinking skills for me. Participating in an open panel type of forum is a fantastic method of acquiring information and becoming better educated. Also it is very entertaining. Do the rest of you agree with this?

It would really be great to get the opinion of other people on these interesting matters!
Lakey aka Gary Hart

When I was in Scn I used to have to be "careful" about what I wrote and how I wrote it. I hated that. Now I just say what I think or feel and supply dox as needed.

If people don't like my opinion or thoughts and want to disagree that's cool. And if I disagree with someone's ideas or data then I'll say so. I'm not longer interested in being careful.

 

[Dulloldfart]

Do you put a lot of effort into it and take it very seriously. Are you proud of things, such as being clever, or exhibiting that you are knowledgeable, smart, humorous or whatever?

Sometimes, although I try to minimise the self-adulation.

What if you are challenged by someone or a group of people who see things differently? Can you handle it in stride or do you have to make yourself right and defend your positions.

I find I am much more tolerant of contrary positions than I was even a year ago, But I can't say I always react properly.

Paul

 

[freet43]

I liked reading both your posts and have a similar view. I don't have much time to post, nor even read much for that matter.....only when I have a few minutes to kill while doing something else, like right now, i'm having lunch and checking in on my emails - or when I've got a private conversation going...

but, I do find the insights fascinating and enjoy hearing the various views. Some are very witty, and that is fun also.

I'm long past ever feeling disappointed or upset with whatever viewpoints anyone wants to share (this was way before ESMB). I can usually see the other person's point of view and have it. Often it's clear why someone might feel the way they do. Sometimes seeing the other perspective even results in me changing my view on something.

Marina

 

[Pooks]

Sometimes, although I try to minimise the self-adulation.


I find I am much more tolerant of contrary positions than I was even a year ago, But I can't say I always react properly.

Paul

You do just fine Paul. I really enjoy your posts even though I know we don't see eye to eye on things.

You're a good guy.

P

 

[TG1]

As it turns out, the reason I'm at ESMB is to learn tolerance. I didn't know that when I first got here. Tolerance cannot be learned in an echo chamber. In fact, very little can be learned there.

Sure, it's pleasurable to have someone like my posts. But usually I don't write for others nearly as much as for myself. Mostly, I post here and elsewhere to help myself understand better something about the subject under discussion.

Likewise, it's unpleasant to have my posts ripped apart. Mick Wenlock was one of the first to do so shortly after I arrived. In fact, I recall composing, editing, rewriting and then posting some tl;dr epistle along the lines of: "People, listen to me ... I have a great idea, let's all ...!" In classic Mick form, he posted, "Who the fuck do you think you are to tell anybody here to do / think / believe, you ignorant slut!" Or words to that effect. And then he proceeded to explain why this was never going to happen here at ESMB.



Thanks, Mick.

I have grown to appreciate that my journey here at ESMB is not to enjoy great kumbaya agreement or to influence anyone else about right or wrong. Instead, the value I've received here is to learn to respect the rights of others to their own opinions and beliefs. That starts with listening to others, which can sometimes be quite hard to do if the person "talking" is saying something I really don't agree with.

BTW, I have yet to find anyone here with whom I agree or disagree about everything.

This is a way of saying I've found ESMB to be a wonderful experiment in citizenship. Membership is voluntary. Some have sailed for other shores. Anyone can leave at any time, or almost all can come back if they wish.

One day, when ESMB and/or my days here are over, I will think back on my time here with gratitude. I'm still so far from my goal, but I'm more tolerant than I was a year and a half ago. And that has rubbed off on other areas of my life, which is a good thing.

TG1

P.S. I'm haven't even mentioned the lovely virtual and real-life friendships I've made among ESMBers, who understand that bizarre experience we all went through that we could never, ever explain to someone who hadn't shared it.

 

[freet43]

As it turns out, the reason I'm at ESMB is to learn tolerance. I didn't know that when I first got here. Tolerance cannot be learned in an echo chamber. In fact, very little can be learned there.

Sure, it's pleasurable to have someone like my posts. But usually I don't write for others nearly as much as for myself. Mostly, I post here and elsewhere to help myself understand better something about the subject under discussion.

