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Consolidating gains (4 October 2008)

I'm thinking about your reply. I admit I'm surprised: I would have
figured the numbers had increased. Mustn't have felt very good to
take risks and have the numbers dwindle like that; being "punished"
with relative obscurity for doing right -- Hmmm. Maybe, though, this
development could serve as a spur to encourage you to let those who
are interested in psychohistory but are not those who would push the
discipline where it really ought to and could go, go. (I wonder if
some of your interpretations of America's current situation could be
presented so that mags like McSweeney would draw their readers'
attention to it. I think your “Reagan's America” one of the most
interesting and fun works I've ever read. Something like that done
for the current four year cycle, maybe . . . )

In any case, maybe this discussion group could continue to do some
real good that'll draw in some of those who've had it with it with
tentative bullshit from those who are far more interested in
consolidating their lives' gains than in engaging in potentially
psychologically unnerving explorations (to me, that sums up a hell of
a lot of academia, as I experienced it) of psychic experience. I know
that personally whenever I see writers/thinkers these days who are
willing to look foolish to explore ideas they find interesting, I
cheer loudly. Hasn't been an age for
this kind of thing -- for it usually means being ignored by everyone
("what's up with that strange fellow?"--and then they move on) while
others are oh so loudly and repeatedly feted: and that's almost
impossible for even the healthiest to be able to take. Still, there
are books being written like that popular underground British one – “Is
it Just Me or is Everything Shit?” --which suggest to me that maybe
brazen risk-takers will start getting the support they deserve and may
to some extent need, from the people who'll most matter in the
upcoming years -- that is, by those who have had enough support from
their mothers that they don't need to use literature/science/society
to shore-up/strengthen their fragile psyches ("please don't let the
earth crumble from underneath me!"), and who really are interested in
undertaking new journeys, whatever the risk.

Link: RealPsychohistory

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