Many years ago, when I was living in the L.A. area, I used to go down to the Farmer's Market in Beverly Hills... home of fresh food and the Hisedic Jewish Community... which is exactly why I loved going there; I could sit for hours nibbling on fresh bread, cheese, etc. while reading or writing and eavesdropping -- listening to the Rabbi cuss and discuss the scriptures.
Originally they seemed to speak only Yiddish but they soon realized that I was there to learn so the English became more prevalent and from time to time they'd even ask me a question, drawing me into the fray... it was one of the most enlightening summers of my life and one that I can superimposed onto this forum in that we are something like that gathering of minds.
For most of the time I've been here I've found it pleasurable though I do get a bit bent when I have had to repeat things dozens of times and no one (the scoffers) want to see and accept the common ground facts. It's as if they are so vested into the habit of questioning things that simplicity is thrown out the window with the bath water...
By all means, looking at the strange and surreal demands that we ask questions and too, obliges us to DISCUSS things from both, the analytical as well as the metaphysical side of possibility/plausibility. This is the only time one actually finds themselves standing on those mid-points of an issue the old sages referred to as "Wisdom" or "Harmonium" -- when we BALANCE issues in a way that allows a sense of resolve even when said resolve may be temporary. As we mature and learn more the time will come when more discussion and consideration is warranted and opinions/accepted points of view, can shift and do so in ways that are empowering rather than stifling.
Stagnation is not healthy and yet, when we dig our heels into the earth with a mind that's made-up this is exactly what we are doing; stagnating and refusing to actually grow beyond a given level.
How is this healthy or even Helpful?
It is a position that creates more hurt than healing; rifts between friends as well as family -- tears within our own soul and emotional base. We become bitter and determined to force our view point simply because we don't want to be alone in our heads, carrying this "cross" as it were, that we've made for ourselves; our ego convincing us that we can't change our position without looking like a fool so we just justify in our head, that we are right and all those that buy into the mid-stream course, are fools.
Yes, I'm speaking in extremes but time and space is short... and too, many here do not like to read anything more than a paragraph or two... to hell with any sort of presentation and clarification. Especially when such positions seem to meld the surreal with the real -- the logical with the illogical -- the tangible with the non-tangible. Yet, this is how the world really is, so why aren't we looking at things thus?
Ok... I'm being partly defensive here but at the same time I'm trying to encourage the idea of fairness. The more cynical side of view has a place but MUST likewise accept the fact that the opposing pov can agree with you so long as those hosting either point of view choose to move towards center; it's all the same, different only by degree. So if I move closer to your way of seeing things and you move towards my perspective, we can actually COMMUNICATE and find "compromise" -- a collective point of view that sustains the position shared by either "side".
The issue, to me at least, is one of possibility, probability, and plausibility vs. definite immovable "this is the only way" ideologies.