Light or Shadow?

"Does this Jedi always carry around a medical kit.... Splints for injured limbs? A neck brace?"

Not gonna lie, that's very much Iraqi style thinking. When I taught the First Aide Course at the gathering, I pointed out that you need to get creative-even if that means tearing off your own shirt to create bandages. Your fastest splint is your body. And a neck brace can be created from nearby materials until someone is able to get on location. For everything else, you have a cell phone (or at least you should, if you don't have the money to keep one up, buy a boost/track phone and then only use it for 9-1-1, legally [in the US] it has to connect...unless you're somewhere no phone service reaches)

"How have we gotten so off-topic?"

It's the nature of conversation, and I love it.

The first Jediism site to exist was Jedi Sanctuary, and even they held certain standards for what makes someone a Jedi. It wasn't just that you believe in "the Force". When you look at everyone across the planet, you may notice that they all believe in "the Force", they simply call it something else. A Sith refers to this idea you have of "the Force" as "the Force" as well. Do they get to call themselves Jedi? Of course not, even here there is a distinct difference in the names. This shows that ToTJO recognizes a difference between being a Jedi and being a Sith.

Of note, I'm not saying it needs to change, I don't want you to turn into dog from a cat, rather I'd like to see you EVOLVE as the cat. Striving to not get stagnant. We're all needing to move that direction. Even the Institute for Jedi Realist Studies (which is the order I was talking about earlier that people seem to be going to from here).

Thank you UraharaKiskue.

I'm sure Doragon Reklaw (now Khaos of the Sith?) appreciates the credit.

I appreciate the first aid advice in case I stumble upon you bleeding somewhere. I'd never have thought of using just any available cloth for a bandage - especially in an emergency. A crisis is the perfect time to demonstrate good breading and social standing. I'd be looking for packaged sterilized gauze and only a top name brand will do. None of that generic or store brand stuff for me. As a last resort, if I'm sure all cameras and phones are turned off, I'll grab the handiest rag (though filthy and diseased infested it may be) and do my best.

Triage is important but etiquette more so. Manners are the measure of our civilization. After I make sure nobody else wants to call 911 then I'll call. It's important to make people feel included and rude to push out in front of those who may wish to help but otherwise would not get the chance.

"After I make sure nobody else wants to call 911 then I'll call. It's important to make people feel included and rude to push out in front of those who may wish to help but otherwise would not get the chance."

Provide Support, as opposed to always taking charge, happens to be part of the code of conduct for a fictional Jedi.

Actually, in order to get people moving forward to call the police (or anything for that matter), you usually do have to make direct eye contact with them and make the statement "Do XYZ" in the middle of a crisis. The reason is that until they hear something told to them, they usually paralyze not having a clue what to do next. You should never try to do something on your own if you don't have to.

Brother John wrote:

I'm making (at least trying to make) a point on this. We'll see how it goes.

What point is that, Master Jedi?

Fraternally,
-David

Humorous thread, don't forget that in the EU not all Jedi were Knights, and even the Knights had specializations!!

Are we discussing standardization of training yet? Validating a sites (perceived) weaknesses to its members and pointing out that other sites might do those bits better is either promoting those other sites or promoting some sort of standardization, surely!?

The downside of complete standardization is that the most wealthy site will probably kill the other sites because it can do it better and with more bang, the benefit of partial standardization is that people can agree on qualifications and therefore 'titles' BUT there will always be differences with different sites having focus on specific areas. The only other option I can think of is to have complete standardization and have several sites operating different functions like Temple, Academy and Institute... but that is complex and difficult and a 'management' level discussion perhaps. The community is in option 2 without the partial standardization, but that's no reason to say one sites is true and the other is not.

Wow, I missed a lot in the short time I was teaching my tkd class...

Its my last week of teaching, I'm sorta nostalgic already... But its time...

On to new adventures.....

I post that to let you know, that even though I argue for martial arts not being a necessity, I am a 4th degree instructor...

@V... What was the topic?

@Alethea, we will evolve.... All of us.. it can't prevented..

@ everyone...

Level headedness is key to every aspect of life... In an emergency as well... As was stated, it is important to not just stand three dumbstruck, not knowing what to do... In a mugging (lol), an tornado, a auto accident, in a discussion with your ex first said emergency!)

I am not currently trained in first aid and/or CPR anymore, but it is my goal for this winter in our slow time...

++++

As far as our embers leaving here... All are welcome to stay or go.. Our oath does not ask them to pledge to TOTJO... Only to the force...

I've seen members leave and come back... As V said, we wish them well....

There is only so much any online community can do...

TOTJO, FA, IJRS, facebook pages, whoever...

Websites only offer so much.. And what they do offer is cerebral...

And, as we all know, (as good little Jedi?), balance is important....

If these sites are the mental, currently, it is up to the individual to find their physical side... Due to our proximity to each other...

++++++
And finally.....

We set requirements, and we begin exclusion...

Telling someone they can't be member....

We already tell folks to be a legal member here they needcan oath and application...

I would have trouble telling another that they couldn't be a Jedi, because they didn't meet some criteria that was set...

No, it wouldn't be the most wealthy, it would be the one with the most quality. But standardization doesn't need to go further than "Hey, a Jedi doesn't just believe, they LIVE by the code, the tenets and are constantly improving in the areas they have weaknesses in. You get stagnant on the path, well, you're just not a Jedi. You want the title? Work at it, and you'll realize you have it."

I have known people that made it to master, and then they stopped. They got to a point where they thought they lived the path so well, that there was no where else they could go. At that moment, they lost the right to be called Jedi. Some of them discontinued, because they realized they had fallen from the path and didn't feel they represented it well enough, others have dove back into the path by starting training programs at various orders throughout the years. And then there are some that keep the name because their ego has gotten the best of them.

Also, of note- I've never said one is more legit than another. Not in this thread at least. There are 7-9 English-Speaking groups which are legit, and ToTJO makes the cut. So don't get my challenge/message confused with my wanting to tear down the Temple.

Does anyone know what happens when a member reaches the level of Apprentice and gets a personal master? That's right. You don't know and neither do I.

At that point all bets are off and it's a unique and personal experience based on the teacher, the student and the circumstances. No two training's are ever alike. Some members journals will discuss things going on in their training but it's nowhere near the whole picture.

So really much of this talk about where we're wrong and what we lack and a Jedi's this and a Jedi's not that and comparing us to them and yadda yadda yadda is all based on things folks have no knowledge of unless they're earned the rank of Knight.

p.s. While I was writing this Alethea Thompson posted and I'd not seen it. This is not particularly directed at her. It's a general statement.