Think [the box] ing discussion

*chuckling as he creates a little note of welcome and appreciation, for all those taking part in the group of thinkers outside of boxes, Seek seems to sense some watching.. Pausing and seeming to hear something just outside of his perception, he quickly turns inside around and failing, begins chuckling as he..*


I don't like to have to say it and trust it doesn't really need said but.. there are only a couple of conditions of taking part in this group...

Be reasonable.
Explain or back up statements or arguments, don't tarnish a topic with, "just because i believe it/say so!"
Never resort to insults or personal attacks.
Remember to chuckle if and when you can.

...:)
the world presses into her heart and mind as she seeks the desert, some escarpment, knowing the vista, old seabed scrapes away...

without circles
wanting only sentinels

Like the group name, like the concept Very Much & the looks of the threads going on here, just joined btw via an invitation from Maurice.
Pleased to be among you,
Jessica

I'm here because Maureen's here. She loves Maine and that's good enough for me. (And oh, yeah, it doesn't hurt that this looks like a place that values ideas and doesn't value screaming and vituperation.)

P.S. I also like the creative title. That scored points for Tim.

P.P.S. I'm also a fan of Irish literature, and the moderator posts from Ireland. That didn't hurt matters, either.

Pleased to meet you.

awww new
nice to see you here
don't look on the faith thread where i vituperate
i know-sheesh
btw-i meant to ask you about the weather
must be about ice out on the rivers
tim the artist formerly known as seek is cool, very intelligent and master discussion generator

I haven't been north, I only know N.H. set records for snow (though Portland did not). Still a couple of feet plus of snow on the ground up there. It's been long gone here in the flatlands, both ice and snow.

Hi Group,

I just joined because I liked the look of this group and the posts. I live in west-central Florida, near the Gulf of Mexico. I'm a (non-practicing) lawyer who's studying to become a librarian. Looking forward to participating.

hi sarah,

i lived in panama city beach for several years
interesting combo lawyer/librarian
jump into the topics
i think some of us regulars are taking a break or waiting for a new topic or perspective on existing topics or just new comments

Hi everyone. This group looks interesting, but like Anthony, I too have been too busy to contribute... yet. I look forward to many enlightening discussions with you all.

absolutely
it also is a perspective that we can never again attain
you can get older and wiser or older and foolisher
we can't get younger and see issues from your perspective

Hello, my name is Allie and amongst other things, can be a bit of a bleeding heart liberal apologist. I stumbled across this group yesterday and thought that some of the topics looked rather interesting, though I haven't actually contributed yet.

I live in Melbourne, Australia, and am in the final stages of writing my Honours thesis in politics, specifically the Good Friday Agreement, with a chunky theoretical bent for good measure.

And Olivia, I did the IB too, and I know how absolutely soul destroying it can be at times. But good luck with it, I have never for a second regretted doing it, and honestly don't think I would be doing what I am doing now (which I absolutely love), were it not for the program.

Anyway, look forward to meeting you all!

hello, hello. Nice to meet(actually, read) you guys.

i Love discussing about ideas, perspectives, thoughts and whatnot(hmm, wont that mean about everything there is on Earth..?). yeah, whatnot. i'm glad to have found this group- the topics listed were rather wide-ranged(if this is even a word), and interesting.

oh yeah, there was something about the title:

think[the box]ing- hm, the meaning- "thinking out of the box" was so blatantly obvious to me.. therefore i thought it(the title) to be rather inapt (
so, if i did offended any, it was not out of spite or intentional- i was just thinking about the title ;D *chuckles*- there i fulfiled one aspect yea *winks*

but, on a lighter note, i'm still glad to join this group.. hopefully you guys will be glad to have me..? even after reading those offensive words..? Hopefully

Hi! I just joined...mostly for the reason of educating myself and being around people who have thoughts other than being hungry. Even though I know that in the end I'm not better than them...just different. :) Wow, that sounded self-serving...well, everyone, pretend that I said something incredibly nice and awesome and courteous, because you can believe me when I say that I'll never master the art of the greeting. -_- Well, hopefully I can learn a lot here and maybe contribute a little bit myself. ;)

Casey,
Your honesty is refreshing!
Your introduction reminds me that I jumped into discussion without introducing myself.

My name is Colleen, I am a transition life coach.
Many people have asked me what is a TLC.
That is because it is something that I created.
I believe that we are on the edge of major transition in the world. It is my job to assist those who are willing to take living on the earth to a new level. My focus is the family. Before we can be ready for a transformed world, we get to heal all the wounds left behind by "dysfunctional" families.

I am looking forward to the year 2012 with great excitement. It marks an end of an era. An era of self-doubt.

With my whole heart,
Colleen

Isn't 2012 the year that ancient Mayans predicted the world would end? How can I make the transition to a post-apocalyptic existence? (In, say, three easy steps, for instance.)

