(no subject)
LJ is a depressing environment for OTO interaction. Discussion is dominated by a handful of people who eschew fraternity in their own online behavior, yet love to accuse others of being "unfraternal".
I don't think fraternity requires me to provide a platform to be insulted, attacked, or harassed. I do tolerate a lot in the name of fraternity, but if someone is behaving unfraternally toward me, I see no need to tolerate their behavior, or make space for it.
I think that part of interacting fraternally is assuming the best of my siblings until they show me otherwise. I'd rather be wrong about that assumption, than assume the worst of my sibs.
I think another part of fraternity (and of uniting passionately with the universe) is approaching my sibs openly and honestly. Until they show me otherwise (which, sadly, happens quite often) I want to trust them with who I am, with my feelings and thoughts.
I think a lot of OTO members feel the way I do, but unfortunately, there are members who take advantage of us and our openness and honesty. When we assume the best of them, they assume the worst of us, especially if it serves their agenda. When we approach them honestly and openly, they take advantage of our trust and use it to try to hurt us. And I think that this is the kind of behavior that OTO members should openly decry- not just in small private conversations, but out loud. OTO online communication has become a forum in which bullies prosper. Is that how we want our Order to be?
I don't think fraternity requires me to provide a platform to be insulted, attacked, or harassed. I do tolerate a lot in the name of fraternity, but if someone is behaving unfraternally toward me, I see no need to tolerate their behavior, or make space for it.
I think that part of interacting fraternally is assuming the best of my siblings until they show me otherwise. I'd rather be wrong about that assumption, than assume the worst of my sibs.
I think another part of fraternity (and of uniting passionately with the universe) is approaching my sibs openly and honestly. Until they show me otherwise (which, sadly, happens quite often) I want to trust them with who I am, with my feelings and thoughts.
I think a lot of OTO members feel the way I do, but unfortunately, there are members who take advantage of us and our openness and honesty. When we assume the best of them, they assume the worst of us, especially if it serves their agenda. When we approach them honestly and openly, they take advantage of our trust and use it to try to hurt us. And I think that this is the kind of behavior that OTO members should openly decry- not just in small private conversations, but out loud. OTO online communication has become a forum in which bullies prosper. Is that how we want our Order to be?