Staying on Topic

2000-10-17 17:35:00

My Friends,

I am working on the next chapter of the Gathering of Lights and do not yet have it ready to post, but will soon, thus my delay in posting. Susan will be happy that the chapter I am adding is in line with her request.

As for the staying on topic. Rick's idea of four categories is good and would work if we did not have members come and go, but I think we would wind up spending a lot of time reminding people of the system - plus some would follow it and others would not.

I find that a duality is about as complicated as a group wants to stretch to in this type of thing so I think we should keep the (OT) category going.

We have had a more than normal amount of off topic posts and that is not counting Chris's history which I invited. I would suggest we start fresh and that all of us try and focus on the purpose and topic at hand. There are some people with lots of time who do not mind reading five or six posts to get to one that is on topic, but others do mind. So let us seek a happy medium here. Let us not resort to rigid rules or censorship, but on the other hand, let us focus.

A large number of off topics does seem to have an effect for I notice lately that I have been getting a much fewer number of responses to my questions than usual. Perhaps this is my fault for not making the questions as good or it could be distracting posts, or both. I also notice that a lot of regulars are not posting. This concerns me and I invite my friends to jump back in and help steady the focus.

There is one suggestion I will make. If we see a post that is off topic with no OT next to it perhaps some of us could make a note in the first line of our post something like this.

"(Name of poster), I noticed you forgot to put OT by your post on (Subject)"

I think a simple reminder like this with no harsh criticism will help. If two or three people make this comment then the offender should get the message. If a poster then continues to break this rule a stronger post may be warranted and Rick or I may make an admonition.

The question: What causes pain and how is it a teacher for us that can actually lead us to truth?

There is a key word that sheds light on the cause of pain. What do you suppose it is?

"Miracles arise from a mind that is ready for them."
A Course in Miracles