by allenwrench » Wed 27 Aug 2008, 15:50:14
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('VMarcHart', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('allenwrench', 'H')ere is one persons reply from another forum...
AW, what have you been telling them? To imply they don't get you is plain unfair and so is calling them cowards; you write under a screen name!
Remember, it's the sender's responsibility to ensure the message is received properly. There's no truth, right, wrong, facts, etc, but only interpretations and meanings of them. It's what we make of stuff that matters. If they don't want to hear your oil porn, why do you insist on it? And you do that at 300 forums? That's crazy! It's no different than my sister-in-law insisting I get that Adam came from a pool of mud and Eve from Adam's rib. I don't want to hear about it, and she keeps on telling me, and I already told her to take her mud/rib porn elsewhere. Think about that. Leave them alone. Quit trying to change the world.
Peace and Love, brother!
Thanks for your concern VMarcHart and your offers of peace and love. Both in short supply in our day and age. I am not trying to change the world, just trying to express my opinions.
Let me assure you I have not been on 300 forums talking about PO over the last 10 years! I just learned about PO in 10/07. I used to go under a different name and had interests in religion, spirituals studies and philosophy.
I am semi retired form the forum circuit. I am on just a handful of forums at any given time. Too much prep work needs to be done - very easy to 'talk about' preps on the 'puter instead of 'actually doing' the hard work of prepping.
My first experience with a 'peak oilers' forum was not pleasant when I joined this forum.
http://www.peakoilstore.com/forum/index ... c32f87;www
They banned me after 3 hours of so.
That forum seemed very extreme from the forum owner right down the ranks - trickle down theory I guess. Lot of flaming and hatred directed towards me...and all approved by the forum owner.
Other forums such as
http://www.frugalsquirrels.com/cgi-bin/ ... matebb.cgi or
http://www.survival.com/forum.htm banned me after a few posts.
This forum called my posts on peak oil and overpopulation propaganda and alarmist and shut me down after few posts.
http://www.politicsforumpoliticalworld.com/
Some forums kept me on longer and tried to be more open to discussion
http://www.simpleliving.net/discussionforums/ But the end result was the same for me...a ban from prejudice.
And some forums, such as
misc_survivalism_moderated@yahoogroups.com Would not ban me outright, they were a little more open minded...they would just delete my posts.
Let me give you a little more background about myself and online censorship.
Out of the 300+ forums I have been on, I have been banned from about 70% of them due to prejudice. The vast majority of these forums have been dedicated to personal improvement as well as spiritual studies. Yet I have never had one fight or was abusive with anyone.
What was my crime?
Searching for truth.
Now with Christian forums it is 100% ban rate and Buddhist forums is 95% ban and atheist forums it is about 95% ban.
But this ignorance is universal 'human' in nature.
Psychologist William James once said, "A great many people believe they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."
Let me give you an example that has happened to me in the past.
In the bible it says "Test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil," (1 Thess. 5:21)
Taking from Christian, Buddhist and most other religions of the world I discuss such tools in my posts no matter their source. When I talked about this 'concept of testing' and related it to the Buddha's tool of testing doctrine, but included this bible quote above, I was banned by the Buddhists. Yet the Buddha also encouraged testing of his teachings before adopting those teachings.
At a Christian forum, when I brought up the Buddha encourages testing just as it was said in the bible, the Christian forums banned me.
Then at the atheist forums when I mention the Bible and the Buddha both offered the tools of testing to help determine truth, the atheist sites ban me.
Yet, all three groups like the idea of testing for truth, as long as this idea comes from them and not from anyone else...many people believe they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.
Alan Watts use to say we define ourselves by our enemies. We define ourselves by what we are not. He used the example of 'Beatniks and Squares' which were the in fad opposites back in his day.
So of course it is natural for these groups to view themselves as polar opposites and enemies of sorts. Same as the 'left and right' does in American politics.
We should always be interested in finding truth and peace. If our way is not working then some other way may help. It is good to test and see the results and not get caught up in prejudice blocking the way.
For with such tests, 'the proof of the pudding will be in the eating' and decisions on how to live will not be left only to your ego, but will be grounded in peace.
The three unwholesome roots of delusions, greed and hate are very basic to a a Buddhist practice. Out of these three, delusion is the foundational root, for without seeing delusions for what they are, you cannot distinguish the other two unwholesome roots of greed and hate.
People suffer from delusions in all form and not just deity worship. Atheism, while freeing ones mind to think, but it does not guarantee one thinks right and acts right. This is the importance of replacing wrong religious beliefs with right thinking and right living.
For instance, I was banned from many 'so called' Buddhist sites such as Esangha, Tricycle, Shambhala, Buddha Chat, 12 step Buddhists, Sangha-Pauahtun, eBuddhism, etc even though I have a keen interest in Buddhism.
Some people claiming to be Buddhist think all they have to is shave their heads, adopt a silly name, be a vegetarians and burn incense to be a Buddhists...all the while they are doing great harm to others, Which is how it is with many Buddhist forums that are 'for profit' and run by 'spiritually sick' individuals. Currently, it is a sad state of affairs with such online Buddhist groups.
I've been on dozens of Christian forums and I have perfect record at the Christian forums...100% banned...and I was a Christian myself at that time I tried to join them years ago.
I was able to finagle my way back into one Christian forum though:
http://www.christianforums.com/index.php
But I could only stay if I claimed to be an atheist...and I do not post much and keep my mouth shut...and if I do post it has to be something non consequential. Also I am not allowed to post with the Christians. I can only post to the atheists.
I like that forum as it reminds me of the 'sickness of attachment,' so that is why I put up with all the prejudice. At that forum you can 'buy your armor' to outfit your avatar to shield you from evil and 'trade blessings' with each other....well you can see how much I like avatars.
The Billy Graham and Catholic forums banned me after my first posts...then they solicit me for months on end asking for money. I don't know whether to laugh or cry?
Charity? Humility? Reciprocity? Freedom of Faith? Truth? And of course...Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself????
I'm afraid Christians don't practice what they preach...at least at their forums. (Even the Buddhist whose mantra is 'Do No Harm' ban me 95% of the time at their forums, so they are only a little better than the Christians.)
Atheist forums are not much better at freethinking. Been banned at evil bible dot com, ethical atheist, Internet infidels, X-Christians and others.
How do I find peace with all this prejudice?
By knowing
"With the same material one man builds a palace and another only a hovel." Russell Cromwell.
And accepting people are not perfect, nor am I perfect which is just as the Taoists tell us: "fleas come with the dog."
Always remember VMarcHart...the difference between an authority and an authoritarian is this.
An authority speaks from a place of truth and such speaks as an authority. Whereas an authoritarian rules by fear and not by truth.
For the truth stands on it own and the authoritarian stands on their ego.