T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
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943.1 | EARTHQUAKES HAPPEN EVERY DAY! | FACVAX::EMAS_SEC | | Wed Jan 04 1989 09:21 | 6 |
| Is there some reason that we should make note of your dreams? Do
you have a track record of correctly predicting things based on
your nocturnal illusions?
- Fill us in
|
943.2 | | WILLEE::FRETTS | keep life's wonder alive | Wed Jan 04 1989 10:24 | 14 |
|
RE: .1
*Big* earthquakes don't happen everyday! And let's hope that John
is not *really* becoming the Cosmic Anchovy - I don't know if the
world could handle it :-).
Carole
P.S. John, did you ever consider that the big earthquake on the
25th might be symbolic of something personal in your life or within
yourself - a change of the status quo maybe?
|
943.3 | I dreamed of taking a shower in a women's locker room... | WRO8A::WARDFR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Wed Jan 04 1989 11:01 | 9 |
| re: .1
No, his predictions aren't worth too much...at least not any
more than anyone else's...it's just that John's are more amusing
because he has so much visible negative ego to share with everyone.
Frederick
;-)
|
943.4 | THE NO#25 COULD ALSO BE SYMBOLIC | USRCV1::JEFFERSONL | HOLY GHOST POWER!!! | Wed Jan 04 1989 12:25 | 10 |
| RE:0
If there is some type of meaning to your dream. I believe that
it could be symbolic for an occurance that's soon to take place:
an occurance that will effect the nation, country, an individual
town, or city; it's going to be a well known happening (Everybody
is going to know about it), such as flight 301.
LORENZO
|
943.6 | | SHRFAC::BRUNDIGE | Save the Earth, Remake yourself | Wed Jan 04 1989 12:57 | 5 |
| An earthquake or a -shake up- on the 25th.
How was your xmas(25th)? :^)
Russ
EW
|
943.7 | Let's wait and see. | RDVAX::COOPER | Topher Cooper | Wed Jan 04 1989 13:40 | 18 |
| RE: .1
> Is there some reason that we should make note of your dreams?
> ...
John is trying to be open minded and do some investigation. It
is perfectly reasonable for him or anyone else in this conference
to make a "public record" of any dreams which have some of the
"flavor" of a premonitional dream, whether or not you are skeptical
about whether the dream is likely to be veridical. If there is
no match then we have some basis of judging how often non-veridical
dreams have that flavor. If there seems to be a match, then we
can try to judge how likely it is to be merely chance (which would
depend in part on the size of the quake in human terms; e.g., if it
doesn't have front page attention either nationally or in John's
regional papers then it is unlikely to be more than a coincidence).
Topher
|
943.8 | I HEAR THE EARTH MOVE UNDER MY FEET... | TELALL::EMAS_SEC | | Wed Jan 04 1989 15:23 | 16 |
| RE: John is trying to be open minded.....
I appreciate the fact the John is being open minded, but he should
take care that his brain doesn't fall out.
Besides, without a month or even a year and no time limit,
statistically the odds that he is correct is 100% Sooner there
will be an earthquake on the 25th.
You heard it hear first!
- Skeptical Sally
|
943.9 | | WILLEE::FRETTS | keep life's wonder alive | Wed Jan 04 1989 16:03 | 16 |
|
RE: .8 Sally
> RE: John is trying to be open minded.....
> I appreciate the fact the John is being open minded, but he should
> take care that his brain doesn't fall out.
Not sure if you are a new reader in this file, but the Cosmic Anchovy
(a.k.a. John Mitchell) is one of the *last* people you have to worry
about this occurring to ;-).
Carole
|
943.10 | They happen every day but this one will be on the 25th | DECWET::MITCHELL | The Cosmic Anchovy | Wed Jan 04 1989 17:20 | 21 |
| RE: .1
> Is there some reason that we should make note of your dreams?
Do you have a track record of correctly predicting things based on
your nocturnal illusions? <
Yes. In fact the last occurrence of this type happened only two
months ago. I told my best friend about it as a sort of verification.
The next day, it was revealed that what I said had happened had
happened. I do not wish to reveal what this event was for personal
reasons.
The prediction does not have symbolic meaning; it foreshadows an
actual event. I recall only that it will happen on the 25th. I
suspect it will be in January or February (I don't remember which).
It will be this year.
John M.
P.S. Hey Ray! You read this stuff?
|
943.11 | On portents and dreams | HSSWS1::GREG | Malice Aforethought | Wed Jan 04 1989 23:23 | 31 |
|
John,
I thought you didn't go for all this metaphysical stuff.
No wonder you wanted me to avoid this file.
Well, I'll go on record as saying that I have a recurring
dream that I will die before I turn 30 in a gruesome accident
with my car... a mammoth truck rolls over me... killed
instantly as the tires crush the life from me. Since I'm
28.5 now, it will only be 18 months before we find out if
I'm right or wrong.
Not that I'd be missing much, mind you. I also have a
recurring dream of nuclear halocaust before 1999 (1998, I
think, but I can't get a firm fix... no calendars in that
dream). Of course, I'm nowhere in the picture, since I
will have been crushed by a mammoth truck years before.
In truth, I don't put faith in either of the dreams.
I see them as complete figments of my overactive
imagination, which are crying out to become two of the
most banal stories I will ever write. (*sigh*) Perhaps
I am compelled to write them just to get them out of
my system (and my reality). How embarrassing!
Well, if I'm really lucky I'll be crushed by a mammoth
truck before I get around to writing them, and I can save
my reputation.
- Greg
|
943.12 | He is everywhere | DECWET::MITCHELL | The Cosmic Anchovy | Thu Jan 05 1989 00:19 | 8 |
| RE: .11 (Greg)
The way you drive, I wouldn't be surprised if you croaked that way.
;-) :-(
I could do without the nuclear holocaust myself.
John M.
|
943.13 | Who's in the driver's seat? | WRO8A::WARDFR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Thu Jan 05 1989 10:40 | 9 |
| re: .11
I prefer to stay out of anal-yzing dreams, particularly the
dreams of others, but I find it sad that you wish to give weight
to a lose/lose situation by talking about it and giving it
"reinforcement" as it were. Either way, you lose.
Frederick
|
943.14 | | TOPDOC::SLOANE | xmas -> bills -> snow -> skiing -> spring! | Thu Jan 05 1989 12:16 | 55 |
| -< Earthquake Ratings >-
Earthquakes are not uncommon. To keep things in perspective, here are
two earthquake scales showing the approximate number of quakes each
year for quakes of various strengths. Note that in a given year,
you can expect 18 or so major earthquakes. Can a mathmatician (Topher?)
figure out the odds of having one occur on the 25th of each month?
The Richter scale is an absolute scale that shows the total amount of
energy released in a quake. Two quakes that have the same Richter value
release equal amounts of energy.
The Richter scale is logarithmic, so that an increase of one whole
number is an increase of about 60 times in energy. For example, a 6.0
quake has about 60 times the energy of a 5.0. Most people can perceive
a quake of about 3.5 or so.
The intensity scale (Roman numerals) is more subjective, and is a way
of rating the destructiveness of a given quake. The destructiveness
varies widely, even for quakes with equal Richter numbers, since it
depends on the location, local geology, types and numbers of buildings
present, and other factors. The recent Armenian quake was quite
destructive, but was not an unusual quake on the Richter scale. (Sorry,
I don't have the exact figures handy.)
FWIW, in recent months, northern New England and adjacent Canada have
had more minor earthquakes (around 4.0) than in recent years. A cluster
of minor earthquakes often portends a major one.
Bruce
Richter Intensity Number per year
Scale Rating
8-8.6 1 every few years
8.0 XII - Great
7-7.9 18
7.0 X - Major
6-6.9 120
6.0 VII - Destructive
5-5.9 800
5.0 VI - Damaging
4-4.9 6,200
4.0 III - Minor
3-3.9 49,000
2-2.9 300,000
2.0 II
0-1.9 700,000
|
943.15 | Heard it where first??? | GRECO::MISTOVICH | | Thu Jan 05 1989 12:32 | 11 |
| re: .8 "you heard it here first"
I've read "you shouldn't be so open minded that your brains fall
out" and variations on the above inumerable times, thanks to Steve
Kallis!
After the last couple of days, I'm wondering if John is feeling
ok. Did some latent personality emerge with the new year? He still
signs himself John Mitchell and Cosmic Anchovy. Maybe Cosmic Anchovy
is disassociating into a second persona. Wow! Its been exciting
reading, anyway.
|
943.16 | Challenge accepted :-) | RDVAX::COOPER | Topher Cooper | Thu Jan 05 1989 13:29 | 64 |
| OK, we take the expected number of "significant" earthquakes as
18. There are 365 days in this (non-leap) year, 12 of which are
25ths. We need to assume that an earthquake is equally likely
to occur on any day (pretty good assumption except for some very
small effects). We will also assume that the earthquakes are
independent of each other, i.e., that one earthquake occuring on
a particular day has no effect on the probability that another
earthquake will occur on that same or another day (a weak assumption
but good enough for our ball-park figuring). We actually calculate
the probability that *no* earthquakes will occur on a 25th, then
subtract that value from 1.
A given earthquake can occur on any of the 365 days, 12 of which
are "target" days. The probability that a given earthquake will
not occur on a target day is therefore (365 - 12)/365 = 352/365.
The probability that a second earthquake will not occur on a target
day is also 352/365. The probability that NEITHER will occur on
a target day is (352/365)*(352/365) = (352/365)^2 (where * means
multiplication, and ^n means raise to the nth power).
By continuing that reasoning we find that the probability that none
of the 18 earthquakes occur on a target day is (352/365)^18, which
my handy-dandy scientific calculator watch tells me is equal to
.5205906. The probability that at least one major earthquake will
fall on a target day is therefore equal to .4794093.
Or, less precisely but more comprehensibly. Given our assumptions
are approximately correct it is as likely as not that there will be
a major earthquake on the 25th of some month.
Thanks for the summary (by the way, I just read an article that
there is a movement afoot to replace the Richter scale. The proposed
new scale would look roughly the same, but would be based on
measurements averaged over a moderate time (a few seconds?) rather
than attempted "point" measurements. It is believed that this will
result in better correspondences to the actual energy output of
the quake).
A technical point -- I think that the "objective" scales are
inappropriate for this purpose. Unless we hypothesize that John
is reacting to the energy released by the prognosticated earthquake,
subjective impact -- importance in human terms -- is more appropriate.
We could measure the earthquake in terms of financial damage, human
lives and/or injuries. In my experience a scale based on the
subjective impact on the prognosticator is the most appropriate
to apply, and $10,000 lost in Peru is just not going to be as
significant to John (however worldly his viewpoint) then the same
amount of damage in his home town.
We cannot simply have John evaluate the significance of earthquakes
to him, since his prediction is going to add apparent signigicance
to any earthquake occuring on a 25th, however much he attempts to
compensate (perhaps even overcompensating).
It was for this reason that I suggested some measure of the placement
and amount of coverage in John's local paper as a rough way of
estimating what the significance of each quake would have been to
John if he had not made the prediction. Of course if John has a
close relative or friend endangered in a "insignificant" quake on
the other side of the world, our measure loses. In such a case
one labels the test as "negative but with suggestive elements."
Topher
|
943.17 | Musings on Paranormal Psychology... | HYSTER::DZIEWISZ | | Thu Jan 05 1989 14:09 | 27 |
| Greg,
If you consider the human psyche to be a blank canvas, say after
a cleansing meditation, then any thoughts that move across that
screen should be treated as real.
Psychics have been told to believe that this faculty they possess
is only their imagination. They've been told this by people who
haven't cultivated this skill (everyone has it innately) and
therefore have no way of understanding it.
Our world has changed. We no longer need to know if there is a fire
coming towards us through the woods, or if a hungry bear is headed our
way. Now we predict who is calling when the phone rings, when the
next major earthquake will hit. Or in my case, when the lives of
friends of a friend are in danger.
Butler's book on telepathy, reading the aura, psychometry, is a
good resource. It talks alot about how thoughts rise from the
sub-conscious level to conscious level.
We can't be too crazy, right? They did hire us.
Kasha
P.S. Can someone please put me on a dis list to make sure that I know
of the node for DEJAVU when it changes.
|
943.18 | Is .60 too much? | TOPDOC::SLOANE | xmas -> bills -> snow -> skiing -> spring! | Thu Jan 05 1989 16:00 | 16 |
| Thanks, Topher.
I figured it a little bit differently. Please show me where I've
gone wrong (in this specific instance, only, thank you!).
There are 30 days in each month (approximately), and the chances
of an earthquake occuring on the 25th of any month are thus 1 in
30 (1/30th). However, there are 18 notable earthquakes each year,
so the chance of having an earthquake on the 25th of any month is
1/30 x 18 = 18/30 or .6 --- better than 50%.
That seems like too much! Or, is this like the "same birthday" game,
(wherein the odds of two people having the same birthday is more
than 50/50 when you get a group larger than about 15)?
Bruce
|
943.19 | | DECWET::MITCHELL | The Cosmic Anchovy | Thu Jan 05 1989 16:33 | 8 |
| Hate to foul up your stats, guys, but this will not be an earthquake
in an unpopulated area. Go figure.
Frederick:
A camera only records a scene, it does not create the scene.
John M.
|
943.20 | Photographers--rank amateur to professional. | WRO8A::WARDFR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Fri Jan 06 1989 10:38 | 13 |
| re: .19
John, who is holding the camera?
Frederick
(by the way, John, you may be *pleased* to know that my friend
Lazaris has predicted 5 and possibly 6 major earthquakes in the
world this year in major population areas...but he implied that
they would be in areas where people do not value themselves
very highly. I am going to be entering a note into 358 that
may add more to this [and then again, may not.])
|
943.21 | Easy error to make. | RDVAX::COOPER | Topher Cooper | Fri Jan 06 1989 13:49 | 74 |
| RE: .18 (Bruce)
You made what is probably the most common error in elementary
probability calculations (and, in more sophisticated forms, the
error crops up not infrequently in less elementary calculations).
