This is off-topic, but I just wanted to address the Whitty situation.

I hope you don't go Whitty, you're one of my favourite posters on OLO and I always look to see if/what you have posted. I thought your first post on this thread was hilarious. I've not written anything myself because, while I've loved some of the other's posts (particularly Romany's about her mother), and have my own "spirituality," it's all too... um... close for me to post about on here. I'm more in the Kierkegaard, unknowable, unsayable camp.

Despite my Kierkegaardness, and despite me being a chick and all, I also agree with you that sharing feelings is often regarded as female (rightly or wrongly) and the Oprahisation/Dr Philisation of culture can be read (ironically) as a feminisation of culture — where male exceptions, like Dr Phil, do particularly well. I appreciate that Fractelle, Romany and others have stated they disagree, but I do think Whitty's argument is a valid and quite well documented argument, and does deserve to be taken seriously.

Much as I enjoy what you've written on this thread, Fractelle, I think the second paragraph of your last post was passive aggressive. Better to be honest about who the "some people" you're talking about are — it definitely sounded like a backhander directed at Whitty, even if you didn't mean it that way. Real spirituality is never smug, and I think you need to be sure your feeling "sorry for" people is genuine, heartfelt pity, and not just disagreement (which, of course, is always welcome on this site).

Anyway, that's what I reckon. Hope you don't go Whitty.

Tuckeroo. Yes indeedy.

I'm just sorry that this thread got sidetracked, as so many do, into yet another bloody gender issue. We were talking about spiritualism, which made a change. And for once we were having a discussion. Then gender rears its ugly head and bang! right back into the same ole, same ole.

Vanilla - what I mean is that I don't consider that the ladies-who-lunch hands in the air, squeals and air kisses thing Whitty describes has anything to do with spiritualism. To me its the very antithesis.

Vanilla

Great post and I understand where you are coming from.

Now one thing I want made perfectly clear I am not a fan of the Dr Phil/Oprah type MAWKISHness. (I am hoping this word will catch on now).

I did have an agenda in raising this discussion thread, like so many OLO posters ;-)

I was tired of the implications by the usual religious suspects that atheists/agnostics lack any kind of ethereal feelings at all. That non-religious are only concerned with the material. So I thought a chat about what moves us would be interesting and it has been. There have been fantastic posts from Romany, Foxy, Pelican, Celivia, TRTL, CJ Morgan even Mjpb got into the intended ‘spirit’ of the discussion.

I too thought Whitty's first port to this thread was funny and treated it as such.

However, his subsequent posts were not humorous and were an attempt to take the discussion off topic into his own issues of concern. This is why I suggested he start a discussion of his own. (And now it looks like R0bert has set up a thread that is probably more appropriate for Whitty).

Not into labelling people, although it is virtually impossible to avoid. But I particularly hate this division into male-this and female-that; human qualities and abilities overlap. I wanted to avoid all that B/S. It was simply meant as more esoteric discussion. That Whitty had difficulties with the topic reveals a lot about him. And I genuinely do feel for him - didn't mean to sound passive-aggressive, but I can see how it would appear that way. If you could see and hear me, you would understand.

Cheers m'dear


To Tuckeroo, cool post.

Romany

Was writing my post just as you posted yours - we are clearly on the same wavelength - thank you.

It was fun and some good things were said.

Is it ever possible to have a real discussion and stay on topic?

Well we came very close didn't we?

:-)

I'm sorry for steering things into oh-so-familiar waters. I was just a bit gutted that Whitty saying he was leaving.

Vanilla

I will not go all 'mawkish' instead I will try to convey in writing the voice that is running through my head:

In a drippy American accent:

"Nooowww, sahm-wahn needs a huuuugggg".

You're cool.

;-D