tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post7994691782893431590..comments2023-10-21T03:54:12.029-04:00Comments on A Gift Universe: Profile of a prophetSheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-60832777826412770072015-10-04T18:26:35.799-04:002015-10-04T18:26:35.799-04:00Smart! Because even if the popular person isn'...Smart! Because even if the popular person isn't secretly a douchecanoe, they still have way too many friends to have much time for you. Whereas the shy or awkward people often are gems that other people were too superficial to appreciate. I phrase it to John this way -- it's like a tiny restaurant off a creepy alley which looks like a dive but turns out to have the best food in the city, and best of all, it's never crowded because nobody knows about it! (For the record: he was not a popular guy when I fell for him. He kind of is now -- but at least I can be a hipster about it and say I was into him before he was cool.)<br /><br />Baroness, I'm happy that you are reading! Thanks for de-lurking to let me know. :DSheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-73657566073916435132015-10-03T17:51:56.981-04:002015-10-03T17:51:56.981-04:00I gave up theological discussions for Lent.
(Wait...I gave up theological discussions for Lent.<br /><br />(Wait, it's not Lent anymore? Huh. How time flies.) <br /><br />On the cult topic:<br /><br />Recently in my area there was an Ob/Gyn who was forced into "early retirement" because he'd been sexually abusing patients. (I read one of the news articles about the issue and was too squicked out to read more. His reaction to the whole thing was literally, "I knew it was wrong but I didn't think I'd lose my license over it." Seriously, dude. What did you think was a license-losing offense?) He had several patients who were ADAMANT that he was the most amazing doctor ever and his victims were lying liars who lie. And even people who weren't in the rabid defense camp were shocked and puzzled that such a kind, competent sort of person could do such a thing.<br /><br />It's exactly the charming and competent ones who DO perpetuate systematic abuse, though. People who are assholes and losers might be abusive, but not in the same way. Because they can't get the level of power and influence necessary to be so.<br /><br />I can't decide if being suspicious of popular people makes me cynical or smart. The Sojournerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04559244806125834569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-27951523591351211232015-10-03T01:09:44.063-04:002015-10-03T01:09:44.063-04:00You write thought-provoking stuff I like to read a...You write thought-provoking stuff I like to read and ponder....I just always chicken out on commenting. :) <br />- BaronessAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-28533652959308888782015-10-01T10:33:32.080-04:002015-10-01T10:33:32.080-04:00Whoa: " Festinger and his colleagues predicte...Whoa: " Festinger and his colleagues predicted that the inevitable disconfirmation would be followed by an enthusiastic effort at proselytizing to seek social support and lessen the pain of disconfirmation."<br /><br />I had never thought of that! I'm sure I'd enjoy that book; I'll look around for it.<br /><br />Anon, whoever you are, I'm glad you're reading!<br /><br />BB, there's been a poem sitting in drafts for awhile that I'll go ahead and post. Sure, it's only by me, and you probably prefer commentary on "real" poems, but I'll throw it out there. :)Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-67128128662559781922015-10-01T08:03:31.580-04:002015-10-01T08:03:31.580-04:00I should comment more on things I agree on. I enj...I should comment more on things I agree on. I enjoyed this cult post and the opposing sides post quite a lot; I'd actually never thought of that duality re. the opposing sides before, but that was a good point. And this post is really well-written. It describes... well, my own psychology at various points fairly well.<br /><br />I'm currently in a discussion with someone about the early Church, which this post is also quite relevant to. He keeps maintaining that the phenomenon of the Early Church, and particularly the martyrs, is completely inexplicable without God existing. And, well, I'm obviously not maintaining that.<br /><br />Have you read this <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Prophecy_Fails" rel="nofollow">account</a> of a small cult? I haven't read that book, although I read about the cult in question from another psychology book I was reading. You might find it interesting.SeekingOmnisciencehttp://seekingomniscience.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-45420316707071545702015-10-01T00:15:33.411-04:002015-10-01T00:15:33.411-04:00I've been reading your blog for years. You'...I've been reading your blog for years. You're a great writer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-45193189625412331092015-09-30T00:11:28.252-04:002015-09-30T00:11:28.252-04:00Well, I have to say, then, that I miss your writin...Well, I have to say, then, that I miss your writings on poetry!<br /><br />(I do <i>like</i> contributing, when I can; whether I do so <i>well</i>, I can't tell...)<br />Belfry Bathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00514867101036143597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-22268720919818658702015-09-29T21:51:26.331-04:002015-09-29T21:51:26.331-04:00BB, you don't owe me comments (though it's...BB, you don't owe me comments (though it's nice to see you are still reading) so if you don't enjoy contributing, you needn't feel obligated. I didn't mean to lay on the guilt, I'm just hunting for a topic you people would like to read about. I do tend to disagree with a lot that you say; not because I want to but because you don't convince me. That's okay, though -- I do seriously consider what you suggest and I enjoy the discussion all the same.Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-37411645797766964472015-09-29T19:05:33.524-04:002015-09-29T19:05:33.524-04:00Well, I would comment more, but it often feels, fr...Well, I would comment more, but it often feels, from your responses (in comments and in later blog posts) that all I'm able to suggest is more things you want to disagree with. It does get a tad discouraging.<br />Belfry Bathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00514867101036143597noreply@blogger.com