Dear Doodleboy and Voltairine

[Liselle]

AT THIS POINT I AM INCLINED TO AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU, someone help me please.

I just posted this gas-pumping saga, right?

http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/frie...mping-debacles-37-4-gt-13&p=199012#post199012

in which Yi gave me happy chirp-chirp 37.4, when the best collective guess among Clarity members is that I probably wasn't inserting the nozzle into the car far enough. (There were other suggestions, but that's the one that makes the most sense to me at this moment.)

Saga number 2 (from today):

I wanted to buy a specific, inexpensive but not universally available, item for someone and mail it to her. I know that stores near me carry the brand I want.

But before I sent it, I wanted to check with Yi on how appropriate it might be. I mostly had in mind whether the person would actually LIKE the thing. (She USED to like it, but that was 20 years ago, and people and circumstances change.) I didn't want to ask her directly, because (1) it was to be a surprise - a gift, and (2) I'd likely get a response like, "Oh, don't send me things..." just because that's what people often say. Doesn't mean they wouldn't appreciate it if it appeared in front of them.

"Send [person] some of [specific item]?"

Answer: 26.6 > 11

26.6 from Hilary's book:

"Is this heaven's highway?
Creating success."

Okay...I did notice hexagram 11 there, and realized this may not go entirely smoothly, but I thought 26.6 was surely an endorsement of the endeavor in general. Some hexagram 11 chaos would be worth it, to get the item for the person.

Store number 1 - carries Brand X, but not the exact version I need. (There are good reasons for being picky; please trust me on that.) Another lady in the aisle suggested store number 2 which she thought has a larger selection. "Are you sure they carry Brand X?" I asked. "Yes," she replied. I didn't think she'd have bet her house on it, but she did say yes.

...Store number 2 does NOT carry Brand X, at all.

Okay...hexagram 26 can mean "large beasts," maybe it meant a larger store. So, I went to a larger version of store number 1 (same chain, more square footage). Exact same selection as store number 1. Three stores, no success.

Okay..."heaven's highway"...aha! The internet. Order it online!

...Brand X does not have an online store. There was a message on their website specifically saying so.

Nor does any other online outlet have it:

Amazon.com: item is listed, but "not currently available"
Walmart: "In stores only," but not any store within 50 miles of me.
Online specialty store: carries Brand X, but not the version I need.

Having found this specialty store, though, I thought my friend might be happy with something completely different from it...after browsing, I didn't find anything compelling.

New reading:

"Yi, may I ask how 26.6>11 says, "This is not possible to do"?!?" (I mean, Wilhelm's 26.6 commentary literally says, "The time of obstruction is past." Ahem.)

9.5 > 26

"There is truth and confidence as a bond.
Rich in your neighbor."

I noticed hex 26 as the relating hexagram in this reading, vs. it being the primary hexagram in the first reading. I'm sure that means something, but I don't know what.

Also noticed that 9 > 26 could be "small beasts" changing to "large beasts." Again, don't know the significance of that.

And no, there is no one else, no "neighbor," I can ask to do this for me.

I apologize for spamming the forum these couple days. Am tearing my hair out (as usual - I just usually don't post it).

 

[sooo]

Am tearing my hair out

Before worrying over what gift to buy for your friend, stop tearing your hair out. 26.6-11 - this is sage advice.

If you just keep asking more questions and tearing more hair out, what can the Yi say to you that would satisfy you? Perhaps, buy your friend a red wagon with a yellow bow?

Sounds to me like it's time to put the book away in a box in a closet and forget about it. Maybe some time in the future its answers will make sense. I recommend this to everyone who has their respective underpants or panties in a knot over the I Ching.

You may recall, I once tore my only Yi book apart page by page. This was before the internet made it so much more accessible. There's nothing wrong with walking away from it if it only serves to lose your hair.

 

[goddessliss]

in which Yi gave me happy chirp-chirp

Put The Yi Away can see codependency developing here - use your intuition missy, it's the truth!