Hi, i'm Carlie.
Please forgive my typos for there will be plenty and I look down on people who use grammar as a weapon in argument.
Sorry, sore point. I joined because I want to exercise my mind because it seems noone else ever understands my logic and if I can voice my opinion here without being maliciously attacked then I look forward to doing so.
Also love the group name.

Hi everyone,

Just joined GoodRead and was poking around the groups when I found this one. Then I read through the discussion on whether god is obsolete-- looks like I found some live ones.

I'm also a relative newbie to philosophy (took a couple of courses in college and am now finding my way back into reading what I can), but I look forward to reading and eventually taking part in the discussions. :)

ahlan wa salaam. i am kipahni from small town america currently residing in even smaller village egypt. i enjoy long walks in the sand (b/c that's all we have here) and home-made lemonade (b/c that is the only sweet cold drink here) i was an oncology nurse now turned music/english teacher and currently midiwife student. i joined because i needed some good brain stimulis

Hello! I've Veronica, or Roni if you would prefer. As a high schooler, I have not experienced much of the world yet, and therefore may be unable to participate in all the discussions.
However, I do like to think and to learn, and I find the perspectives of others interesting. I am a writer (predominantly fiction) and I will be going through the IB program once I reach 11th grade.
I'm sure that I will enjoy this group very much!

Oh, hi Roni!

Hey everyone, I'm Riley, and I've mostly been reading the discussions, it's very interesting. I'm also pretty young and, like Roni said, may not get the gist of what you're saying . . . but I can learn through the majesty and miracle of google! and books.

I just took the time to re-read my introduction.
I am being reminded over and over again to put things in writing and then revisit them.
I am choosing to do that more frequently.

It's amazing how easy I can get either off-track or not see my own growth if I fail to do this.

Because of some really recent events, I have come to realize that my gifts are not as a coach, but simply someone that states my truths and lets people either ponder or expound on those truths.

I see the world differently than most and therefore it takes time for most to even consider the possibility of what I see as being true. Because the truth is I don't see the world as it now is. I see the world as it is meant to be. Some people see that as being a visionary. Others choose to see it as delusional. I guess it all depend out ones believes about how possible what I see is, because I believe that the impossible is indeed possible. The fun thing is I have seen it happen in my personal life.
Things that I once saw as total impossible I have not only done, but done with style and grace.

I look forward to being a part of this group and it's discussions now that I am more clear on my role.

I am currently reading "Mutant Message Down Under" and I look forward to what it has to teach me.

Thank you Charly. I've commented a bit, and also had my opinions changed. In a world controlled by the majorities and adults, I don't always get full stories. For example, to people in Iraq, America is the bad guy, but the News only talks about the terrorists killing us, not us killing the innocent citizens of Iraq, not terrorists or soldiers.

Colleen, I agree. You're either a visionary or locked up in a sponge room. Or assassinated, which is never the one people choose.

Riley,
More and more the world is giving permission for the visionaries to share their visions. I see a big divide being created in the world. Those that look at another's visions and ponder the possibility and those that are quick to judge and say "get real". The biggest problem with the second group --"Reality" is getting unbearable to live in. There is the danger of someone's life being too short. When the resistance to possiblities get so strong that there is no way out. Dare to Dream. Stop looking at the world as it is. Start to see the beautiful transformation taking place every day!

The News is TOTALLY different here in Egypt. which is no surprise, but it makes you wonder where is the truth? I guess it is for each to decide, based on the validity/accountability of the news

I have stopped watching the US News, because I have come to see it as merely someone point of view. I feel that the BBC is more unbias. Everything is so political in the US. My best measuring stick -- What is their agenda? If I feel any, I devalue the validity of the source. Are they creating News or are they truly doing their job and reporting information.

I'm glad you guys agree. It's hard to find an unbiased news source, maybe even impossible. And adults always seem to think they need to make the world sweeter for children, and that sometimes entails them lying.

Everything that I experience in this world is affected by my perspective. I have come to appreciate looking at the world from an optimistic point of view. Perhaps what you see as a lie, is merely looking at a situation in a more positive way.

True...I just don't like not knowing the whole story.

Just joined - the name of the group caught my eye, and I love a good general discussion. I have opinions on most things, but am willing to listen to others'. Hope to see some good ones here!

Welcome Rebecca J!
It is always great to get more voices.
With my whole heart, Colleen

Hi everyone
Great idea for a group.

Hello all,

Great idea for a discussion group. Being a little outside the box can be stimulating. I hope to add some thoughts.

Hi I'm Karyn. I live in Donegal, Ireland. Kinda distracted right now, watching Around Ireland in 80 Days at the same time.

Hi, I'm Jim. I don't know why I didn't see this topic last night. Tired eyes, I guess.

