From: Unleesh-AT-aol.com
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 20:30:20 EST
Subject: Re: destratify; cancer, schizophrenia, aids, osho


In a message dated 1/3/99 8:02:49 AM Pacific Standard Time,
simonini-AT-HomeNet.com.br writes:

<< at the moment we, to be human beings,
 need to live in social systems, we filter the reality using the social
 references... This references are our prision but at the same time our
 liberty, because this references give us the tools to make ourselves human
 beings  >>

I appreciate this point of view, but I must point out that at the same time,
it is arrogant, if certain people are telling us they are NOT USING FILTERS,
for us to say "yes they are" because somehow we "know", because some theory
says so, or somehow we feel we have some privileged knowledge, or because
reasoning clearly indicates, etc. This is the whole problem with western
anthropology : for a long time (and even into the present), it's been a way of
thinking up theories to explain the behavior and experience of people who
sometimes are PERFECTLY WILLING TO EXPLAIN THEMSELVES, but, nah, what they're
saying is too naive and doesn't fit in with OUR WAY of looking at the world.

This woman at the Pow Wow indicated to me that she turns off her filters and
there are others in that circuit who do so. I have no reason to doubt her ;
and the intensity of the encounter seems to so indicate.

Certainly, she spoke to me in English. But even then, she had a way of
speaking that extended herself over a network rather than being strained
through it per se. And certainly there was some form of etiquette, tho I'm
sure she could have taken down anyone who just tried to go at it rough or raw.
The point is she was pointing to communal ways of being together in silence.

I don't really have a problem with the idea of filters or even wanting to
develop new, flexible, creative ways of filtering or even envisioning
filtering ; I just want to be able to take people who are sincere explorers
and voyants on their word.

(un)leash