Joy, you`re absolutely correct in saying that the FOCUS should not be on tools.  Similarly, the focus of the Red Cross is not on Fund Raising.  It`s Mission Statement does not mention Fund Raising.  Now, if the Architect`s Group wants to focus on tools as a means of supporting the Mission of this site . . . OK.  But this discussion needs to result in someone making a proposal in order to avoid an endless discussion.  Why the Architect`s Group is having this discussion in public view is curious.  Look, atyp sees tools (high tech) you see high touch.  Ask him to describe his vision of what tools he has in mind and if he is prepared to write them up in the form of a proposal.  If he won`t, what does this say.

You I gotta ask you, who here ever suggested that it is impossible to have an engaging discussion that is not critical.  People have non-critical discussions while commuting in and out of the city every working day. . . so I don't know  what your point is. 

As far as packing personal insults into a discussion with another, I don't know of anyone here who has suggested this to be a viable way to engage the other in productive, well-reasoned discussion.

You have planted this assertion in your most recent discussion - more. 

When or where did you ever read that "some individuals" here believe such stuff.  You make claims and then are asked to substantiate them.  Can you even do this?

Suppose you can identify these people, then what?  Who are they?

Rigor!  The Open Source pursuit required at least a modicum of rigor.

"We can't wrap our minds fully around where we are now. Staying on top of the details is a challenge, to say the least. Things are messy, confusing, and chaotic with a strong "hamster on wheel" flavor. Running, running, running and seemingly getting nowhere. Keep your head down, and keep plowing through. Don't give up. There's only so much we can do with this mess. Words, ideas, impressions, and images can be deceiving or misleading. Misunderstandings are probable. Messages disappear now or go otherwise unreceived. Illusions and false versions of reality are being painted in the world of media, public relations, communications, media, and internet. Slippery tongues are working things by us. New Age dumbassery will be at a high point over the next couple months. People who court and reinforce guru status will be taking liberties now, glossing over unpleasant facts, even as one little pin prick could deflate their bubbles. http://willowsweb.blogspot.com/"

I just really want to thank you again for your suggestion to create the Sanctuary and Arena. And it was such a simple solution...you have no idea how long I'd been trying to reconcile wanting debate (it draws traffic) yet not wanting to scare away people who don't want debate.

I'm pretty sure it's due to your idea and my recent changes to the site that we are seeing more member engagement. This Sunday the first OSR Digest will go out as well, but you have to sign up to receive it. It's compiled from the News feed which you can now visit at the top of the site. Have you checked it out yet?

Yes Joy, I am a high school drop-out - more.

And yes, I also did graduate level studies in Human Relations and Community Studies.

I just wanted clear up any misunderstanding if there was any.

Hi Joy, earlier you said, "If perfection is defined as a state in which imperfections are embedded within perfection, and perfection is embedded within imperfection, we could see the world as perfect already."

Don't you think that if something has imperfection embedded in it that it could be considered perfect?  Imperfection is never embedded in perfection for this would immediately compromise the perfection.  Perhaps it might be more accurate to see perfection as surrounded by and even, slowly, being permeated by imperfection . . . much like heat is surrounded by cold and eventually compromised according to the second law.

Hi Joy, There are no winners and losers here.  We now all exist within the same time/space continuum. This is the drama of life.  Do you think this drama is established at the point of "creation" or do you believe we make it up as we go along?  

It is when we become conscious of our own true identities that we become masters and so exert the fabled free will that philosophers have speculated about for generations.  

Joy, I thought your suggestion for the forums was great and have made the changes. EnJoy! :)

Also I was thinking, it may not be super necessary to have peace keepers. I can imagine people keeping the peace in the Sanctuary simply by reminding one another of the space they are in and the rules they should abide by. We'll see.