What really matters?

[Lacewing]

For fun and inspiration... check out these awesome common sense "quality standards" of the Philosophyforums website. SEE... I'm not the only one who thinks there is value in striving for higher standards of quality in shared environments... and they describe it SO WELL! It's not about exclusion or excessive moderation -- it's about being self-aware and respectful enough to share a public environment with others.

------

REASONS NOT TO POST:

These forums aren't for everyone. Here's an incomplete list of good reasons why you should decline to post, in order to save the time of the post being deleted:

• You start each sentence on a new line, write in all lowercase, place your posts in bold and italic, or otherwise choose to flagrantly ignore basic rules of communication in the English language or make obnoxious attempts for attention.

• You believe the word "philosophy" simply means any belief/opinion you care to have.

• You're looking to share your ultimate grand philosophical solution to life, the universe and everything with the poor peons who lack your brainpower. (Please scribble it on a restroom wall somewhere instead, that gives it a timeless power.)

• You've proved the theory of relativity false (or otherwise overturned the foundations of science). We get these regularly, but we are sorry to say that this is not the proper audience for your great discoveries which prove you to be the world's smartest person. Submit to a respected scientific journal first, and once they publish you we'll listen.

• You are currently under the influence of drugs or alcohol. PUI (posting under the influence) results in you mistaking your brain farts for gems of wisdom, getting you banned.

• You want others to do your homework. (We are not here to help you cheat on your essay. Of course, you may start discussions that indirectly help you with your essay.)

• You've had a paranormal experience and want feedback to reassure you of your supernatural powers or extraordinary importance in the scheme of things. (Whatever misconceptions you may have about the word 'philosophy', it is not about bending spoons with your mind. Go elsewhere.)

• You're an evangelical looking for converts to your religion, mystic cult, or so-called philosophy of life. (There are much riper grounds elsewhere, you wouldn't get anywhere here.)

• You're evangelically atheistic to the extent that you will spend endless hours circling the religion forum looking for religious people to tear down. (This is probably a good fishing spot, but we must ask to resist the temptation anyway.)

• You want to tell conservatives/liberals why they're the scum of the earth. (This isn't a politics site. You're expected to have at least a minimal interest in philosophy if you register.)

• You feel repressed by other forums and want to exercise your "right" to free speech, meaning the ability to talk about whatever you want wherever you want whenever you want. (Sorry, we have defined subjects here. You are expected to remain on topic, not to mention civilized.)

• You have a website which you want to advertise. (Spammers are dealt with instantly and mercilessly. No, it does not matter if the site is non-profit or philosophy-related.)

• You believe your unreadably bad grammar and spelling are justified as hallmarks of your originality. (This forum is for communication, so you are required to be able to communicate in the language of the forum, which is English. You don't have to be a native speaker, but you need to be somewhat decent (babelfish doesn't do it) and most importantly you need to try.)

• You're a banned user trying to sneak back in. (Banning decisions are final. You will be found, and all the posts made under your new name will be erased.)

[Harbal]

• You're a banned user trying to sneak back in. (Banning decisions are final. You will be found, and all the posts made under your new name will be erased.)

Surely no one would try to pull of a stunt like that.

[Lacewing]

• You're a banned user trying to sneak back in. (Banning decisions are final. You will be found, and all the posts made under your new name will be erased.)

Surely no one would try to pull of a stunt like that.

Just curious, have you been banned over there? If so, tell me your new code name so I'll know it's you.

[henry quirk]

Expect the worst.









*applies to living in general

[Lacewing]

Expect the worst.

For people who believe that thoughts create reality, this strategy would be totally defeating.

[henry quirk]

No doubt.

In my experience, however, reality exists independent of any one's happy or nasty thoughts, and one directs reality (not change it, just restructure it in minor ways) by application of force.

Wanna clear a field for farming? Cut down the trees, excavate any stones, turn the soil. Thinking 'at' or 'about' the field will get you nuthin' at all.

Wanna change a mind? Persuade through word and action. Worst case, you shoot the recalcitrant bugger in the face (won't change his mind, but sure will squelch his opposition). Thinking 'at' or 'about' that other mind, the one you want to change, will get you a big handful of diddlysquat.

As for the net: it is what it is (mostly crap) expect the worst and (at least) wear hip boots.

As for the forum you mentioned: a tyranny is a dictatorship is micromanagment is a straightjacket is a large stick inserted anally is...

[Lacewing]

In my experience, however, reality exists independent of any one's happy or nasty thoughts, and one directs reality (not change it, just restructure it in minor ways) by application of force.

Wanna clear a field for farming? Cut down the trees, excavate any stones, turn the soil. Thinking 'at' or 'about' the field will get you nuthin' at all.

Wanna change a mind? Persuade through word and action.

Everything we do starts with a thought, right? And if the thought is "this sucks, this won't work, what a pain in the butt, etc.", then that's the energy we are infusing into that activity/goal. As opposed to "this is interesting, anything is possible, let's see what I can do with this, etc.", which would infuse a different energy. Do you think such energy has no impact?

I'm not talking about saving the world from itself or being delusionally cheerful. I'm talking about how attitude and vision and quality of energy can affect a path or situation. If one's attitude is to expect the worst, chances are higher (it seems) that their expectations will be fulfilled, if only to make themselves "right". We typically see (and create!) what we expect to see. That's why you can put two people in the same exact situation, and their experiences/impressions could be completely different. Reality is a personal experience.

[thedoc]

Wanna clear a field for farming? Cut down the trees, excavate any stones, turn the soil. Thinking 'at' or 'about' the field will get you nuthin' at all.

My father used to have a saying,

"You can wish in one hand, and shit in the other, and see which one gets full the quickest."