100

Paradise of Madness

Sylvia Shawcross

Photo by Alex Turcu on Unsplash

It is said that the mad do not know they are mad. They live with a certainty of everything. They never doubt. They shuffle through common knowledge until they pick out their stance as if it were a pearl inside a sea-stained shell, neither understanding the thing that made that pearl nor that there are many shells with many pearls.

And so it is these days, a pearl-hunter’s paradise of madness.

And all the madness finds no solution. Scratching a way at the edge of the sea and watching the silk tide running through the sand. One day the sand is silk and other days gravel and it all depends on the colour of the tide and the boots worn that day.

The mad always wear the same boots.

Having found their narrative they live there despite the ocean threatening and the flotsam and jetsam that batters at their door. They do not see nor hear the ocean, just the narrative they live in. If they are lucky they picked a happy one. If they are unlucky they find themselves in an angry one, or a sad one, or a fearful one. Or most awful of all, the narrative of hate.

Even their madness cannot protect them there.

We are living in a world breaking from the weight of its own suppositions. It argues out its future in its vast forgetting of the past until it has no here and now. The present is simply a place to dream or a thing to be dismantled. It is certainly not a place to be for many—the ones who suffer.

Yet hope and dreams are born of suffering, not of vanity. To build a better world. And yet it is vanity that is now shaping our world. Vanity that goes hand in hand with greed like a skeleton dance macabre. It was ever thus. If memory mattered.

History does not recognize the contrived compassion of the wealthy so much as the true anguish of the impoverished. It is that which changes the course of history. If history mattered.

It was never the construction and plotting of a privileged class where the pearls were laid. They were simply the ones who created the bits of grit that made the pearls. And it was always the pearls that mattered, not the rough ugly shell that is quickly discarded. These do not stay for long.

They are making many beaches full of grit at the moment. Do they know this? Surely they do.

Suffice for them to understand, there are many pearls now in the making. They have made it so. They don’t understand this because they are wearing the same boots they always have.

That boot that stomps. It always has. It always does. It always will perhaps.

Perhaps they who now construct the future should be thanked after all. Without them, there would be no pearls.

For whom then, do we save this world?

Syl Shawcross lives in the province of Quebec, Canada.

SUPPORT OFFGUARDIAN

If you enjoy OffG's content, please help us make our monthly fund-raising goal and keep the site alive.

For other ways to donate, including direct-transfer bank details click HERE.

3.1 26 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

100 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Russian Hank
Russian Hank
Jan 22, 2023 8:25 PM

The “world” is an imaginary construct. The word itself doesn’t even mean anything, and our version of it is a thin decomposing veneer on what should properly be called our experience of nature and our society, but we don’t really experience nature because it is icky and we have to drive to see it and there are no chip vans when we get there. Of course, we all have our ideas what world means, but they are completely subjective and impossible for anyone else. Some will argue that their culture is the world, but only ignorance supports that view. If world means the Earth, well despite lots of lies she is doing just fine. If world means the exact time and place you grew up in, it is even more subjective and therefore even more illusory.

Debating about such ephemeral concepts is all very well, but only serves to provide another conflict that people can upset themselves over. It is inherently pointless but it does serve us the question.

So, what you mean to ask is: Who are we saving our personal illusions of reality for? The only possible answer that it is for ourselves, even when we probably fail to convince the parents of children in our own families not to poison them. We try to appear to do good because our unique view of ourselves tells us this is the way to be consistent, to avoid shattering the fragile mirror we made to connect with one specific society for one particular, and limited, time.

Even the subject “we” is debatable because most of us don’t even know what “I” is, never mind this confusing grouping, as if every naked ape can truly master its proper place in the group or know itself without needing fake mirrors. None of the members of such a group can define any of the terms they are using. Begin with who are we before thinking about what we think we might be doing.

So, there is no world to save, and there is no real you to save it, at least in most cases. All you can possibly do is declare that you tried to save your opinion of your reality, and by declaring that convince yourself that you are doing something that you can say is good. Sounds like a lot of work for no reward to me. Better, let’s talk about real topics that can be defined, rather than clicking thumbs on traps posed with the purpose of wasting or dividing our attention.

Levi Tate
Levi Tate
Jan 23, 2023 12:44 PM
Reply to  Russian Hank

I didn’t really read this.

Actually, I chose to skim.

mik
mik
Jan 24, 2023 1:03 PM
Reply to  Russian Hank

I thought about commenting the article but then refrained. Why? Because it’s a poetry and it doesn’t resonate with me.

“Better, let’s talk about real topics that can be defined….”

What is real? Defined?
Is that scientific naturalism, the prevailing pseudo-religion, talking from you?
Is that skepticism, too?

Speedwellian
Speedwellian
Jan 24, 2023 9:56 PM
Reply to  Russian Hank

I felt the same, there is no world to save. Save yourself!, when infact you are perhaps already saved. Another question…what to do with all this time? What to do with all this love?

Straight Talk
Straight Talk
Jan 22, 2023 2:28 PM

Well, it took the bombing of Europe for them to finally get a national healthcare system. Talk about useful grit! But do we really need immature leadership to screw up so badly again and again for them to finally do the right thing?

