As per another thread:
And Quantum, I commend you for being so commendable to other’s expressions of solemnity in your spirit of peace. :thumbs: Personally, I have a tendency to draw the line on my spirit of gentleness according to the level of aggressiveness I face, but first always “try” to consider the value of replying rationally in a given situation. Unfortunately, the level of aggressiveness needed to take down and pin the Op’s logic, which he refers to as exegesis, is even beyond the rough-housing level that some of us might not, for various reasons, such as cultural habituation, take as serious as others. IOWs appropriate gentleness can be subjective.
Anyway, just know some of us appreciate the reminders, in the spirit of gentleness, which you do possess, to not to take it to what might be considered the necessary level it would take to match the opposition’s aggressiveness. Yes, it is better to consider the audience’s perspective whether or not one considers himself qualified to step up to and/or justified to deal with an irrational aggressive debater. If he thinks he wins because of pushing that line, so be it.
A quick example: After becoming a Christian at a late age and going for several years without a physical confrontation some guy almost ran over my children with his car while doing a power slide and accelerating in front of Toys-R-Us. Angrily I yelled at him to slow down and he slammed on the brakes and flipped me off. I told my children to stay put and went charging up to the car with the intention to do great physical harm to him, but he took off as I approached his window. At that instant I wanted him bad but later I was SO thankful that my children did not witness the violence that unfortunately I was apparently still capable of because of my history (cultural habituation). In truth, although the beating may have been justified it would have been to the detriment of my children’s emotions because of “their” perception of the situation. It also would have been contrary to the values I had been trying to teach them which often comes by example.
So whether you mean to or not you occasionally remind me of the above story and to consider that more sensitive perspective of others and to reconsider my own actions in the spirit of gentleness.
Just thinking at this point it is worth while to say, keep up the good work and don’t worry about being criticized for not crossing that line and for raising the bar on gentleness.
And Quantum, I commend you for being so commendable to other’s expressions of solemnity in your spirit of peace. :thumbs: Personally, I have a tendency to draw the line on my spirit of gentleness according to the level of aggressiveness I face, but first always “try” to consider the value of replying rationally in a given situation. Unfortunately, the level of aggressiveness needed to take down and pin the Op’s logic, which he refers to as exegesis, is even beyond the rough-housing level that some of us might not, for various reasons, such as cultural habituation, take as serious as others. IOWs appropriate gentleness can be subjective.
Anyway, just know some of us appreciate the reminders, in the spirit of gentleness, which you do possess, to not to take it to what might be considered the necessary level it would take to match the opposition’s aggressiveness. Yes, it is better to consider the audience’s perspective whether or not one considers himself qualified to step up to and/or justified to deal with an irrational aggressive debater. If he thinks he wins because of pushing that line, so be it.
A quick example: After becoming a Christian at a late age and going for several years without a physical confrontation some guy almost ran over my children with his car while doing a power slide and accelerating in front of Toys-R-Us. Angrily I yelled at him to slow down and he slammed on the brakes and flipped me off. I told my children to stay put and went charging up to the car with the intention to do great physical harm to him, but he took off as I approached his window. At that instant I wanted him bad but later I was SO thankful that my children did not witness the violence that unfortunately I was apparently still capable of because of my history (cultural habituation). In truth, although the beating may have been justified it would have been to the detriment of my children’s emotions because of “their” perception of the situation. It also would have been contrary to the values I had been trying to teach them which often comes by example.
So whether you mean to or not you occasionally remind me of the above story and to consider that more sensitive perspective of others and to reconsider my own actions in the spirit of gentleness.
Just thinking at this point it is worth while to say, keep up the good work and don’t worry about being criticized for not crossing that line and for raising the bar on gentleness.
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