Theos-Talk Archives (April 1996 Message tl00138)

Alex,
There is a small but important difference is saying that your purpose is to
try to get along with other groups and actually doing it without saying it.
 If we want to promote TI as an active alternative to the arrogance and
affrontery that is found in the other organizations, I am all for it.  But if
we start by giving the impression in our preamble that we are in it for the
brawl, then we may very well turn off the very people we want to attract.  I
don't see how that can benefit TI or anyone else.
It works like this.  The ordinary theosophist on  a jackass sees the word
FREE and immediately thinks "Hell, I'm already free, what do I need with
them?"  Then another little part of his brain starts saying, "How dare they
say I'm not free?"  Before you know it he is no longer thinking but saying
"Those TI nuts think that they have the only true Theosophy and I don't want
any part of them!"  This is not what we want.
Never underestimate the capacity of people to feel insulted.

Chuck the Barbarian MTI, FTSA
Heretic
Troublemaker