Likewise, it's unpleasant to have my posts ripped apart. Mick Wenlock was one of the first to do so shortly after I arrived. In fact, I recall composing, editing, rewriting and then posting some tl;dr epistle along the lines of: "People, listen to me ... I have a great idea, let's all ...!" In classic Mick form, he posted, "Who the fuck do you think you are to tell anybody here to do / think / believe, you ignorant slut!" Or words to that effect. And then he proceeded to explain why this was never going to happen here at ESMB.



Thanks, Mick.

I have grown to appreciate that my journey here at ESMB is not to enjoy great kumbaya agreement or to influence anyone else about right or wrong. Instead, the value I've received here is to learn to respect the rights of others to their own opinions and beliefs. That starts with listening to others, which can sometimes be quite hard to do if the person "talking" is saying something I really don't agree with.

BTW, I have yet to find anyone here with whom I agree or disagree about everything.

This is a way of saying I've found ESMB to be a wonderful experiment in citizenship. Membership is voluntary. Some have sailed for other shores. Anyone can leave at any time, or almost all can come back if they wish.

One day, when ESMB and/or my days here are over, I will think back on my time here with gratitude. I'm still so far from my goal, but I'm more tolerant than I was a year and a half ago. And that has rubbed off on other areas of my life, which is a good thing.

TG1

P.S. I'm haven't even mentioned the lovely virtual and real-life friendships I've made among ESMBers, who understand that bizarre experience we all went through that we could never, ever explain to someone who hadn't shared it.

Interesting. Mick was the first person to come on attempting to spar with me back when I first showed up here in early 2007 ........ once he noticed I'm not the sparring kind, I've not heard boo from him. And, I'm sure there are things I've said that are not his reality....

And, now I've made many friends, who have varied ideas and experiences, and appreciate all of them.

Marina

 

[Voltaire's Child]

I used to spar with Mick, too, on a.r.s. But even then, I could tell that, even when I was mad at him, that he was a sincere, extremely bright and cool guy.

Of course, over time, this opinion has only improved.

 

[Voltaire's Child]

As for me, I like posting to critical fora. I started on alt.religion.scientology, then did a lot on Beliefnet, then a couple other fora. Not much FZ list posting, though maybe just a bit here and there. And, of course, I have my own personal website and my own forum.

For me, it's not whether ESMB is important to me. It's whether or not I should be able to discuss things on the internet.

Over the years some people - not too many but definitely some-have tried to make me stop posting. First it was CofS. Then, it was (and I think still may be) some critics/exes/skeptics. They were and are wasting their time.

I'm passionately for freedom of speech but the other factor is that posting on critical fora has brought me some wonderful amazing friendships. My life would truly not be the same had I not stumbled on a.r.s. in 1998 and gone on from there.

Those are my two reasons. Not so much ESMB or my forum or this forum or that forum or this critic or that one.

 

[Smilla]

I have no interest whatsoever in the subject of Scientology, or it's so-called teknologee, but I enjoy watching the organisation sinking little by little under the surface of the cold deep sea, so I must be something of a voyeur. Of course anything legal that hastens the sinking is nice. Other than that, and expressing my half-baked opinions, that's about it. Apart from a little gentle trolling now and again My postings are of less important to me than those of other people.

 

[Winston Smith]

Gee, TG1

I don't know how anyone could bash your posts I feel left out that Mr Mick Wentlock has never even said boo to anything I have ever written. I have however been ripped by many other peeps here, lol. It is after all cyberspace, and for all I know I am talking to a bunch of ones and zeros, not actual people.

What is my considered sober estimation of my blabber here? I don't think much of my little creations. It is much fun to banter back and forth with friendly people though.

 

[smartone]

Not that important. I'll pop in a quip here and there and don't mind if people ignore my post or don't bother to comment. I post for myself really.

I do enjoy ESMB and regularly check in around 11pm. I prefer short and to the point messages to read and don't bother to read the long posts unless it's a Newbie's My Story post. Then I prefer it to be in paragraphs and not just one block of lines which is a bit difficult to read.

