Posted by Kinsman [TG] on November 09, 1999 at 02:32:03 {4Hfg918T5glwOejRQgL6qXkUpQVXdM}:
Greetings,
I’ve visited, participated, and even debated on this site off-and-on since its inception for three years or so. …I’ve watched many come and go. …I have seen several helped in gaining control of their lives; while others have seemingly fallen into greater anger, lower self esteem, and/or even deeper superstition and fallacy. …I have seen some loose what little control over their person that they had, and watched their verbal treatment of fellow humans degrade to the despicable; forgetting their very own experience, who they once were and are; seemingly, even loosing sight of what the term ‘empathy’ could possibly mean. Furthermore, I have seen many JW apologists resort to the very same ploys they term as ‘apostate’, over and over again, and they have faired none the better in my eyes. Thus it appears to me, that who and what we are, deep inside, becomes visible when observed long enough, regardless of any external ‘label’, others or we, may attach to ourselves. Not only do we become visible to others, but also if we look closer and perhaps a little longer and harder, we may even clearly see ourselves, albeit for the first time.
Yes, I’ve taken my share of the slide remarks from the apologist and opposer alike, some of them straight up and to the point, others only spoken between the lines, and still other friends have simply gone mute. Yet, I can honestly say, that I have always attempted (even at times proverbially ‘bending over backwards’) to treat ‘each individual’ with dignity and respect. I believe (credo) within each individual, there is ‘significance’ and ‘value’.
Amazingly, this is a principle claimed by the theist and atheist alike; you will find flavors of it written in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures as well as in the secular Humanist ‘Manifesto’. However, I have repeatedly observed, such is not the spirit or nature that has developed and remains entrenched on this cyber wayside stop. …Moreover, I understand as never before and from differing view points, that it is one thing, to claim allegiance and give lip service to such a principle, and quite another to submit to it as something of greater value than one’s own self interests. …This is what I have learned at H20. Thanks to one and all! …With this said; I wish to bid all a kind farewell, as I take a lengthy sabbatical from participating here at H20.
Best Wishes – Kinsman