Hmm.
While I have no problem with participants "hijacking my thread", I wouldn't mind a little honesty, here.
Little_Whip, I remember you suggested emailing you with specific questions regarding this topic, and I said I would investigate first. Well, my investigation did not uncover much except the odd links on your home page...which I'm still having a hard time determining the common thread, there. I did not have time to sift through every article or response.
Whomever Dave happens to be, I cannot find any way to research him or the comments to which several people have alluded.
I could accept that someone with a history of extremist beliefs wants to move on, if they are moving on--though ignoring the past probably will not work. But for the sake of clarity and for the sake of honesty, why not skip the ambiguous declarations? I'm willing to entertain most ideas if they are presented respectfully and sincerely, but it seems childish and soemwhat pointless to make veiled allusions to other people's pasts, to duck your own past, for the sake of some imaginary reputation on a simple, modest blog site. I guess points are at stake. But what happens if you collect a wad of points? Does the site pause to offer up a rousing applause? Are you allowed to take an early retirement?
Yes, I understand that people often use these sites as a way to act out aspects of personalities that seem too taboo to play out in society-at-large. But come on! Take a breath, take a step back from whatever imaginary blog personality you have created for yourself, and open up! No need for pure nastiness; that's about as masturbatory as the rest of it. But if you're going to spend your precious time talking about it, guys, why not speak the truth?
" "Listener up there! what have you to confide to me?
Look in my face while I snuff the sidle of evening,
(Talk honestly, no one else hears you, and I stay only a minute longer.)
Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)
I concentrate toward them that are nigh, I wait on the door-slab.
Who has done his day's work? who will soonest be through with his supper?
Who wishes to walk with me?
Will you speak before I am gone? will you prove already too late?"
--Walt Whitman, Song of Myself
Yeah.
TBT