A lot of the Internet Forums that I enjoy often get wrapped up in flame wars and negativity. I think that's unfortunate as it makes folks miserable and degrades the effectiveness of the communication. When things got really grim once, I posted the following essay in an attempt to provide a perspective for folks who wanted to get off the wheel of negativity:

My experience is that when that I harbor ill will for "enemies" in my heart, I lose the ability to enjoy peace and love in my life. So, for my own selfish reasons, I don't retain any negative feelings about any of ya'll whether you deserve it or not. You're all forgiven whether you need it or not!

It makes me sad to see folks, that I know to be good folks, having bad feelings towards each other since I believe they would be fine with each other if they met on the stone rather than on the screen. I accept that too since it's human nature.

I love to be right, not wrong! We all do. My girlfriend and I have a game where the partner who can prove he or she is right gets to gloat in a good natured way. The problem is that being right is over-rated. It gains little of the popularity, respect, or honor that we imagine it affords. In this climbing game, there are plenty of gray areas too. The gear or practices that we argue about are rarely the real cause of accidents. More dangerous are inattention, fatigue, ego, and bad karma.

I'm a little clueless about who's right or wrong in endless debate/flame threads. I get bored and ignore them when they lose all spark of life, humor, or reality.

It's transparent when politicians ignore the real issues, don't address the main rational points in a debate, but rather obfuscate, pontificate, and regurgitate. It's worse when climbers do it since we aren't trying to get elected. It garbles communication, which in turn erodes the role and value of truth in human relations.

I think its fine that folks point out the potential errors in the opinions posted here. Whether you are nice or nasty about it only reflects on you and affects the quality of your life. Personally, after folks state their case, I think it's wise to agree to disagree rather than push harder and harder back and forth, proving nothing and impressing no-one.

Nobody should take my word for it. Look deeply at your life and witness the negativity that little grudges, enemies, and hatreds breed in your heart. If you forgive all, you can enjoy undivided tranquility without ruminating on insults and slights that pile up with time. Don't worry, the folks you let off the hook suffer plenty on their own without your help.

Peace and Love

Karl "Dang Californicatin Hippie" Baba

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