It is very easy to do -- it is *so obviously* the right thing to
do even though it actually is wrong.
Your calculation of the odds of a single earthquake falling on a
target day is correct though approximate (the average length of
a month is about half a day -- specifically 5/12 for a non-leap
year -- longer than the "typical" value of 30 you used, so it
overestimates the probability by a little). Note that 12/365
(exact value, which I used) is .0328767, while 1/30 = .0333333.
However --
There are two simple arithmetic rules in calculating probabilities.
Imagine that you have two events, which we'll simply call event
A and event B, and that the probabilities for each of them occurring
is P(A) and P(B) respectively. Now the two rules are:
1) The probability that *both* event A *and* event B will occur
is equal to P(A)*P(B) -- as long as A and B are "independent"
of each other. That is, as long as A occurring does not modify
the probability that B will occur or vice versa. If A were
"first roll of a die will come up 6" and B were "second roll
of a die will come up 6" then the two events are independent
and the rule applies. If, on the other hand, A were "it rains
tomorrow" and B were "I go on a picnic tomorrow" then the two
events are not independent of each other and the rule cannot
be used. Notice that I stated the assumption in my calculation
that the earthquakes were independent of one another, specifically
to justify use of this rule.
2) The probability that *either* event A *or* event B will occur
is equal to P(A)+P(B) -- as long as A and B are "distinct" events.
That is, as long as *both* A and B cannot occur. If A and B
are not distinct then, in effect, you are including the probability
that both A and B occur twice, once as part of the probability
of A occurring and once as part of the probability of B occurring,
so the probability you will get will be too high.
As an example, suppose you had two coins which you wished to flip.
Each has a probability of 1/2 that they will come up heads. If
you blindly followed this rule in trying to calculate the
probability that one of the two would come up heads, you would
add 1/2 + 1/2 and get 1 -- i.e., that it was certain that one
or the other would come up heads -- which is clearly not true.
If on the other hand the two events were that a single roll of
a die is 1, and that the same roll of the die is 2, then these
events *are* distinct, both of them cannot occur. So the
probability that either a one or a two will be rolled is 1/6+1/6
or 1/3.
When you multiplied the probability of a single quake occurring on
a target date by the number of quakes in the year, you were attempting
to apply the second rule, which meant you were implicitly making
the inappropriate assumption that if one quake occurs on a target
date no other quake will do so. And so you got an overestimate of
the probability.
To see that this is indeed an overestimate rather than simply a
counterintuitive result we can apply your method to attempt to
calculate the probability that a quake will occur on a target
date in a *two* year period. The expected number of quakes is then
36, and the probability we get is 1.2 -- that is, it is literally
more than certain that a quake will occur. This is clearly meaningless
it says, for example, that out of 100 such two year samples we would
expect that 120 (different) of them would have an earthquake on
a target date.
Topher
|
943.22 | | TOPDOC::SLOANE | xmas -> bills -> snow -> skiing -> spring! | Fri Jan 06 1989 14:03 | 5 |
| Thanks, Topher.
Glad you corrected my earthshaking errors.
Bruce
|
943.23 | Better estimates. | RDVAX::COOPER | Topher Cooper | Fri Jan 06 1989 14:38 | 55 |
| RE: .19 (John M.)
> Hate to foul up your stats, guys, but this will not be an earthquake
> in an unpopulated area.
As I said, I didn't think that a purely geological definition of
a "major earthquake" was appropriate. I did the calculations to
illustrate the technique and because there was a specific request.
I assume that (uninverting your double negative) "in a populated
area" means "significantly impacting" a populated area, rather than
meaning, at one extreme "with its epicenter in a populated area",
or at the other extreme "detectable in a populated area." Even
so we have some problems with what "populated areas" mean: urban
areas?, at least sparsely settled?, at least one person? (Since
earthquakes not due to volcanic eruptions do not occur in deep
ocean, almost *everywhere* an earthquake can occur is populated,
and the most active area for earthquakes (the "ring of fire" around
the Pacific basin) is some of the most heavily populated regions
on earth, so earthquakes are significantly more likely to occur in
populated areas).
I'll fall back on my "notable" earthquake idea. I checked the
Encyclopedia Britannica yearbooks for 1986, 1987 and 1988 (which
is what they had at the Mill library), under "Disasters; Natural".
In 1985 (listed in the '86 yearbook) there were five earthquakes
that the editors found worthy of inclusion (with Richter values
of 7.8, 6.3, 7.4, 8.1/7.5, and 6.1; the double value represents
a quake and a major aftershock). In 1986 ('87 yearbook) there
were also five quakes (Richter 5, 5.8, 6.2, 7.5 and 6.8/6.3).
But in 1987 ('88 yearbook) there were only three (Richter ?, 6.1/5.3
and 5.8), with one of them apparently quite small. It was
included because "Heavy rains and earthquake aftershocks unleashed
tons of earth and rock ... 96 dead, 10 missing" (this took place
in Indonesia).
The average for these three years is 4-1/3, but I feel justified
in using a figure of five significant quakes per year, because
of conservatism (better to overestimate the odds, then underestimate)
simplicity, and to account for the possibility of a "locally
significant quake" (John does live on the ring of fire, after all).
So the probability that a "significant" earthquake will occur on
a target date is 1 - (352/365)^5 or .1658407 or about 1 chance in
6. The probability that one will fall on the 25th of Jan or Feb
is .0270986 or about one chance in 37. The probability that one
will fall on the 25th of Jan is .0136327 or about one chance in 73.
Scientists generally count anything over one chance in 20 as
"significant".
If we wanted to be rigorous about this we could come up with a
scoring system for various outcomes, and put this all to a formal
test.
Topher
|
943.24 | | DECWET::MITCHELL | The Cosmic Anchovy | Fri Jan 06 1989 16:29 | 37 |
| RE: .20 (Frederick)
> John, who is holding the camera? <
The camera doesn't care if the photographer is Ansel Adams or Grizzly Adams.
> by the way, John, you may be *pleased* to know that my friend Lazaris
has predicted 5 and possibly 6 major earthquakes in the world this year
in major population areas <
Such predictions do not please me.
> ...but he implied that they would be in areas where people do not
value themselves very highly. <
Your "friend" Lazaris makes me want to vomit. What a stupid, callous thing to
say! Gee, bad things happen to people who do not value themselves very highly,
huh? What a crock of SHIT!
It's a pity such disasters don't pinpoint charlatans; you'd have one flat Jach.
RE: .23 (Topher)
Thanks for the explanation. BTW, I despise math (people wonder how I ever got
my degree).
Now if you can just figure out that card trick for me... ;-)
John M.
|
943.25 | Among other things, there is wax in your ears... | WRO8A::WARDFR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Fri Jan 06 1989 17:13 | 22 |
| re: .24
John, you are free to soil your clothes any way you want to...
and I think it's a shame you have such limited imagination. But
for the rest of us, most of us can acknowledge that most of the
destruction and trauma from floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.
seem to occur in third world countries. WHY is this? Doesn't it
also seem odd that third world countries are the ones which also
represent humanity as irrelevant? In other words, executions,
murders, rapings, etc. seem more prevalent in those countries
(look at the suicidal Middle-East people for example.) It would
very definitely appear to me that those people do not value life,
others, especially themselves very highly at all. It is almost
a cultural belief...that life isn't worth living, really. Even
within microcosms of American culture, it is generally the poor,
under-whatever, that commit a greater percentage of crime, etc.
How highly do they value their lives? Why do tragedy and the
under-whatever seem to go hand-in-hand? Is it "coincidence?"
Not in my belief, John-Boy!
Frederick
|
943.26 | No, this is dangerous thinking | ULTRA::G_REILLY | | Fri Jan 06 1989 19:14 | 56 |
|
re: .20, .24 (Frederick and Lazaris)
| Lazaris has predicted 5 and possibly 6 major earthquakes in the
| world this year in major population areas...but he implied that
| they would be in areas where people do not value themselves
| very highly.
I'm truely hope that this is a case of a misquoted
misunderstanding. The end of the sentence is almost
verbatim of what my church-lady mother told me
when I was asking her what her church was going to do
to help the earthquake victims in Soviet Armenia. She
proceeded to blithely inform me that Soviet people don't
value life as highly as 'we' do. I almost dropped the
phone.
Where do otherwise moderately reasonable people get this
idea that other people, because they are different,
do not value life???????
| for the rest of us, most of us can acknowledge that most of the
| destruction and trauma from floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.
| seem to occur in third world countries. WHY is this? Doesn't it
Third world like Soviet Armenia in the beginning of December?
I think thou dost overgeneralize.
| also seem odd that third world countries are the ones which also
| represent humanity as irrelevant? In other words, executions,
| murders, rapings, etc. seem more prevalent in those countries
| (look at the suicidal Middle-East people for example.) It would
| very definitely appear to me that those people do not value life,
| others, especially themselves very highly at all. It is almost
| a cultural belief...that life isn't worth living, really. Even
This does not make sense to me. I can't walk the streets
of any major city in this country without fear of rape,
mugging, or murder. It isn't clear to me who values
life more than whom. What are you really trying to say?
One of the scandinavian countries has an exceptionally
high suicide rate. How does that fit in with this
world view?
I don't know how much of this is Lazaris and how much
of it is Frederick, but it sounds like a really narrow
and unaccepting way to categorize a very large portion
of humanity. Remember WWII, and the gross generalizations
that were the underpinnings of that horror. Once one
reduces human beings to nameless members of a general
category, it is much easier to forget that they are
human beings each with their own souls, each capable
of suffering pain and experiencing love.
Alison
|
943.27 | Amazing. Simply amazing. | DECWET::MITCHELL | The Cosmic Anchovy | Fri Jan 06 1989 19:26 | 18 |
| RE: .25 (Frederick)
> I think it's a shame you have such limited imagination. <
Odd.... Most people consider my imagination to be one of my greatest gifts.
Your idiotic statement about third-world countries is a monument to ignorance,
ethnocentrism, and disdain for those forced to live under less fortunate
conditions. It displays everything that is worst in the
"create your own reality" school. I assure you that I am showing rare
restraint here; if I responded in a way befitting such hubristic hogwash, my
reply would be set hidden by the moderators.
John M.
|
943.28 | I spit on Lazaris | HSSWS1::GREG | Malice Aforethought | Sun Jan 08 1989 11:50 | 25 |
|
I find all this talk of valueing life quite amusing. Most
people value their own lives, some value the lives of others,
and a radical few value all lives... yet almost all can justify
killing to some extent.
And now we speak of natural disasters occurring to those
who don't value life. I suppose those who make such ridiculous
claims must redefine the term 'value', as there is no other
way to support such an argument.
Californians, then... do they value life? Hey, they have
earthquakes, earthquakes are natural, so they must not value
life. Right? What about the people in Kansas who have been
killed by tornadoes? I guess they didn't value life either.
And the Texans killed by hurricanes... no life valuers among
them, eh? I would have sworn some of them valued life.
Lazaris is nothing more than a stage show put on for those
willing to pay ridculous prices for false enlightenment. Will
you quote Ramtha next, Frederick?
If Lazaris is enlightenment, I'm glad to be in the dark.
- Greg
|
943.29 | 2 cents | ESP::CONNELLY | Desperately seeking snoozin' | Sun Jan 08 1989 12:19 | 27 |
| re: the last few
I think what Frederick originally said (in .20) was:
> Lazaris has predicted 5 and possibly 6 major earthquakes in the
> world this year in major population areas...but he implied that
> they would be in areas where people do not value themselves
> very highly. I am going to be entering a note into 358 that
That's a little bit different than "valuing life". My first reaction
to the above statement was: "That certainly covers a lot of territory!"
The devaluing of the Self is one of the hallmarks of most organized
religions, governments and other large institutions. You're probably
just as likely to find people with self-esteem problems in places like
Weston and Lincoln (two rich suburbs of Boston) as in Bangladesh or
Armenia. So that's a pretty broadly applicable qualifier. Who's
exempted--Esalen, Findhorn and Jach Pursell's immediate household?
I think the reason that trying to drag the Third World into this makes
matters worse is that it turns the distinction into a materialistic one.
The implication that those who suffer misfortune are only getting what
they deserve and that the upper crust has its position by some kind
of divine right (or inherent spiritual superiority) is one of those
pernicious doctrines that keeps cropping up over and over in the
history of human ideas. I don't buy it for one second, but i guess
it doesn't surprise me to see it in a New Age context, since it has
proven to be a popular notion over the years.
paul
|
943.30 | value is in the mind of the beholder | HYDRA::LARU | Surfin' the Zuvuya | Wed Apr 11 1990 04:16 | 17 |
| re: valueing life...
Of course, while we in the West _seem_ to place a high value on
life, extending it at any cost, we (our institutions)
don't seem to place much
emphasis on the _quality_ of that life once it has been
extended (or created). And we certainly don't have very many
qualms about destroying it in the name of perpetuating
certain economic institutions. Nor do we examine very
closely the effects of those institutions on the quality
of life of those remaining alive.
I'm not trying to turn this into a discussion of abortion,
euthanasia, commucapitalism, etc... just tryingtt to point
out that "valueing life" has a variety of interpretations.
/bruce
|
943.31 | I think we've been straying from the subject | ERASER::KALLIS | Anger's no replacement for reason | Wed Apr 11 1990 04:23 | 79 |
| Re .last_few:
Speaking as a participant and not in my official capacity, I think
the bent taken is beginning to be counterproductive. Going back
to perhaps the seed crystal, in .25, Fredrick elaborated the statement
this way:
>for the rest of us, most of us can acknowledge that most of the
>destruction and trauma from floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.