Put ya boots and mini skirt on and let go.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSNSTerj2Kc

 

[Liselle]

Sooo, I can't disagree with your general advice - taking a break is often a sensible thing to do, not just with the I Ching (I mean, "count to 10" is common advice) - but how does 26.6 say "stop tearing your hair out"?

Under the circumstances, I thought the question I asked was perfectly sensible. I mean, what is wrong with that question?

Does 26.6 > 11 mean something completely different from the several possible interpretations I considered, NONE of which were correct?

I mean, I tried to interpret with an open mind, didn't I? I recognized hexagram 11's potential for some trouble, decided it was worth it, and persevered through various roadblocks pretty calmly. I actually appreciated the warning not to expect smooth sailing. But I ended up COMPLETELY stymied. How does that reading say that? THEN I got angry. I think I have decent reasons for it.

 

[Liselle]

use your intuition missy, it's the truth!

Liss, my intuition could not possibly tell me that the specific item I needed is not available to me in any way. My original question actually had nothing to do with how much trouble it would be to acquire the item - what I had in my mind when I asked it was mostly does my friend still like the thing. I didn't want to mail her something and then have her be unhappy with it, things of that nature. I thought Yi was saying that yes, she'll like it, and adding the information that it won't be simple to get (hex 11). I accepted all of that - and ran into a complete brick wall that I didn't know was there.

 

[Liselle]

P.S. It's not like Yi refuses to answer anything in a useful manner. I asked two questions in the last 24 hours about work issues, and got helpful answers from Yi.

In fact, in one of them, I was a bit confused about whose point of view the reading was from, and then asked about that. Yi gave me 57.6 > 48, which I took to mean that the reading was from the point of view of me, not the other person, since I was "the source" of the question. 57.6 was telling me not to second-guess my reading so much - I started reading between the lines to the point where I was getting confused about a perfectly clear answer.

Fine. Message delivered, message received, matter put to rest.

So why would Yi answer some questions so nicely, and then do this kind of thing with others?

 

[goddessliss]

OK so sometimes when we do readings they tell us what we need to know not necessarily what we want to know. I've found that many times when doing readings for others through my business because usually the answer we're looking for comes through listening to what we need to know.
In terms of trying to find items (well you can put anything in this category for me it's trying to find the right home for me) I finally learned to not try and put square pegs in round holes or if it's not easily found then maybe it's not the right thing to buy (or whatever) but to 'listen' to what the universe is trying to tell.
Recently I was trying to find a book, which I found out is now out of print, so the journey took me elsewhere and now I have the perfect gift for my son because I chose not to get frustrated when I couldn't get it although I know it's a great book and he would get a lot of use out of it. I don't know whether he will like it and it's something that I'm creating for him myself but what happened was I found all the bits and pieces very easily to create the piece even though some of the things I needed were rare to obtain so I'm going with that.
Hope this helps - Liss

 

[goddessliss]

Well here's the thing Lisa - the other day my son told me that some of the presents I'd given him over the years he'd been disappointed with and I said 'Well every present I gave you I thought they were right and they were picked out and given to you with Love'.
This year I've no idea whether I've got the right present for him, but whilst I don't like to disappoint him, I feel it's a gift made and given from my heart and perhaps now we've spoken about it he'll feel the love and not be disappointed so much if he doesn't like it.
Give your friend what you think is right - how they feel about the gift is not your responsbility cause for all intents and purposes it sounds like it's coming from your heart too. - Liss

 

[missann]

Lisa I sometimes feel the same way you do, that Yi can give inane or overly complicated responses to questions that could be simply answered. I believe that it should answer in the most direct way and in a "language" that I understand.

Having said that, here are some possible explanations of your readings that I would like to put forward.