Hello everybody,
I just joined this group because I firmly believe that it is so difficult to "think outside the box". Few, I believe, have been truly original in their problem solving and in giving the world strategies for healthier and happier living.
As a Christian, I hold that the historical Jesus, as Founder of a religion, though I do not know whether he himself was conscious of this fact, was indeed one huge original thinker that the world has ever seen. So also were some of the Founders of the greatest relgions of the world.
For the present, I would like to be challenged into whether as a premise, in order to be original in one's thoughts and become a positivie contributor to humanity one must be truly faithful to principles that go contrary to current, ordinary solutions based on the will to power, lust and ego centrism.

Austin

Welcome Gili. I hope you find something of interest while prowling outside the box.

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for your welcome... I do sincerely hope to find some challenging ideas and or people who would challenge my thinking too...

Regards to you and all those prowling outside the box
Austin Gili

Hi Niall,

Welcome, and I hope you will feel free to add your thoughts.

Hello everyone.

I just joined the group. I enjoy friendly debate and different perspectives and opinions. I have always been a fan of reads that test faith and theology.

I'm only barely getting into books that deal with politics so I'm sure that will open a new train of thought for me (and I'm looking for suggestions, btw).

I look forward to the discussions and intercourse (not that kind!) this group is sure to inspire.

Amazing group! Keeps me thinking(:

Hey everyone! It's good to be here.

Question: do we first have to delineate the box before we can think outside of it? Another question: are we just talking about one big box, or are there multiple boxes, say, for different topics, all of which require thinking-outside-of? If it is the case that there are multiple boxes, are they contained within one supreme box? If so, will we have to think outside of this one once again or have we reached a comfy limit at this point? Final question: if there is no supreme box, but boxes keep being contained within superseding boxes, will we ultimately be stuck in an infinite regress?

:)

I, for one, may be new but I agree wholeheartedly with the idea of us all comporting ourselves like logic-based Dr.Hibberts.

New member here, trying to find my audience...

"Philosophy with attitude. Because the unexamined life is dangerous."

That's how I'm 'tagging' my book - and I thought members of this group might be interested in it...

It's a collection of critical inquiries - challenging thoughts about everyday things: casual day at the office, calling people Ms. and Mr., parenting without a license, flying a national flag, women’s fiction, drugs and sports, profit and loss, marriage, the weather report, hockey brawls, jury duty…Shit that Pisses Me Off

Hello, I'm Tamara and I love to read but don't always have the time. I at least try for one book a month, I love anything that teaches me something! I am currently half way through The Watchman's Rattle and love it, it is great info especially for the current state of affairs in our economy http://www.rebeccacosta.com/book. I look forward to discussions!

I love logic and reason, and cognitive behavior theory. That's why I'm here. Nina, 33, from Chicago. Jung would call me an INTJ.

Hi. New here. Look forward to some lively discussions

The 98 Things Socrates Would Know If He Were Alive Today Philosophy

Hey Group,
My name is Stefan and I'm a young student living in Europe. I like philosophy and cinema and I hope I will be studying medicine later this year. I am looking forward to having some interesting discussions in this group.

Stefan

Hi, I'm Ruth Jacobs, author of a charity publication: "In Her Own Words... Interview with a London Call Girl" from which all royalties are being donated to a charity called Beyond the Streets, which helps women exit prostitution.

It's a brand new publication and so far has received 14 x 5* reviews between the UK and US Amazon websites. One of those 5* reviews is from Stephen Leather, one of the UK's most successful authors and the writer of over 30 bestsellers.

The short book (only about 6 pages on a kindle) is the transcription of a video interview I undertook with a London call girl in the late 1990s for my research on prostitution. The woman I interviewed, Q, was a wonderful person who had a sad and painful life, with childhood sexual abuse and then being pimped on the streets from the age of fifteen.

In her interview, Q was brutally honest about how she felt and thought about herself, working as a prostitute, sex, men, relationships, society and much more. The interview is transcribed completely unedited, including every broken sentence and pause, so that her words are presented as honestly and boldly as she spoke them.

At the time, Q was a very dear friend. Sadly, she is now dead, which is the reason all royalties received from this publication are being donated to Beyond the Streets.

From making this publication available, I hope to change the stigma some of society has against prostitutes and prostitution, which I believe is mainly through lack of knowledge. I want the public to be made aware of at least some of the statistics, such as that 75% of prostitutes have been sexually and physically abused as children, 70% have experienced multiple rapes, and 67% meet the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder, which is a major cause of suicide. Also research from Object shows that 9 out of 10 women would like to exit prostitution. But there isn't the help available.

Q's words dispel the 'happy hooker' myth. On the outside, being a 'happy hooker' was the image she presented. From her contradictory statements, it can be ascertained that she tried to make herself believe certain facts, whilst knowing another truth. Bravely and fearlessly, she exposed her innermost self. She shows the reality of life for women working in prostitution, the effects it has on them psychologically, emotionally, with relationships with men, how they are viewed and how they feel they are viewed by society, as outsiders and outcasts, often judged and looked down on.
In Her Own Words... Interview with a London Call GirlRuth Jacobs