>seem to occur in third world countries. WHY is this? Doesn't it
>also seem odd that third world countries are the ones which also
>represent humanity as irrelevant? In other words, executions,
>murders, rapings, etc. seem more prevalent in those countries
>(look at the suicidal Middle-East people for example.) It would
>very definitely appear to me that those people do not value life,
>others, especially themselves very highly at all.
Let me see whether I can very carefully demythologize this a bit.
First, there is no clearcut evidence that the richest and most powerful
nations are somehow less proof against the ravages of natural
happenings (note that word) than the weakest and least affluent
nations. However, there are ways that they are better able to cope.
Let me use a personal experience: when I was in my mid-teens, my
father, an Army officer, was stationed on a post in Japan. Now
the Japanese live on volcanic lands and have frequent minor
earthquakes.The house we lived in was designed with that in mind,
and was rather resilient, flexing with the earth tremors. The house
my wife and I live in, if transplanted from Massachusetts to Sendai,
would have cracks throughout, if it maintained its integrity; it
wasn't built with frequent earthquakes in mind. Thus, whenever
an earthquake hits in Japan, the preparations already built into
the towns and cities helps minimize the damage.
Likewise, ask a Floridian about hurricanes. These are frequent
enough so that precautions can (and are) taken to minimize the damage.
In short, "life values," whatever these might be, are secondary
considerations.
It is rather counterproductive to consider that while the quality
of life is different in different countries, usually due to
socioeconomic or political considerations, that any member of any
of the countries values life any less than in the more affluent
lands; if they did, their people would rapidly become extinct. Now
it may be that a despotic overlord might value his subjects' lives
much less than those of his immediate family, but that's not the
same thing.
>................................................... It is almost
>a cultural belief...that life isn't worth living, really. Even
>within microcosms of American culture, it is generally the poor,
>under-whatever, that commit a greater percentage of crime, etc.
>How highly do they value their lives? Why do tragedy and the
>under-whatever seem to go hand-in-hand?
The fanatics that sacrifice themselves do so _because_ life is very
much worth living; such sacrifices, in battle (however this is defined)
are ways to ensure that their souls go to their paradise. That's
far different from a "what's the use?" philosophy.
<A little philosophical interlude> That there are high crimes in
economically disadvantaged areas of the United States has little
to do with the criminal class believing that life is not worth living;
quite the contrary: they risk a great deal _because_ they love life
and want to live it well (creature comforts); indeed, it's frequently
the _more affluent_ young that use the narcotics, presumably to
escape their pampered lives, than the socioeconomic "lower middle
class." A mystic might observe that some of the affluent youth
is choking on materialism but hasn't the patience with asceticism.
<Disable philosophical mode.>
I am a little saddened to see some nerves getting raw; this I attrubute
in part to the New Moon (yes, Virginia, Full Moons aren't the only
time folk can be edgy; if Watson's references are even partially
correct, it's at spring [as opposed to neap] tides).
Dejavu as a conference is usually quite amicible. If we disagree,
let's just say so.
Steve Kallis, Jr.
|
943.32 | | IJSAPL::ELSENAAR | Fractal of the universe | Wed Apr 11 1990 04:47 | 9 |
| >================================================================================
>Note 943.31 Earthquake on the 25th? 31 of 31
>ERASER::KALLIS "Anger's no replacement for reason" 79 lines 11-APR-1990 03:23
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
^^^^^^^^^^^
Steve, (and you too, bruce, in reply .30!)
why don't you just *tell* us whether John was right.....
Arie :-)
|
943.33 | "look ma, worms!" | WRO8A::WARDFR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Wed Apr 11 1990 04:56 | 51 |
| While I was re-reading my notes on Friday night, I noticed
that I may have erred a bit in "reporting." Since I don't have
access to this notesfiles from home, I was unable to "correct"
myself. What I should have said (and not a direct quote...I
speak from my notes) was that Lazaris predicted 5, possibly 6
major earthquakes this year. He did not say they would be in
major population areas (as per my notes.) Also, he said that
*they* would occur in areas where people tended to value themselves
low. The *they* may have referred to the earthquakes or to
disasters in general...I cannot tell from my notes but for anyone
to whom this is important, ask someone else who attended or listen
to the tape which should by now be available.
Now then, *that* out of the way, thank you Paul and Bruce
for a modicum of sensibility. It is clear that we have crime
in our country, but "statistics" show that it is a small percentage
of our population who are the majority of offenders. Rapists and
the like are repeatedly shown to be individuals with historys of
abuse and low self-esteem. How highly do you think they value
themselves or others or life in general? Moreover, whenever we
do create "natural" disasters, why is it that it hasn't been tens or
hundreds of thousands who have perished? IS it only because of our
superior technology or literacy rate? Hmmm. I wonder. Further,
valuing self does not make one superior over another. To bring
genocide into this conversation is extremist and unwarranted and
can only be done because of a "pathological" interest in making
an emotional plea. *YOU* can make that connection, *I* certainly
don't. There is no better than here...there is, as has been
discussed so many other times in spiritual exchanges of thought,
only more than. As Mr. Righteous Mitchell has talked about before,
humans are not higher in consciousness than animals, or other
humans, or plants, or minerals...or anything else in creation.
They are simply on different places along the massively intricate
paths. For those of you looking for a public "reason" to hate
Lazaris, congratulations for exposing yourself to reactionary
rationale and righteous (though misplaced) anger. In any case,
while there may be groups who run around feeling superior (as
I believe all religious groups that I am aware of do) and can
therefore justify whatever intrusion they perpetrate onto others,
looking for that here is remiss, from where I sit. No one to
which we allude to here is saying "love less", if anything the
reverse is true. LOVE MORE...of yourself so that you can then
have it spread to all the reaches of your reality. No one among
those being vilified here has said "turn your back"...instead they
said "embrace those parts that have not learned self-love".
This hardly sounds like some of the atrocious junk some of you
are vomiting.
Enough! If you wish to compound your ignorance with lies,
do so. I prefer more understanding, thank you.
Frederick
|
943.34 | You mean you _haven't_? | FLASH2::KALLIS | Anger's no replacement for reason. | Wed Apr 11 1990 05:26 | 7 |
| Re .32 (Arie):
Check it out. You can, too!
:-D
Steve Kallis, Jr.
|
943.35 | Add'l comments | CLUE::PAINTER | Dark Ages, Middle Ages, New Age | Wed Apr 11 1990 05:29 | 42 |
|
I attended the Lazaris session in Florida in the beginning of December
and also heard this mentioned.
After giving it some thought, my own interpretation of this is that
those who are victims (or perceive themselves as victims) are going
to be getting a double-whammy. Because of their very misfortunate
situation, they cannot see a better world from their perspective
and therefore their negative experiences just continue on and on
and on. I'm not just referring to the Third World sections of the
globe - I'm referring also to the street people in the US (etc.).
What I believe my own responsibility in this is, is to do something
about it. Try to help those people who need just a small bit of
love in order to see themselves as worthwhile human beings and not
some 'barnacles on the surface of the Earth' (think Lazaris used
these words, but not entirely sure). Empower people to believe
in themselves and we can turn the above situation around.
I don't believe Lazaris meant this to be a doom and gloom prophecy
so much as they meant it to be a call to action to those (of us)
who are more fortunate and who do have the power right now to change
the world and make it a better place to live in.
My own plan of action for 1989 is going to (hopefully) include more
involvement with Amnesty International, and I will be putting more
information on this in this and other notes conferences as I get more
involved in it in the next month or so.
Now is the time to look at 1989 and see what you can do to help
make the world a better place. Use the month of January to plan
and get going on something (it can be just a small project, a medium
project or large project).
And don't forget yourself in this either. Make time to exercise,
read, sleep, eat the right foods, and take good care of yourself
because if you don't, then you're not going to have the energy to
help anyone else out.
Let's get going!
Cindy
|
943.36 | Don't laugh at my math! | GRECO::MISTOVICH | | Mon Jan 09 1989 12:46 | 22 |
| Thank you Cindy.
I think there was a massive misunderstanding due to 2 things in .20--
first, Frederick said people who do not value themselves highly (i.e.
low self-esteem) which was apparently confused with people not valuing
life in general, and especially his (mis)use of the word "but," which
suggested that such disasters are ok because they are only happening
to people who do not value life anyway.
I think people writing in this notesfile should be more careful
of how they use language. And make certain before throwing stones
(axes, nuclear warheads, etc.) that they really understand what the
other was saying. After all--they may not really be callous and
insensitive. Just illiterate and inarticulate! ;-)
On to probabilities...would it be correct (and simpler?) to say
that with 12 25's/year and 5 major earthquakes per year there are
60 chances in 365 (assuming not a leap year) that a quake will happen
on a 25th, which works out to 1 in 6? :-)
Mary
1 chance in 6
|
943.37 | I'd much rather laugh at my own. | RDVAX::COOPER | Topher Cooper | Mon Jan 09 1989 13:49 | 44 |
| RE: .36 (Mary)
> <<Approximate probability calculation for chances of a "notable"
> earthquake occurring on the 25th of some month.>>
I promise, I wasn't even tempted to giggle a little (though your
smiley face seems to indicate that you were willing to yourself).
Probability calculations are very tricky and counterintuitive, and
anyone who attempts to understand and/or perform them is to be treated
with respect -- whether or not they get it correct.
Basically you made the same mistake that Bruce did, though somewhat
more subtly and differently. The reason that it was close to the
correct answer (rounded off to the same 1 in 6 that I got) is that the
error in this method becomes smaller the less likely it is that a
"collision" (more than one earthquake occurring on a target day) will
occur. With five notable earthquakes a year (rather than the 18
major earthquakes a year in Bruce's calculation) the liklihood that
more than one will "hit" is much lower.
Note that by your calculations, in two years there will be 2*5 notable
earthquakes, and 2*12 target days, and thus 4*60 chances in 2*365
days. So the probability, according to this, that a notable earthquake
will occur on a target day in a two year period is 2*(prob occurring
in one year) or roughly 2*(1/6). More generally, by this reasoning,
the probability that such a combination will occur in n years is
roughly n*(1/6) (or more exactly n*(60/365)). The probability that
it will occur in 7 years is then roughly 7/6 (or exactly 420/365)
or more than certain.
Essentially, you are saying something like "There is 1 chance in
365 (I'll say 1in365) that the largest notable quake will occur on
Jan 25; 1in365 that the largest quake will occur on Feb 25; ... ;
1in365 that the largest quake will occur on Dec 25; 1in365 that the
second largest notable quake will occur on Jan 25; ... and 1in365 that
the fifth largest notable quake will occur on Dec 25." You are then
adding up the 60 probabilities of 1/365 to get 60/365. But as
I said in my previous note, adding is only justified when the events
are distinct -- when one of the notable quakes occurring on a target
date precludes the possibility that any of the others will also.
Good try at trying to make sense of the number though.
Topher
|
943.38 | The worm squirms | TOPDOC::SLOANE | xmas -> bills -> snow -> skiing -> spring! | Mon Jan 09 1989 16:46 | 48 |
| Re: .25, .33
Frederick,
Your basic premise has no factual basis.
Consider:
The U. S. of A. is the *ONLY* major industrial country that still has
a death penalty. The U. S. of A. has the highest crime rate of any
major industrial country, and one of the highest suicide rates.
So far as natural disasters go, and for whatever it's worth, the good
old U. S. of A. has more tornadoes and thunderstorms and associated
deaths and damages for these storms than any other country.
However, thunderstorms and tornadoes are local storms and do not effect
large ares. The storms with the greatest potential for widespread
disaster are hurricanes (also known in other countries as typhoons,
williwaws, and by other names). Hurricanes are essentially tropical
oceanic storms, and as such they are most apt to hit tropical land
areas close to the ocean. This includes a substantial part of the the
so-called undeveloped countries. Because many inhabitants of these
areas live in what we consider substandard housing, there often is a
large loss of life. It is simplistic and derogatory to say this occurs
because "tragedy and the under-whatever ... go hand-in-hand."
(The southeast coast of the U. S. of A. is overdue, statistically, for
a major hurricane. If a hurricane such as several in the 1930s to the
1960s hits near any major populated area, the dollar and human damage
will be staggering.)
You corrected yourself to say that Lazaris predicted 5 or 6 major
earthquakes this year. In .14, the figures show that the world
averages some 18 major earthquakes each year, with more than 100
additional quakes with the potential for major disaster. It would be
miraculous if Lazaris were correct. (Incidentally, the Armenian quake
registered about 6.8 on the Richter scale.)
You also said that the disasters may not be earthquakes, but they
will occur in areas where "people tend to value themselves low."
Well, 1989 has already seen two major plane disasters in Great
Britain and Ireland. Are these considered areas where people value
themselves low? [How do you recognize such an area, anyway?]
(And how come none of the esteemed soothsayers predicted this double
whammy?)
Bruce
|
943.39 | Well, OK. | CLUE::PAINTER | Dark Ages, Middle Ages, New Age | Mon Jan 09 1989 16:59 | 21 |
|
Re.38 (Bruce)
Short interjection here - (sorry if this is a repeat) - when I was
down in Florida at the Lazaris session on 1988/89, they said at
that time that they had predicted for 1988 that 4 large earthquakes
would take place. Then they went on to say that only 3 had actually
taken place. 2 days later, I woke up to hear of the Armenian disaster
and realized that the year was not yet over at that point.
It is difficult to explain the eerie sense of realization I had
at that moment...as if it were frozen in time.
It isn't scientific proof or anything even close. I can't give
you numbers, equations, statistics or anything like that (and I
will add that I was a science major in school). But inside I just
know. And this knowing, yet not being able to adequately communicate
this sense - this certainty- of knowing to you is very frustrating
indeed.