About the gas, maybe sooo had the answer, that the reading was referring to the resources used and maybe sooo was the she in "she is the treasure of the house" in that she gave the most helpful answer(I'm assuming sooo is a woman here). I believe that Yi can "take into account" the resources we will use to get our answers, and "knew" you would present this to the forum in confusion at the answer. Also, It was an odd question for Yi to answer, and that is why it made you work for the answer

As to the buying the item question, the question wasn't "will I get the item?", but "would it be appropriate to send it to her?" If the answer had been a hexagram meaning blocked or waiting I believe you would have thought it was something wrong with sending the gift, not that you would not be able to find it. I guess Yi is somewhat Aspergery about being literal And the 9.5 could be saying "hey, tame your temper, I was telling the truth, have confidence in me!"

Just trying to be the devils advocate a little here, there are still answers I have gotten that seem to be contradictory or just wrong!

 

[Liselle]

Hi Missann,

Thanks for your response . Yes, I agree that the gasoline reading could very well have been referring to the information from Clarity members (and Clarity members' friends, as it turned out). As I said there, I do feel enriched, both in practical advice and in support, by what I learned on that thread.

(Of course, it remains to be seen what happens in the future when I pump gas.)

The purchase question - I'm sorry, but I'm not following you. If I'd gotten hexagram 12 ("Blocked" or "Obstructed") or hexagram 5 ("Waiting"), I would have dropped the idea right then and there. Well-- what you're saying is that I would have dropped it for the wrong reason. That may be true, but it may not have mattered? I mean, as long as I dropped it at all, instead of going on a wild goose chase. Or, at the very least, if I'd gotten (for example) hexagram 12 and insisted on looking for the item anyway, I wouldn't now be irritated at the I Ching in the same way (and I wouldn't have posted a ranty thread on the forum, HOORAY). I'm reasonably good at not blaming the I Ching when I can see in hindsight that I ignored a perfectly clear answer. (That has happened .)

I don't know. I don't have good enough command of the lines to know if there's a casting which would have gotten me to drop it for the right reason. The line about the empty basket, maybe? The one about the tied-up sack, which says that the subject is hidden from view and not available? I think those are lines which could have / should have been understandable (which is not the same as saying I definitely would have understood it properly).

 

[Liselle]

Liss, you're absolutely right that the giver of a gift is not responsible for how the recipient feels about it. But if you can ask a question and find out, and not give someone something they won't like, why isn't that okay? As I said, I know the person liked these items - 20 years ago. That says nothing about whether they still do. If someone once said they like snowglobes, that doesn't necessarily mean they want snow globes for the rest of their life.

If you're giving stocking-stuffers to two dozen people, you can't ask the I Ching about all that. Or if Auntie knits you an ugly sweater, the amount of time and effort she put into it overrides everything else (if you're old enough to have learned some tact).

But this was a small purchased item, one gift in isolation. Buy it, mail it, 30-minute errand (if the item had been in the store as I expected). I don't see what was wrong with asking. If the person would be delighted with it - great! If not, no big deal. There was no pressure or requirement to send a gift at all - it was just something extra to do that occurred to me out of the blue.

You are probably all correct in saying that this was far from an earth-shattering issue, and there was no earth-shattering reason to ask about it. If I'd sent the small item, and the person didn't like it, oh well. But - my opinion - there also wasn't any earth-shattering reason for Yi not to tell me it wasn't possible.

 

[Liselle]

(By the way, Missann, Sooo is a man. I made the same mistake with another forum member once - it can be really hard to know until you've read enough posts by or about the person - it relies on someone using a pronoun or giving some clue. I still don't know with some folks.)

 

[sooo]

Sooo is a guy, just fyi

I think the crux to understanding Yi lies in priorities, and it seems to place an extraordinary value on the state of our mind.

When an answer about a simple mater that is nonetheless important to us - i.e. where are my keys, will a loved one appreciate this gift, what would be the result in this guitar pickup change - is asked with a clear and relaxed mind, we're likely to receive a direct answer, but if we get into questioning the answer and becoming emotional, the priority shifts from the thing to ourselves, and if we're hell bound and determined to persist on strangling Yi for the answer we're looking for, we're digging the hole that much deeper, confusing the matter all the more. We seem to be more important to Yi than the question we ask. Priorities.

