AssemblyBoard

http://www.aad.gov.au/asset/images/632_ul-Blue_feed.jpg


Last sunday I saw one of these! They are feeding off Dana Point. (Usually they are a few hundred miles up North.) Seeing one up close is quite an experience. It is 300 feet! Like a dinosaur! It is soooo big you have to wonder, Does it even know people exist?

Hi Dave,

Your topics are interesting and are generating replies, but I'd like to suggest that you might find a way to add them to topics already here. There are already so many topics here and it makes it difficult to follow conversations already in progress when new threads are added continually.

For example, The Blue Whale, which must have been an awesome sight, could be added to "Pets" or "A Very Long Thread", to add a little humor here, or even under "Current Events", under which there is already a reference to fish.

I'm not saying that you are not welcome here, but just try to attach some of your new threads to those already here.

Moonflower2

"There are already so many topics here and it makes it difficult to follow conversations already in progress when new threads are added continually."  quote from Moon,

    You have got to be kidding! (This BB is basically a conversation between three people!) I post quite regularly on another board that has multiple times as many people. Quite often I post a thread in the morning and when I get home from work it is already 5 threads down the line! If the moderator feels like "Oh this should be moved to the "pets" thread then I guess he can do it!  (Been a while since I've had a Blue Whale for a pet!)


  (Why don't you jump in and make it four? I'm willing to just forgive and forget! How bout you?)

   

I vaguely and foggily remember a childhood visit to a great aunt who only had one eye.  I recall being awe struck at the talking parrot she owned that would fly out of the cage door left purposely open and land contentedly on her shoulder.  It would then toss out sporadic squawks during the visit.

My jaw slammed shut in the car about halfway home after finishing the recollection of the preceding events.

..Not sure whether this belongs in this thread.

No I'm not kidding. It's not the first time this suggestion has been made to you Sometimes it seems like this is your diary, ie, what's DaveM thinking about today?

Moonflower

Trac4yt,

That obviously goes in the one-eyed-aunt-with-parrot thread. But that one is rather full. Maybe it should be a split topic for the squawking part.

Moonflower,

If it weren't for DaveM (and the occasional DaveS) there would be no traffic on this blog. Most people blog where there can be real conversations. Dave is right, there are only a few who respond on here and their responses are quite predictable (read the Dylan thread). Most FAM's I still talk to only check this board once a month or so. One FAM said, "I just check to see if George has died yet." That's a bit morose, but understandable. Personally, I'm waiting for Joe Sperling's parody of The Smith Family Cont'd.

Well, I can't say that I've seen a Blue Whale or ever heard fowl language  :rofl: in the home of a mono optic relative, but I did see a cougar once, just standing by the highway near Wentzville, MO.  At the time, I babysat the children of a local park ranger, and I told him about it.  I could tell he thought I was, hmmmm, let's say "mistaken", but sure 'nuff, I saw it (my hubby saw it too)

I've seen a coyote (live) by the side of the road, a parrot in a kitchen, a snake in my garage, a robin eat my blueberries before I could get to them, a live seal on a rock at Point Dume, lots of roadkill, lots of live animals at the zoo, dead squirrels in my pool, and a housecat attack my child.

Oh, and I've dug up live sanddollars in the ocean. I checked them to make sure that the initials "GG" weren't on the backs of them.

I've seen coyotes right in the middle of the city very early in the morning. When I used
to go sailing a lot I would see gray whales---never seen a live blue one,saw a whale shark once,
sunfish (these are huge lazy fish that lay on their sides on the surface of the ocean), and lots and
lots of flying fish. I also live with a couple of wise-asses--but that's another story.  ;D

Seen Scyphozoa and men-o'-war. Sea urchins and carp. My! Life is good!! ;)

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:JellyfishMeal.JPG

Re. what is considered "good conversation."

  In order to keep on topic I will mention that I been SCUBA diving in the Coral Sea and saw many interesting fish, corals, etc.  "Joy to the fishes in the big blue sea, joy to you and me" ("Jeremiah was a bullfrog", by Three Dog Night).

 Jem mentioned that this site is a "blog"-- it is not, it is a Bulletin Board and doesn't serve the same purpose.  A blog is controlled by one person who writes about what interests him/her and usually allows for others to comment.

