Here I will just talk freely and informally about the friendly movement, on a day-to-day ongoing basis, allowing myself to repeat myself, in case I don't recall everything which I have said previously, or perhaps to say it differently, as the mood takes me.

At this point in the movement, I would be interested in having "friendly activists" participating. This entire website is geared towards explaining what this means. But so far, there is only one "friendly activist" that I know of, me. More would help the movement to proceed to greater results. If you believe that you are one such, then by all means, contact me. Let me know in your own words your way of thinking which you believe represents the way of thought of the movement, since for each person it would not be quite the same, although the general philosophy would be the same. Also not everyone who participates is a "friendly activist." The difference is that the "friendly activist" is fully conscious of the movement and the philosophy behind the movement, whereas others are friendly and of as much value to the movement, except that they are not aware that there is any movement going on or any philosophy behind it. They are simply not philosophers. Not everyone is expected to be a philosopher. The world is not made up of philosophers, or of just friendly people, for that matter. Each individual plays his own unique role in the whole reality, which is whatever occurs, whatever results. But I believe that a relatively small group of "friendly activists," the philosophers who have in mind the whole idea, or philosophy, would be of particular value. As I say, thus far I have not met any such, although I do believe that some individuals whom I know, might become such in time. There is no problem with this thus far. It's simply that the movement has not progressed to that point so far. It is only just in the early stages.

The "friendly activist philosopher" must, absolutely must, be friendly, as understood in the philosophy. He cannot just discuss or write or explain the philosophy, but he must live and think accordingly. Otherwise, he would not be a "friendly activist," according to the way in which I am defining it. The primary manner in which the philosophy is expressed is through actual human relationships as they occur, and through social life as it develops, and through whatever actually happens which is pertinent to the philosophy. Thus, this writing which I am presently engaged in, is a kind of report, or indication of where the movement stands thus far, and a way of communication which can aid in making contact and further understanding between us, and thus further the movement. It is not meant to be a final, absolute, irrevocable book or statement of any kind, and the same applies to any books or writing which I have done in the past. Writing, talking, communication of any sort, is just a part of the process. One shouldn't make too much of any piece of writing by itself. I am attempting to get across enough of the general idea of what I have in view, to enable some individuals, if there are any such, to realize that they, in their own unique way, would want to be the "friendly activist philosophers" whom I speak of, and to make contact with one another, in order to give the "friendly movement" a push forward.

In the last few days, I have been playing chess against a very good chess computer, and losing, as usual. Even today I played chess, so that I have only a little time to do some writing on this website, before I go home to have dinner. The point of my mentioning this here, though, is to try to explain how and in what way I can be a friendly activist, and also have my own personal interests, such as chess, and take up so much time with chess, instead of socializing and being friendly, or writing about friendliness on this website. Perhaps this suggests that I am not really so friendly. The point is, by trying to answer questions such as this, pertaining to myself, personally, I might be able to get across how it is possible for you and many people to participate in a friendly movement and be friendly in the sense which I have in view, and at the same time do any number of other things which they want to do or which they have been doing. If I can do it, there is nothing so remarkable or impossible about it. The question, though, of course, remains as to whether you want to do it, even if you could. Many people don't want to be friendly, don't believe in it, which is why you need to have a movement in order to promote friendliness. But as a first step, I'm looking for those who believe that it is good on principle but impractical or too difficult. I don't think it's so impractical or difficult as people imagine. For one, if people work together on it, that reduces the burden on each one, the responsibility which it necessarily involves, I mean. That's why I address you, because there is much I would like to do in the way of friendliness, but which I am unable to do alone. But I believe that I am friendly because of my intentions, because in writing this and by trying in other ways to do the best I can to win others over to the cause, I am playing my role in the cause, and that is all I mean by friendliness and all anyone can reasonably expect from anyone.

I am in somewhat of a hurry to leave the college campus right now, where I use the computers, so that I will continue next time. But I feel that I have accomplished something of significance today, with this little bit of writing, by giving myself a little push and introducing this way of explaining myself by putting something of myself as a person into it. I believe that it would be helpful in enabling you to understand whether you might be interested in participating in the movement, if you see how a real person, namely myself, can do it. How is it that I, Lloyd Bruce Miller, regard myself as friendly, and even more, as a friendly activist? What is my meaning? Next time, then. Have a good evening.

