Dear Lexi,

Perhaps you could modify what you wrote, to:

' .... the truth of the matter is that what we see in the world
is not determined by what WE THINK exists "out there"
(or how we perceive what is "out there")
but by both what is "out there"
and other people's perceptions, and consequent actions, to what is "out there". '

Of course, there is something "out there". Objective reality. Dr Johnson proved this when he accidentally stubbed his toe, thus refuting Bishop Berkeley's idealist notion that something only exists if you think it exists, something like that.

Objective reality exists, whether we are oblivious of it or not. If a tree falls in the forest, it still gives out sound waves, whether we are there to hear it or not.

We stub our toes, walk into doors, sneeze, etc. whether we intend to or not: i.e. we react to objective reality according to our perceptions of it. Like it or not, the stone is still there. The door is still there. Bam !

Whether we can perceive objective reality accurately enough to make any judgments about it is another matter. Hence Basil Fawlty flogging the hell out of his car with a tree-branch.

Hence, as you say, Individual :) Of course, he might be right.

Love,

Joe

Lexi,

You have a good heart - don't ever change : )

Dear Joe (Loudmouth),

Re-read what I wrote.

Dear Poirot,

I am totally in awe of you so Thank You
for your kind words, my dear.

Dearest Lexi,

Yes, you're right, I apologise for causing a frown on that beautiful face, but I was just a bit concerned that we were going to go all PoMo and get into 'what is truth anyway ?' and 'we all have our definition of truth' and 'who are we to impose our "truth" on others?' sort of stuff.

The universe is out there. The truth about it is 'out there'. We may not have a very good understanding of it but it is still obstinately 'there'. It was 'there' a billion years ago, and it will still be 'there', somewhat more battered and shop-worn, a billion years from now. Isn't that fascinating ?

Love,

Joe

Lexi you honor me by calling me Friend and I will never be other that that in regards to you.
Joe and Poirot often find fault with my views yet they are two of our very best,I will always enjoy their company here.
This morning in my little toy,changed cars little 4x4, heard ABC talk about Gods.
Loudmouths words could have come from that , it was worth hearing.
Lexi some can not be convinced, that views other than their own are worth while.
I regard the wrath of SOME posters as a medal of honor.

Dear Banjo,

Not long ago I was speaking to a young soldier recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan. He was undergoing a series of operations to correct the mess and IED had done to him.

One of the blokes in his squad is an Afghan refugee who fled to Australia and is now serving as an Australian soldier. He actually comes from close to where he is deployed therefore had to change his name so as not to endanger his extended family.

I reckon if you went up and said to any in his squad on ANZAC day that “The only cultures that need consideration are Aussies and Kiwis for this event therefore Afghani should clear off “ you would get several hobnailed army boots right up the clacker.

Dear rehctub,

In the same vein I hope your respect for our ANZACs is without reservation.