The tyrannical mind has not evolved. It wants to hold humankind back in an eternal feudal loop of existence. The beautiful frescoes, painted by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, c. 1337-40, Sala della Pace (Hall of Peace) also known as the Sala dei Nove (the Hall of the Nine) in Siena, Italy is a testament to this battle between mature and immature governance.

“Tyranny and Injustice for All: The Allegory of Good and Bad Government in Siena”

“This lecture will discuss the Allegory of Good and Bad Government by Ambrogio Lorenzetti in the “Room of the Nine”- Siena’s medieval Oval Office. We will come to understand that the governing principles of an effective democracy transcend time.”

Today, we are actually considering using nuclear arsenal over who rules Crimea. It can’t get more immature than that.

Let’s Nuke The World Over Who Governs Crimea: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix

Antonym
Antonym
Jan 22, 2023 3:18 AM

For me the climate change apocalypse madness is the prime example of this.

The motto amongst powerful used to be “never let a crisis go to waste”. These days they manufacture everything in PR China except fake crises, but still with the old twist by misusing a splinter of truth to sell their huge chunk of falsehood.

BUT every action has a reaction, which time scale and path their limited minds can’t fathom. Karma isn’t so much a bitch as a pandora’s box.

Paul Vonharnish
Paul Vonharnish
Jan 22, 2023 12:35 AM

Thank you Syl Shawcross. Nice writing. Perhaps you will enjoy this. >

Can You Live This Way

Does the Sun, own the air
Through which it shines?
Or a river, own the rocks
Over which it flows?
Even the highest mountain
Knows it will wear away

Does the tree, own the ground
On which it rests?

There are times
The thunder speaks to me of this
But the thunder does not dwell
In me

If the fire
Burned up all the yellow grass
Where would it live tomorrow?
We are only here to visit
Like the wandering river

When the geese are calling
To the autumn sky
Their voices are not gathered
In sorrow

Can you live
This way?

11/21/1999 PV

syl shawcross
syl shawcross
Jan 22, 2023 2:36 AM

lovely indeed, ty

tonyopmoc
tonyopmoc
Jan 21, 2023 9:48 PM

Sylvia Shawcross,

I always find your posts a bit of fresh air, in a world that seems to me has gone completely mad.

Sure, I admit I have done a bit of mad myself, but have extremely rarely got violent or aggressive, well not since the age of 14, when I hit my best friend in the gym class, and sent him flying. There was nothing fake about. It’s just that all the class and the teacher were completely amazed. He had to go and see the nurse for his black eye…but the next class carried on as normal, and as he was my best friend, they all shuffled up, leaving him no place to sit, except next to me.

I said sorry mate and it was all forgotten…and forgiven 55 years ago, and I haven’t succeeded in hitting any one since..

people even in a class of 14 year olds, know who you love, even if its the girl you won’t dare speak to. what amazed me, was all the valentines cards i got from my class mates, cos i was really shy and didn’t send any.

However, most of my older brothers and sisters, and my dad (gone to single sex schools (which I considered a fate worse than death) ,had literally gone mad, to the extent of..well I don’t like to talk about – straight jackets and Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT – which actually worked on my Dad – cos he couldn’t remember all his sins, that were going to send him to hell (strict Roman Catholics)

My only saving grace, was as a result of meeting the nicest girl in the world (still here) . When I got down, for whatever reason – too much stress, tobacco, alcohol, lsd, or cannabis – I never did anything stronger like cocaine or heroin (now legalised in Canada??), she didn’t run away. She nursed me back to health. I gave up all the drugs, went back to work. We had been engaged for 5 years – so we both said – lets get married and have kids.

So we did.

She is still totally nuts, in a nice way. She makes me laugh. She is very much a hippy girl, who does meditation, yoga, very long walks, very fit, and who has never done drugs, smoked, though occasionally gets pissed – if there is a good band on.

Neither of us, have ever been admitted to a mental hospital, lunatic asylum nor jail.

We kind of look after each other.

I admit I got lucky.

I hope it lasts now we have 3 young grandchildren in a world gone mad.

Neither of us have been jabbed thank God

Our friend had – fit – did most of the cooking whilst we were all camping at music festivals.

In the middle of a little party at her friends house.

Keels over, and drops dead with a heart attack.

It is happening far too often, but you can’t say anything

The jabbed will continue to get jabbed, because they trust authority,

Its an in-built tribal thing – safer with the herd…sheep, fish and deer do it, as they are being harvested.

Tony

Levi Tate
Levi Tate
Jan 21, 2023 6:41 PM

Myths, legends and folklore, like butterflies, are often best not handled with the fire tongs of objectivity.

Pearls, it is generally believed, are initiated by sand. A much more attractive image than recognizing that the vast, vast majority of pearls are a mollusk’s reaction to an intruder, an irritating parasite.

Insanity in individuals is something rare – but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.
 – Fried Nietzsche

George Mc
George Mc
Jan 21, 2023 9:55 PM
Reply to  Levi Tate

Nietzsche may have been fried but he was really Friedrich.

John Pretty
John Pretty
Jan 21, 2023 6:04 PM

Beautiful writing, by the way Syl. Thank you.