As silly as it sounds, yesterday I asked: would I be satisfied with this set of pickups for a certain guitar? 22uc. An hour passes, I listen to another dozen samples of various pickups. I try rewording my question, but essentially ask the same thing. 22uc. Okay, I said, I get it. Did it answer my question well? Yes. Was it the answers I was looking for? No. But it was the truest answer in the universe. Had I persisted, Yi's priority would have likely shifted from the pickups to me, God knows what answer that might have been. I'd walk away either accepting my folly or childishly blaming Yi for not providing me with the answer I wanted, or worse, a misleading answer, intended to be no answer but now adding to my own foolish confusion.

Most of the time I've found it's best to accept the answer and spend some time contemplating it, and if I still don't get it, to simply let it go, which may have been the intended answer all along.

As I've said before, the Yi is not our servant, it is not a Pepsi dispenser, and it owes us exactly nothing. It's up to us to approach it correctly and to weigh its answers with a sane and balanced mind and settled emotions, otherwise guess what the Yi will speak to? The state of our mind and emotions. If we're not prepared for that, it's better if we had not asked at all.

The Yi is incredibly intuitive as well, and knows what's really going on in our head, and most of the time it is that to which it speaks. If we're not prepared for that, but instead start banging on the Pepsi machine, demanding our can of Pepsi or our money back, we'll have to take it up the the manager, which is none other than the Yi. Good luck at that point.

Finally, I maintain, the Yi is not intended for everyone.

 

[goddessliss]

Nuthin' wrong in asking Lisa, no not at all. It was obviously an important issue to you and I'm sorry I was flippant about it. - Liss

 

[sooo]

there also wasn't any earth-shattering reason for Yi not to tell me it wasn't possible.

If you know better than the Yi, why do you rely on it for answers?

And, who are you to require the Yi to explain its reasons to you? This is entirely backwards thinking, imo.

Besides, I don't recall the Yi ever saying it wasn't possible to provide a different answer. The question to ask at this point, is Yi your teacher or are you Yi's teacher?

 

[sooo]

Nuthin' wrong in asking Lisa, no not at all.

Nothing wrong with Yi's answer either.

 

[precision grace]

sorry, I haven't read any replies. so this may be redundant

I wanted to check with Yi on how appropriate it might be. I mostly had in mind whether the person would actually LIKE the thing.

"Send [person] some of [specific item]?"

Answer: 26.6 > 11

26.6 from Hilary's book:

"Is this heaven's highway?
Creating success."

Your friend would definitely LIKE the gift. That was your answer to the question where you mostly had in mind whether the person would actually LIKE the thing.

 

[Tohpol]

I believe that it should answer in the most direct way and in a "language" that I understand.

The I Ching isn't designed around our socio-cultural issues which are largely predicated on instant gratification. It's language operates in a way that urges us to go deeper. Yet, sometimes very precise and clear readings are given. Other times it requires us to go deeper as a reflection of our state of mind.

Folks persistently place the onus on the I Ching to address our own deficiencies rather than ourselves! That's completely about face. The oracle, at its best is a rich teaching tool and it doesn't spoon feed. It requires work to build a relationship. It is not concerned with pandering to our lowest self and desires but bringing out our highest potential. And the latter is seldom what people want. If folks want instant answers without making the effort then local psychic will suffice along with all the problems that can often involve.

Like others, I have hurled the I Ching across the room on more than one occasion - especially when I was younger and full of righteous entitlement.

 

[pocossin]

Lisa I sometimes feel the same way you do, that Yi can give inane or overly complicated responses to questions that could be simply answered. I believe that it should answer in the most direct way and in a "language" that I understand.

Lisa got a response from me that was neither inane nor overly complicated: Stop filling the tank full, and it won't run over. The problem is that most Clarity diviners have no appreciation of the visual power of hexagrams, and I've had no success in educating them

 

[pocossin]

The I Ching isn't designed around our socio-cultural issues which are largely predicated on instant gratification.

I disagree, Topal. The I Ching is an expression of our common humanity. That's why it applies now just as it did three thousand years ago.