Cindy
|
943.40 | Did anyone say, "lifevests this way."? | WRO8A::WARDFR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Mon Jan 09 1989 18:03 | 42 |
| re: .38
Okay, Bruce, thanks for the statistics you provided. Let me
add that though the tragedies in the air were very devasting to
many, both directly and indirectly, it does not even remotely come
close to the sufferings and deaths experienced in several African
nations---hundreds of thousands dying each year of drought, starvation,
wars, etc. Do they value themselves? I think that they have a
rather grim acceptance of life and death...life is easy to come
by, death is almost as easy. Is this valuing self? In the U.S.
the consensus seems to say that more than 2.2 kids or whatever,
is too difficult, too expensive, too taxing, etc. for the average
couple. There is no similar attitude that births are taken for
granted, nor for deaths, either. Many other first world nations have
a similar attitude.
Let's make something clear right now. No one is saying that
the "valuing self" attitude is the ONLY reason for these tragedies.
Similarly, no one says that ulcers are ONLY caused by worry. The
point is that not valuing self TENDS towards a counter-productive
energy while worry lends itself towards creating ulcers. I really
don't understand the difficulty some of you seem to have with this
approach. You want to believe that you create your own reality,
yet you refuse to acknowledge that attitudes and beliefs as well
as thoughts or emotions have anything to do with *certain* realities.
Either it works all the time or it doesn't, in which case we may
as well eliminate all rationales, logics, etc. and turn into
nonsensical blobs of cosmic energy or something. Lots of time has
been spent in this conference attempting to demonstrate the 100%
validity of creating one's own reality...through and through...
why are some of you putting up roadblocks here? Some of you are
doggedly determined to refute this...that's okay, I can accept
that. But for those of you who run around saying "you create your
own reality" and don't have the strength of conviction to follow
that through to the hilt, I say you better rethink your stance,
because you DON'T believe you create your own reality. YOU still
hold to ancient ideas of smaller to larger, past to present...victims
of a world that can do with you whatever it wants to. Sorry,
gang, I'm not getting on your TITANIC with you, no matter how big
your boat looks.
Frederick
|
943.41 | | DECWET::MITCHELL | The Cosmic Anchovy | Mon Jan 09 1989 19:06 | 11 |
| RE: .40 (Frederick)
> Sorry, gang, I'm not getting on your TITANIC with you, no matter how
big your boat looks. <
....he said from his cabin on the Andrea Doria.
John M.
|
943.42 | | NEXUS::MORGAN | Snazzy Personal Name Upon Request | Mon Jan 09 1989 20:21 | 26 |
| I'm kinda' lost here.
Earthquakes happen all the time. Mount St. Helen was one hell of a
blast and it was not alone. Other volcanos with accompanying
earthquakes have happened. Some much larger than St. Helen.
Storms are a fact of life on this planet.
What do these have to do with anything except for attracting attention
to the prophet?
Ok I can prophecy too. There will be more earthquakes this year. The
ozone hole will get bigger. And lot's of poor people will die. Anchovy
will not eat a hamburger this year but will consider it. Steve will fly
another airplane. Cindy will write several articles on prisoners of
conscious and Mikie? will succeed in pissing off more people. B^)
Further today is always the only day we have to chose. I prophecy that
we will all chose things. Some choices will help us and others, some
won't.
Oh yeah, I predict that some of these prophecies won't come true.
But then again, I don't value it. I have no reason to care as long
as Steve doesn't land his airplane on my house, Anchovy doesn't
flame me for ordering his diet, and if Cindy doesn't drag me off
to Florida. B^)
|
943.43 | who cares if it's a banana *or* lettuce? | FNYFS::DONALDSON | the green frog leaps... | Tue Jan 10 1989 07:23 | 7 |
| Well! I'm actually quite impressed with this topic,
not for the content, but for the way it has avoided
turning into a slanging match. Keep it up. :-)
John_the_libran_rabbit.
(Could we perhaps value all life? All the cells of this entity earth?)
|
943.44 | People Who Value Themselves Low: Is It Us? | GRECO::MISTOVICH | | Tue Jan 10 1989 12:30 | 30 |
| One thing that makes verifying these sorts of predictions so difficult
is that they contain generalizations. For example:
major earthquake - who defines major?
Richter scale? Say anything over 8.0 is major, if a 10.0 happens
in the antarctic and nobody dies is that more major than an earthquake
measuring 5.0 that kills 5,000 people?
major disaster - who defines major? who defines disaster?
yes, the airplane crashes were a disaster. But Frederick is right.
Millions of people starving to death everyday is far bigger a disaster.
People Who Value Themselves Low - Who decides what is an indication
of low self-value?
Maybe somebody who values him/herself low is somebody who needs lots
of things to feel like somebody. Or somebody who needs lots of money
in the bank to feel like somebody. Or somebody who needs lots of power
to feel like somebody.
Maybe people who value themselves low are greedy, capitalist,
imperialist dogs? ;-)
Maybe somebody who can live in extreme poverty and still have children
and struggle to survive is somebody who values all life, including
his/her own?
YCOR - We can affect our reality, I'm not certain we can effect
it. ;-) Certainly, in a nation of such power and wealth we have
more capability than most to affect it.
|
943.45 | | CUPMK::SLOANE | A kinder, more gentle computer ... | Wed Jan 11 1989 10:32 | 20 |
| Frederick,
Accepting death does not mean that you don't value life. I have
known dying people who valued the life left to them even more because
they knew they were dying.
I have had several close family members die. That does not mean
that I don't value my life, or anyone else's life, including yours,
any the less.
Your simplistic attitude that people in undeveloped countries do
not revere life is simply wrong. It is also chauvinistic.
You are right in pointing out that plane crashes, etc., do not compare
with ungoing deaths from drought, starvation, and so forth. But
the predictions dealt with traumatic happenings. That is what we
are discussing.
Bruce
|
943.46 | please... | IJSAPL::ELSENAAR | Fractal of the universe | Wed Jan 11 1989 11:05 | 24 |
|
We seem to have a lot of disagreement on the words Frederick wrote. Where do we
agree? Do we all agree on the opposite? That we can make this world a better
place to live when we all try and value life more? If that is the case, then we
can start; in the way Cindy has written, a few replies back (and thanks for the
way you wrote it, Cindy!).
I myself find it difficult to judge other people on how they value life.
Especially because I have found out, and see around me, how those words can be
misunderstood. Fredericks words are misunderstood; to me, those words do not
feel like a judgment. But as soon as they are understood as a judgment, they get
an opposite meaning.
Right now I am reading a biography of Richard Wagner, the 19th century composer.
It is explained how *his* words, how honorable and sincere they were meant, were
misinterpreted later, and misused by the nazis in WWII.
Why do I make this comparison? Well, because the words of Lazaris, as cited by
Frederick, contain the same kernel for misinterpretation. For me, it would be
the reason why I myself would be careful in citing them.
Peace please,
Arie
|
943.47 | The greatest disaster is loss of love. | WRO8A::WARDFR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Wed Jan 11 1989 13:02 | 66 |
| re: .46
I agree with what you wrote; in fact, I sent a note to a few
others expressing the frustration that often comes up in "reporting"
of information. In Lazaris' case, he long ago nixed the writing
up of a verbatim transcript of his seminars, though it clearly would
generate more income for Concept:Synergy. Among the reasons, the most
clear message is that he speaks on various levels and can conclude one
thought several sentences later...making it difficult to transcribe with
accuracy as to meaning, especially since that meaning can be construed
differently by different people. He has made it very clear that
he speaks to us INDIVIDUALLY, not as the illusion of the group would
have us believe. But that's somewhat off subject.
re: .45
Bruce, I don't know where you're coming from, but from where
I sit I may not be able to describe the difference to you between
a loved/(loving) relative dying and the undignified, pathetic,
hopeless death of a starvation "victim" in Africa, but I can
FEEL that there is a difference. IF you can sense a difference,
then maybe you can understand where the thought comes from that
just might indicate why that person dying in a barren landscape
has that environment to live in whereas your favorite relative
has not created that set of environmental nightmares. If you don't
get the sense, then I can only say too bad. I don't wish to describe
the differences in beliefs and attitudes of humanity to you. I
don't wish to point out that many cultures and sub-cultures share
common beliefs and attitudes. I also don't wish to point out that
maybe those shared beliefs and attitudes acccount for the differences
in the way these lives are lived out. I do wish to point out,
however, that though I may harbor some chauvinistic views, I am
definitely not alone among the men and women of this conference
who adhere to those views as well, that I have worked diligently
for a couple of decades to reduce or eliminate those views, and
that the statement appears to me to be totally irrelevant to the
issue and nowhere apparent to me. Chauvinism is best defined as
the view that men are superior to women...it is a view that in
our world-wide society is held firmly in place not only by men
but by women, too. Where in the world does this fit into this
topic?
To repeat what has been stated perhaps more eloquently by
a couple of others, it is not for us to judge any individual
as for their feelings of any type...let alone whether or not
that individual has feelings of low self-worth, self-confidence,
self-esteem, self-respect, self-love or any other form of self-
valuation. Clearly people hide their feelings from others all
the time. And why not? The minute one does, the judgments rain
down upon their expression...a case in point is all the closet
readers of this notesfile. We can, however, for our own
understandings, make discernments and evaluations and make
decisions based on them. To that extent, if I feel that by
loving myself more I can avoid certain geological or atmospheric
disasters, e.g., I will certainly work harder at doing so. I am
repeatedly running across data from the consensus indicating at
least partial agreement that attitudes influence health, successes,
etc. That *I* believe that together with beliefs, emotions and
thoughts they are the basis of our entire reality, does not mean
that I cannot see some of the differences some in here have tried
to point out. For the greatest truth, in my view, is that we
cannot begin to see the entirety of anyone's thoughts, feelings,
attitudes or beliefs, NOT EVEN of self, let alone anybody else.
Frederick
|
943.48 | Chauvin is not just for men | LEDS::BATES | Sic transit Gloria | Wed Jan 11 1989 13:15 | 17 |
|
re: .47 - Frederick:
To many people, chauvinism has come to mean simply undue partiality
to a masculine viewpoint. That's a relatively recent extension of
the original meaning.
Actually, chauvinism's primary meaning has more to do with excessive
or overweening patriotism, and comes from the name of a character
in a French play, who displays irrational devotion to Napoleon.
Sorry to introduce the nitsy comment in a heated discussion, but
this is a pet peeve of mine (which I should probably cross-post
in JOYOFLEX)
Gloria
former student of comparative literature, among other things
|
943.49 | The American Heritage Dictionary | CUPMK::SLOANE | A kinder, more gentle computer ... | Wed Jan 11 1989 13:27 | 9 |
| Chauvinism:
1. Militant devotion to and glorification of one's country;
fanatical patriotism.
2. Prejudiced belief in the superiority of one's own group: male
chauvinism.
|
943.50 | Definition of Chauvinism | RDVAX::COOPER | Topher Cooper | Wed Jan 11 1989 13:27 | 12 |
| RE: .47
Frederick, Nicolas Chauvin was widely known for his belief in the
intrinsic superiority of men over women, Europeans over anyone else,
Frenchman and French culture over all other people and cultures,
and the absolute infallibility of his government. The word chauvinism
may thus refer to excessive patriotism, or a conviction as to the
intrinsic superiority of ones ethnic or cultural group as well as
ones gender. Until the "women's movement" of the late 60s, the
former definitions were much more commonly used than the last one.
Topher
|
943.51 | | BIGSUR::GRAFTON_JI | | Wed Jan 11 1989 13:43 | 18 |
| re: .47
There was one line in reply .47 that particulary caught my
attention:
< ..............................To that extent, if I feel that by
< loving myself more I can avoid certain geological or atmospheric
< disasters, e.g., I will certainly work harder at doing so.
For myself, I would change one or two words:
To that extent, if I feel that by loving *others* more *they*
can avoid certain geological or atmospheric disasters, e.g., I
will certainly work harder at doing so.
Thanks for provoking such a good thought and realization.
Jill
|
943.52 | Miscellaneous thoughts | CUPMK::SLOANE | A kinder, more gentle computer ... | Wed Jan 11 1989 14:57 | 51 |
|
Re: .25 - Frederick, you said that 3rd world countries have
far more executions, murder, and rapes, than other countries,
and that "these people do not value life, especially
themselves."
There is not a scintilla of evidence for this view. It comes entirely
from your biased chauvinistic attitude. (And if you don't know what
"scintilla" means, look in the dictionary, which is what you should
have done with "chauvinistic.") The U. S. has its share of rapes,
murders, and executions.
Re: .40 - You said that Africans have a rather low view of
themselves. You also said that "I really don't understand
the difficulty some of you have with this approach. ... You
DON'T believe you create your own reality." You went on to
lambaste (look it up) every one who does not accept your
views of reality.
Tell an African dying of starvation that if he creates another reality,
he won't be starving. What it sounds like to me are saying, is that you
can't understand how anyone can disagree with your stated opinion.
That's a pretty chauvinistic attitude.
Re: .47 "Lazaris ... long ago nixed the writing up of a
verbatim transcript ..."
In other words, Lazaris doesn't want to be held to his word, and
doesn't necessarily mean what he says. WOW! Most of what I know about
Lazaris is from reading Notes, and he sounds like a top notch
charlatan.
More on death and dying. I once spent a year as a special fellow
at the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) Center for
Suicide Studies. During that year I worked extensively with people
who attempted suicide, families of those who had committed
suicide, dying patients, and other assorted and desperate people
in misery. I wrote several research papers which were published in
various scientific journals.
It was an interesting year. I don't think there is much you can tell me
about how people go about the business of dying. Some people die with
dignity. Some people do not. Some people are ready to accept death.
Some people are not. This goes for suicides, as well as natural deaths
and some accidents. There are certainly cultural differences on how
death is viewed and accepted, but in the end we all die alone.
It has little to do with financial status, race, sex, or country of
origin. Only chauvinists would believe these factors have a bearing.