John Pretty
John Pretty
Jan 21, 2023 4:52 PM

There’s a lot of nutters on here Syl, I know that.

I used to comment here quite frequently, and even had around 60 upticks for one comment made during the “pandemic”.

I stopped during the 9/11 series as I just didn’t agree with it.

Out of sheer boredom I returned a few days ago, but I note the aggression and hostility of some commenters here. I posted this – what I thought was a nothing of a comment – on the Davos thread yesterday, in response to someone who had posted a photp of Thunberg next to Schwab:

“Wow, that’s quite a transformation. She looks a lot like Klaus Schwab now. Seriously though, she still has a lot of her cutesy looks as evidenced by the recent filming by RN. She does look as though she has a few grey hairs though in that photo.”

The first sentence was a bit of a lame joke, but I can’t say I agree that she’s aged much.

For this, I got 5 downvotes. I really am staggered. I mean, I could understand it if I had expressed praise for either Schwab or Thunberg. But genuinely, I just don’t understand why some commenters felt the need to respond in that way.

I don’t agree with Schwab or what he does, and I don’t agree with Thunberg. I don’t like or support globalism. What am I supposed to do? Be angry all the time?

What’s your problem guys? Do I have to be “on message” and agree with your narratives all the time?

Well?

syl shawcross
syl shawcross
Jan 21, 2023 5:13 PM
Reply to  John Pretty

I think people are seriously afraid and are using anger as a coping mechanism. Better on an internet forum than in real life perhaps. As to being “on message”, I’ve yet to figure out what that is. There seems to be all kinds here.

John Pretty
John Pretty
Jan 21, 2023 6:02 PM
Reply to  syl shawcross

I suppose that’s fair comment. I find it easier to understand when people actually explain their downvotes. I mean, it wasn’t a very good comment, so quite honestly I’m surprised it elicited any reaction at all.

Contrasting viewpoints are something I agree with. But many people – and a lot of people on here – are intolerant of viewpoints that differ from their own. And insult those who do not share their view.

I’m sorry to go on about this Syl, but two people made sarcastic comments asserting – without any hard evidence to back up their claim – that Klaus Schwab is so powerful that nothing and nobody comes in or out of Davos without his permission. And as a result anyone who is there – Including the “Rebel News” team must be all a part of Schwab’s grand scheme for world domination.

It’s tiresome.

I don’t like globalism. It’s authoritarian. But I do not agree with those who strut around on forums like this one spilling vitriol on anyone who does not think that Schwab controls everything. It is paranoia.

CS Lewis said it best. That the worst kind of authoritarian is the “do-gooder” authoritarian. And I put Schwab in that bracket.

Ananda
Ananda
Jan 21, 2023 6:10 PM
Reply to  John Pretty

So your upset – you got down voted.
Grow up.. cry baby.

Howard
Howard
Jan 21, 2023 10:30 PM
Reply to  Ananda

It’s not the downvote. It’s the ideology. Ironically, so many of the posters in this forum fit the image elicited in the article. They KNOW what’s true; and anything they don’t know can’t be true.

(p.s., I definitely do not put you in that category.)

Penelope
Penelope
Jan 23, 2023 6:56 AM
Reply to  Ananda

Ananda, you are absolutely the most aggressively pessimistic person. You seem determined to suffer & to insult others over nothing.

George Mc
George Mc
Jan 21, 2023 10:05 PM
Reply to  John Pretty

First off, I wouldn’t care about down votes. A down vote is somebody blowing a raspberry through your letter box and running away. If they don’t explain themselves then why should you care? And if they do explain themselves then they don’t need to down vote. (Up votes are fine. The just indicate that someone agrees with you and therefore don’t require explanation.)

Second, you are being disingenuous about those “opposed” to you. You are presenting an Either/Or false position i.e. Either Schwab is the Big Bad One Who Controls Everything – Or the meeting in Davos is a wonderful open event that anyone can stroll into. That was certainly the impression you created when I put in my “sarcastic” comment.

Conclusion: Who cares about Schwab? The fact that we know is that there is a club up there that is totally exclusive. They pull the strings. We have no say in it. We pick up on the “demands” later on – those being phrased as “What we must do to stop (insert catastrophe of the month)!”

Jt Kong
Jt Kong
Jan 21, 2023 10:06 PM
Reply to  John Pretty

Not sure I follow the difference between a “do-gooder” authoritarian and some other type of authoritarian. Perhaps you could provide a few examples of an authoritarian who did not profess that the claimed goals of the regime would not be “gooder” for some, even though it was at the expense of others. Schwab is authoritarian fascist (please excuse the redundancy), who espouses the unification of state and corporate power for the end goal of bio-digital convergence. Now while the redefinition of what it means to be human may seem a “do-gooder” goal to you, for others it is the very definition of hell on earth. 

Gordon McRae
Gordon McRae
Jan 21, 2023 10:21 PM
Reply to  John Pretty

Syl got several down votes for commenting ‘ha ha’ after i told a little inside joke the other day. I wouldn’t sweat it. I don’t think the down votes always mean much. Even the up votes should be suspect…. I hit the upvote button by accident the other day on someone i completely disagreed with. Maybe some of the downvotes are also mistakes. If i get down voted for this comment I’m going to start crying.

nmism
nmism
Jan 22, 2023 1:27 PM
Reply to  Gordon McRae

People. Down votes mean absolutely nothing unless you get more than say 7. If you talk about down votes you are sure to get at least 10. It’d be nice if there was an option to make votes invisible for those who’d prefer to totally ignore.

