Re: Request for active moderation
I think we all need to try and take Stuart's words, below, into our hearts. As he says there's nothing wrong with disagreeing with people and offering an alternative viewpoint, but we shouldn't antagonise people. We're nearly all guilty of it, me included.
...Of course, that softness and gentleness has to be in your heart and you will have to decide. But it’s not hard to go the right way, it is just easy to be led the wrong way. Don’t fight, don’t compete, don’t lie and don’t play at being special. Build your own sacred path, one of kindness and warmth. Don’t rob people, or sell them shonky, over-priced products, don’t use people, don’t sue them, and don’t covertly sell your sexuality to buy protectors and influence. Don’t control and don’t manipulate and attack people, even if the people you want to attack are utterly rotten. You have to reach a place where you are at peace with humanity. You can disagree with others and say so if you wish, and you can have political and social views but you can’t make your antagonism into a cause célèbre, a black and white situation, for that would be just your righteous shadow seeping out. Don’t scream, don’t shout, and don’t threaten people with emotions. Don’t buy people. Treat them as real and equal.
Either love people or be neutral. Accept who they are and don’t try to cajole them into what you think they ought to be. They will come when they are ready or not as they wish. If you or they have to leave, be gracious in the parting of ways, wish them every good fortune and genuinely mean it. If they call you every name under the sun, agree with them. If they rob you, let them. You pulled them to you after all, so you are not totally an innocent party. Prove that you care for humanity especially those who have hurt you; those you don’t like, those you don’t agree with, and those you find objectionable. And offer everyone, absolutely everyone you ever meet, a kind word.
http://www.stuartwilde.com/Articles/SW_ … beauty.htm