Bruce
|
943.53 | Dangerous notions | DECWET::MITCHELL | The Cosmic Anchovy | Wed Jan 11 1989 15:47 | 28 |
| RE: .47 (Frederick)
> IF you can sense a difference, then maybe you can understand where
the thought comes from that just might indicate why that person dying
in a barren landscape has that environment to live in whereas your
favorite relative has not created that set of environmental nightmares.
<
My god, there you go again.
I don't see any difference between your original stance and this one. All of
the clarifications of your original statements have not erased the underlying
falsehood which, I daresay, smells to high heaven.
The misguided belief that people in unfortunate situations chose that "reality"
on this or some other supposed spiritual plane seems to be a product of our
affluent times. Rich cult-figure "channelers" are that way because they chose
that reality. If you are not affluent or living in a temperate zone it is
because you chose that reality. Thus every tragedy, personal or public,
becomes the sole affair of the victims. It is a wonderful way to feel smug in
one's own fortunate situation while simultaneously distancing oneself from
somebody else's discomfort; an all too human weakness.
I think that future historians will look back on the ludicrous and faddish
notion of YCYOR with the same fascinated repugnance with which we view the
"manifest destiny" of our forefathers.
John M.
|
943.54 | | SHRFAC::BRUNDIGE | Save the Earth, Remake yourself | Wed Jan 11 1989 16:10 | 9 |
| Perhaps if you were a Don Juan Matus you could "choose you
own reality". About how long did it take Carlos C. to learn
to change his reality? Perhaps this is what Lazaris means?
I know that it's possible to change ones reality, but I for
one do not yet know that I know that I KNOW that its possible,
which is what it takes. Perhaps it's how you look at it.:^)
Russ
EW
|
943.55 | let's not get stuck on the tar-baby | MARKER::KALLIS | Anger's no replacement for reason | Wed Jan 11 1989 16:27 | 28 |
| Re YCOR:
This is rapidly, if not precipitiously, plunging into a
black-hole-level rathole.
Even within this Conference, "creating ones own reality" has shown
vastly different meanings.
1) Nobody but a masochist would "create a reality" where they slowly
and painfully starve to death. And statistically, to have a whole
countryside of people creating a "concensus reality" of that sort
is an even more remote probability than running into one person
at random who would want to do that.
2) Even assuming a metaphysical way for a starving person in, say,
Eretria, to change his or her reality sufficiently so that they
would not starve would require training sufficient so that by the
time she or he learned it, they would have passed the point of actual
starvation. That makes the point moot.
3) Fredrick, you take _much_ from the Lazaris workshop on faith/belief.
There's nothing wrong with that; however, that you might feel its
validity may not mean that others agree with you (or, more importantly,
with Lazaris).
4) Let's "agree to disagree" on this one.
Steve Kallis, Jr.
|
943.56 | The air that I breathe. | WRO8A::WARDFR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Wed Jan 11 1989 16:39 | 52 |
| re: .52
Bruce, congratulations on your past fellowship. It sounds
as though you did learn more about suicides, etc. than I ever
will (or care to.) I will continue to disagree on the quality of
life in first world countries and third world countries, however.
I wonder what you consider the accounts of the Khmer Rouge in
Cambodia or "so-called" atrocities in Argentina or Chile or Honduras
or Iran or ...?? Does this sound to you like typical American
fare? Not for this American, it doesn't. Do those accounts sound
like the valuing of life to you? I would agree that the U.S. lags
far behind most other first world countries in the murder, rape,
etc. statistics, but it is my belief that it is far more "civilized"
than many if not most third world nations. I don't find anything
you or anyone else has written to change my views here.
Thanks for pointing out that I was not aware of what is apparently
a rapidly-becoming-archaic use of one word. I do not need insults,
however, from you as to my language abilities, which may or may
not "measure up" to yours. Insofar as pushing my views on others,
I will say that I do make an effort to not do that. What I will
try to do, as often as I feel it is appropriate, is offer an
alternative to consensus views as offered by you and a few others.
This in the interest of letting others know that the consensus is
not the view of ALL. It is not up to me to change anyone's point
of view, it is up to the individual. But for those seeking alternative
realities, perhaps there is a ray of hope and truth in some of my
views. I can say that I shall never, ever return to the narrow-minded,
unspiritual points of view shared by those among you who pride
themselves with their intelligence and knowledge. I will not argue
this further, I hope. As for the create your own reality point
of view, it has been argued in this notesfile many times before...
I'm not about to rewrite all its views. That you can't see it,
understand it, or accept it is not my problem. You certainly don't
have any lacking of contempt, narrow-mindedness or animosity towards
views that aren't yours, either.
Anyway, you are free to think as you will...hopefully I am, too,
oh benevolent one!
re: .53
John, you are such a cartoon! You really get off on this,
don't you? It's too bad you don't use your incredible energy more
usefully. Actually, your response is so ignorant to things that
have been written in these notes before that I and probably others
would have to acknowledge you only for your desire to confront,
argue, battle, and strangle, among other adjectives. Talk about
pathological! Down, boy, down! It isn't blood, it's only air!
Frederick
|
943.57 | Well, he DOES have a way with words | DECWET::MITCHELL | The Cosmic Anchovy | Wed Jan 11 1989 18:16 | 9 |
| RE: .56 (Frederick)
"Cartoon?"
"Strangle?"
John M.
|
943.58 | armistice? | ESP::CONNELLY | Desperately seeking snoozin' | Wed Jan 11 1989 18:56 | 13 |
| I wish we could take a break from this topic and come back to it
when some of the hard feelings have died down. There are some
important disagreements showing up here, but there seems to be no
way to resolve them readily, since they are based deep feelings
and personal faith in most cases.
Perhaps if we take some time to let the fallout settle down, we
will see that there was something of value (or at least of potential
interest) in what someone we disagreed with said. Or maybe not.
We may also find that life experiences modify our own closely held
views (at least that's happened to me many times), so that our
interest in defending them isn't quite so fierce.
paul
|
943.59 | CYOR - a two-edged sword | FNYFS::DONALDSON | Okay! The green *rabbit* leaps... | Thu Jan 12 1989 07:36 | 6 |
| Those of us who have created our reality to contain
famines and wars maybe ought to show just a *little*
compassion for the victims of our creations. Mm?
John_ex_frog - \/
(o) - newly_incarnated_as_rabbit.
|
943.60 | A heart is a terrible thing to waste | DNEAST::DUCHARME_GEO | | Thu Jan 12 1989 08:13 | 10 |
|
My heart tells me,that although your mind may believe
that the suffering created their reality. Your heart would
give them what they need. Minds hold ideas,but hearts often
know the truth.
George D.
|
943.61 | Speaking out.! | ATSE::FLAHERTY | Imagine... | Thu Jan 12 1989 10:01 | 10 |
| Thankfully the harsh words of Bruce (.52) and John will not prevent Frederick
sharing the information he has to offer. As one of the 'closet readers' of
this notesfile, I'll take this opportunity to publicly thank Frederick for
all the time and energy he has expended. Many of us (from those who I've
talked with off-line) appreciate his efforts.
I don't agree with everything he has written, but I am grateful for the
chance to read his (and Lazaris' views) and decide for myself.
Ro
|
943.62 | Outer Theater, Inner Theater | DNEAST::CHRISTENSENL | | Thu Jan 12 1989 10:16 | 27 |
| Looks like a bit of a paradox here. Death whether personal, demographic,
or global is distasteful. At the same time nothing ever dies;
it only changes form, so why be upset about it? Well, I'd be upset
if I were interrupted in the middle of a perfectly good play or movie.
I would also be upset if the person sitting next to me started heckling
the players. Guess this person is pretty much identified with what
he sees? Maybe he doesn't like what is going on? Maybe he ought to write
his own script or become an actor himself as to do it better at least
to his liking.
Then there are the critics. Those people who consider themselves outside
the play and pretend to furnish some service to the audience at no cost
to themselves. Just as those of potential audience who only read
what the critics write and never actually go to a play seem to shirk
responsibility.
Yes, it seems a paradox. All these people; actors, writers, audience, critics
and others in abstention each having a different position. Does position
denote responsibility? I don't think so. I think that the only choice
any of these characters in this analogy have is one of responsibility
for their own position.
Responsibility: The willingness to admit, whether you are fully aware
of it or not, that you are cause in the matter.
Larry
|
943.63 | i'll let you watch my movie if i can watch yours | HYDRA::LARU | Surfin' the Zuvuya | Thu Jan 12 1989 10:36 | 12 |
| Larry, I like the model...
I feel that at times I play or have played all of the above roles...
but i'm trying to let go of the ancillary ones, such as critic.
aside: I used to be very active with photography. I haven't
done much with it lately, 'cause i felt that the camera created
a barrier between me and the action, turning me into an observer
rather than a participant. I haven't yet resolved that.
/bruce
|
943.64 | So that's why John had this dream... | USAT05::KASPER | There's no forever, only Now... | Thu Jan 12 1989 11:47 | 17 |
| Let me put my smiley-face here up front,
;-))).
See it?, remember it, smiley-face....
*If* Frederick is right about negativity being a major factor in YCOR,
then, if this 'debate' continues as it has in the past several replies,
then we will be the cause of the earthquake on the 25th - here in DEJAVU
land!
We'll all be dead and it will be John's fault for having the dream in
the first place!!!
So there...
Terry ;-) (smiley-face again incase you didn't see the first one...)
|
943.65 | Geez | REGENT::NIKOLOFF | channel one = Lazaris | Thu Jan 12 1989 12:22 | 4 |
| OH Terry, come on...... John M. couldn't possibly have that much power
8^)
|
943.66 | turbo sushi | USAT05::KASPER | There's no forever, only Now... | Thu Jan 12 1989 13:21 | 8 |
| re: last one.
> OH Terry, come on...... John M. couldn't possibly have that much power
Do you have any idea how many anchovies he's probably eaten????
Now that's power...
Terry
|
943.67 | John's a vegetarian | MARKER::KALLIS | Anger's no replacement for reason | Thu Jan 12 1989 13:39 | 10 |
| Re .66 (Terry):
>Do you have any idea how many anchovies he's probably eaten????
Yeah. Zip. Zero. Nil. Nada. Naught. None.
An Anchovy eating anchovies, while it happens in Nature, doesn't
happen in this file. Rather cannibalistic, what?
Steve Kallis, Jr.
|
943.68 | ...and if this is correct, look out! | WR1FOR::WARD_FR | | Thu Jan 12 1989 13:47 | 102 |
| Well, I enjoyed all the responses since my last one,
even John's ( :- } Thanks, Ro, for an extra nice kicker for me.
Actually, someone wrote me off-line with some provocative
questions and it caused me to pull a few thoughts together. Let
me see if I can do it on paper...
For starters, I see creating your own reality not as a few
becoming-trite words, but rather as ESSENTIAL to accept, if not
to understand. Let me address those who say it isn't so in a manner
which I have done before. And what is interesting is that though
I have asked this before no one has ever responded directly to the
question (at least not with more than an "I don't know.") IF we do
not create our own reality who does? IF we only create a partial
reality, which part (PERCENTAGEs, for the mathematicians/scientists)
do we create? I will again state that we are *almost* forced to
take either an all or none position. If it's being done for us,
then we are the big time losers of life...concepts of free will get
instantly destroyed. If we create a partial reality, who is ever
going to decide which part? 50%? Well, then some of us are really
screwing up our 50% and some of us are getting royally screwed by the
50% that isn't ours. If it's a sliding scale, then we can slide
anywhere from 0% to 100%. BUT THAT INCLUDES 100%!!!!!!!!! You see,
once you put all your goofy emotions aside, even in very simplistic
terms we are left with having to choose 100% of reality's creation.
For those of you who are unsure, confused, etc., take time out here
and go ponder on it for awhile. For those of you *STUCK* in beliefs
of worship to something/someone else, stop here so you don't blow your
fuses. WARNING: This belief is hazardous to religious worshippers.
Why? Because they no longer can count on whatever it is they are
worshipping to do it for them. In other words, they must then assume
100% responsibility for the world and everything else they are aware of
and that's too scary. So, stop here, non-believers, so that you don't
cause yourself any damage... or else proceed at your own risk!
For however many of you that can grasp the concept of creating
your own reality:
Yes, it is scary. Perhaps that is why so many of us avoid, with
so much intensity, facing it. The responsibility is and becomes enormous...
and that is a play on words, for the universe and everything that we
are aware of is the most enormous thing we are aware of. But at the same
time it becomes extraordinarily freeing! How so? Because we can then
lift the onus of having outside forces doing things to us...because we
can then take total control of what we experience...because no problem
need ever be unsolvable or solutionless. Anyway, most of what I am saying
has already been written about in many other places, even within these
notes.
How does this tie to the subject of the hour? ;-) Well, as I
and others have ocassionally pointed out, everything starts from inside,
then works outwardly. The closer anything is to you, the closer or more
"real" that reality is. The closer anything is to you, the closer you
are to the thoughts/beliefs/feelings/attitudes that you HAVE/ARE. To
the extent that something exists in a remote part of the world, that is
the extent to which it is a reflection of yourself. For theoretical fun,
let us say that we come to hear that there are billions of beings
being systematically cannibalized in a distant planet of some distant
star system. By our standards, this would be devastating to say the least.
But we could shrug our shoulders and say "that's the way it is, they're
too far away to help, anyway, and besides we have enough problems of our
own." So we probably wouldn't help them. Well, our world was once like
this...people too far away to help. Now, however, we have the means to
help others. Others who are having their own cannibalisms, as it were.
What do we do? Clearly we cannot help hundreds of millions all by ourself.
We cannot ask "God" to do it since that is an abnegation of our responsibility.