Levi Tate
Levi Tate
Jan 21, 2023 6:07 PM
Reply to  John Pretty

Pressing the thumbs up/down button requires no personal investment.
It is like shooting ducks in an arcade except without the admission price.

Don’t take it so personal.

And, don’t forget to duck  🙂 .

Placental_Mammal
Placental_Mammal
Jan 21, 2023 11:00 PM
Reply to  John Pretty

You are a shill.

Penelope
Penelope
Jan 23, 2023 6:52 AM
Reply to  John Pretty

Yeah, John. I think the site is probably seriously infested w gaslighters who want to rob you of any view of the world which includes hope or good news. There’s also a streak of simplistic aggressive dogmatism that shown by some; don’t know what that’s about. The final step in the scientific method is to “maintain an open mind & be willing to look at new evidence.”

Mr Y
Mr Y
Jan 23, 2023 10:05 AM
Reply to  John Pretty

> For this, I got 5 downvotes. I really am staggered.

Because of votes on a comment? Grow up.

TomUSA
TomUSA
Jan 23, 2023 4:55 PM
Reply to  John Pretty

Beset with bitter, pessimistic, cynical, despairing and self-loathing posters this site has its work cut out for it serving up a beneficial perspective on the Truth. Were that the entire makeup viewership would be a mere suggestion of its actual number, and returning to read and comment here necessitates discipline to contribute compassionate, loving commentary while learning ever more about the nature of the group. One can make out certain cohorts, e.g. disillusioned liberal/progressives not fully liberated from their former illusions for just one example – there are many more.
Off-G is to be commended for hosting and encouraging expression and to those of us willing to take heat for our candor I say take downvotes as tribute to your courage.

Howard
Howard
Jan 21, 2023 3:24 PM

Note to Sylvia Shawcross: I envy you. I love to write, and have been doing so for a very long time. But I have yet to master my life’s goal vis-a-vis writing: dispensing with the “the.”

Yet you seem to have succeeded where I failed. There are very few of the dreaded “the” in your article (which would be beautiful even without that accomplishment).

I hope I’m not asking too much – but maybe in your next article you could have it chock full of “the.” Please?

syl shawcross
syl shawcross
Jan 21, 2023 3:53 PM
Reply to  Howard

Dearest howard, theoretically you could just write the and then eliminate it and see how it goes. e.g. “Scratching a way at the edge of the sea and watching the silk tide running through the sand.” reads just as well as “Scratching a way at edge of sea and watching silk tides running through sand.” tbh I can’t tell you how I write. I have a quiet mind. I come to my writing with little agenda and simply let it channel through me. I am highly nonanalytical as my punctuation or lack thereof can testify to. 🙂 Write what you know or write what you don’t know but let go of the struggle is my advice. If that makes sense. I can gather from your comments that you are likely a fine writer so just get out of your own way.

Howard
Howard
Jan 21, 2023 10:36 PM
Reply to  syl shawcross

Thank you for your encouragement. I am way too analytical in my approach. But I am determined to eventually purge myself of “the” “an” and “a.”

John Pretty
John Pretty
Jan 21, 2023 5:05 PM
Reply to  Howard

Why do you have a problem with the definite article?

Maybe you should study Russian. They don’t have it.

Howard
Howard
Jan 21, 2023 10:39 PM
Reply to  John Pretty

Russian? No chance I’m afraid. I’m no good at any language but English. I lived in Brazil for a year, took Portuguese in high school, and all I can say of the experience is “Euo non fallou Portuguese!” (not sure of the spelling)

Todd Hayen
Todd Hayen
Jan 21, 2023 2:43 PM

“For whom then, do we save this world?”

Yes, exactly. That is a realization I have come to.

rubberheid
rubberheid
Jan 21, 2023 4:10 PM
Reply to  Todd Hayen

a difficult question. consider even amongst we, here, what different aspirations and visions abound.

if we get to create a new world, it will be a severe challenge if people don’t re-imagine their lives.

: /

Gordon McRae
Gordon McRae
Jan 21, 2023 10:29 PM
Reply to  Todd Hayen

Right. Or which world exactly am i trying to save? Watching the governments conjure up vast sums of fiat currency and squander it these past few years has really brought into focus the idea of NOT fighting to stay in that crooked game world. In other words, what is this fake money that i strive to gather.

Luke Chert
Luke Chert
Jan 22, 2023 12:19 AM
Reply to  Todd Hayen

The most practical response I’ve yet come upon as a response to all that we learn and share in places such as this: Make children, as many as you possibly can and if the time has passed create whatever sort of family you’ve been given the pieces of. Anything less and we should doubt your investment in that future.

