My Opinion. Jestor's Lie

Archon wrote: It's funny how we get wrapped up around such trivial concepts as words.

There's a reason for that. They're our primary means of getting things out of our heads and into other people's heads instead.

steamboat28 wrote:

Archon wrote: It's funny how we get wrapped up around such trivial concepts as words.

There's a reason for that. They're our primary means of getting things out of our heads and into other people's heads instead.

Which is kind of sad actually... kind of.

See, I was always taught that actions speak louder than words. And from what I have observed, so many people say one thing and do another.

My words are not always fancy or gentle and they certainly aren't always kind. But, I only use them because on the internet it is the only means I have to show the love I have for each person and how much I care about our well being. In realife, I do not talk much at all. I just do stuff... and let my actions speak for me.

Alethea Thompson wrote: Okay, see- West, I know that you get that. But Jestor's always talking like Sith and Jedi are the same thing. He doesn't say it specifically, but he's always "If you call yourself a Jedi, you are a Jedi". So if we put in the following: "If you are a Sith and call yourself a Jedi, then you are a Jedi because you call yourself a Jedi"- I swear to you that is what I hear EVERY SINGLE TIME. And I know he doesn't believe that.

When you ask him what is a Jedi, he relies back on "If you call yourself a Jedi, you are a Jedi".

For once, I want him to give a direct answer. lol. And Jestor, you can't steal West's response. That's cheating.

Alethea, the thing I've found is that you have an objective idea of what a Jedi is so people either do or don't fit that idea. The thing is though, your objective idea is an opinion.

That is why TotJO only ever speaks for itself because we have no authority on anything else. Outside TotJO anything goes.

Consider this: what if you became the only person in the world to believe that you are a Jedi if you do [insert x, y, z things - for instance I know you have a strong focus on leadership, first aid and (martial arts? or something). You say "This is what makes a Jedi and the opposite of this is a Sith" (or whatever, don't take the analogy too literally).

Well what if there are 10,000 other people across dozens of sites who go "lol wut? That isn't what a Jedi is, we are what a Jedi are and we believe in selfish greed" (or whatever, important thing is that it is something you disagree with).

Well now it's 10,000 to one. You aren't just a minority in this case going "No no no! This is a Jedi!" you are 0.0001. That is a negligible amount that would be ignored by most statisticians.

Any 'legitimacy' to 'what a Jedi is' is tied to the number of people who decide to use that word in a particular way. Do you see?

Well we don't care about their legitimacy, we just do what we do and people can accept us as that or not. We call ourselves Jedi and take or hold no authority over anyone else.

How could someone dare do anything other than that?

Sure maybe one day TotJO will become the ten-thousandth percent and decide that there is a more accurate word, the example I am using is extreme obviously, but it just shows how a word is fluid in nature.

Of course it is easier to use similar words to mean similar things, but that doesn't stop words from having many different connotations and contextual interpretations does it? The same is with the word Jedi - show me an objective truth to a thing.

Akkarin wrote: Any 'legitimacy' to 'what a Jedi is' is tied to the number of people who decide to use that word in a particular way. Do you see?

Which, thanks to 37 years, 6 (soon to be 9) major motion pictures, three animated television series, two made-for-tv-movies, a Holiday Special, and a partridge in a pear tree, that will always (for the foreseeable future) be Lucas' Jedi. Not ours.

Which is kind of sad actually... kind of.

See, I was always taught that actions speak louder than words. And from what I have observed, so many people say one thing and do another.

My words are not always fancy or gentle and they certainly aren't always kind. But, I only use them because on the internet it is the only means I have to show the love I have for each person and how much I care about our well being. In realife, I do not talk much at all. I just do stuff... and let my actions speak for me.

Hmm, doesnt seem sad to me. Seems more a matter of people needing to do what they say they will.

My word, haha, my words, have power because of that fact.

Actions only speak louder than words if your words are a poor representation of your actions. Mine are not.

Also, there is a distinct importance to sometimes talk things out before acting in many cases, and being able to communicate those actions clearly. Many jobs involve this, but there are more personal engagements that require it as well.

It also helps in regards to teaching in many avenues.

The only thing I find sad, is that people lack the appreciation for the power of words.

Okay, see- West, I know that you get that. But Jestor's always talking like Sith and Jedi are the same thing. He doesn't say it specifically, but he's always "If you call yourself a Jedi, you are a Jedi". So if we put in the following: "If you are a Sith and call yourself a Jedi, then you are a Jedi because you call yourself a Jedi"- I swear to you that is what I hear EVERY SINGLE TIME. And I know he doesn't believe that.

When you ask him what is a Jedi, he relies back on "If you call yourself a Jedi, you are a Jedi".

For once, I want him to give a direct answer. lol. And Jestor, you can't steal West's response. That's cheating.

lol...

I never say they are the same thing....

I say "who are we to define another?"



You, Alethea, are not a Jedi...



Bullshit, right?

lol, and exactly my point....

I hesitate to talk about my full thoughts on Jedi/Sith, because I dont want to get into a pissing contest, lol...

I ONLY call myself a Jedi so that others will understand what I think, and where I am coming from...

I am Jestor, James "Muther-F-N Jestor" Foster... lol...

I believe as I do...

I argue?discuss? converse about all sorts of stuff with all sorts of people...

Someone darker than me? Yea, I must be light... Someone Lighter than me, oh yea, I must be dark...

And really? I cant control what you do...

I love my wife, kids, family, GrandMaster Chung, you, and Khaos, and Wes, Alex, Reliah, Steamboat, Elizabeth, and on and on...

I wont judge you... I love you, dont care what you call yourself...

I know nothing about Pastafarian, if I thought they were slightly more than a joke, maybe I would have joined them...

I left Catholicism, they WERE a joke, lol... At least as how they represented themselves to me...

YOu wanna be a Jedi, call yourself a Jedi, I have no control, and I will disagree at some point on what that is, even if we agree almost all the way down the line... There will be some kind of dealbreaker...

Adn then one of use might say, the other one is not a Jedi... What should be said, is "Not a Jedi as I am, but a different kind"....

Who am I to care what you call yourself?

To have SOME KIND of legitimacy, we need SOME kind of definition...

So, we have kept it as loose as possible to allow for individual beliefs...

Jestor wrote: So, we have kept it as loose as possible to allow for individual beliefs...

"Keeping it loose" in a formal manner doesn't do anything extra to allow for individual beliefs. Catholics and Jews and Muslims have individual beliefs, too. No amount of structure will take that away, but a lack of it does get to be problematic, because it robs us of a common understanding at a foundational level.

But...we HAVE structure...

rugadd wrote: But...we HAVE structure...

We have a rank structure. Two of them, in fact. That is not belief structure.