AFTER BEING ASKED WHO IS GREATEST AT DU THIS YEAR, I CANNOT HIDE THIS LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL

[Jeffersons Ghost]

Since I began posting at DU, many names, including the one asking who we felt was greatest last year and several names on his OP, come to mind...

As I think back over the past year, a virtual universe of DU stars illuminate my memory. No matter how bright distant stars truly shine, from Earthly perspective, nearby candles appear brighter. Whether online or in person, the closer we are to those who light and warm our lives, the brighter they appear. Considering the numerous Alpha Stars of DU, leads to important questions: What would they be without any recommendations? Who would they be without comments to keep brilliant OPs alive? How would they survive without true blue friends to warm their lives?

Nominating brilliant DU stars or closer flames that warm life might cause us to lose focus on what is truly important, so please consider this final question:

Which shines the brightest;

a candle or the mirror that reflects its brilliance?

[trumad]

1. The candle...

The rest of us are morans. ;-)

[Libby2]

2. LOL

Yes, yes I am.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

3. from my limited perspective, use of the term "morans" seems dark as Libby2 reflects it...

Still, there is beauty in both posts. Indeed, some readers might wonder what type of mind goes to thoughts of "morans" (morons?) but why waste positive feelings or mental energy? Dark perspectives offer beauty because without darkness, we cannot appreciate light.

thanks guys! lol

[ixion]

4. Robert Pirsig said (in 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance')

that if you define something as having quality that it inherently loses Quality.

Just sayin'... :-)

[siligut]

17. I call BS

Saying I'm naked doesn't clothe me, some things aren't meant to be taken literally. Zen; is it like the bible, you get from it what you put into it? Don't think so, some people will never get there.

[Tellurian]

5. Any word ending with

EST..as in, brightest, best, greatest...signifies an arbitrary word, thereby an arbitrary statement
subject to someone's opinion. I have a problem with that.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

7. and each question in the OP deals with "opinion" (ie. perspective)...

and presents no conclusions, what "problem" did it cause for you, Tellurian?

[trumad]

8. For what it's worth...

I think your Op is awesome....

[Tellurian]

10. I enjoy reading your posts JG..

you are a writer gifted with a great talent for expressing yourself.

Have I in some way misunderstood this text?

"including the one asking who we felt was greatest last year and several names on his OP, come to mind..."

and a similar question asked here last night:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2932970

[Jeffersons Ghost]

11. perhaps you did misunderstand the phrase that you present now...

are you suggesting the phrase you present now, indicates that I form a conclussion each time something "comes to mind?"

The older I become the fewer conclussions I form when ANYTHING but most especially people "come to mind." Isn't that how it is with you, Tellurian? Like a parachute, the mind only functions when it is open.

[Tellurian]

12. No, I don't think so..

I'm not terribly conflicted. I'll narrow the scope for you, so as not to appear misleading.

"including the one asking who we felt was greatest last year and several names on his OP."

"We need to be aware of the inadequacies and arbitraryness of words to avoid being blinkered by them."

[Jeffersons Ghost]

14. perhaps the next 500 readers will wonder why trumad & Tellurian didn't recommend an OP they enjoy...

Indeed, those readers will understand, "We need to be aware of the inadequacies and arbitraryness of words to avoid being blinkered by them."

[Tellurian]

15. I've clearly answered your question...

and the fact remains. Some posts are better than others.
All are considered significant contributions.

By and large it's CONTENT that IS the driving factor.

Happy Holidays, JG..

[Jeffersons Ghost]

19. happy holidays to you as well

[peacetalksforall]

6. Similar to the shine of a speaker and the shine of the audience

that understands, considers, and appreciates including the nuances and shadows that exist.

'Network Shine'. For lack of the name of the scientific word or parallel for the relationship - I am thankful for this 'network shine'.

Thanks for posting.

The light just reading this thread makes me feel good.

[Annces]

9. I am thankful for the high quality posters

Posting on DU doesn't earn you a salary, so it seems more honest and able to be trusted. Plus you see human nature at work, where mud slinging is the norm. In the workplace, you feel the tension, but people are not so outspoken.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

13. From your tag-line "Coyote" I too will travel...

But I will not foolishly wade deeply into Coyote territory. With only superficial knowledge of Coyote in Native cultures, I know enough of the Spirit to understand that I know nothing of the depth Coyote truly represents.

The site you direct others toward offers, "Traveling quickly, searching for Rabbit and Mouse
I Call out to My Brother Across the Landscape, I Cry to My Creator Who Knows My Life..."

From that quote I will travel to an early childhood conclusion I made about a Fox and Rabbit that were brothers. Bro' Fox thought himself more clever than Bro' Rabbit. Indeed, like Coyote, Bro' Fox searches for Bro' rabbit, not only hunting him to eat but also to torment.

One day, his quest brought Bro' Fox to encounter a Tar-Baby Bro' Rabbit left behind to help Bro' Fox grow wise. Mean and petty, Bro' Fox began to insult the Tar-Baby but obviously Tar cannot hear or move. In anger over being ignored, Bro' Fox chose to slap the Tar-Baby, only to become entangled in the hot, sticky tar. With paw stuck deeply in the tar, Bro' Fox got even madder and began to kick at the Tar-Baby, which made his imprisonment worse. Finally, Bro' Fox began to compliment the Tar-Baby, begging for release but Tar cannot hear or move. Rabbit, however, can still move. Who is the hunter and who is the prey?

I too can move.

Imagine a weak looking Rabbit-like member of DU, creating an OP with such shine on its surface that ANY member can look upon it to see their own inner beauty. Now imagine a DU Fox, looking at the glassy surface and quickly deciding to disrupt it, so that no other member can enjoy their own inner beauty. Thinking the OP must be smooth water, Bro' Fox-member decides to slap his hand down on the surface to destroy all chances of others enjoying its reflections. Now imagine the OP is a pool of Tar, not water. Who is the hunter and who is the prey?

[Annces]

16. You are right about the depth of Coyote

I had no idea, until I started looking for some stories. He is everywhere.

Regarding the tar baby, I don't see that so much with people falling into traps in threads. However I sometimes feel like I get into trouble myself with some threads, when I react to someone else's post and get tangled up. Also on DU, I will never make a post about animal rights, because people are so far from caring about animals yet, and they just throw out heart-less jibes.

[blm]

18. heheh....Candle of the Year.

.