I am a friendly person and a friendly activist because in general, on principle, I attempt to be friendly to people generally, anyone and everyone, within reason, the reason having to do with the specific person in question, the kind of person and circumstances. I am not ready to go way out of my way, to any exceptional or unusual degree for other people, which might sound negative, but that's simply not my meaning. My meaning is a way that many people, any number of people, might be friendly, such that the effect would be desirable for each one of us and the whole society. In particular, much of the meaning of it has to do with the fact that being friendly is clearly distinguished from being unfriendly or indifferent. I am not unfriendly or indifferent. I have something to do with other people, all people. I make a substantial and reasonable effort to make the relationships friendly, and in fact to promote friendly relationships generally. You see me doing this right now on this website. If you would aid me with this, it would help significantly in achieving positive results. Even two or three could accomplish a lot more than one. Maybe that gives you some idea of how it is that I can be friendly and at the same time take up so much time playing chess against a computer. For one, there's no harm in it. Secondly, at this time, I happen to have an interest in chess, and there's no reason to oppose this interest. Being friendly implies wishing to further the interests of others, but also one's own interests. There is no reason to exclude oneself and to be unfriendly or indifferent towards oneself. In other words, I do not advocate selflessness. I believe that selflessness is a phony idea. I believe in self-interest as the basis for friendliness. I am friendly to you because I truly believe that it is in my own interest to be so. I expect the same of others who would be friendly. How can I or anyone be friendly to people , meaning wishing them well according to their own interests, if they are selfless and have no interests? It wouldn't make sense. Thus, I simply mean that we want to work together and get along with each other for our mutual well-being and interests.

All this is nothing more than just ordinary common-sense everyday friendliness. Why, then, do I bother trying to write about it, define it, make such an issue of it? That's because others don't realize the importance of it in the world today, and probably in every past day as well. Only I seem to realize that this is the major issue in world affairs and in our individual lives. It's a controversial idea which needs to be advocated and promoted by those who would themselves be friendly. It's an idea which affects all aspects of our lives.

What would indicate whether you might be a friendly activist? You would consider yourself friendly in the normal, ordinary way. You would be open to people generally, not restricted to those of one particular affiliation or interest. The relationship has to do with friendliness itself, getting along in the society at large. But this can only be accomplished through individual, meaningful relationships, which could include everyone you come in contact with. Make it meaningful by your own way of thinking. Do the best you can to develop the friendliness however you can, with whomever you can, realistically according to reason. If you dislike someone, that might be justified, as long as you remain a friendly person and do the best you can. In the face of all reality, philosophically, the idea of friendliness always holds up. No matter what happens, you always truly remain a friendly person. Even suppose that you are not so friendly to someone for selfish reasons. There is yourself to consider, and it may be that you can improve yourself as a person, but not that you thereby have become absolutely unfriendly or indifferent. The idea continues to make sense. You want to keep working at it. Thus, you don't need to be so strict with yourself, or go way out of your way, in opposition to your own personal interests. The whole idea is to further your own interests through genuine friendliness. You would need to realize that genuine friendliness to others and also to yourself is in your own best interests. There are, of course reasonable limitations on what you or any one person can accomplish this way. Activism, changing the world, making a better world, mean that you work on it together with others, the way any form of activism works. That's the reason for this website, to persuade others and to find others who would help me with it. When you become an activist, you are also helping yourself at the same time, in the same way that anyone who becomes a part of a group which is accomplishing worthwhile purposes, he also is accomplishing and receiving the benefits.

What you would actually do, concretely, would be meeting people,introducing and being introduced, more so than you would ordinarily do, with the idea that this is an activist movement aimed at making a better world, a better life, and that there are others who have the same idea and are working with you at it. It is not a job, though, a task which takes up so many hours each day or week. It is accomplished along the way of a normal life, very likely whatever your life is already. You would try to be more sociable than you otherwise might be, because you see that it has a serious worthwhile purpose and that others are in it with you. Initially you would make a special effort to go out to people, and then relate to them realistically, depending on their responses and the way they are. The relationship you want is an equal kind of relationship, not one person going out of his way to do for the other. But the activist would make a special effort to initiate it, taking the chance in order to try it. You might have to put yourself in a position where you might feel uncomfortable, because you don't know about people until you make some effort to relate to them. That's the kind of thing I often do, because I believe that the gains outweigh the losses. One valuable person outweighs many times feeling a little uncomfortable, which is not so bad or so serious, the more one gets used to it.