don't be too lofty!
posted by ck | March 17, 2010
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Icerocketthere is a fine line to be tread...to get those inclined but not yet sure...
if too forceful they will be scared and run off to their safe havens...if not enough they think you are just a wee bit loony...so what it's gonna be?
you ought to be careful...but not consciously...i.e. pretending...withitn yourself i mean...going out and just do your esoteric stuff no matter what will be good for you in your community, within those who feel save within it and get it, but will scare those who have no idea, never experienced or are not sure yet. so you need the right balance. we all do. not being too lofty and not being too stuck to the ground.
i met this girl tonight. never met her before but she is an friend of a friend. and we exchanged 2 sentences in a bar. and then at some point outside i mentioned healing stones. no more to it. just was part of the conversation. at the time (a couple of hours later) when we said goodbye. she turned round to me and said, "really nice to meet you, we should hook up again" and sure i was cool, why not - i love meeting new people. just before they left, she just threw in that she loved the fact it was a balance between being firmly on the ground with both feet and still able to mention something "esoteric" without being too lofty. and i was taken aback. as i never thought about it that way. but i guess that's what it is. if it is too lofty many get scared. as they will be confronted with something they have not experienced yet but maybe always have known within themselves, as well as something that may just well be out of their comfort zone.
but if there is a balance. it works. and trust is being established. without being forced. and curiosity will become part of it all. isn't that what we want? well, for me it is for sure.
i think many on the "alternative" way need to re-think how to approach the "general" public. be careful. give them space and time. and don't be too lofty. you won't believe what the result can be and be amazed about the people you will find on your way.
this is a call to the community to look outside their borders, out of the comfort zone to touch those who are inclined but may not be sure yet. don't be "extreme". just inclusive no matter who and what!
Comments
balance
— Mar 20, 2010
i don't think we need to decide between either being too lofty or to please the general public. i think there is a balance to be hand. the way i see it there is no such thing as the general public (them) versus another "them" (or "us").
many would consider alternative ways but are not sure, too scared, have never been shown - given that our societies/powers that be want the masses to behave like sheep and for someone to go out of this (their) comfort zone might be a massive step.
so when you say your former friends contact you now to say they have not understood before but do so now - and you close the door on them - i suggest, open it again. as they might just need a guiding hand. they made the first step right? to contact you. they got it. maybe just need someone not "preaching" to them but just slightly pulling them into a new reality.
that's what i meant to say - and maybe you are right with the "pleasing" but i reckon it's more in line with developing a common ground with the "general public" - after all, i believe we all, all human beings, share the same values, ideas and hopes - some might just need a less "all-or-nothing" approach to change their ways (that being said, and i know i have mentioned it many times before - i am all for a revolution ;)...but unless then...)
and finally, completely agreed on your notion that "thinking about the world never gets old" - we all need to keep asking questions and wanting to know the answers
you must have planted a seed
— Mar 20, 2010
you must have planted a seed back then that now started to grow...I think this is actually fantastic and also think it takes a lot of guts for someone to turn round and basically telling you that they were wrong all those years ago...
it's sometimes difficult to forgive but I reckon those who are strong (i.e. within their own understandings and beliefs, grounded as you wish, or enlightened - take your pick) are the ones who can and should forgive - it for sure is no sign of weakness...
...
— Mar 19, 2010
I'm probably guilty of being lofty... probably on the side of people thinking I am 'a wee bit loony'. I'm used to being the weirdo and so in many cases I am probably not the best person to be telling things they may not want to hear. As if, yeah, the weirdo/druggie/artist is saying it to it must be craziness!
But I also think there's something to it, like when you're having normal conversations with people just to put little things in there that might be weird, but just treat it like it's normal. And it's better for you to seem normal in this case. And then they're like, "oh is that what everybody's saying now?". Like it was on tv last night and they are just behind the times. Get with the program!
Cheers,
Rob
aren't we all a wee bit loony ;)
— Mar 20, 2010
i sure get the odd stare now and then as well - always the one who brings up politics, social injustices, history and the likes at dinner tables (sometimes i care whether people are uncomfortable with it sometimes i do not hahaha) - but also realised that one can't continuously be "radical" as the dinner invitations seize to come in ;)
seriously though, i actually think throwing in bits and bobs in "normal" conversations that are off the beaten track, that are weird is exactly the right way forward - you might not get everyone shouting out in the end "viva la revolucion" but you might get them thinking and creating a new level of the common ground for the next time round