Kevin Craig
Kevin Craig
Jan 22, 2023 9:21 PM
Reply to  Todd Hayen

When what they call evolution provided the most able with the ability to create fire, shelter, food and clothing for themselves, it wasn’t about creating a “world”. I think this is a delusion of spoilt-child proportions, if/when any great reshaping of society is needed, it firstly should be done on an individual/voluntaryist basis. I can’t even find agreement on that within the household or wider family, let alone the rest of the planet.

One fear which i did temporarily develop during the fake pandemic was the possibility of a medical intervention ruling me out of the labour market, when i was still at the point of believing that i *had* to make my mortgage, *had* to cover xyz bills. When it became unlikely that this would happen, i took the attitude that if it (fakedemic) was to occur again, or some other (climate, hate speech etc) phony crisis required digital clearance, then firstly forcing my employer to sack me, and then removing myself from those shackles would have to become a 100% priority, no matter if i was supported by family or friends in doing so. I definitely feel far more mentally prepared to deal with such an outcome, without the need to wait and see how everyone else responds…..which damn near drove me isane.

I have a particular set of skills that i think would be useful in creating a fulfilling existence, and if i happened to meet and befriend like minded individuals, so much the better. But the ones i had known for 20 years +, the first time around- really let us all down, big time. Judgement must improve.

mik
mik
Jan 24, 2023 1:21 PM
Reply to  Todd Hayen

Did you lost faith in humanity?

Speedwellian
Speedwellian
Jan 24, 2023 10:26 PM
Reply to  Todd Hayen

Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

Johnny
Johnny
Jan 21, 2023 10:51 AM
Penelope
Penelope
Jan 21, 2023 10:14 AM

Musk is a little mad, but limited hangout or not, this can only do us a little good:

The businessman Elon Musk  once again criticized on his social networks the activity of the World Economic Forum that is taking place these days in Davos, Switzerland.

“The World Economic Forum is becoming more and more of an unelected world government that the people never asked for and don’t want,” the billionaire wrote on Wednesday.

martin
martin
Jan 21, 2023 12:08 PM
Reply to  Penelope

Dissension at the top? It’s highly likely given the idiocy going on, limited because they are not going to pull the roof down on top of themselves.

wardropper
wardropper
Jan 21, 2023 2:47 PM
Reply to  Penelope

Of course he can afford to change his mind on a daily basis, without fear of any serious repercussions – rather like Trump, come to think of it.

But if Musk owned everything (and he most certainly doesn’t own the CIA), and if he stepped out of line, then who could do to him what Washington and the press did to Trump after the Capitol fiasco?

His masters remain well hidden, and any ‘stepping out of line’ he might do will always be within certain limits.

After all, we can all criticize the WEF here as much as we want – we can even use the exact words Musk used above – but our manipulators clearly don’t regard that as a significant threat.

What they would regard as a real threat would be Musk conducting a verifiable and visible purge of systemic neo-nazi, neo-lib and neo-con political corruption in Washington and London – a purge which would even confront “you-know-who” and “you-know-what”. . .

. . . but that isn’t going to happen without divine intervention.

Paul Vonharnish
Paul Vonharnish
Jan 21, 2023 2:55 PM
Reply to  Penelope

Mr. Musk is occasionally lucid enough to state the obvious…

SeamusPadraig
SeamusPadraig
Jan 21, 2023 3:12 PM
Reply to  Penelope

I get the feeling that Musk is being positioned by the elites to play the role of the ‘good cop’ — a lot like Trump. But what always makes me suspicious of Musk is his business model: electric cars, Starlink (Skynet), and Neuralink (putting chips in your brain). All of that is so Illuminati!

So my advice here would be the same as with Ron DeSantis: go ahead pocket he gives away for free, but do not trust him.

John Pretty
John Pretty
Jan 21, 2023 5:07 PM
Reply to  SeamusPadraig

Musk is the richest man in the world. Can you get any more “elite” than that?

Who do you think is controlling Musk? Who are “the elites” in your view? (I don’t agree that he is being controlled, BTW, but I’m curious).

John Pretty
John Pretty
Jan 21, 2023 5:03 PM
Reply to  Penelope

Why did you get 5 downticks for this comment?

Penelope
Penelope
Jan 23, 2023 7:26 AM
Reply to  John Pretty

John, 6– they always downvote me cuz they know from other posts that I won’t agree that viruses and bacteria don’t exist. Or that contagion doesn’t exist. I also debunked Koch’s Postulates, which are well & truly invalid in light of modern knowledge. When I have time I’m going to debunk Rosenau’s “proof” that viruses aren’t contagious, too.

Further, I have committed the sin of expressing an opinion that the covid illness exists, although I don’t know if it’s caused by a virus or has been introduced in another manner. I would not be surprised if it is viral.

For all of these reasons I am always downvoted, although no one has attempted a single syllable to criticize or analyze my presentations on the existence of viruses or on Koch’s Postulates– just ad hominem attacks.

I personally regard the most besetting specific error on the site the insistence that viruses don’t exist unless they can be isolated and a pure sample be obtained.
It’s not how virology works. The worst general error is dogmatism often allied with hostility. Clearly this sends many newcomers away.

Speedwellian
Speedwellian
Jan 24, 2023 10:36 PM
Reply to  Penelope

Have you looked at Sam Bailey’s work or Stefan Lanka’s? The argument is they have yet to be proven to exist. Contagion has yet to be proven etc. All so called viral illness can be explained in other ways.

