in reply to I used to be a saint

My fellow monks, I must with all humility submit my discord...

"No sir, I don't like it." - Mr. Horse, Ren & Stimpy

My personal experience was that I got to be a saint (now we're using the little 's' are we?) for all of 2 months or so. And of course this is about the time that a certain core group started grumbling that there were 'too many Saints'. How this could be a bad thing I still don't understand. It just meant to me that there was a thriving community and a large number of people willing to put effort into sustaining it. But now I log in & see that the elitists have won. I guess I'll get back in line with the rest of the steerage.

I think of this in the way that I think about Viagra. When you get older you don't want to have to worry about certain things driving you crazy anymore. Why artificially extend the experience?

Another way of looking at it is like being 'rich'. After a certain point of wealth accumulation you're considered 'rich'. Are you Oprah rich or Bill Gates rich or just really big house and nice cars rich? Does it really matter to the people who can barely afford make ends meet? No. If it matters at all it's only to other rich people.

One effect is that lurking will no longer be honored so highly. St. Erudil is now level 17 for example. I find a certain melancholy associated with that. We honor and reward those who choose to speak constantly over those who choose their words with great care..

The only argument that I can fathom that allows me to accept this change without any further outrage such as you you have just endured is this:

Hubris is a virtue.

And that - I cannot argue with. And make no mistake, this is all about hubris.

So, I humbly thank you for your indulgence.



Wait! This isn't a Parachute, this is a Backpack!

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Re^2: I used to be a saint
by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Nov 04, 2005 at 16:10 UTC
    One effect is that lurking will no longer be honored so highly. St. Erudil is now level 17 for example. I find a certain melancholy associated with that. We honor and reward those who choose to speak constantly over those who choose their words with great care..

    With no disrespect Erudil, I've paid my homage to his art before, I wonder how many Seekers (whether newbies looking for a starting place, or old hands with a mental block and facing a deadline), have had their immediate problems solved by it?

    It has probably inspired many, but helped?

    Carefully chosen words may have greater significance in the long term, to off-the-cuff suggestions for fixing immediate problems, but is this place a mutual help society or a Dead Poet's Society?

    Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
    Lingua non convalesco, consenesco et abolesco. -- Rule 1 has a caveat! -- Who broke the cabal?
    "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
    In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
[reply]
      As former saint, I am glad about the change. It is motivation.

      As for Erudil - I'm pretty sure, a few(!) more words from him with his choosen care, and he will jump up this new ladder too.

      Bye
       PetaMem           All Perl:   MT, NLP, NLU

[reply]
      Carefully chosen words may have greater significance in the long term, to off-the-cuff suggestions for fixing immediate problems, but is this place a mutual help society or a Dead Poet's Society?

      I prefer the metaphor of the monastery. It promotes RESPECT and acceptance. Having a pecking order among the initiate is part of forming a society and driving education. It is important. Allowing people to graduate from that and become an 'accepted' core community member is a meaningful exercise. Prolonging the experience IMHO cheapens that and encourages elitism.

      Is one Doctor more of a Doctor because she writes more articles? Because he treats more patients? Because they achieved more than one doctorate degree?

      I apologize for dragging anyone's name into a conversation as an example. I have great respect for Erudil and all of the other monks my senior in XP, Perl know-how, or accumulated time since becoming a member. Merlyn doesn't need a fancier title for all of us to know about his contribution.

      "You performed a great service for me. To give you thanks with words would be to cheapen the gift." - Kwai Chang Caine

      Clearly I'm in the minority of opinion here. Part of why I bothered to post my opinion at all was simply to add to the diversity displayed. I don't expect things to go back. Neither am I persuaded that this is a better way. There was a time when XP whoring was considered passe'. That time, I think has passed. It will come again. All Good Things...and so on...



      Wait! This isn't a Parachute, this is a Backpack!
[reply]
Re^2: I used to be a saint
by thor (Priest) on Nov 04, 2005 at 15:54 UTC
    I think of this in the way that I think about Viagra. When you get older you don't want to have to worry about certain things driving you crazy anymore. Why artificially extend the experience?
    No disrespect meant, but if I'm reading your post correctly, are you saying that you look forward to the day when your anatomy is no longer able to keep up with your libido? Or perhaps you long for the day when your libido wanes. In either case, you've weakened your case in my eyes. I'll take that sort of distraction any day...:)

    thor

    Feel the white light, the light within
    Be your own disciple, fan the sparks of will
    For all of us waiting, your kingdom will come

[reply]
      I'll take that sort of distraction any day..

      Then you'll be distracted EVERY day. :)

      My point is that we grow out of things - nature designs us that way. With maturity goes the need to fuss over things like pumping one's own ego in the form of who's lot the biggest and most attractive bulge in their pants. (It's the one with the fattest wallet, BTW.)



      Wait! This isn't a Parachute, this is a Backpack!
[reply]

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