> > What has been superior to capitalism over the long run?
> >
> > >> Seeds.
> > >>
> > >> Oh, yeah--and soil.
>
> > I get the feeling some of this discussion is just "head
> > game" and not very meaningful (helpful) thought, at that.
>
> Naw, nothing that subtle. They're just ducking a question they don't
> want to answer.
I think a time-out is required. Maybe some naps, too.
Jim, if you want to talk to me individually about this, let's do so
next week. I'd rather not continue to clutter up the in-baskets of
700-900 people with this.
As for "head games," some of humanity's wisest people have been
playing them for lifetimes; they can be instructive. If you don't
know what a /koan/ is, ref. anything by D.T. Suzuki. /Zen Mind,
Beginner's Mind/ for starters. Or Brian Tanaka's site on the WELL:
http://www.well.com/user/btanaka/dw.html
Or the Usenet conference: alt.buddha.short-fat-guy
My response to Jim's question was intuitive, as Douglas pointed out,
not scientific, rationalistic, or otherwise. Douglas did a better
job than I could have of explaining in many words what I tried to
say in five. If neither the five nor the many explain it, it's not
likely going to benefit from more words.
Finally, a word to Dale that I've been sitting on for some months
now, but feel deeply compelled to let it out, and I hope it comes
across with the respect I intend. It's a communication process
observation. Dale, there are times when engaging in dialogue with
you on certain topics leads to things like ridicule and name calling
on your part. You sometimes do this when someone is questioning
certain mindsets, assumptions, and philosophies, whether or not
they're addressing you in particular.
If you want to diss the snot out of me in private, and I agree to
engage in that, that's fine--but I believe a higher degree of
civility is called for in a public forum. There are subscribers,
including farmers, who are afraid to post to SANET. Not because
discussion of big-picture ("impractical") issues, but because they
require that higher degree of civility to share their thoughts.
Particularly when they have emerging or still-forming thoughts or
questions on topics that are likely to challenge others'
assumptions.
If SANET can't be a place for people to engage in those explorations,
those emergences, that questioning, and those experiments, I don't
think we can claim to be about emerging, alternative, or sustainable
agriculture. We are about business as usual.
Finally, I don't have the desire to be drawn into bad energy nonsense
on an Internet list server. Reminds me of the mid-80s, when most of
the folks you ran into on the 'Net were ill-socialized technoweenies
who never left their labs. Surely we've grown past that.
I'm not going to post to the group again on this topic. Apologies,
all, for this, and thanks for your forbearance. Gotta run; big rain
coming and my two little wheels have no roof. :^)
peace
misha
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Michele Gale-Sinex, communications manager
Center for Integrated Ag Systems
UW-Madison College of Ag and Life Sciences
Voice: (608) 262-8018 FAX: (608) 265-3020
http://www.wisc.edu/cias
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Community--that's what Jah say. --Alpha Blondy
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