We CAN, however, work with the "forces" that we are a part of to make
the reality different. Again, that starts from within, but it also reaches
out to seek help or guidance from those parts of ourself that are greater
than we are. No one is trying to pull the wool over your eyes, here...no
one is saying that since you do it all that you therefore should understand
it all. NO, it is mostly beyond our capacity to understand. So, we can
work to understand ourselves, work to consciously be aware of our thoughts/
feelings/beliefs/attitudes and work to bring them into functions of love,
caring, harmony, peace, etc. And then just know that the reality will
reflect that. Does it take faith? It certainly requires trust, and trust
is not something to toss around. But without it, doubt, lack of focus,
mixed feelings, etc. will dilute the positive aspects to an extent that
the benefits will not be as strong, if obvious at all. So, maybe we can't
do anything about the person sitting on a barren landscape with nothing
to eat, and maybe we can. But we can certainly do things to those
who are closest to us. We can start with self, then mate (if any) then
the closest friends, etc. and on down the line to however far we can
extend our energy. If we can be teachers and proponents of love, and
we can touch everyone in a positive manner, then so can others, who can
in turn touch others, who can in turn touch yet others...
If we choose a more direct course of action, then realize that your reality
has shifted. That it is no longer way out there, it has at that point become
much closer. Then you can focus on that and work to resolve or solve the
problems at hand. Simultaneously, recognize that this is all a reflection
of thoughts/feelings/beliefs/attitudes that are VERY, VERY important to you.
RESOLVE these t/f/b/a's and the issue will no longer exist. Is this true?
Based on the amounts I have worked with in my life the past few years, I'm
inclined to say "yes." Based on what I have been "taught", then of course
it's true. Compassion? Yes, definitely. But at the head of the list
is ourself. Compassion begins with self-forgiveness (but doesn't end there.)
Compassion is one of many parts which comprise love.
Well, my little "stream of consciousness" has withered for now.
By the way, Terry, I like that: If we have an earthquake on the 25th,
it will be John's FAULT. ;-)
Frederick
|
943.69 | Many Different Masks...One Actor. | EXIT26::SAARINEN | | Thu Jan 12 1989 14:27 | 36 |
| My two cents;
I look at it like this, when I see the number of diverse camps of thought
here in DEJAVU about YCYOR. I really don't give a sh*t whether you
feel that way or not. I don't see YCYOR as really improving anything or
harming the state of the world or ones soul. It just is another form
of belief, among the myriads of dramas being played out on the stage
of this conference and the world.
So I play the person who looks at the total set of beliefs in this
conference and including my own, and trace it back to the source of
the all. The one energy that manifest thru us all, in the many, many
masks of belief that we all assume. So the one that looks out of the eyes
of Frederick or John M., or Steve K., Cindy P., Terry, etc.... is the same
center. Similiar to the one basic energy of the Universe, playing out
all these different parts thru the wonderful actors in this conference.
My opinion is that Reality is just pretty damn big, bigger than what we
can understand completely. All the different forms of expression that
is being acted out here, are a part of that one basic energy. So if
you want to use the "G" word, GOD, that is the word I'd use, to describe
that one basic energy of the universe.
Reminds me of a verse from G.K. Chesterton:
But now a great many thing in the street
Seems any human nod
Where shift in strange democracy
The million masks of God
Quite a Play.
Do you feel a RRrrRrruummmMMmbbBBbbllee?
-Arthur
|
943.70 | Some 24,000 | DNEAST::CHRISTENSENL | | Thu Jan 12 1989 16:20 | 35 |
| E. J. Gold says: "What you THINK you see is what you see".
Seems to me that I created it all and no longer remember having done it.
Then when I am with another person our realities automatically
co-exist and we *agree*. We agree that some 24,000 people got
wiped out in Afganistan and some 24,000 people die of hunger and starvation
every day on this planet. We agree and hence co-create a reality.
Now I ask: are we powerless over our creations? Given that there are some
two billion co-creators each with his or her agenda and level of responsibility
*or* remembering around their creation there is a great deal of mass surrounding
these paritcular realities. What can one individual do? How can one's reality
and the agreement which powers it make any difference at all?
Well, if the overall agreement is "somebody else did it" and reality
just runs on it's own; it is pretty difficult to convince this mass otherwise.
Difficult and not impossible. If a person is just willing to entertain the
notion that he or she has something to do with it, "it" meaning the
way things are, he or she can remove their agreement from the mass.
If enough people remove their agreement such that it no longer HAS to be that
way; then the mass begins to fall apart.
Buckminster Fuller said it best: "Do you want to prevent Nuclear war?
Then don't *you* set off the bomb". If two billion got that message,
if each and every one of us on the planet got that message, there would be
no nuclear threat. I suggest that taking the implied necessity for
pollution and the deaths of millions; once removed from the mass agreement
those things would go away and stay away.
One might ask oneself the question: "What about my own personal survival
is necessary for the deaths of millions of others?"
Larry
|
943.71 | | LEDS::BATES | Sic transit Gloria | Thu Jan 12 1989 16:59 | 8 |
|
Re .70:
Well said, Larry. Masterfully put.
Thanks.
Gloria
|
943.72 | QUESTION | USIV02::CSR209 | | Thu Jan 12 1989 18:23 | 12 |
| I have a question for Fredrick:
If we create our own reality, are the Jews of Europe responsible
for creating the deathcamps of Nazi Germany?
I am interested in this from the viewpoint that Germany was, at
this time, a first-world country, and I'm wondering how this
relates to his concept of the value of life in third-world
countries.
-roger
|
943.73 | I am wounded...even unto my air bladder! | DECWET::MITCHELL | The Cosmic Anchovy | Thu Jan 12 1989 19:40 | 15 |
| RE: .61 (Ro)
> Thankfully the harsh words of Bruce (.52) and John will not prevent
Frederick sharing the information he has to offer. <
Harsh? Moi? G'wan, you big silly!
And far be if from me to cramp Frederick's style! Right Frederick?
Frederick?
John M.
|
943.74 | Over Four Billion Souled! | SEINE::RAINVILLE | Trace this call, where am I? | Thu Jan 12 1989 23:27 | 10 |
| Re: .70 "two-billion co creators"
???
Lorenzo, you just un-created half this world's population,
watch where you point that thing......
;-) MWR
|
943.75 | creation | PSI::CONNELLY | Desperately seeking snoozin' | Fri Jan 13 1989 01:54 | 24 |
| re .68
I think I know what you're saying, Frederick, but I just don't happen
to believe it. I don't believe we as individuals create 100% of the
reality we experience. I do believe we create the meaning that this
reality holds for us, but that act of creation is NOT EASY. And that's
a qualitative judgment, not one based on scale: it's not easy for us,
not easy for the planetary consciousness, not easy even for God. We're
all struggling to make this creation work.
So the materialistic judgments don't necessarily hold water. We know
(it's a truism, isn't it?) that one can be poor but happy, or rich
but miserable. It's the meaning we impart to our experiences that is
the creative component. Does that then impact the way we help to bring
our futures about? Yes! But _nothing_ is guaranteed here. And trying
to generalize about rich and poor nations, like any other form of
value-loaded generalization based on "them and us", creates a false
separation between our selves and the rest of Consciousness.
[End_of_sermon.] I could go into more detail about this, but I'm not
sure what point there would be to that. Hope it makes some sense to
someone reading this. (And, .69, Arthur, I agree with a lot of what
you're saying.)
paul
|
943.76 | "I must change my self-image." | WR1FOR::WARD_FR | | Fri Jan 13 1989 12:09 | 76 |
| re: .72
Roger, this is so difficult to respond to in a way that won't
be attacked, but I will make a small effort...incidentally, this
question (or one similar) is one that often comes up, most recently
I saw Shirley MaClaine responding to this.
In the first place, this original diversion from the topic
was talking about current affairs...times change, and those of us
on the planet now tend to be coming more from the conscious than
from the sub-conscious, which was more prevalent during the era
of the Third Reich. Secondly, what you are talking about is out
of context from the topic insofar as natural disasters are concerned.
But if one is to recognize that each of us is creating our own
very personal reality and we are responsible for it, then no matter
what the "outcome" of our lives, we are the ones who did it. Those
who die tragically are just as responsible for their lives as are
those who caused deaths of others. What is extremely critical to
remember here is that all of these actions are mostly NOT coming
from the conscious mind. No one (almost, with the exception perhaps
of some or all suicides) deliberately subjects themselves to
torture or hardship. Many times, too, the person(s) committing
the acts of brutality or hardship are completely unaware of the
extent of their unloving cruelty. All this means as that we often
(mostly, it seems to me) act unconsciously or sub-consciously.
What it means is that we need to be more aware of what we are
doing, consciously. These acts don't have to be so dramatic to
be hurtful, however. Not being aware of the negative impact
one has by doing something as simple as shouting or complaining
or some such similar thing can likewise reveal a less-than-
conscious mind (although not necessarily.) So what I have been
talking about is simply that we need to recognize that what
we "see" is a direct result of thoughts/feelings/beliefs/attitudes
that WE ARE PRODUCING. If you want different results, manipulate
one or more of the four components. There is a great deal more
to this than the simple answers I have come up with, and no doubt
you feel I haven't responded to the question directly. Hopefully
you can understand why I wouldn't want to, because simply answering
"yes" to your first question is far more provocative than I deserve.
Paul (number .73?)
I will out front acknowledge you for the indepth thinking which
you have shared with us from time to time, and know that what you
have stated comes from serious thinking on your behalf. However,
where I find limitation is simply in your view that there is a
material reality which is separate from a spiritual reality. I
disagree. I hold firmly to the view supported at least in part
by quantum physics which holds that the material world is not
held together by a material girl ( :-) ) but rather by the
four components listed above (or "thought", if you will.) I
do not believe that there is such a thing as an observer as
your reply implies, therefore there is no separation between
between what is attitude and what is material. Also, while
I agree that ULTIMATELY there is no them and no me, all is
one, etc., that that is simply not the name of the game at this
level of reality. In other words, we create a "them" as
a way to have impact. By having impact, we can experience
love (or other emotions) both as a giver and a receiver. So
that if you remove impact, we would simply not exist. So,
to make it simple, yes there is a you and there is a me...ultimately,
for me, there is only me. But not here on this level of reality.
With that belief in place, it makes it more of a challenge, if you
will, to bring harmony to the reality in which we are a part. So
the game gets to be played in the manner in which I believe it is
being played.
Funny, but the last couple of days I have been hit with a couple
of different sources indicating that perhaps I am too reactive.
Anyway, I don't think I can argue with that much...it does seem
to me that I've been in "warrior mode" way more than feels comfortable.
In fact, it tends to be draining. Thanks to those of you who
can disagree with more "coolness".
Frederick
|
943.77 | (barely have time to *read* them, myself) | FNYFS::DONALDSON | Okay! The green *rabbit* leaps... | Fri Jan 13 1989 12:18 | 7 |
| Well, I know one thing for certain Frederick - you
certainly have arranged your reality to allow you to
type very lengthy replies - where do you get the
time from? :-)
John V
(o)
|
943.78 | Does work=JOB? | WRO8A::WARDFR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Fri Jan 13 1989 13:34 | 7 |
| RE: .77 (bearded John)
It comes from being underemployed. ;-)
Frederick
|
943.79 | | TOPDOC::SLOANE | A kinder, more gentle computer ... | Fri Jan 13 1989 15:51 | 42 |
| < Why I'm Angry >
While eating lunch (cosmic tuna fish on whole wheat), I have been
pondering the many interchanges in this note.
I have been wondering why so much of what has been said about YCYOR has
aroused such good old fashioned anger in me. There are many opinions in
notes that I disagree with, but few of them arouse my anger.
For one thing, I'm not sure I understand YCYOR. Does a two-month-old
baby dying of starvation in Africa create its own reality? Does the
mother of this baby create her own reality? Did a 40-year old German
Jew who died in the gas chamber in 1940 create his or her own reality?
To carry it a step further, for those believing in multiple
reincarnations, (another myth, in my opinion, but we can debate that
one someplace else) did the two-month old baby do something in a previous
existence so as to create a existence wherein it starves to death?
Of course, most of *US* are enlightened enough so we create a reality
which gives to us a good job and the good life in a major industrial
nation, with all the wonderful things that go with this marvelous
reality.
In my opinion (which is not necessarily the same as IMHO) I think YCYOR
is a load of crap. But that's not what makes me angry. What does make
me angry (read my words, Frederick) is the smug supercilious attitude
that many (not all) of the YCYOR arguements imply that goes something
like this: "We're living (or have lived) right, and our reality is
simply marvelous; those poor unfortunates whose reality is not so great
have chosen to lead these miserable existences, and they deserve what
they choose."
This attitude is the root of all prejudice. It is the feeling that you,
simply because of your existence, are better and superior than others.
It's the same attitude many people have toward those of a different
religion, race, country, or financial standing.
Unfortunately for the human race, you're wrong. I'll fight this
to the end.
Bruce
|
943.80 | CYOR, Seth-style | BIGSUR::GRAFTON_JI | | Fri Jan 13 1989 16:21 | 48 |
| A while ago I read quite a bit of the Seth material that was
channeled through Jane Roberts. He, too, spoke of creating
your own reality, and one of the thoughts I remember may provide
a different view of the sufferings and atrocities that go on
in our world.
I believe he said (to the best of my memory) that *sometimes*
many people create a reality in which atrocities occur in order
to prove, display, or show something. For example, a number of
souls may decide that for further growth of our collective souls,
we need to learn what can happen when power goes awry. So, the
souls convene (Please don't ask where or how--remember this is
my interpretation) and decide that someone will be a Hitler, someone
will be the Gestapo, some will be the victims, and so on. The souls
also agree that they will meet together in events and environments
that will foster their growth as individuals in this way. In
essence, they set up the environment (or stage) for what they want
to do and then do it. It seems to be a matter of a number of souls
working together to prove a point--in this case, that power used
in the wrong ways is brutal, inhumane, tortuous, and any other term
you would like to apply. The important point Seth seemed to make
(at least to me), is that the lives were created, lived, and ended
in a way that brought this point home to the rest of the world.
