--- In [email protected], "Rick Archer" <rick@...> wrote: > > > On Behalf Of emptybill > > > > Richard, > > > > Calm down and consider the facts long demonstrated here on FFL. > > > > Vaj is a classic newsgroup troll ... someone whose only > > purpose is to cause everyone else to argue, to "provoke > > readers to an emotional reaction" and to "disrupt normal > > on-topic discussion".
Please check the description of this group on its home page. Nothing Vaj posts is anything other than on topic, according to that. What you're saying is that Vaj posts things you don't like. > > Vaj trolls here, along with Barry, strictly due to > > Rick choosing to allow it. > > > > He seems quite amused by their behaviors. As are we. Because the fish seemingly have no choice as to whether to "bite" or not. They are locked into attachment behaviors that run their lives. All that we do is dangle one of the attachments in front of them, and they don't just bite, they *leap* onto the hook. *And* in very predictable ways. I don't know about Vaj, but my schtick is to "pre-announce" how the TM TBs are going to react, throw out the bait, and then wait for them to demonstrate that my prediction was accurate. What I think you don't like is that most of the time it works. > I don't know about that, but I do know that I decided long > ago that I'm not going to police FFL. I don't have the time, > and it is not my nature to do so. There are enough FFL > participants representing enough points of view that the > whole thing is self-regulating. Every perspective is > counter-balanced by some other. My interference would > only upset the balance. My status as a participant is > equal to everyone else's. Some agree with my point of view; > others don't. I don't consider it to be more "right" > than others' perspectives, and certainly don't want FFL > to be filtered through it. Well said. On the other hand, the folks playing "pile on" to the latest Get Vaj Fest very much DO want the posts at FFL filtered through their own perspective. Interestingly enough, that perspective is to glorify and amplify those who push their buttons, as opposed to just ignoring them, or simply countering what they say by sticking to the content of what they post. Instead, the "pile on" crowd here at FFL seemingly *cannot* simply deal with the issues raised by critics. They *have* to attack the critics personally. In doing this, they tend to "elevate" them, as if they feel the need to make them seem like "bigger enemies." Vaj isn't Just Another Guy With An Opinion, he's part of an enormous Buddhist conspiracy. If you made a list of the things I've been accused of, it would probably be longer than the list of things that Hitler has been accused of. :-) I keep pushing buttons because I'm hoping someday that most in the TMO will finally figure out that they embarrass only themselves and the org they're trying so desperately to defend by acting out this "Gotta get the critic" behavior. It's their *own* self importance that makes them characterize the critics they perceive as enemies in a "larger than life" fashion. They cannot allow lurkers to think that they've gotten this bent out of shape over Just Another Guy With An Opinion. They have to make it seem as if the guy is part of some huge conspiracy, or mentally ill, or whatever. People whose beliefs are strong have no need to consistently demonize those who challenge them. Their beliefs *are* strong, and they demonstrate that strength of belief by just laughing, or by dealing with the "meat" of the critical points being raised. What they *don't* do is embarrass themselves and the beliefs themselves by trying to "get the critic." That's just stupid. Me, I continue to allow those prone to stupidity to demonstrate it on this forum. As I've said many times, if you're trying to make a point, *demonstrate* it, don't claim it. The "pile on" crowd never fails to demonstrate the behavior I am pointing out -- the compulsive need to attack and demonize those who disagree with them. I'm betting that most here know the difference between that and real belief.
