I disagree with everyone who disagrees with me...

[AaronB]

Originally Posted by RomanHD

Can someone tell me if Steve is serious and if not, what's the purpose of this thread?

He's not serious. The purpose of this thread is to find out how people respond to criticism. I got nailed many times by the OP list of unacceptable qualities. My self esteem would be a shriveled up quivering mess of shame and self abhorrence on the floor right now if I didn't put my own self esteem out of it's misery already. I think anyone that helps to break down self esteem is doing the world a favor. Once you let go of self esteem you are free from needing to impress yourself or others. Then you can honestly have no idea what you are doing, and feel ridiculously joyous about your life at the same time.

[danas]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

... especially those who:[*]have a student loan for a liberal arts degree

Whats wrong with taking a loan for a liberal arts degree?
I thought you were into people to go after their passions- not just doing things which are "safe" for the money.
I took a loan for a fine arts degree and I make a good living, (and yes, more then 50k a year)

[Wade]

diddle ling ding ding ding ding ding ding............hey y'all.......its a TEST

[JeffistheAnswer]

I disagree with people who wear socks and sandals.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by JeffistheAnswer

I disagree with people who wear socks and sandals.

Hee hee! Whenever I see someone wearing socks and sandals at my beach, I ask "Sind Sie Deutsch?" and they always look absolutely amazed. "How did you know?" they ask.

[mikej]

Originally Posted by AaronB

He's not serious. The purpose of this thread is to find out how people respond to criticism. I got nailed many times by the OP list of unacceptable qualities. My self esteem would be a shriveled up quivering mess of shame and self abhorrence on the floor right now if I didn't put my own self esteem out of it's misery already. I think anyone that helps to break down self esteem is doing the world a favor. Once you let go of self esteem you are free from needing to impress yourself or others. Then you can honestly have no idea what you are doing, and feel ridiculously joyous about your life at the same time.

i have to say you have some very strange views on self-esteem. what is self-esteem in your opinion?

[Weena]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I find that carrot-maple muffins go pretty well with critical feedback.

Does anyone need a vegan muffin and chill the hell out?

Whether Steve was serious or not, why make 5 pages a big deal of it? Lighten up, people. Why is his opinion bothering you this much? Has he touched something in you that shouldn't be touched? There is one thing on the list i don't have, it's personally making 50K+ a year. Then what? He thinks it's silly to numerically quantify level of consciousness, I think it's silly to numerically quantify someone's worth based on their income. Now let's ALL have some muffins and move on . Don't take stuff personally.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by reiki717

But maybe he was just 'joking' and I don't get it.

Better work on your sense of humor then.

While y'all were arguing whether or not I was being serious or facetious, Rachelle and I went canoeing up Bow River in Banff, Alberta.



But please don't let me interrupt. By all means continue this incredibly rich and meaningful debate.

Then again, you could go outside.

For the record though, my original post was a joke, at least from my perspective. But apparently from others' perspectives, it pushed some buttons. Personally I love joke posts that can have that affect on people.

Whether I was serious or facetious, however, is irrelevant. If you take issue with a joke post, then to whom do the buttons belong? And what are you going to do about those buttons?

If you want to claim that they're my buttons, feel free. But I'll be hiking in Glacier Park tomorrow, worrying more about the bears over there.

[Weena]

AaaHA! I knew it was a joke. Great picture I love the outdoors...(and yup as soon as bub has had her feed I'm going back outside to enjoy sunny spring).

[Elrond]

Originally Posted by Angela

I don't consider that it's necessarily "looking down on people" for Steve to acknowledge that if someone criticizes him in an area in which he considers he has achieved some mastery, their criticism is worthless or worth less to him if the critic has demonstrated a lack of mastery in that area.

I think he's just being radically honest.

Steve: just "radically honest"
Elrond: just "rude"

I think I've found you're percieved difference.

[curiouslyrandom]

Originally Posted by Angela

LMAO!

Wait--that wasn't the same lake Steve was canoeing in, was it? Cos if it was, that would be cool.

[marinik]

I don't really care if it was a joke or just a rant of a vain author who was attacked ( don't even know if he was or not). I come here to learn and connect to people. I have learned so much from this thread so I thank Steve no matter what his intention or motivation was for the OP.

