Judgement

[kisserofsinners]

I've noticed with the charity conversations (and i admit i can't follow past the first page in most cases) it seems to be easy to judge one another for our choice and i thought i'd point something out that doesn't seem to come up.

Compassion is just like other personality traits in that there is a huge scale that we all find ourselves on and looking at others can be hard to keep perspective. Just like being shy and being outgoing has their own great and not so helpful aspects.

On one side of the scale are people who are very sensitive to the needs of others. On the other side are people who are not. Let's all assume that we're all actually somewhere in the middle and not at the far extremes.

To the people on the less sensitive side, the people on the other side look like bleeding hearts.

To the person who is very sensitive to others, people on the other side look like sociopaths.

It's my opinion that neither one is really true. It seems like a lot of the agreements that go into specifics either way seem to be missing this point. I realize i can't get out of my house without judging the distance between my foot and the floor, but assuming people are "wrong" for their opinions and values is distracting from the point.

Everyone will be making choices for themselves with a lot of info we simply can't get in this venue.

So with that (in my best Jerry Springer voice)
Take care of yourself and each other.
Peace

[gooki]

My 2 cents. People just love to argue on the Internet.

[Richard3]

I'm not religious, but the Bible does have some good advice about a lot of thing - I'm thinking specifically of Matthew 7 v1-3 here

1    Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2    For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Mk. 4.24
3    And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

[tooqk4u22]

For the most part I think the discussions that you are referring to have been thoughtful, civil, and well debated.  In some cases this has caused people to revisit their individual position and/or have a better understanding and respect for the other sides position - it doesn't mean that either side is right or wrong or that either side will necessarily change.  However, there are times when emotions get the better of everyone but I think that has been rare overall. 

In general, you are gorrect that most people ride in the middle lane but even those people may have one or two issues where their position may be on the extreme side (at least relative to other extreme side).  Its good that people are different, but it is better that we can discuss/debate openly. 

[kisserofsinners]

For the most part I think the discussions that you are referring to have been thoughtful, civil, and well debated.  In some cases this has caused people to revisit their individual position and/or have a better understanding and respect for the other sides position - it doesn't mean that either side is right or wrong or that either side will necessarily change.  However, there are times when emotions get the better of everyone but I think that has been rare overall. 

In general, you are gorrect that most people ride in the middle lane but even those people may have one or two issues where their position may be on the extreme side (at least relative to other extreme side).  Its good that people are different, but it is better that we can discuss/debate openly.

You are correct, the conversations have been impressively civil. If they weren't, it's unlikely that i would have posted this. This is one of the most intimate online forum i've even seen and that it works this well kinda blows my mind. :) I don't usually get involved with forums because they really freak me out, the way anonymous people can be so cruel to others.

It was just an idea that was floating around my head for several days and i thought it might help some people take a step back and and observe the beauty of diversity.