 

[sooo]

I agree with Topal and Tom too. With Topal because each image/hexagram must be generous enough with potential meaning to speak to millions of questions, and with Tom because it is our common humanity that needs to be spoken to.

About ten years ago I began writing "The common sense I Ching", but it didn't take long to learn how quick modern scholars are to deem such efforts as "New Agey" or some such derogatory discredit and mockery. I did something with similar intent once through original visual images with a brief simple and easy to understand verse, and members were told, again by a member of the scholarly elite, not to bother with such trifle. And it's not as though there aren't more than enough versions employing creative license already.

Thing is, the answers are there. There simply is not enough space to address every question without narrowing the answers down to broad images, within which one can discover the answer most fitting their question. It takes effort, not only to drum up the possibilities but to narrow them back down to a best fit scenario. And then we have those who say proudly, I only pay attention to the actual text, not to commentaries. Well, that narrows common language and understanding down that much further, when writers attempt to break down the meaning to common language which are only dismissed and discarded. And so the individual winds up writing their own commentary, which does the same thing. I'm thankful for commentaries, perhaps Wilhelm/Baynes above the rest. They break these huge chunks into bite-size pieces that simple folks like me can better understand; like: "In order to find one's place in the infinity of being, one must be able both to separate and to unite." W/B h3

 

[Liselle]

May I ask all of you ONE question? If you'd asked the I Ching the question I did - "Send [gift] to [person]?" and you got 26.6 > 11 as an answer, what would you have thought? What would you have done?

I did not ask repeated questions. I asked the one question. I got one answer. I went about my errand with determination, because I thought the hex 11 made it a challenge to me: "this won't go entirely smoothly - are you willing to make an effort for the person?" I decided that yes, I was. THAT was the mindset I had - until it became obvious that the task was not just challenging, it was IMPOSSIBLE. THEN I got angry - not before.

Nuthin' wrong in asking Lisa, no not at all. It was obviously an important issue to you and I'm sorry I was flippant about it. - Liss

It's okay, Liss . You had no way of knowing. I presented this thread badly, and the title I gave it was horrendously flippant itself, which I regret.

 

[Tohpol]

I disagree, Topal. The I Ching is an expression of our common humanity. That's why it applies now just as it did three thousand years ago.

Of course it applies now and of course it is an expression of our common humanity. But the latter does not necessarily equate with the conditioning inherent in our societies and culture at this time. And by that I mean we are encouraged to seek easy answers with very little effort. There is no free lunch in other words.

 

[pocossin]

Of course it applies now and of course it is an expression of our common humanity.

Thanks, Topal, but probably we differ as to how it is an expression of common humanity.

But the latter does not necessarily equate with the conditioning inherent in our societies and culture at this time.

Well, yes, but I suppose you know how I despise the ethics of political correctness, which, in my opinion, is destructive of human welfare, though it rules in the UK, and as long as Obama is in office, in the US.

And by that I mean we are encouraged to seek easy answers with very little effort. There is no free lunch in other words.

It isn't that the answers are easy but that they appeal to a cheap and conventional sympathy that ignores long-term consequences. Feed a stray -- cat, dog, or human -- and you become responsible for it/them for the rest of their lives.

 

[Tohpol]

Thanks, Topal, but probably we differ as to how it is an expression of common humanity.

The I Ching is available and accessible to all: common humanity. Whether everyone is interested or able to make the effort to understand it and work with it is another matter. Therefore, the "expression" of common humanity is qualified but still relevant.

Well, yes, but I suppose you know how I despise the ethics of political correctness, which, in my opinion, is destructive of human welfare, though it rules in the UK, and as long as Obama is in office, in the US.

This is getting a bit off topic but will indulge for a while. You will undoubtedly be quite surprised (due to your misconceptions on my views) that I entirely agree with you on all the above points. Political correctness can indeed be a scourge (along with many other derivatives of Cultural Marxism and other forms of social engineering). However, I try not to be bound by left/right, conservative/socialist politics since I see they are both hopelessly vulnerable to psycho-social corruption. Similarly, I don't think problems will end just because Obama is absent. The problems are much deeper than yet another puppet being hauled in to replace him. Reality is sometimes more complex than we realise no?