Mr Y
Mr Y
Jan 23, 2023 10:10 AM
Reply to  Penelope

Maybe all the not so charming guys aren’t in on it together but in fact competitors …

niko
niko
Jan 21, 2023 10:02 AM

My heart is moved by all I cannot save:
so much has been destroyed
I have to cast my lot with those
who age after age, perversely,
with no extraordinary power,
reconstitute the world.

-Adrienne Rich

syl shawcross
syl shawcross
Jan 21, 2023 1:27 PM
Reply to  niko

beautiful

niko
niko
Jan 21, 2023 9:15 PM
Reply to  syl shawcross

You. Thanks for your light.

wardropper
wardropper
Jan 21, 2023 2:30 PM
Reply to  niko

Thanks, niko.
That’s exactly how it feels.

George Mc
George Mc
Jan 21, 2023 9:52 AM

Pending at 9:51 AM.

George Mc
George Mc
Jan 21, 2023 9:51 AM

Here comes the major offensive:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/20/super-tipping-points-climate-electric-cars-meat-emissions

“Three “super-tipping points” for climate action could trigger a cascade of decarbonisation across the global economy, according to a report. Relatively small policy interventions on electric cars, plant-based alternatives to meat and green fertilisers would lead to unstoppable growth in those sectors, the experts said. But the boost this would give to battery and hydrogen production would mean crucial knock-on benefits for other sectors including energy storage and aviation.”

This offers “plausible hope that a rapid transition to a green economy can happen in time”.

(“Plausible” hope? WTF?)

And once again this “desperate climate threat” isn’t desperate enough to involve governments taking direct control must be implemented through that good old “competitive” “free market” system:

“The tipping points occur when a zero-carbon solution becomes more competitive than the existing high-carbon option. More sales lead to cheaper products, creating feedback loops that drive exponential growth and a rapid takeover.”

And

“The report, launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said the three super-tipping points would cut emissions in sectors covering 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions.”

So now you know why Davos got very little coverage. This is what it was all about. And they didn’t want to “panic the public” over this, instead sneaking it on a low level Graud article.  

“The tipping point for electric vehicles is very close with sales soaring, ….the 2030 date set for new vehicles by the UK and 2035 in China … the batteries used will become cheaper and these can be deployed as storage for wind and solar power, … More green energy means lower electricity bills, in turn making heat pumps even more cost-effective.”

No. 2:

“The second super-tipping point is setting mandates for green fertilisers, to replace current fertilisers, which are produced from fossil gas. … Mandates are being considered with India, for example, targeting 5% green fertiliser production by 2023–24 and 20% by 2027–28.”

No. 3 (and this is the biggie!):

“The third super-tipping point is helping alternative proteins to beat animal-based proteins on cost, while at least matching them on taste. ….”

At least matching them “on taste” (but nothing else?)

“A 20% market share by 2035 would mean 400m-800m hectares of land would no longer be needed for livestock and their fodder, equivalent to 7-15% of the world’s farmland today, the report estimated. That land could then be used for the restoration of forests and wildlife, removing CO2 from the air.”

 
Prof Tim Lenton: “This non-linear way of thinking about the climate problem gives plausible grounds for hope: the more that gets invested in socioeconomic transformation, the faster it will unfold – getting the world to net zero greenhouse gas emissions sooner.”

So look out for more “non-linear” thinking to give “plausible hope”!

syl shawcross
syl shawcross
Jan 21, 2023 1:42 PM
Reply to  George Mc

Here in Quebec they’ve just signed an agreement to supply lithium for Tesla. I guess I’m living in a centre destined for the next war for resources. Maybe one day we’ll be as wealthy as Alberta.

Howard
Howard
Jan 21, 2023 3:14 PM
Reply to  George Mc

Well, you’ve finally done it: you’ve made a hater out of me. Since I’m not British, I mostly ignore the Guardian. Now I loathe, hate, despise and consign it to the deepest pit of hell.

It has wrenched two concepts – pillars if you will – from genuine climate problems and mangled them to where they fit the economy: feedback loop and tipping point.

I’ll say no more about the climate – I’m not in the mood for downvotes just now. I will, however, say a great big “Fuck You!” to the Guardian.

George Mc
George Mc
Jan 21, 2023 3:55 PM
Reply to  George Mc

To simplify the triple pronged attack:

  1. Electric cars
  2. Green fertiliser
  3. Non-meat food

This will be shoved at an increasing rate. At which point it will become clear that covid was a mere prelude.  

John Pretty
John Pretty
Jan 21, 2023 4:59 PM
Reply to  George Mc

Green fertiliser? Explain.

George Mc
George Mc
Jan 21, 2023 10:44 PM
Reply to  John Pretty

That Guardian article tells us that “green fertilisers” are “to replace current fertilisers, which are produced from fossil gas. Ammonia is a key ingredient and can be made from hydrogen produced by renewable energy, combined with nitrogen from the air.”

The “current fertilisers” referred to here would appear to be “nitrogen fertilisers” though you will notice that nitrogen is mentioned in connection with the “good” “planet friendly” fertilisers so I presume there is a “good” way of producing nitrogen and a “bad” way.