On the other hand when I think about reading the OP I was looking at my buttons and not Steve's. So the fact that I know who I am and what part of me is good and what needs fixing made me read on to see what you people had to say and not looking for a validation of weather he has right or wrong in my view.

I operate my own buttons! LOL

[MrMoNous]

Some of guys seriously need to lighten up.

I love Steve. I learned SO much for him and I am so grateful for that.

I admit he is way ahead of most people I know when it comes to personal growth.

But (and you knew a but was coming)...he is only HUMAN like the rest of you are.

He was joking but even if he wasn't, why would you be so upset? Are you seeking validation about your opinions from someone else who hasn't lived your life?

Anyway, I dont want to blabber much. But it would be a good idea to make on of your personal growth goals to be "Not caring what other's think about me, let alone disagree with me".

Have a nice day.

[Elrond]

Originally Posted by Angela, I think

Noone is ever really just kidding.

Originally Posted by James81

Nothing is ever really just funny.

[Iggs]

still live with their parents

I think this depends on how you live with your parents. If you are helping them get over addictions or teaching them sustainability skills, like how to garden and how to use less energy, or even if you are there to quell fighting, then I think it can be productive. But if it's a parasitic relationship, then nobody's growing at all.

include Bible quotes in their feedback

Some people have reality thick-rimmed glasses, some have the red/blue iMax 3D types, and some have permanent contacts installed by their families. I like to point these people to hilarious bible passages, such as Deuteronomy 23:1 (no one with crushed balls may enter heaven) and Ezekiel 23:20, where the woman was lusting after lovers who are as well-hung as various equidae-family animals.

spend more time on this site than their own site

I don't think you necessarily need to have a website in order to make a positive impact in the world.

have never earned more than $50K in a year

I think mentioning a specific sum of money and establishing a worthiness value to it is on the border between motivational and arrogant. I get the message, these people should STFU and get to work on creating value to experience abundance, but tying someone's worth (the weight of their constructive criticism) to their income has an air of, say, circle-jerkiness to it, i.e. some people just suck at earning money and it doesn't mean that their opinions are worthless.

have credit card debt

Only if said debt was for something like a broken arm, or other necessary medication, otherwise yeah, you're accepting your own slavery by doing this.

have a student loan for a liberal arts degree

But having a liberal arts degree while having rich parents who funded it, or while living in a country which pays for education would be acceptable? The system, demanding specialization from its citizenry, is to blame here. People have been duped; those pursuing liberal arts degrees were conned by very sophisticated systemic values. Lumping them in with bible thumpers and chronic masturbators isn't really fair.

spend more time watching porn than enjoying real people

Through porn someone can see more naked women/men than they ever could in real life; I fail to see how this is such a bad thing. Say someone could only be with an unattractive partner...in body and mind, or..they could watch porn for 10-15 mins a day and sate their impulses..I think oftentimes porn can be a rather rational choice.

have to post on my site because no one will comment on their Live Journal rants

People will do whatever they need to acquire the attention that's to be delivered.

post using handles because they're too chicken to use their real names

The use of handles is pretty standard internet protocol. This is a slippery-slope as well. In 100 years, this could read, post using birth names instead of DNA uploads because they're too chicken to reveal their genetic makeup.

use fake avatar pics to avoid dealing with their body image issues

Sometimes this might be the case, but sometimes there are only so many pixels in which to cram one's fat face and it could get distorted.

visit this site while they're on the clock instead of doing the actual work they're being paid to do

This is a hypocritical point which stands against a lot of your other advice, which basically reads, hey hey why would you give your power away to others by accepting the conditions of a cubicle, etc. Someone reading this site's content is most likely raising their vibration and moving away from that. Lots of jobs only provide 20 hours of work to be done in 40 hours, and why not peruse growth articles during that time?

show no measurable advancements in their lives in the past 12 months

I think most people are going to say that they've had advancements in their past 12 months regardless of how minor or major. And the consciously lazy don't need such urination contests to feel satisfied. But making progress, in whatever direction, is better than spinning one's wheels.

believe they can numerically rank a person's level of consciousness

There was a post on this blog about some consciousness ranking scale where einstein was like 299 or something, and also the whole scale from Shame to Enlightenment seems to be quantifiable. Just saying.

can't spell

Herp derp I can gotted developingness from these websites!