But that is another subject.

It isn't that the answers are easy but that they appeal to a cheap and conventional sympathy that ignores long-term consequences. Feed a stray -- cat, dog, or human -- and you become responsible for it/them for the rest of their lives.

It is the SEEKING of easy answers that has become the norm and thus leads into your bolded statement above which I also agree with.

 

[Trojina]

Lisa I sometimes feel the same way you do, that Yi can give inane or overly complicated responses to questions that could be simply answered. I believe that it should answer in the most direct way and in a "language" that I understand.

Eh ? What do you and Lisa actually think the I Ching is ? Some sort of encyclopedic phone app or sat nav that should serve you up exactly what you want served up ?

You are missing the fact that Yi is a teacher and is to be respected. It is not a mere convenience. How can you decide how it should answer

words fail me....be grateful of that



As for the gas pump question...ever heard of the phrase 'horses for courses' ? That means use the appropriate most effective tool for a job. The gas pump question was solved by straight forward research.

There is no harm in asking what you want and you can ask what you want....but just bear this in mind


Using the I Ching does not mean you no longer need to use usual common sense ways of accessing information.


Lisa PMd me about her question here and we have discussed it privately and I said I had no wish to get involved with this thread and I don't.

The forum lately seems awash with people complaining they aren't getting adequate service from the I Ching as if it were a goddamn Mc Donalds. They really should get a refund.. Oh hang on they never paid to use the forum anyway....So they use a free forum where they get free interpretations but they just get mad and complain. I agree it is absolutely outrageous. The I Ching must do better !

Well, yes, but I suppose you know how I despise the ethics of political correctness, which, in my opinion, is destructive of human welfare, though it rules in the UK, and as long as Obama is in office, in the US

.

This forum isn't a platform for you to air your political views. You already had a whole thread on it. You really are not half as well informed as you imagine yourself to be about the rest of the world. Time and time again you make wild uneducated generalisations about entire nations. Only recently a polite German asked you not to.

This is an I Ching forum. If I want to read about your political views I would go to a political forum.


BTW have you become 'Sputnik 72'

 

[precision grace]

May I ask all of you ONE question? If you'd asked the I Ching the question I did - "Send [gift] to [person]?" and you got 26.6 > 11 as an answer, what would you have thought? What would you have done?

I did not ask repeated questions. I asked the one question. I got one answer. I went about my errand with determination, because I thought the hex 11 made it a challenge to me: "this won't go entirely smoothly - are you willing to make an effort for the person?" I decided that yes, I was. THAT was the mindset I had - until it became obvious that the task was not just challenging, it was IMPOSSIBLE. THEN I got angry - not before.

I answered this already but it seems you do not wish to accept the answer it is being given.

You didn't ASK about the process of obtaining the gift when you got the 26.6 > 11 answer, at that time, in your mind there was no doubt whatsoever that obtaining the gift wouldn't be a problem and therefore the answer could not reflect the later issues you encountered. You simply didn't ASK about that.

 

[pocossin]

As for the gas pump question...ever heard of the phrase 'horses for courses' ? That means use the appropriate most effective tool for a job. The gas pump question was solved by straight forward research.

By whom? Actually, the question was left left hanging because we do not know what Lisa will or will not try.

Using the I Ching does not mean you no longer need to use usual common sense ways of accessing information.

If common sense always worked there would be no need for divination.

Lisa PMd me about her question here and we have discussed it privately and I said I had no wish to get involved with this thread and I don't.

Then why are you here?

The forum lately seems awash with people complaining they aren't getting adequate service from the I Ching as if it were a goddamn Mc Donalds. They really should get a refund.. Oh hang on they never paid to use the forum anyway....So they use a free forum where they get free interpretations but they just get mad and complain. I agree it is absolutely outrageous. The I Ching must do better !

Bless you! Something we can agree on! But I find all this complaining entertaining.