Who knows? We await instruction from those “experts” who, I presume, are as trustworthy as the ones delivering the covid vaccines.

George Mc
George Mc
Jan 21, 2023 4:16 PM
Reply to  George Mc

You might think that the WSWS would give a little bit of info on these “tipping point” observations. But then again, our Trotskyites have their eyes on higher things:

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/01/21/gkzt-j21.html

The whole of this “article” is padded out with detailed notes on the (alleged) intensely pedantic covid protection measures being carried out at Davos. With a bit of that old covid fear porn thrown in at the end.

Still, there is method in their madness:

The hypocrisy couldn’t be more vivid as many of those in attendance have been openly calling for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and any public health measures in support of protecting the population from the continuous assault of a deadly virus that is constantly mutating. Their slogan appears to be: “A pandemic for thee but not for me.”

So we have the stage now set for a massive die-off in the general population …. which will be blamed on “The Pandemic” and “The Callous Indifference of the Ruling Class”.

ZenPriest
ZenPriest
Jan 21, 2023 8:32 AM

There are currently three roles to choose from: shepherds; sheep; wolves. Which one are you?

Speedwellian
Speedwellian
Jan 24, 2023 10:44 PM
Reply to  ZenPriest

What if you graze on your own?

ZenPriest
ZenPriest
Jan 21, 2023 8:30 AM

Does a parent stop loving its child when the child does wrong? This is the beauty of Christ: unconditional love. It has taken me many years to understand this, I learned that love is conditional and not bearing children didn’t help. But only the power of love can get us out of this. We are a bit like shepherds, knowing the truth, looking after the flock of sheep. The flock doesn’t know as much as us but, does a shepherd hate his sheep for this fact?

Ananda
Ananda
Jan 21, 2023 6:12 PM
Reply to  ZenPriest

This is the beauty of Christ:

New age nonsense.

ZenPriest
ZenPriest
Jan 21, 2023 7:39 PM
Reply to  Ananda

Hardly new age.

Johnny
Johnny
Jan 21, 2023 7:31 AM

It’s not all bad.
Apparently Harry has let a couple of kittens out of the bag:
https://www.medialens.org/2023/harry-the-traitor-and-lynch-the-grinch-the-corporate-medias-automatic-smear-machine/

eman
eman
Jan 21, 2023 5:23 AM

Its

The world is an experimental laboratory.
Human performance in studied in different sets
of moral condition and different sets of environments.
This study assumes performance can be predicted
by the interaction of moral condition and environment.

Thanks for the question: “for whom shall we save the earth?”

It was never intended to make the laboratory permanent, and
there is no purpose in saving the lab, once the experiment is over.

jubal hershaw
jubal hershaw
Jan 21, 2023 4:57 AM

Will one mote weighty supposition break the camels back ? I suppose so !

jubal hershaw
jubal hershaw
Jan 21, 2023 4:20 AM

What’s one more weighty supposition, i suppose ?

Johnny
Johnny
Jan 21, 2023 2:56 AM

Syl waxing lyrical.
What we really need,

Is a miracle.

Captain Birdheart
Captain Birdheart
Jan 21, 2023 2:14 AM

Thought I was first, going for the big three

Space is fake.

Johnny
Johnny
Jan 21, 2023 2:59 AM

Fake?
It’s full of light waves, gravity waves, radio waves and God’s song.
The Universe (one song).

ZenPriest
ZenPriest
Jan 21, 2023 8:33 AM
Reply to  Johnny

Waves of bullshit!

DM:
DM:
Jan 21, 2023 2:01 AM

For whom then, do we save this world?

For my grandchildren.

Nothing else matters,

Your privileged class are merely a bunch or arseholes. We have been here before. They will be dealt with.

wardropper
wardropper
Jan 21, 2023 4:26 AM
Reply to  DM:

It is, however, possible to be too sentimental about one’s grandchildren.

I know there are blood ties and all that, but let’s not forget that Hitler had grandparents too, and if they had thought that nothing else mattered, then they would have been dead wrong.

I would rather look for the answer to the question by thinking much further ahead than my grandchildren, although of course I wish them well. Something along these lines:

1) I have no idea why I was born in this body, but I do know that my body does not constitute the whole ‘me’. My awareness of it tells me that I am basically using it only until it is worn out, after which I can’t be sure what comes next.
Now, if that thought could consciously occur to me, then it has obviously also occurred to others.

2) Being grateful – as I am – for the life I have lived, along with all its ups and downs, is therefore an experience which I would like others in the future to have as well, because I don’t imagine for a minute that the happiness and sadness in my own fate could possibly exhaust all the possibilities for such experiences in other people.

So those are the people for whom I would like to think we are trying to save the world.
The people who can think and who can be bothered to appreciate the gifts of their own consciousness.
Maybe another Mozart is waiting in the wings, or another astonishing sculptor.
Someone without whom the world would be infinitely poorer.

