Reminder re Political Comments

[David Houck]

Here in the US, as in other areas of our planet, people seem even more divided politically than in the past.  The current administration here in the US has significant numbers of both supporters and detractors; and it seems reasonable to assume that the members of our club may include both supporters and detractors as well.  It is also, here in the US, an election year.

Many of the issues of the day can have significant impacts on us (the present health and economic crisis being an explicit example) and it is understandable that we might include them in our everyday conversations.  However, in consideration of our fellow members that may hold political views that stand in stark contrast to our own, and because we value this club as an oasis of friendship and music, I request that we leave the politics at the door (despite what Donald or Joe or Nancy or Mitch might have said earlier in the day).

In my view, this crisis is an opportunity for each of us on this planet to be more understanding and compassionate in the face of suffering and hardship.  For me, being here in our club each day brings a smile and warms the heart; and from here, that energy radiates out into the world.  And for that I am grateful to each of you.

Thanks, and be well,
David

[bigredbass]

For me, I am approaching these days from the standpoint that all of us are in many cases suddenly confronted with massive disruption in our lives and facing an uncertain future for a lot of reasons.

I am an optimist and ultimately believe that while times like these can bring out some bad in people, ultimately it brings out far more of the best, and this will eventually pass.

So my strategy is to deal with people as if they've suddenly been yanked from their usual routine and are just now starting to get their footing, if you will.  As such, I try be very empathetic, get my radar going, and give them a lot of room and consideration, with no hard opinions or big pronouncements.  I think we could all use an arm over your shoulder, a helping hand, and a little understanding.   To me it seems like all of this modern age's all-too-easy communication has made it FAR too easy to insult, inflame, and enrage, by long-distance.  I'd want to encourage and build people up, than what usually goes on.  It's why I don't have a so-called 'smart phone', or any online presence in the usual online mills.

I'm all for warm hearts, helping hands, and everyone can use encouragement in these crazy days.

As usual Dave, you're a beacon, and I'm grateful for you and your wisdom.  Count me in.

All the Best,

Joey

[edwardofhuncote]

Political discussions... I was on the phone with [victoriaofderby] the other night and it came up that they were just getting too corrosive. Told her I'd just as soon beat on a sack of bumblebees with a lit stick of dynamite as to have one. I could always make her laugh. Good to know it still works after 38 years, and from 3500 miles away.

I'll just use my post on Dave's thread here to reiterate what I have said before; I think of the gang here at the Alembic Club as friends. Some of you I have corresponded with or even met offline. I look forward to checking in here every morning to see what all of you are up to, whether it's Jazzy over in the UK, Goran in Eastern Europe, Jack in Taiwan, or Joey, Rob, or Bill, or Coz, or any of you.
 
For most of us, I guess the biggest thing we have in common is the mutual interest and admiration for Alembic, though sometimes we discover other commonalities... music, hobbies, pastimes, even other people. It's part of what makes the casual banter in this place more fun. As long as I've been hanging around here (given, I'm still a relative newcomer at five, going on six years) there has always seemed to be something of a bond between the relatively small number of us... the circle is pretty small and tight. I just wouldn't want to jeopardize that by posting something that made someone else here uncomfortable in a place they enjoy being as much as I do. I hope I never have... sometimes my self-deprecating goofiness might bleed over, but I surely have never meant to inject anything political into our discussions here. That said, I'm not someone who is easily offended, so I don't always have a keen sense of who is, or by what. Anytime I ever do overstep the invisible fence of cool-ness, anyone here is free to call me out, preferably privately, as I do embarrass easily.

I'm just glad to be part of the community here... the whole experience has been nothing less than life-course-changing for me, and each day is a chance to give a little something back.

~Gregory [Ed of H.]

[hammer]

What I love about this forum is that we come from all over the world and I learn something new every day when I check in. Like this morning from Greg for instance, “beat on a sack of bumblebees with a lit stick of dynamite.” I’ve never heard that one before but you can be sure I’ll now be on the lookout to find ways to infuse it into my conversations.