Discussion: The Critics' Trap

I’ve had my fair share of being burnt out on the force realist communities, but in all honesty, the source of all that dissatisfaction is almost always myself. There are and probably always will be plenty to criticize, but what matters is where you place your focus. If you look at the vast majority of students, for instance, you might see a disheartening lack of passion, dedication, or commitment. Or if you come to rely on direct opposition and challenges as the only form of interaction (i.e. conflict) that you find viable, it might be hard to see or use other forms. I could go on, because in addition to the list of critiques Khaos had been articulating back when I wrote the bulk of this particular lecture (Dec. 13th, 2013), I most certainly have a list of my own. But if I were to focus on the shortcomings or failings to much, get caught up in them… well, it’s comparable to the differences I’ve pointed out between being ‘self absorbed’ and ‘self centered’ or ‘thinking’ and ‘overthinking’.

You can compare it to the “traps” along our path as Miles has described in the past, the traps of passion, strength, power, and even victory. Allowing that to command to much of your attention, too much focus, is basically the same as looking at a quality and deciding it is entirely, irrevocably a weakness. But that’s bullshit; patience can be one or the other; stubbornness can be one or the other. Name a trait, a quality, and whether it’s a strength or a weakness is more a matter of awareness and choice than an intrinsic, fixed characteristic of the trait itself. Being aware of the negatives, downsides, pitfalls, risks, what have you - and having to actually deal with them - is one thing; being tripped up by them is another. And sometimes it's hard to tell where the line is; consequently, it's not a bad idea to check every now and then, actually ask yourself the question:

"Am I being constructive or am I getting tripped up?"

Getting hung up on any of these things is a choice, whether consciously made or not, and I’m the one responsible for making it. Even the question of a quality being a strength or weakness is comparable.

None of these things, in and of themselves, are irreconcilable, they’re just challenges. Opportunities, even - to learn, adapt, and grow. Pretty much any and all problems one can point to in the communities are the same in that regard. They're the bitter that someone who’s been around the block a few times has to take with the sweet. And there’s really no denying there’s a "sweet" side; e.g.there have been several passionate, dedicated, downright inspiring people I'm glad to have been able to know and work with over the years who've shaped, exemplified, and spread the ways of the Sith. Anyone who gets trapped into thinking the downsides too often eclipse the upsides (whatever the context) would do well to remember: you determine where your focus is at.

Positives or negatives, what's useful or what's useless, immersion or escape, strength or weakness. Make your choices, and be honest with yourself about them. It’s no different from the practices some find worthwhile while others deem them to be escapist (in ref. to a dispute Richard Irvine and I had years ago concerning art, poetry, things of that nature being potential spiritual practices vs. escapes and distractions from what I suppose he felt were more "authentic" forms of spiritual practices), nor any different from the exercising power, influence, mastering the various dances moves and styles, improvising and creating their own… while others obsess over how to tightly control things, flailing desperately for some perfect formula, some perfect combination of actions or rites or experiences, some cheat code or master key to winning at life, and fail.

The critics trap is defined by tunnel vision, by focus on the negatives, the shortcomings and failings of a thing, or of people, to the point that they overshadow and eclipse all of the victories, accomplishments, and overall value that a community can have. It can be climbed out of though, simply by focusing on the things that matter to you, the things you resonate with and feel are important, the things you care about. Normally I wouldn't have resurrected this lecture but seeing how it's Easter and that the essence of it has so much relevance in the present, I thought I'd make an exception. I've leveled a metric fuck ton of criticisms in the last few years and hopefully this makes clear, I haven't done so with a lack of awareness of the trap one can fall in - quite the contrary. Even when I do get hung up I claw my way out. Always have, and I always will.