To Mr. Riversong,
Mr. Quixote your sword has grown too heavy for you. It is the
very rhetoric you wield which disarms you. I have been following this
listserve, (among others dedicated to greenbuilding) for years now and it is
evident to me that you fancy yourself in the court of Hobbes, Bacon or Thoreau,
however your influence is destined to be only as far reaching as the inner
walls of your cranium. It is also evident, based on your frequent and
lengthy posts, that you don’t have much to do. It is true, I have at
times corroborated your rantings with articles by more reputable authors
possessing stronger credentials. However, it is the condescending,
pseudo-intellectual style of your prose that makes you difficult to
trust. Most writers will go through a period as they develop in which
their voice reaches prophetic tones, however it is those that develop the humility
to ask more questions, resisting judgment, that end up being true instruments
of change. I am not suggesting that you lay down your pen, or in this
case rest your fingertips, for I actually look forward to reading your
posts. Not because of any anticipated enlightenment, but rather to be
entertained. I turn to the other greenbuilding forums when I actually
want to learn something. This will be my last post on the subject, I will
not be drawn into any of your sophomoric debates.
From:
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
9:41 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: BSR - VT Solar Hot
Water Workshops 2010 Series!
|
--- On Wed,
3/10/10, David Pill <[log in to unmask]> wrote: It would be really refreshing to see some positive
dialog ....like "wow it is excellent that the BSR has put in so much
time and effort to reach out to builders and bring them closer to installing
these beneficial systems for their customers. The price seems a little
steep,I wonder if there could be financial assistance for those who need
it" One: Constructive criticism is positive by
definition. It is perceived as negative, however, by those who are so
invested in the status quo that they cannot tolerate criticism. Two: Children need and deserve praise in order both
to learn what is considered praiseworthy in their world and to build a
healthy sense of self-worth. Three: Adults should not need to be buttered up in
order to receive honest feedback. If they react negatively to such feedback,
it is either because they cannot accept any challenge to their orthodoxy
(which is the definition of fundamentalism), or because they are so insecure
in their commitment to the orthodoxy that their faith is easily disturbed
(which is evidence of blind faith). Four: If it's the stated mission of BSR to
"reach out to builders and bring them closer to installing these
beneficial systems for their customers", then they deserve no praise for
meeting their own minimum standards, particularly when it's accomplished in a
manner that ignores their other stated social goals, such as supporting
sustainable communities and economies and educating the general public. Fifth: It's evidence of a general corruption of
society that diversity - an essential element of all sustainable systems - is
not tolerated when it comes to modes of expression. Among the
"politically correct" it's been evident that there is only one
"correct" way to speak or write - and that is a way which does not
upset anyone, does not make waves, does not rock the boat, and hence has no
possibility for real social change. As the old-time agrarians once knew: you can't grow
food without plowing the soil. As dearly-departed Granny D said (it was the
title of her book) "you're never too old to raise a little hell".
And as Dorothy Day said (the communist agitator turned Catholic and founder
of the Catholic Worker movement and newspaper - still a penny a copy so it's
affordable to all), the works of mercy are to comfort the afflicted and to
afflict the comfortable. - Robert Riversong |