  A BB is an open forum that allows for many to comment and normally follows a theme interest such as "cults" or can be more specific like this one.  Without a watchful mediator a BB can become like a CB radio where the "conversation" just degenerates into personal insults flying back and forth.

  Just because a BB has a lot of quantity (like the CB example) doesn't mean it has quality. 

  I have noticed over the years (and having been on a number of these BB's) that there are some who seem to be always disappointed over the activity on a BB they are reading.  It's like when they read the BB they think they are viewing some kind of entertainment and they are the professional critic.

  Some say the conversation lacks this or that as if their BB "program" is not living up to their expectations.  Seldom do they actually suggest what would make it better or try to make a positive contribution themselves.  No, they are not a real member of the BB, they are on the outside looking in.

  If you don't like what "the 3 to 4 posters posting who control the BB" present for your critique let's see what you can do!  The fact is nobody "controls the BB" as all members are free to present their opinions. 

  All kinds of people read, and for many different reasons.  All kinds of people post, and for many different reasons as well.  Some look for entertainment in a BB not unlike those slowing down to look at a traffic accident (this can draw a huge crowd).  Others are trying give help or find help re. a specific need. (In this case former Assm. members).

  I think critics are necessary on a BB if they point their criticism toward what a person writes or maybe how they present it.  Personal attacks that just attempt to ridicule another's views/style without any meaningful constructive dialogue are not helpful.

  Jem, you seem to think my Wounded Pilgrim posts are worthy of parody, and I realize that there are those who see little value in them and who might even disagree with the whole concept of recovery.  And while I know this, I wouldn't make the effort of continuing the thread if I didn't sincerely think there are some being helped by reading it.  There are always many more readers than posters on any such forum.

  The best stories are the real ones, but many are reluctant to share because they know there is a possibility they will be opened to derision for doing it. This is why I make these composite stories up so that these "wounded" souls can see themselves in them and maybe find hope for recovery of their life in God.  Any constructive advice toward my goal that you can offer would be greatly appreciated, but below the belt criticism only creates bad feeling.

    I thank Brian for providing this opportunity and for putting up with all the ups and downs here as I think this BB has provided a wonderful resource for former members, and also for those from other similar groups who read here.

                                                        God Bless,  Mark C.

Mark,

I am sorry to have hurt your feelings. I was wrong when I said some responses on this BB are predictable since I totally expected you to say something like, "Forget Sperling, when I'm done with the Smiths I'm coming out with my own Adams Family version." I misread you, please forgive me.

In that moment of levity I did not mean to suggest that the story on Wounded Pilgrim had no place or value. I am very sorry if anyone read my sarcasm that way.

But Mark, you did totally lose me on the blog/bb differences. None of the blogs I read regularly are written by only one person, though, like you said, many are "themed." All have a moderator and the form looks almost identical to this one. Now I'm not being snarky here, can you explain the difference a bit more; I sincerely don't see the difference.

  Moon, In the past you have personally attacked me! Why? Do you own a Kinkaid? What did I do to merit such attention? I don't remember personally attacking you? My thread, "The Bule Whale" is just friendly conversation. Yes! I am posting numerous threads! (It's obvious I don't have a life right now-I am on vacation and but getting ready to head out on a camping trip.)  I do this in hopes of coaxing others out of the woodwork! I agree with Marc, What can you do to make this BB better?

I didn't attack you. You took whatever I must have said too personally. I don't own a Kinkaid, but since I'm a practical person, I own a Chevy Prism.

You ask what you did to merit "such attention"? You continually begin new posts and thereby creating attention by yourself, (not that you are seeking it, but just creating it).

I'm also not suggesting that you don't have a life, because BB's are just plain simply fun and interesting.

May I remind you that others first made the comment to you about refraining from beginning so many new threads and you took it as a suggestion to permanently leave this BB.

I applaud you trying to get others involved.

What can I do to make it better here? Refrain from continuously beginning new threads. If I'm interested in a thread, I will comment as I have done since I first logged in here. If you like, though, I can begin a daily diary of all my thoughts.

