"Rubbish!" They will say.
If you read, “Really? Truly?! What about anyway?”, you might have scratched your head and muttered something about, “Whose side is he on anyway? Is he trying to convince me about anything in particular?”
If I convinced you that I’m a bit of a bird brain, and you’re not a fan of Out of the Mould, that’s fine, provided you are really and truly convinced!
If I convinced you that it is really important to take a stand on the convictions you now believe in, and you will stick your neck out as a Different One, then that’s fine too!
The original question that was asked was, “What does it take to convince me that I am right in my present ‘position’, or that I may need to make changes?” You need a “mechanism” that is right for you. Don’t worry about anyone else. That is for them to work out. Just get on with the job of earnestly and sincerely using all sorts of means to help others to be convinced; after you’ve convinced yourself of course! Other sides will be doing the same! And as individuals, they will act according to the way they are convinced!
Now some realities to face up to. Probably nothing new – just reiteration – but nevertheless they are possible “ways” to help people to be convinced.
For me these things are facts, and a read or reread of Chapter 73 in FOPTA will provide a “relaxing” story to give a context to what follows!
The world functions according to all sorts of systems. We can’t escape their presence, from the cradle to the grave, but we can exercise choice in how we allow them to impact on us.
Systems require structures to allow them to operate. Take time to think about all the strings that are attached to you for this purpose. We are all becoming less and less people, and becoming more and more a series of numbers, plastic cards, data on computers and faceless pawns in the hands of bureaucrats and their ilk.
Much of the string-pulling has its roots in tradition. Entrenched customs and operational methods don’t die quickly. That’s why mindsets is such an appropriate word!
Often facts have little power to sway opinion, and overcoming traditional ideas that are “wrong” often meets with fierce resistance. How often tradition overrides fact, in spite of it being difficult to find reasons to support the claims being made. A favourite tactic is to make things out to be complex, thus requiring “experts” to solve problems, rather than keeping issues as simple as possible.
Tradition is synonymous with what you’re expected to do, and that of course, means the systems structures represent involvement, interference and controls.
Because no “audience” – that includes people reading books and browsing through websites! – is truly neutral, decisions are often made as a result of emotional impact and tradition, not on logic and facts. Strange as it may seem, an illogical situation can arise whereby people will submit to a system which consistently fails to provide the safety, security or services. What should be so patently obvious fails to be recognized and met.
Who enjoys advocating an unpopular position, or taking up an issue which is opposed by many people? But there is an obligation and responsibility to share truth, even if it makes you unpopular.
People who threaten a system are no doubt regarded as being difficult to tolerate. Setting out all the facts to allow people to draw their own conclusions, can help topple a system. A crunch question clamours for an answer: “Who is really in charge of our lives if this freedom is denied or restricted?”
The battle for control is waging all around us and will intensify as time goes by. The stakes are too high to allow anything but “directed choice”, no matter how stupid, illogical, irrational, family shattering or health threatening it may be.
Systems and their structures are designed to manage majorities – the more compliance there is, the better they function. Minorities and the individual exceptions will find there are uphill trials ahead. They will be classified as aberrant citizens and will be given the treatment reserved for misfits. If you have the fortitude to be different, how do you cope with the strategies which you will face in one form or another, and in varying intensities?
Personal testimony can be a marvellous boost when coupled with the convictions that determine the path you will follow. To be able to say to someone who is casting aspersions at you, ‘Whatever you may say, this one thing I know – nothing can change it – once I was blind but now I see!” is very difficult to gainsay. The question is, can you trust yourself to such a declaration?
And you will have heard of blind leaders of the blind?! Be warned! If you want to live comfortably as an acceptable citizen of the town of Orlsrite then you will be encouraged to wear the approved, specially formulated contact lenses!! (See Chapter 5 in FOPTA)
There is an old saying which says, “The man with experience is never at the mercy of the man with an opinion.” Like many old adages, this one could be argued from different sides, depending on the definitions given to key words. However, many of the arguments used against an “out of the mould” point of view, try to discount experience – it is only opinion at best, and dangerous rubbish at worst. Any “facts” are discredited or ignored.
To that we say: “Check it out. Both sides. We seek to convince you to use as many ways as possible, that are factual and true, pleasant or unpleasant, and that all information you need is made available to everyone without having to dig, grovel or plead on bended knees, for it. Maybe more militancy is required in exposure methods. There is always a listening ear on the end of Pete’s phone!