I'll concede that the other 0.1% of disagreements might be valid.
(but not really)

Obviously you're sick of reading them. Why not just do us all a favor and close these message boards for 6 months and only allow people to re-post who've made significant measurable progress in that time? Filter out the crap, otherwise this will be just another cesspool masquerading as a haven of advanced helping.

[Iggs]

Originally Posted by Angela

Hee hee! Whenever I see someone wearing socks and sandals at my beach, I ask "Sind Sie Deutsch?" and they always look absolutely amazed. "How did you know?" they ask.

Well Angela...I happen to enjoy wearing sandals with socks since I hate blisters and have soft feet.

Might I add, I live in Germany, and the Germans here always think that I am an American because I wear my sandals (and Crocs) with socks!

Das ist zweideutig! (that argument cuts both ways!)

[mikej]

i think the original post was tongue in cheek but it probably wasn't helpful for people who are trying their best in life and not really succeeding.

oh and dyslexics can't spell so maybe that point should have been left off.

[Acting Like Godot]

I disagree with men who make their girlfriends do the paddling.

[a muse]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

I disagree with men who make their girlfriends do the paddling.

hehehe brilliant!

[marinik]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

I disagree with men who make their girlfriends do the paddling.

LOL love ya ALG!

[carenkh]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

I disagree with men who make their girlfriends do the paddling.

The person in the back does the steering...

[Parthon]

I just realised, through this thread, that 90% of arguments can be disolved when you prefix in front of everything:

"I interpret that ...."

Because then you realise how full of **** you really are.

Try it out on some of your own posts. It takes the serious business out of it all.

[ZHereford]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Better work on your sense of humor then.
.......If you want to claim that they're my buttons, feel free. But I'll be hiking in Glacier Park tomorrow, worrying more about the bears over there.

Great response Steve and I hope you continue to enjoy our beautiful country!

[AaronB]

Originally Posted by mikej

i have to say you have some very strange views on self-esteem. what is self-esteem in your opinion?

It's having a positive image of myself. It's like when I used to fall in love and my heart could get broken. It took many heartbreaks until the consistency of my heart was a pure white powder. Same with self esteem. As long as I think I'm worth something or valuable or somehow appropriate to reality, I'm at risk of discovering myself to be inappropriate. Once my self image is completely destroyed then I have no concern about how I am seen or how others see me. A positive self image is still an image. From my perspective if an image of myself can be broken, it should be. Then I'm left with nothing to protect. Only people with self esteem can fall in love. People without self esteem are more like happy zombies.

[Daffy Duck]

• post using handles because they're too chicken to use their real names
• use fake avatar pics to avoid dealing with their body image issues

Agreed. This is why I use my full name and post a full body image. I'm a brave one, unlike Bugs Bunny, who hides behind the anonymous name of "James". Psh! He's despicable!

[James81]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

• post using handles because they're too chicken to use their real names
• use fake avatar pics to avoid dealing with their body image issues

Agreed. This is why I use my full name and post a full body image. I'm a brave one, unlike Bugs Bunny, who hides behind the anonymous name of "James". Psh! He's despicable!

LOL!

Ain't I a stinkah?

It's good to have you back.

[moonrambler]

Originally Posted by JeffistheAnswer

I disagree with people who wear socks and sandals.

Hey! I resemble that remark!

[bluedragon]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

... especially those who:[*]believe they can numerically rank a person's level of consciousness

Interestingly, I believe this concept comes from a book who Steve actually wrote an article about.

[lila23]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Personally I love joke posts that can have that affect on people.

You do have a lot of "affect" on me that for sure

[Weena]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

• post using handles because they're too chicken to use their real names
• use fake avatar pics to avoid dealing with their body image issues

Agreed. This is why I use my full name and post a full body image. I'm a brave one, unlike Bugs Bunny, who hides behind the anonymous name of "James". Psh! He's despicable!

hey Daffy!!!!!!!!! Good to see ya!