Moonflower2

What is a Kinkaid? A hearing device for Ray Davies?  (to understand this stupid pun you would have to know that Ray Davies was the front man for "The Kinks"  ;D)

I understand Moonflower's point though. If you follow this very thread you will see several different directions the conversation has gone. The author of the thread started with Blue Whales and now is asking about Kinkaids (whatever those are). This clearly shows there is no need to create a separate thread every time you have a different thought and deviate a bit from the thread title. Every conversation about a topic has a tendency to stray back and forth a little---it's human nature to do so. I must say to get back on the original subject though---I have never had a blue whale attack me personally about anything (except for the one who called me "humpback"), but I am still very interested in what a Kinkaid is----does it have something to do with whaling?

   A long while back I dissed a well known Christian artist, "Kinkaid" (Spelling?)  at that  time Moon posted a thread about my finer points. I think the Kinkaid thread was the last straw!  But I could be wrong? I've never found out why she did it or why she hates me?

Hi Jem,

  Thanks for the apology and it is most eagerly accepted.  Now, I should apologize to you for not understanding that you were just being sarcastic.

  The reason your response irked me so much was: first, I thought you were being serious, and second, it has to do with why and to whom I write to on the WP thread.

  The "second" reason requires some explanation.  When I first left the Assembly there wasn't a whole lot of support for those who left.  I was personally dealing with a lot of self doubt at the time re. my leaving and though I had resolved most of the theological issues I still struggled deeply with emotional ones.

  I came across a BB called "Wounded Pilgrims" that was dedicated to former members of cults.  I was greatly helped by reading stories of individuals dealing with their post cult experiences.  Then I met Dr. Ronald Enroth who wrote "Churches That Abuse" and "Recovering From Churches That Abuse" and his method of letting former members tell their own stories influenced me as well.

  The stories that I relate are based on real people with real pain and it is a suffering that I am very sensitive to (having been so deeply troubled myself).  It is not concerning my attempts at posting being made a parody (which I agree could easily and very comically be produced by Joe  ;)) rather it is the individuals that I'm trying to write about, and to, being ridiculed that caused me to bristle as I did.

  When Brent started his Geftakys Assembly site and this BB it was like a dream come true to me for now former members could have a resource that I never had (and also those many that left before me).  As a result at least one former member who had been wandering for many years was restored in his faith and many others contacted me telling me what a blessing it was to discover that they were not destined for the second death, as they had assumed was their destiny for leaving the group. 

  Whenever I come to the BB I see the potential reader as the confused, and the hurting.  Talking about nonsense, politics, stocks, etc. is inevitable--- as all of life is not about death and taxes, but it seems to me that former members should have some empathy and sympathy for their former associates in cultic distress and as such we should occasionally try to minister help.

  I truly believe that God has a special place in his heart for widows, children, the abused, and especially those abused by false toxic religion.  Why?  Because these last individuals yearn for God and his grace with a child like innocence and this attitude was/is taken advantage of by GG types who take that innocence away via a kind of "spiritual" rape!

  The consequences of such an experience can be very destructive psychologically and spiritually and so for those of us fit enough to reach out to these our only decent response is one of caring listening and an attempt to bring comfort.  I have made a promise to God that I will not forget their plight and feel that this is what I'm called to do.  Not just to comfort them, but to also try and help them really learn that God is not like GG nor is our relationship with him like the Assembly taught.

   As to blogs and BB's:  As an example, Margaret has a blog on the Assembly Reflections site which she alone publishes but she allows for others to comment on what she has initiated.  On this BB any member can start a thread and write within the limitations that have been established by Brian (length of post, bad language, etc.).  If you have visited blogs that allow for multi-member publishing then it has kind of blurred the distinctions between the blog and BB concept.

  I apologize again for getting so rattled, but I hope the above helps you to understand why I responded as I did.

                                                                       God Bless,  Mark C.   

Mark---

Well put. As much as I'd like to--  ;D-- I don't think I'll do a parody of the Smith family just yet. In
all seriousness, I believe the "Wounded Pilgrims" thread has done a lot of good. And I'm sure
no one denies that!! We don't know how many have been helped by that thread. Often,
when I enter the board, I drop down to the bottom of the screen to see who is on line. Most
of the time there are at least 5 "guests" reading, and many times the majority of them are in "Wounded Pilgrims".