This forum isn't a platform for you to air your political views. You already had a whole thread on it.

My political views are not in a separate sack, as you might imagine, that I can discard when criticized by the likes of you. Actually, I have followed the Biblical injunction and have never voted, and never will. I despise ganging up on others, which is the essence of politics and will not participate in mob activities, no matter how it is rationalized. Well, I had a thread, but Hilary locked it as she considers me a bloody racist. Unlike your uninformed selves, I have spent my time in Africa and think your opinions on me are equal to the deposits I regularly encountered along the highways of Eritrea.

You really are not half as well informed as you imagine yourself to be about the rest of the world.

Lord, I would like for you to get out of England for a bit. Have you even ever left your shire?

Time and time again you make wild uneducated generalisations about entire nations. Only recently a polite German asked you not to.

Impolite German was attempting to enforce Political Correctness. I may have a better appreciation of the German than he. At least, I have read a little Heidegger.

This is an I Ching forum. If I want to read about your political views I would go to a political forum.

If you want my political views, you would contact me by PM. Are we supposed to be mindless and inexpressive because you say so?

BTW have you become 'Sputnik 72'

Don't be confused. You've no idea how much I admire sputnik 72. I had two relatives whom I wanted to become commercial artists. Neither did, and the world was denied their talent.

 

[Trojina]

My political views are not in a separate sack, as you might imagine, that I can discard when criticized by the likes of you. Actually, I have followed the Biblical injunction and have never voted, and never will. I despise ganging up on others, which is the essence of politics and will not participate in mob activities, no matter how it is rationalized. Well, I had a thread, but Hilary locked it as she considers me a bloody racist. Unlike your uninformed selves, I have spent my time in Africa and think your opinions on me are equal to the deposits I regularly encountered along the highways of Eritrea.

This forum is not a platform for your political views.

Lord, I would like for you to get out of England for a bit. Have you even ever left your shire?

Yes often. I have visited Canada...with a brief trip to Seattle. I have also visited France, Greece and went to the Netherlands only last month. I have also visited Italy and Austria and some more places probably.

You know little about England or even Europe as is obvious from your comments about them, some of which are laughable. I mean you couldn't be more out of touch.

Impolite German was attempting to enforce Political Correctness. I may have a better appreciation of the German than he. At least, I have read a little Heidegger.

He was quite right. If he was German of course you don't know better than he does.

Let us end here as I'm not interested in further discussion with you about your views.

However I do wish you would stop making random insults to other nationalities


as this person said very politely

PS.
I feel very uncomfortable with national categorizations. Especially when looking at history and the fruits of national thinking 100 years ago...
Yes, also Heinrich Heine makes jokes about the german professor who will explain you the world, but as I am born and grown up in Italy and studied and am living in Germany, having British (uncle and cousins in Alesbury) and Swiss parents - some of them living in Brasil - I prefer a fresh cosmopolitan attitude. Because the things are much too complicated for such simple folkloristic categorizations.
For example one of the main British philosophical schools is heavily inspired by an Austrian thinker (Wittgenstein); one of the main western, christian poems (Dante The Divine Comedy) is strongly inspired by Islamic traditions (Dante's teacher, Brunetto Latini, lived many years at the court of Alfonso X of Castile).
I prefer to categorize by Chinese horoscope

which was from this thread http://www.onlineclarity.co.uk/frie...hanging-line-text-when-the-line-is-unchanging





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[pocossin]

You know little about England or even Europe as is obvious from your comments about them, some of which are laughable. I mean you couldn't be more out of touch.

I majored in English literature. I know more about the background of England than you do without ever having lived there. I have read English histories that you will never touch, and I am especially interested in English contribution to the industrial revolution. The topic of this thread is Lisa's diffidence about pumping gas, a technical problem. If she would stop filling up the tank (I never do) the problem, and it is a serious problem, would disappear, whatever its cause, of which there may be many. As for Germans and those without knowledge of German literature and philosophy, if they will not read Kant and Heidegger, the most thoughtful of Germans in spite of personal flaws, I could not care less about their opinions.