 

[Dulloldfart]

I'll pop in a quip here and there and

I saw that in the recent posts sidebar on the right out of the corner of my eye and read it as "I'll poop in a cup here and there." It certainly grabbed my attention to clarify it. (True.)

Paul

 

[SweetnessandLight]

 

[freethinker]

Having never posted on a forum before I came here and not writing many things read by others, it was initialy intimidating to post things.

Another thing I encountered was the "low on the totem pole feeling", mostly by my own consideration.

At times I would feel an urge to contribute to a thread and write anything to do so. These were or were not well received. I'd say mostly not.

The posts I've made that were the best received are the ones where I really want to say something on the subject and just write what I personally think.

I have a greater sense of exposure to the members of the forum than to lurkers or someone who chances on a post by googling. I'm really only aware of those that are here.

If someone is on a thread that I don't really care for, I won't ignore it or leave it for that reason. I've never used the ignore feature and anyone who signs up has as much right to post something as anyone else.

I like the like and thanks buttons because with those you know if you are communicating or not.

On standing my ground on a subject, I feel i can be there comfortably and punch back.

I think any poster has a certain amount of license to wander off topic within a thread. Some consider this derailment and bad but it's not a technical manual or a speech given at a university so to me, the parameters are much less stringent unless of course it is a serious and sensative subject.

Just my thoughts.

 

[HelluvaHoax!]

...

We're not playing some minor game in ESMB. It isn't cute or something to do for lack of something better.

The whole agonized future of this planet, every man, woman and child on it, and your own destiny for the next endless trillions of threads depend on what you do here and now with and in ESMB.

This is a deadly serious activity. And if we miss getting out of the cult now, we may never again have another chance.

Remember, this is our first chance to do so in all the endless trillions of posts of the past. Don't muff it now because it seems unpleasant or unsocial to do J & D about Hubbard's ridiculously asinine hoax.

- Hell Ruin Hoaxard

 

[Good twin]

...

We're not playing some minor game in ESMB. It isn't cute or something to do for lack of something better.

The whole agonized future of this planet, every man, woman and child on it, and your own destiny for the next endless trillions of years depend on what you do here and now with and in ESMB.

This is a deadly serious activity. And if we miss getting out of the cult now, we may never again have another chance.

Remember, this is our first chance to do so in all the endless trillions of posts of the past. Don't muff it now because it seems unpleasant or unsocial to do J & D about Hubbard's ridiculously asinine hoax.

- Hell Ruin Hoaxard

OMG Hoaxie. You're Alanzo's sock puppet!!!

 

[HelluvaHoax!]

OMG Hoaxie. You're Alanzo's sock puppet!!!

Finally! That explains it...

Every morning when I wake up, just before sitting down at my computer, I keep hearing this voice in my head. I guess you could kinda say it's an involuntary channeling of some incorporeal ascended master.

The voice urges--in fact demands--that I don the appropriate attire before posting anything on ESMB. I don't know what it all means exactly but I just wear it so he doesn't do that thing where he starts singing protest folk songs and such...

 

[Dilettante]

Hi Lakey, nice thread.
My postings are not terribly important to me or anyone else. I really enjoy the conversations with folks here and I sometimes hope that a scio that's in is eavesdropping on our conversations. I am also anonymous so that makes it tough for me to really post openly.

What is important to me when I post is manners. I have a tremendous amount of respect for members here, many I consider bright and very engaging. When I do post I keep that in mind.
Dil

 

[lkwdblds]

Pooks, Dilletante, Freethinker, Marina, Paul, Helluva, Kutta, Smart One, Good Twin, Winston, Smila, et al. What fabulous responses you all made!! It is fun and rewarding to read your responses.

I see that some of you have wrestled with not being offended by other posters and have worked on that and have obtained positive results.

One thing for sure, ESMB is a testimonial for the value of free speech. Those of us who have the ability to speak freely are very lucky people! On a world wide level, we are in the minority, being able to speak freely, and we should cherish this right and defend it, which we are all doing, just by posting here.
Lakey