Johnny
Johnny
Jan 21, 2023 6:21 AM
Reply to  wardropper

As a great teacher once said: ‘Each of us has character, but our character gets buried under our persona (the mask of persona being a shield we adopt to cope with the world)’.
‘We are more ‘ourselves’ when we are dead than when we are alive’.
Many teachers, including Jesus, have said the same thing, albeit in different words.

wardropper
wardropper
Jan 22, 2023 4:24 AM
Reply to  Johnny

Interesting quotes. Thank you.

Placental_Mammal
Placental_Mammal
Jan 21, 2023 1:45 AM

Madness

Life began on Earth because it was and still is a radiation and meteorite free oasis in the radioactive universe. We need both the atmosphere and the magnetosphere to exist. How weird it is then that that the end product of evolution, Man, would go about transforming this planet into a radioactive desert. With nuclear weapons, nuclear reactors and mobile phone networks. Madness is one way to describe this. Or perhaps it was the best the creator could come up with.

Placental_Mammal
Placental_Mammal
Jan 21, 2023 1:49 AM

I am grateful that I lived at a time where I could see humpback and fin whales, black bellied bustards, rhinoceros hornbills, wild lions, echidnas , wild giraffes, strombolian volvanic eruptions, icebergs and a lot more.

wardropper
wardropper
Jan 21, 2023 4:35 AM

There is, however, the possibility that a significant number of people will learn how to transform themselves, and thereby indirectly ‘save the world’ . . .

I’m building here upon the admonition faced by those entering the ancient mystery schools:
“Man, know thyself”

Stop The Prison Mentality
Stop The Prison Mentality
Jan 21, 2023 1:40 AM

Is everyone ok in here. It’s sounding drug induced, or in desperate need of a solid Todd Haydening. Just sayin.

Pig Swill
Pig Swill
Jan 21, 2023 2:21 AM

When did you realise the world has been given two options they all feel compelled to participate in? Not bad hey, when your choices are a shit sandwich or a shit sandwich. Thanks for choosing. We provided both choices for you. Thanks for playing our game. Now fight each other and gnash your teeth furiously while we sit back and snicker.

Captain Birdheart
Captain Birdheart
Jan 21, 2023 3:09 AM

Thanks for your concern, apparently where we really live is not live, please delete.

Captain Birdheart
Captain Birdheart
Jan 21, 2023 3:23 AM

Fuck, just realized who the fuck TH is, that cunt who fucking spews pish every Satarday here.

Captain Birdheart
Captain Birdheart
Jan 21, 2023 12:05 AM

Sometimes art, when, if, you are there.

Captain Birdheart
Captain Birdheart
Jan 21, 2023 1:30 AM

Let us see an honest controlled comment swammped by shitheels sure, dirtry
Most ofnthese fuckers don’t know shit.
Fuckers on here dead, tied to mast
Thanks Researcher.
Edwidge, no thanks, too little

Sam - Admin2
Admin
Sam - Admin2
Jan 21, 2023 4:13 AM

Hmm I may remove some of these comments. They seem a little more (how can I politely put it?)… intoxicated than your usual contributions. 😂

syl shawcross
syl shawcross
Jan 21, 2023 5:09 AM
Reply to  Sam - Admin2

Takes all kinds Sam. I’m not worried about it. It is to laugh.

Jim Luscombe
Jim Luscombe
Jan 21, 2023 1:42 PM
Reply to  Sam - Admin2

Fits in well with the Dadaism that seems to have gripped the world.
Or perhaps it is a lesser AI than chatgp, or whatever it is called.
Never, ever begin a sentence with a preposition. ; )

George Mc
George Mc
Jan 21, 2023 2:38 PM
Reply to  Sam - Admin2

Or perhaps CB is a piece of software that is malfunctioning?

Todd Hayen
Todd Hayen
Jan 21, 2023 10:36 PM
Reply to  Sam - Admin2

Yes, please. I am getting rather sick of this ugliness. We get it from the sheep, not sure why we have to deal with it from our own tribe.

Consider not removing them, but only making a comment, as you have, about their inappropriateness…

Gordon McRae
Gordon McRae
Jan 21, 2023 10:51 PM
Reply to  Sam - Admin2

Bukowski would say, ‘the Captain is out to lunch and the sailors have taken over the ship’.

Ananda
Ananda
Jan 21, 2023 12:16 PM

Hasnt Researcher been banned.?

Sam - Admin2
Admin
Sam - Admin2
Jan 22, 2023 1:03 AM
Reply to  Ananda

Nope. They just stopped posting. Around about the time Miles Mathis decided Offg and all alt. news who disagreed with him were CIA fronts. A2

Ananda
Ananda
Jan 22, 2023 9:21 AM
Reply to  Sam - Admin2

I Believe he is actually a she.
She, stopped posting well before that CJ Gaslighting article.

Sam - Admin2
Admin
Sam - Admin2
Jan 22, 2023 2:47 PM
Reply to  Ananda

Ah thanks, I amended my comment. Hmm no I believe it was since about that time that I haven’t seen much of Researcher. I hope they’re all well and good. People come and people go, I’m sure they’ll be back at some point, sooner or later. And they’re always welcome here. 🙂 A2

Captain Birdheart
Captain Birdheart
Jan 20, 2023 11:48 PM

Yip, pain to see sly control,
She has looked into it !
Dirty.