Return to roots.

[Kai]

I attended a UU service today. It was by far the most welcoming congregation I have ever attended. It truly felt like a community with open minds who were working together to help each other and their world. I was myself welcomed just as much, with no expectations than that I am willing to listen.

Sitting here now, I'm thinking about what the Discordia movement is moving towards, or what I feel like its moving towards. We have so much in common with Unitarian Universalists fellowships here, we're open minded, creative people, and I think, really, we're pretty good people too. At least, that's the impression I get from many people here, that we're all around generally good people that want to help each other and the world. But, I also think our bitterness, and anger, while constructive on many occasions, have turned us pessimistic and apathetic. Its easy to look at the world and say "everyone is so stupid, I'm all alone here, I'm isolated in my open mindedness and willingness to create and educate". Its easy to think that way. And when we think that way, there's yet another sort of law of fives confirmation bias going on. When we think we are so isolated in our open mindedness and creativity in a mire of stupidity, we see signs of that isolation everywhere and we fail to see the open minded, creative and intelligent people who are all around us, either in hiding as we are, or they are simply blind to us. We become even more bitter and apathetic in that isolation.

When I think about the stoner irreligion Discordia of the '60s, I like everyone else here can think of so many things wrong with it. A short burst of creativity was quickly replaced with sameness, apathy, and lots of repetitive drug addled spoutings. However, there was so much good about it then. Discordians had this feeling of "sacred nonsense", this spontaneous creative force of weirdness, of different-ness. It could shake people up, it could open their minds and make them laugh. "Bullshit makes the flowers grow, and that's beautiful." This idea of the worthiness of satire, of creative humor and spontaneous weirdness was good. It was  irreverent, but  that sort of irreverence is needed many times. The holy clown is such a wonderful avatar, because joy and sadness link us to our most base inner feelings about truth and reality. "If it makes you laugh, its true; if it makes you cry, its real." A joke is something that everyone needs.

But we hate that holy clown now; its become for so many of us an object of scorn and disdain, because we are bitter and apathetic in our isolation. Sacred nonsense, its been done, its all the same! Who would care anyway, what with all these stupid people, why would they appreciate it?

They're not all stupid, you know. In fact, there are more intelligent, creative people out there than you realize. Some of them even create communities together. Many are stuck just as we are. Many more have just a spot of dust on the mirror, to borrow a metaphor. I'm tired of my bitter apathy and anger and feelings of isolation. Maybe I'm going soft. I'm sitting here in tears thinking how wonderful it was to be part of a community. This mono no aware moment relates my inner feelings about truth and reality, cause just like everyone I want to be part of something. Maybe I'm a bad Discordian, a grey, a pink, or whatever black sheep that are still sheep are being called these days. I don't care about that.

So, I'm going back next week. And this summer, I'm gonna start putting stickers all over campus. I'll be bringing friends.

[the other anonymous]

[The Good Reverend Roger]

But we hate that holy clown now; its become for so many of us an object of scorn and disdain, because we are bitter and apathetic in our isolation. Sacred nonsense, its been done, its all the same! Who would care anyway, what with all these stupid people, why would they appreciate it?

I may be bitter, but I am not apathetic.

[Aufenthatt]

I attended a UU service today. It was by far the most welcoming congregation I have ever attended. It truly felt like a community with open minds who were working together to help each other and their world. I was myself welcomed just as much, with no expectations than that I am willing to listen.

Sitting here now, I'm thinking about what the Discordia movement is moving towards, or what I feel like its moving towards. We have so much in common with Unitarian Universalists fellowships here, we're open minded, creative people, and I think, really, we're pretty good people too. At least, that's the impression I get from many people here, that we're all around generally good people that want to help each other and the world. But, I also think our bitterness, and anger, while constructive on many occasions, have turned us pessimistic and apathetic. Its easy to look at the world and say "everyone is so stupid, I'm all alone here, I'm isolated in my open mindedness and willingness to create and educate". Its easy to think that way. And when we think that way, there's yet another sort of law of fives confirmation bias going on. When we think we are so isolated in our open mindedness and creativity in a mire of stupidity, we see signs of that isolation everywhere and we fail to see the open minded, creative and intelligent people who are all around us, either in hiding as we are, or they are simply blind to us. We become even more bitter and apathetic in that isolation.

When I think about the stoner irreligion Discordia of the '60s, I like everyone else here can think of so many things wrong with it. A short burst of creativity was quickly replaced with sameness, apathy, and lots of repetitive drug addled spoutings. However, there was so much good about it then. Discordians had this feeling of "sacred nonsense", this spontaneous creative force of weirdness, of different-ness. It could shake people up, it could open their minds and make them laugh. "Bullshit makes the flowers grow, and that's beautiful." This idea of the worthiness of satire, of creative humor and spontaneous weirdness was good. It was  irreverent, but  that sort of irreverence is needed many times. The holy clown is such a wonderful avatar, because joy and sadness link us to our most base inner feelings about truth and reality. "If it makes you laugh, its true; if it makes you cry, its real." A joke is something that everyone needs.

