my question is: where does all this antagonism come from?
It isn't actual antagonism, just mild baiting. Despite what COTB would like to believe, most of us are not reduced to quivering fearful wrecks when faced with the Singular TRUTH he (and he alone on Dissensus) has discovered.
He has, in his choice of language, set himself up for exactly this kind of response.
surely people are just talking about what they are into, and how they have interepreted bodies of knowledge? what is wrong with that?
what is the constant making fun and opposing this clearly good natured and harmless COTB about?
It isn't that neutral. COTB's langauge is completely overloaded with self-importance. When this is pointed out to him, he accuses his detractors of being overly attached to their egos and afraid of the ideas he is pushing. This is very funny.
is it because anyone who speaks up about lofty ideas not commonly accepted by the self righteous majority is automatically "condescending" and "thinks he is better than everyone else"? so what if he spoke of ignorance? it's a very, very real phenomenon isn't it? why get all defensive?
No, it depends on how it has done. I have great respect for a lot of people I have met who have a firm grip on "lofty ideas". Some of them have very similar ideas to COTB. In my limited experience I prefer people who have a more humble attitude to this sort of area rather than those who give the distinct impression that they have found THE answer and the rest of us are "ignorant", "schizoid" and burdened by "style-driven minds" which are fearful.
I too spent many years in my late teens and early twenties exploring similar territory. I have reached different conclusions to COTB. In 15 years' time COTB will also have reached different conclusions to the ones he holds now. So will I.
if you think of experience, life, understanding, wisdom, as climbing a mountain -- you climb to a certain height and can see below to where you were before. there will always be people above and below you -- this is not a judgement, or a matter of "superior" or "inferior", it's just fact -- those who have climbed higher can see farther, and more clearly.
I do not think of life, etc as climbing a mountain. It is too one-dimensional and hierachical.
As a wise old man once said "no one else has got your eyes, can see the things you see, it's up to you to change your life and my life's up to me".
Or perhaps "every man and every woman is a star".
Everyone knows more about
something than everyone else on the planet. You can therefore learn something from everyone and should not look down your noses at people because you consider your experience of life (or, the books you have read and drug trips you have had) to have given you superior insights into the human condition.
This idea that the vast majority of humanity is "ignorant", zombies, "stupid", etc is the worst conceit going.
From the top of a mountain it is impossible to see the twinkle in a child's eyes, or the dogshit in the street.
and I'm not necesarrily saying that I or anyone have indeed climbed highter... but when someone says something, I don't understand why the reaction is not one of "hey I've heard that before, but in a different way. here's how I see it" or "that sounds interesting, maybe there is more I can learn" -- instead of the ridicule and slandering and Homer Simpson type name calling?
Perhaps there is something to be learnt from the name-calling? Perhaps we are also teachers?
Perhaps just having those two responses you have listed is also a bit limiting?
one thing though -- I see just as much prejudice, fear, and closed-minded-ness with liberals, with the "left", with people who listen to specialized music, people who for all purposes are supposed to be open-minded -- as with neo-cons, republicans, and bourgeous fascists. 2 sides of the same ignorant coin.
and no, just because I say that does NOT mean I think I'm better than anyone else.
Human frailty exists in all human belief systems, even COTB's and mine. And yours.
