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In Reply to: to Joseph, egotist extraordinaire :) posted by marina on July 25, 2002 at 13:02:12:
Thank you for your comments. I always enjoy reading what you have to say. Even the few times where we found our selves in an argument, it has always been interesting and challenging.
I understand your point regarding stereotyping, and lumping all ex-members into a single catagory.
I'm sure you also understand that over the last two years, I've traveled from coast to coast meeting ex-members face to face, as well as holding two large meetings at my home. This followed about three years of doing the same kind of thing meeting current Family members in person. I've also spent almost every day over a long period of time reading almost every single message on NDN, Lolo's, Follow-on, this board, and whatever others have come and gone.
I doubt the so-called Academics who have studied the Family have spent the kind of time I have. I doubt anyone from the outside has ever spent this kind of time observing Ex-Members.
Does that mean that my observations are correct?
Perhaps. Perhaps not.
I certainly would never want to make comments in a way that would lead someone to belive that I think that every single ex-member operates in a certain way.
I do however believe that there is a maximum amount of tolerance demanded by former members, and a lower than average degree of tolerance given in return.
By this, I don't mean that every single ex-member lacks tolerance. I've found some very tolerant ex-members. But, as a group, my observation is a lack of tolerance. Not just for Family members, but for anyone who appears different. I don't know if you caught the whole Jewish thing over at Crossfire recently, but that was just one example of the kind of thing I'm talking about.
Could I be wrong? Sure. But, I do stand by my observation, and I do believe it is authentic.