It is a collective agreement of souls to do something (anything)
so that we could all learn together. The physical lives were
brutal so that we (the rest of us) could learn the brutality of
life and hopefully learn to be more accepting, compassionate, and
helpful.
Since life continues on other planes of existence or through other
life experience, the emphasis is on the growth that occurs instead
of the fear of death in this life.
He also said that souls often join together in smaller groups
to learn other important lessons. For example, sometimes souls
agree to be part of the same family so that they can
work out problems of addiction, jealousy, self-hate. Others may
agree to work out issues as friends: sharing, fear of rejection,
or interdependence.
Everything seems to be aimed at growth on the spiritual level.
If my memory serves me, I also think Seth mentioned the collective
beliefs that *could* create such natural disasters as floods,
earthquakes, tornados, and so on. If anyone is interested, I would
be glad to review my books and bring in those thoughts as well.
Jill
|
943.81 | YCYOR/CCIOR | SPMFG1::CLAYR | | Fri Jan 13 1989 16:52 | 31 |
|
I think most of us generally misunderstand the whole meaning
begind the YCYOR philosophy. It seems like what we try to do is
interpret it through the extremely limited perspective of our or-
dinary consciousness. For one thing, we tend to see ourselves as
separate, discrete entities rather than one unified *Being*, connected
within this universe (which is how Einstein would have us see it).
Myself, I prefer to think of the expression "CCIOR" (Consciousness
Creates Its Own Reality) as being closer to a true description of
how our lives are guided. Picture one overall whole (which you could
call God) of which we are little extensions, still connected and
able to draw as much as we need of the total source of power/energy,
and imagine that this entire living universe/consciousness unit
is a dynamic structure which transcends the physical limitations
of space and time and what not.
I agree that it doesn't seem to make much sense that anyone would
consciously choose an existence of suffering, but maybe just looking
at that 'suffering' is taking things too far out of context. For
example, I think of going to the dentist as suffering, but within
the context of my overall quality of life and health it's a suffering
I choose to put up with from time to time. Along those same lines
then, if we are all eternal, reincarnating extensions of one limitless
whole, what in comparison is one death by starvation, or one war
or other disaster. These are probably no more than individual lessons
in the whole of *God*'s plan...
Roy
|
943.82 | We forgot as we were born. | WRO8A::WARDFR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Fri Jan 13 1989 16:54 | 90 |
| re: .79 (a kinder, more gentle computer...is definitely in order)
Since I seem to be the ball-carrier in this "skirmish", I
will attempt to respond. First let me state that if what you say
were correct, I would completely agree. Honest.
A part of what makes me angry, in return, is the frustration
at not being able to explain the intricacies and the complexities
involved...especially in the course of a couple of replies such
as this. What you are getting from me is over 4 decades (Gasp!)
of my knowledge absorption, specifically here several thousand hours
of very active learning. Not just dollars, but hours. While I
certainly don't qualify as a life expert, or whatever, I do feel
that I have sufficiently grasped the matter in a manner that makes
more sense to me than the first three decades of my life did.
Okay, this all sounds like ego talking, maybe it is. The point
I am trying to get to is that it is NOT EASY to explain this simply.
That one must reach and search and think and study and look and
seek and all the while be open to concepts that go against what
I have been calling here the consensus. BUT IT FITS. AND IT WORKS.
There may very well be people out there who say that since certain
humans chose a certain path, so be it, don't interfere. Bruce,
I'd be on your side, if this were the end results. Those who promote
those views are sadly misinformed, in my view. They're the ones
responsible for the term "the ME generation." I am not among them.
You see, Bruce, if we accept that people choose a certain reality
(which I believe they do...but I will qualify it) then they also
choose, by free will, an ability to change it. What is not stated
here is HOW that change is enacted. Could it be possible that that
change is to come about on account of our direct involvement? Do
you get this? Let me repeat it...What if this person creates a
lifetime where they are born into horrible conditions.......UNTIL
such time as a helper comes along to offer an alternative. In other
words, if someone is drowning do you watch or do you help? In your
example the "excuse" would be they chose it...in my preferred, more
appropriate scenario, they may be choosing to have their life saved
so that they can learn some other lesson. Have you followed this
or do I need to say more along these lines. Though people are
each individually choosing their realities does not mean that we,
as individuals, should turn our responsibility and power over to
some belief that says "pretend they aren't there." In fact, as
I indicated in a prior reply, it means quite the opposite. So,
while at first "glance" what you said appears to be the prevailing
outcome, in fact it isn't. The outcome is more love, more
responsibility...but NOT at the expense of one's own martyrhood.
I wish I had time here to write up some information of which
I am aware which would add yet more support to this view. I cannot
do it simply. Let me say something else, though. You also cannot
just take a little piece and then use it out of context from the
whole of which it depends. I have tried to also indicate that there
is more than just an operant conscious mind or even sub-conscious
mind or even the unconscious mind...there is of necessity here
an understanding that there is also a Higher Conscious (Higher Self)
mind. It is the Higher Conscious which directs the birth...it is
the conscious (in our case) which directs the life. And it's so
much, much more intricate than this simplicity, too. If you could
accept that like tends to attract like (this is not in concrete,
by the way) you would perhaps have more understanding why "groups"
or "groupings" occur as they do...and I refer to groups of race,
groups of cultures, groups of families, groups within families (maybe),
groups among workers, etc, etc. As I once pointed out in another
topic, if you were a spirit who wanted to become physical and wanted
to learn (as one of several focuses for your lifetime) how to
deal with anger, for example, where and how would you pick a place/
situation to be born? If you picked a country where the consensus
has some type of anger or other, righteous or otherwise, then you
would be right at "home" in your stacked deck of exploration of
anger. Is this leaving too many holes? I hope not...it's so much
more difficult writing this than it is verbalizing it vocally.
Once again, I am not just taking parts of this and rejecting
the rest. It all has to be taken in in order for the rest of it
to be understood, I think. As I said, for me it's been thousands
of hours...as something is explained, another question pops up and
the response to that has to be found, which brings up yet another
question and on and on. I have followed so many thoughts around
and around and back and on that I have finally culled enough to
see how the puzzle will look when completed, though I still lack
many of the pieces.
To reiterate, your premise is incorrect from the standpoint
of CYOR as I have taken it. There may very well be others out there
who have an unsimilar definition. I just want it understood that
I do not hold to any kind of view that does not include love as
somehow being the ultimate goal...but without guilt, anger, jealousy,
fear, hurt, righteousness, blame, etc. that so many other systems
keep intact.
Further communication at this level of intensity is much
easier, thanks.
Frederick
|
943.83 | And if y'all don't like my reply, remember we decided on it | DECWET::MITCHELL | The Cosmic Anchovy | Fri Jan 13 1989 17:29 | 27 |
| RE: .80 (Jill)
> The important point Seth seemed to make (at least to me), is that
the lives were created, lived, and ended in a way that brought this
point home to the rest of the world. It is a collective agreement of
souls to do something (anything) so that we could all learn together.
<
This is one of the most bizarre and illogical things I have read in this
conference to date.
I guess it is safe to assume that if souls get together in some kind of cosmic
town meeting of sorts to decide to teach a lesson of some kind, other souls
elsewhere are gathering together to decide not to get the point.
One of the 1000 problems with the example you cite is that the lesson, as it
were, is simultaneously the atrocity itself. If we consider all the wars,
crimes and such to be lessons, then the greatest service the "teachers" could
do is to stay out of the classroom!
On another note, ever notice how the spirit world is as prone to faddishness as
this one? Why weren't supposed channeled entities touting YCYOR back in the
1920s when channelers (then called mediums) were all the rage? Seems that
the afterlife reported by the "spirits" changes with the audience.
John M.
|
943.85 | A clarification | TOPDOC::SLOANE | A kinder, more gentle computer ... | Mon Jan 16 1989 16:39 | 16 |
|
I'm sorry I don't have time now (and I probably will be just as busy
until toward the end of the week) for more than a cursory answer.
ACYOR (Accepting Your Own Reality) doesn't mean you can't try to change
things. It means simply accepting the facts of your life and situation
- good, bad, and inbetween - and working to change things from that
point of view.
For example, Martin Luther King was a realist - he accepted the
universe on its own terms, as bad as much of it was. But he also
accepted the reality that there were things he could do to cause
change, and he worked toward that goal. (He also accepted the reality
that there was a good chance he might be killed - and he was.)
Bruce
|
943.86 | Self-fulfilling prophesies__our realities. | WRO8A::WARDFR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Mon Jan 16 1989 17:29 | 10 |
| re: .85
Bruce, er, um, it seems to me that your last paragraph could
easily be used as argument for creating one's own reality. That
Martin Luther King predicted or anticipated his own death could
very well be called self-fulfilling prophesy...just another version
of creating one's own reality.
Frederick
|
943.87 | ?-YOR | USAT05::KASPER | There's no forever, only Now... | Tue Jan 17 1989 07:23 | 12 |
| re: last one (Bruce)
> ACYOR (Accepting Your Own Reality) doesn't mean you can't try to change
> things. It means simply accepting the facts of your life and situation
> - good, bad, and inbetween - and working to change things from that
> point of view.
You mean something like, If you don't like your current reality,
change it, ie create a new one? Sounds like it to me...
Terry
|
943.88 | All for one, one for all | HPSTEK::BEST | | Tue Jan 24 1989 08:09 | 26 |
|
ACYOR and YCYOR as concepts have some good points. It just seems
to me as though those who are into these things are trying to re-
invent the spiritual wheel. These things have been said in much
less coarse terms in the past. If you are really searching then
you will find that this concept doesn't matter or is confusing.
It appears to be as agressively spiritual to some as is Christianity
and "fire and brimstone" lectures are to others. Those who are
willing to slow down, practice what they preach (accepting), and
listen and think, will find the common thread in it all. If you
are *really* looking, that is...
In case it isn't clear what my point is, I am trying to say why
go to the trouble and time of creating a new language to say some-
thing old, unless you can guarantee that the language that you create
will become the universal one. If perhaps instead we looked solely
for the universal language we would find that language to be called
love, acceptance, and communication (REAL communication). Perhaps
if we really communicated and accepted and listened the words written
by a thousand cultures would be allowed to take root and become
powerful to us. It's all been said a thousand times - are you sure
that none of the thousand will suit you?
Guy
|
943.89 | Goggle-eyes have it! | WRO8A::WARDFR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Tue Jan 24 1989 10:59 | 18 |
| re: .88
Guy, while I think I would agree with you to some extent,
I can add that if what had been said before had been so eloquent,
then why isn't more of the world listening? Perhaps others in
our historical past have been enlightened enough to carry signs,
but perhaps those of us looking have been looking for neon instead
of paint on plywood. There are many new awarenesses at this point
in consciousness that added to all the "evolutionary" changes,
justifies a re-wording, clarification and even new presentation.
Then again, all the waters have been muddied---perhaps we're
not willing to wait a few thousand more years to let the silt
settle back down. I, for one, am grateful for those whom I feel
can provide me with a nice set of goggles...and they're new goggles
to me.
Frederick
|
943.90 | Give me liberty, or give me myth. | HPSTEK::BEST | | Tue Jan 24 1989 14:43 | 30 |
|
O.K. I can deal with a new presentation of the old ideas. But
I feel that it is already there in old texts. People are afraid
of those old texts because of their own prejudices. So perhaps we do
need a new presentation. But then how many people following the
old presentations would still miss the boat because of their lack
of wanting to look at those old ideas in a different way. What
is really the essence of the person and his or her relationship
to their own spirituality does not easily change - so they should
learn not to fear new or foreign interpretations of their own sacred
writings. It can only bring new dimensions to their meaning. If
people can't look at say the Bible or the Koran or the Upanishads
with a different angle and interpretation then they will not go
for some kind of "modernization" of the old ideas, it will only
appear as perhaps "New Age mumbo-jumbo" or the like.
The problem with many religions is their lack of new material
to fit the collective of modern times. I'm not talking about revamping
old material, I mean the creation of a new myth, the myth of the
modern man. At the time of Christ the Age of Pisces(I think) was
just ending and the collective unconscious was ready for a saviour.
Christ was incredibly gifted and filled the void perfectly. He
succeeded in harvesting the body of knowledge found in the collective
which the people needed. After the disciples no more books were
added reflecting the myth of the times. No one has harvested the
collective unconscious. The Jewish folks cut off their myth gathering
even earlier. Any new books in the Koran? Baghavad Gita? Whatever
else? Yeah, I'd say we're primed for the new age.
Guy
|
943.91 | | WILLEE::FRETTS | keep life's wonder alive | Tue Jan 24 1989 14:57 | 11 |
| RE: .90 Guy
>..... At the time of Christ the Age of Pisces(I think) was
>just ending and the collective unconscious was ready for a saviour.
It was the Age of Aries that was ending at the time of Christ;
it is the Age of Pisces that is ending now and we are moving into
the Age of Aquarius.
Carole
|
943.92 | ayuh | HPSTEK::BEST | | Tue Jan 24 1989 15:15 | 5 |
|
Thanks, I knew that doubt was there for a good reason. :-)
Guy
|
943.93 | 25th of January coming up! | BIGSUR::GRAFTON_JI | | Tue Jan 24 1989 18:28 | 5 |
| Tomorrow is the first 25th of 1989.
Will there be an earthquake? We'll all see tomorrow. :-)
Jill
|
943.94 | PLEASE!!! NOT ON MY SHIFT!!! | USACSB::OPERATOR_CB | 20-20 Chaos | Wed Jan 25 1989 00:57 | 6 |
|
so far so so g o !
o d O l 2 h u s l f !
n y 3 o r e t (this month)
Craig
|
943.95 | | NEXUS::GORTMAKER | Whatsa Gort? | Wed Jan 25 1989 03:02 | 3 |
| Humm, That earthquake in USSR was/is pretty darn close.