Sometimes, the smallest thing can help one on the path to being free, and we never want to dis-
count the value of one person to Jesus Christ. The Lord journeyed all the way across a lake to the Gadarenes to visit a man possessed by a demon, just to free him. The Lord, through this BB and through the Wounded Pilgrims thread, has come to free/and has freed souls from bondage. Numbers aren't important---every soul is valuable to Him. That is actually one of the damaging aspects of the Assembly--there was so much talk about "corporate" identity, that many lost the belief in the extreme love the Lord has for each individual. I think that the Lord is out to bring back the wounded lambs, and one way he is doing that is definitely by using the Wounded Pilgrims thread.

Sometimes it's hard to distinguish the real intent of a post, as the voice of the person cannot be heard, with his/her inflections or sarcasm. I'm glad Jem posted to clear this up, and you have had a chance to respond.

Just to make sure we are staying on the original topic of this thread, let me say Mark that you are doing one whale of a job on the WP thread--keep up the good work!

Hello Joe!

  Thanks so much for your kind comments.

    Re.---"Sometimes it is hard to distinguish the real intent of a post": Boy ain't that the truth---- at least in my case it is  ;)!  I could easily find offense in something like your "whale of a job" comment where I could surmise that, "Joe is actually making a reference to my being overweight!"  ;D

   I think that parody and sarcasm can often be a very effective means of teaching and it can also provide for a deep sense of emotional relief.  However, if sarcasm uses as it's comic topic those we should be crying with vs. laughing at, it not only will not be funny it can cause harm.

  I think your parody of GG in "Little Georgie And the Giant Hand" was so effective in providing a sense of relief for former members because it pulled the false image of "The Great Apostle GG" down, not unlike the statue of Saddam was yanked down in Iraq!  Likewise, "The Great and Mighty Oz" had the curtain pulled back by the likes of a little dog like Toto.

  I truly hope that what is written on WP's might help some.  I realize it is not everyone's cup of tea and most likely it doesn't address every former member's current situation.  It had been my original hope that many would use the thread to tell their own story, but many former members may fear to stick their necks out that far.

  I know of one former member who can't read the BB at all, or discuss anything of the old days in the group, as they are flooded with very painful memories  :'(.  Going to church reminds them of the old social pecking order, and they view all Christian folks with a great deal of suspicion.  While this individual still maintains a firm belief in their faith in Christ they are very much pulled back into their shells in an effort to avoid getting hurt again.  I do believe that this individual above is more prevalent than one may think, and that some of these may read on occasion here.

  There are, of course, those former members that Jem refers to, that only come here to see whether GG has kicked the bucket yet.  Rather than pointing to a deficiency in the BB I think this reality demonstrates a need in this former member.  This person is controlled by a sense of angry revenge vs. the fearful reactions of the wounded soul in the above paragraph.

   Both individuals prove my point that emotional recovery must be addressed in former members and that this process is a necessary part of a strong faith in Christ.  I'm not talking about trying to be amateur psychologists here, rather participating in the simple acts of love that are described in the NT--- ie: "washing one anothers feet, confessing to one another, weeping with those that weep, lifting up the fallen, rejoicing with those that rejoice, giving a cup of water---- etc."

  In other words, there is a place for ministry where we can help former members deal with similar issues that we have struggled with.  Not only that, this activity of trying to help can actually be a means of healing in my own life, as it draws me out of my own closed in world and engages me in the wider world around me.

                                                                       God bless,  Mark C.     

Re.---"Sometimes it is hard to distinguish the real intent of a post": Boy ain't that the truth---- at least in my case it is  !  I could easily find offense in something like your "whale of a job" comment where I could surmise that, "Joe is actually making a reference to my being overweight!" 

I was actually referring to the Thread title of "Blue Whale" when I made my pun about a "whale of a job". I realize that being overweight is a very touchy subject, and would not want to offend in that area. I myself am overweight and know that it can hurt if someone makes reference to obesity directly or indirectly. Fat chance I would ever do that. :D