But we hate that holy clown now; its become for so many of us an object of scorn and disdain, because we are bitter and apathetic in our isolation. Sacred nonsense, its been done, its all the same! Who would care anyway, what with all these stupid people, why would they appreciate it?

They're not all stupid, you know. In fact, there are more intelligent, creative people out there than you realize. Some of them even create communities together. Many are stuck just as we are. Many more have just a spot of dust on the mirror, to borrow a metaphor. I'm tired of my bitter apathy and anger and feelings of isolation. Maybe I'm going soft. I'm sitting here in tears thinking how wonderful it was to be part of a community. This mono no aware moment relates my inner feelings about truth and reality, cause just like everyone I want to be part of something. Maybe I'm a bad Discordian, a grey, a pink, or whatever black sheep that are still sheep are being called these days. I don't care about that.

So, I'm going back next week. And this summer, I'm gonna start putting stickers all over campus. I'll be bringing friends.

You are a pope, do as you will.

[Kai]

But we hate that holy clown now; its become for so many of us an object of scorn and disdain, because we are bitter and apathetic in our isolation. Sacred nonsense, its been done, its all the same! Who would care anyway, what with all these stupid people, why would they appreciate it?

I may be bitter, but I am not apathetic.

Okay.

If you aren't apathetic, then I didn't have you in mind when I used the word.

[Kai]

You are a pope, do as you will.

I plan on it.

Hope you do too.

[Aufenthatt]

You are a pope, do as you will.

I plan on it.

Hope you do too.

I think its time for a new set of symbols and a new name.

[That One Guy]

Good stuff Kai!

As a UU and a Discordian, I've found that the two mesh quite nicely - glad to hear you found it a welcoming environment! UU congregations are good for finding people of like-mind, especially in the youth groups. Every spag from here I've had the pleasure of meeting has reminded me of the people I knew growing up in the UU youth program (in a good way  ), and the same kind of approach (TFY,S!) is definitely at the heart of both theologies/philosophies.

Hope it bears fruit Kai 

[Kai]

Good stuff Kai!

As a UU and a Discordian, I've found that the two mesh quite nicely - glad to hear you found it a welcoming environment! UU congregations are good for finding people of like-mind, especially in the youth groups. Every spag from here I've had the pleasure of meeting has reminded me of the people I knew growing up in the UU youth program (in a good way  ), and the same kind of approach (TFY,S!) is definitely at the heart of both theologies/philosophies.

Hope it bears fruit Kai 

Yeah, it seems like they mix just great. While UUs have the creative order of a more structure yet open minded community, discordians have the creative disorder of a nonstructured, spontaneous society. They compliment each other in creativity.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Good stuff Kai!

As a UU and a Discordian, I've found that the two mesh quite nicely - glad to hear you found it a welcoming environment! UU congregations are good for finding people of like-mind, especially in the youth groups. Every spag from here I've had the pleasure of meeting has reminded me of the people I knew growing up in the UU youth program (in a good way  ), and the same kind of approach (TFY,S!) is definitely at the heart of both theologies/philosophies.

Hope it bears fruit Kai 

Yeah, it seems like they mix just great. While UUs have the creative order of a more structure yet open minded community, discordians have the creative disorder of a nonstructured, spontaneous society. They compliment each other in creativity.

I just like to poop on stuff. 

[Kai]

Good stuff Kai!

As a UU and a Discordian, I've found that the two mesh quite nicely - glad to hear you found it a welcoming environment! UU congregations are good for finding people of like-mind, especially in the youth groups. Every spag from here I've had the pleasure of meeting has reminded me of the people I knew growing up in the UU youth program (in a good way  ), and the same kind of approach (TFY,S!) is definitely at the heart of both theologies/philosophies.

Hope it bears fruit Kai 

Yeah, it seems like they mix just great. While UUs have the creative order of a more structure yet open minded community, discordians have the creative disorder of a nonstructured, spontaneous society. They compliment each other in creativity.

I just like to poop on stuff. 

You're definitely the most bitter person I know, I mean, if ANYone can take the cake for bitterness, its you.

[Cainad (dec.)]

for OP. I'd provide comments, but I am exhausted.

[Batty Kissinger]

I dig, I'm smiling now.

(just imagine that's a happy worm rollin' around in a boot instead of what it actually is)
I'd rather be with people who are grinning than people who are surly and spend their time kicking other people.

On L.D.D.'s point: "Hope is the last thing a person does before they are defeated." --Henry Rollins

[The Good Reverend Roger]

its just really hard to see the way the world is going, and how it is directed, and not be bitter nor angry at the fact of being helpless of modifying it, at least in an important way...

Hey!

What the fuck is wrong with bitterness and anger?

[Batty Kissinger]

Hey!

What the fuck is wrong with bitterness and anger?

.
Perhaps it eventually becomes a dehumanizing thing to pursue.
That's my feeling at least.