-j
|
943.96 | Close but no seegar | TOPDOC::SLOANE | A kinder, more gentle computer ... | Wed Jan 25 1989 07:39 | 8 |
| Re: -.1
Not close enough. If you read Topher's statistical analysis (.16),
you'll see by extrapolation that the odds of an earthquake occuring
on either of any *two* specified days of a month during a year
must be about 1.
Bruce
|
943.97 | Horseshoes and hand granades. | CADSYS::COOPER | Topher Cooper | Wed Jan 25 1989 14:48 | 81 |
| RE: .95 (j)
Unlike in horseshoes, a "near miss" doesn't count at all, unless you
decide in advance what will constitute a near miss and how you will
count it. The reason is that there are so many ways that something
can be a near miss: one day earlier, one day later, two days earlier
two days later, one week earlier, one week later, one year later,
the 15th of the month, you didn't hear about it until the 25th,
the last survivor was found on the 25th, 25 people died, 250 people
died, 2500 people died, and so on, ad infinitum.
It's not that such near misses are completely meaningless, its just
that you cannot count them as evidence. What you have to do with
them is to learn from them, then the next time a similar prediction
is made you take it into account in deciding how to evaluate whatever
occurs for evidence. You might say "My past experience warns me
that these predictions sometimes seem to miss by a bit in time,
so I'll count a direct hit by so much, a miss by one day as so
much and a miss by two days by so much" (we've only talked about
counting all or nothing, but you can set things up so that some
things count as better evidence than others). But you have to
watch out: the more that you are willing to accept as evidence --
even weak evidence -- the less a direct hit will count.
RE: .95 (Bruce)
Yes and no. Your conclusions are right but there are some minor
problems with how you got there:
1) If you are willing to "count" a day before the target day then
you would certainly also be willing to count a day after. This
means that you would need to count three days a month not two.
2) The quake actually occurred Monday morning -- two days before
the quake. If we count two days before the quake we would also
have to count one day before the quake, one day after and two
days after as targets, making it five days per month or sixty
target days in the year.
3) In .16 I make the calculations on the basis of the average number
of "major" earthquakes a year (18). As discussed later, this is
too high, since we are really concerned with the number of significant
quakes a year. In .23 I estimated the number of significant
earthquakes a year (5) on the basis of the number of "notable"
earthquakes a year. I think that this is the more appropriate
number (and I would say that the new Soviet earthquake does qualify
as significant).
4) You fell into that oh-so-easy trap. Simply adding probabilities
in this case way over estimates things. While the probability
is high for two target days a month and eighteen earthquakes a year,
it is lower than "about 1".
5) Small effect -- I made a stupid arithmetic error in .16. I
subtracted 12 from 365 and got 352 instead of 353.
Overall here are the probabilities
18 "major" quakes a year:
12 target days; prob = .4521355 or about 1 in 2
24 target days; prob = .7060271 or very roughly 2 chances out
of 3 (note -- considerably less than about 1).
36 target days; prob = .845739 or about 85%.
60 target days; prob = .9605428 or about one chance in 25
of it *not* occurring.
5 "notable" quakes a year:
12 target days; prob = .1539243 or about 1 in 6
24 target days; prob = .2882826 or between 1 in 4 and 1 in 3.
36 target days; prob = .4050024 or about 2 chances in 5.
60 target days; prob = .592587 or about 3 chances in 5.
If we had decided in advance to count near misses the same as
direct hits and thus, as it would turn out, include the latest
Soviet quake, the 3 in 5 figure would be the appropriate one to
use. While a single positive response could easily be explained
as a coincidence, it is not so a priori likely as to be dismissed
entirely. Six successful predictions in a row would constitute
good evidence by the standard criteria (1 in 20 or better odds
against occurring by chance).
Topher
|
943.98 | interesting find ? | DECWET::MITCHELL | The Cosmic Anchovy | Fri Feb 03 1989 17:38 | 10 |
| Well my earthquake dream has yet to come to pass (hopefully not),
but here's an interesting tidbit.
Last night I was cleaning out my desk and came upon a bit of paper
where I recorded a nightmare I had about a terrible plane crash
(Jan. 1986). The flight number was to be 237. Uh....wasn't that
the number of the ill-fated plane in Scotland? Just wondering.
Hey Topher, what's the probability of....oh, never mind.
John M.
|
943.99 | cosmic killjoy | CIMNET::PIERSON | Milwaukee Road Track Inspector | Tue Feb 07 1989 18:01 | 5 |
| Sorry, John
Flight 103.
thanks
dave pierson
|
943.100 | earthquake on the 25th? | COMET::PINAR | | Tue Apr 25 1989 18:39 | 5 |
|
An earthquake - registering a 6.8 on richter (sp?) scale happened
in Mexico today (early this morning)...April 25th.
|
943.101 | | WILLEE::FRETTS | flight of the dark... | Wed Apr 26 1989 09:48 | 6 |
|
....and wouldn't you know, the Cosmic Anchovy isn't here when
we *really* need him! ;-)
Carole
|
943.102 | perhaps someone could channel him? | STARDM::JOLLIMORE | We are what we think | Wed Apr 26 1989 09:59 | 0 |
943.103 | Couldn't resist... | CLUE::PAINTER | Nothing is written. | Wed Apr 26 1989 13:01 | 4 |
|
Try the Disney Channel.
Cindy
|
943.104 | Cooper the Party Pooper. | CADSYS::COOPER | Topher Cooper | Wed Apr 26 1989 14:18 | 23 |
| I really don't think that this counts for much. The facts, according
to todays Globe:
The quake was 6.8 on the Richter scale (the famous Mexico City quake
that killed 10,000 people in 1985 was 8.1 -- seven times stronger).
Only one person was killed (thank goodness): electrocuted when an
electric wire fell on him. Two major injuries were reported: from
jumping from a building in panic. No major damage to buildings. Some
flooding from a leak in an aquaduct. A lot of power outage from downed
lines.
A not very noteworthy quake. Bruce's table in .14 says that there are
approximately 120 quakes between 6.0 and 7.0 each year. There is only
about 1 chance in 50, therefore, that at least one such quake *won't*
occur during the year on the 25th of some month.
Basically, this quake was reported at all because of it *was* no big
deal in contrast to the '85 quake.
So, unless John was in Mexico City when it struck, I would say this is
a washout. But there are still 8 more chances.
Topher
|
943.105 | If I ever see John I'll let him know we're thinking of him | MISERY::WARD_FR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Wed Apr 26 1989 14:25 | 15 |
| re: .104 (Topher)
Maybe John has Mexican blood in him?
Actually, I think it's rather interesting, just the same.
By the way, I think you are in error about the magnitude.
On television yesterday I heard an "expert" say the earthquake
in '85 was about 100 times stronger. (It's probably in an earlier
note in this topic but isn't each point in the Richter scale
a factor of 10 [or is it 100] over the preceding point?) Also,
this quake was horizontal versus vertical.
Frederick
|
943.106 | richter scale | GENRAL::ROOHR | | Wed Apr 26 1989 14:32 | 2 |
| On the Richter scale an increase of 1 is a 60 times increase in
energy. Larry
|
943.107 | Oops. | CADSYS::COOPER | Topher Cooper | Wed Apr 26 1989 16:18 | 30 |
| RE: .106 (Larry):
Well, I was wrong, but I'm not sure that you are right; can you give
me a reference.
Two references I checked said (after some simple algebraic
manipulation) that:
log(E1/E2) = 1.5(M1 - M2)
where E1 is the energy of the first earthquake, E2 is the energy of the
second earthquake, M1 is the magnitude of the first earthquake and M2
is the magnitude of the second earthquake.
I assumed that the logarithm used was a natural log (base e), as that
is the kind of log generally used in technical matters. In fact,
because the Richter scale was set up on a powers of ten basis in the
first place, the common logrithm (base 10) was intended.
Using base 10 rather than base e in the formula gives us that
the 85 quake was about 90 times more powerful (in energy) than
yesterdays.
However, this formula implies that an increase of 1 on the Richter
scale corresponds to about 32 times as much energy rather than 60
times. After making one dumb error I would not presume to claim that
my figure is right and yours is wrong but I don't see where I've gone
off on this one.
Topher
|
943.108 | dictionary one liner | GENRAL::ROOHR | | Wed Apr 26 1989 16:54 | 7 |
| Hi Topher,
I just looked up richter in the dictionary (American Heritage)
and thats what (and all) it said. Now it's really buggin me. I'll
swing by our library this afternoon and look in whatever encyclopedia
they've got down there. Note that the dictionary specified 'energy'
and we could be talking some other quantity here, like measuring
voltage gain in Db's can lead to some confusion. Later, Larry.
|
943.109 | Richter who? | GENRAL::ROOHR | | Wed Apr 26 1989 18:26 | 8 |
| Topher,
The encyclopedia agreed with you: LOG E = 11.4+1.5M which works
out to what you have already said. It also said "The relationship
between E and M is at best only aproximate; the relationship between
E and M appears to be variable.". Just like so many other things
we enjoy discussing in this file, Richter units must be a matter
of belief. There must be a 'least miraculous' Richter. ;^)
Larry
|
943.110 | the straight scoop | USAT05::KASPER | In the eye of a storm hope is born | Thu Apr 27 1989 14:25 | 24 |
| > ...the relationship between E and M appears to be variable...
Yeah, Earl and Mertle. I heard they're having trouble too.
About Richter. If you take formula:
E((M*X)/�+(1-E�))/(a�+b�-c�) = MC�/�
(where � is the size of Michael Jordan's left shoe)
It's easy to see that the sliding, trimetrical relationship between
the quake's epicenter and the escalating, bifunctional elipse as it
becomes tangent to the earth's axis when multiplied (using a helio-
centrifical counter tangent, of course) will create a force equal to
the solar-plexular meridian algorithym. This results, as anybody could
guess, in subterrainian superfissures that, when heated to a temperature
greater than that of the dark side of the moon, will, without fail, slip.
This slippage, measured on the standard, psuedo-euclidian Richter scale
will indicate there has been an earthquake within a 500 mile radius of
the nearest Burger King.
So there.
Terry *<;')
|
943.111 | Could I have "jimmies" on mine, please? | CADSYS::COOPER | Topher Cooper | Thu Apr 27 1989 17:11 | 5 |
| RE: .110
Thank you, Terry, for explaining that. It all makes sense now.
Topher :-)
|
943.112 | Well done! | CLUE::PAINTER | Nothing is written. | Tue May 02 1989 19:09 | 11 |
|
Re.110 (Kasper)
WOW! Terry, I'm duly impressed!
You've finally mastered the use of the Compose Character key.
Now drive to the nearest BK and treat yourself to a vanilla
shake - you've earned it!
Cindy
|
943.113 | | NEXUS::MORGAN | All Hail Informatia! | Tue May 02 1989 19:21 | 7 |
| Reply to .112, Cindy
> Now drive to the nearest BK and treat yourself to a vanilla
> shake - you've earned it!
BK? Barf Kitchen?
|
943.114 | NOBK4ME | FATBOY::KASPER | In the eye of a storm hope is born | Thu May 11 1989 22:35 | 10 |
| > Now drive to the nearest BK and treat yourself to a vanilla
> shake - you've earned it!
Ditto on the 'Barf-Kitchen'... I wouldn't eat/drink or even
use the bathroom there. The food's bad, they encourage the
destruction of the rain forests and they are contributing to
the depletion of the ozone by using styrofoam. Oh yeah, and
they use white bread. Yuck!
Terry ;')
|
943.115 | At least three or four...where are five or six? | MISERY::WARD_FR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Tue Oct 24 1989 17:28 | 10 |
| re: .20 et al
Is anyone keeping count?
Armenia, California, China--all major earthquakes in heavily
populated areas with loss of life and major expenses. Are there
any others?
Frederick
|
943.116 | Look for one to happen in November. | DICKNS::STANLEY | What a long, strange trip its been | Mon Oct 30 1989 09:45 | 13 |
|
October 30, 1989
ALGIERS - Two earthquakes about 15 minutes apart struck northern
Algeria last night killing at least 14 persons and injuring manhy
others.
Most people killed were in the Tipasa region about 40 miles west
of Algiers and in the town of Cherchell on the Mediterranean coast
60 miles west of the capital.
Quakes were estimated at 6.0 on the Richter scale. This region
has a history of earthquakes.
|
943.117 | | WILLEE::FRETTS | All the Earth is alive... | Mon Oct 30 1989 10:56 | 9 |
|
Also read in the new EARTHQUAKE notesfile a prediction that another
California earthquake will hit between November 10 and 16. This
is based on predictions made by Jeanne Dixon (not someone I follow
closely ;-)) and a geologist in California who correctly predicted
the 10/17 quake.
Carole
|
943.118 | In retrospect | DOCS::DOCSVS | | Wed Nov 22 1989 13:19 | 1 |
| So did one happen? If it did, it didn't hit the papers.
|
943.119 | This prediction came to be... | WRO8A::WARDFR | Going HOME--as an Adventurer | Thu Dec 28 1989 13:27 | 16 |
| re: .115 (me)
Well, to probably close out the year...an earthquake in Australia
earlier today. 5.5 on the Richter Scale isn't too bad, but the
duration of 45 seconds is what no doubt did them in. Eight
fatalities is what I heard.
This seems to coincide well with Lazaris' predictions of this
current and soon to end year.
Incidentally, he forecast more earthquakes for the coming
year as well as volcanoes and other devastations. He was less precise
with them, I think, though, than what he told us at this point last
year. He strongly emphasized water as being the most critical issue
we face or will be facing. ANyway, this is off the topic.
Frederick
|