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Democracy's First Danger – Mediocrity

69 posts · 7 participants · started Jul 12, 2019, 9:07 AM

Richard E WarrenParticipant
Jul 12, 2019, 9:07 AM
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Forum Friends,

The “glorification of mediocrity” is first in the list of the five dangers to democracy. The other four are easy to associate with danger. But I can’t quite connect the dots between mediocrity and democratic danger. Why do you think it wouldn’t be a danger to all forms of governance? And maybe it is, the UB author (a Melchizedek) didn’t exclude them. But mediocrity is listed first, doesn’t that warrant a closer examination? In the thread, “Dangers of Democracy“, mediocrity was mentioned in just one paragraph, by Bonita:

“…If a person, or group of persons, cannot tolerate other people expressing their opinions without emotional outbursts, then that person, or group of persons, is immature, mediocre, poorly educated and indolent (lacking self-control).” https://urassoc.arko.nyc/forums/topic/the-dangers-of-democracy/page/6/#post-28441

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One has to wonder about the location of the line that crosses into mediocrity. Knowing humanity, it is not hard to predict that everyone will put that line in a slightly different place. Here’s three things I consider excessively mediocre: Hotdog eating contests, prime numbers, the Guinness Book, situation comedies, porn, love of gold, bickering… oops, that’s seven. What else?

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Maybe defining mediocrity’s opposite will uncover what is and what is not mediocre. I would guess any and all spiritual values are not. Family rearing is not. Progress isn’t, proper education, good science, sound philosophy, and a positive relationship with God are not. What else?

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Richard E Warren
BonitaParticipant
Jul 12, 2019, 11:59 AM
Hey Rick, great topic. I’ve said much more than that about mediocrity but perhaps on other incarnations of the forum. It’s one of my bailiwicks. And incidentally, it’s number 4 in the list of the things to be prevented if we want to maintain our freedom and liberties. I love the use of the word stalemate here. It’s when societal progression comes to a screeching halt.

70:12.10 4. Stalemate of the dominance of mediocrity.

Mediocrity is exactly what we’re seeing in US society today and we’re in a terrible, terrible mess because of it. When it comes to politics, the modern definition of socialism, which is nothing more than communism with lipstick and heels, is the epitome of mediocrity. That’s my opinion, and I firmly believe it. When everyone is forced to behave the same, think the same and act the same because everyone is equal (except the leaders who are more equal than others), then you have a really, really mediocre and boring society stuck in a rut, a stalemate.

Stalemates go against human nature, which is driven by evolutionary drives and urges. It’s the non-mediocre people who are the true problem solvers and real leaders, but in a mediocre society they are vilified and maligned because they “stick out” too much. True leaders are invigorated by challenges and it’s their energy that stirs and boils the mediocre soup of society. Disruption of the status quo really upsets mediocre people who generally think with a mob-like mentality (group-think).

48:7.7 5. Difficulties may challenge mediocrity and defeat the fearful, but they only stimulate the true children of the Most Highs.

Those individuals who believe competition of any kind is evil are mediocre individuals. Competition puts a magnifying glass on inequality, and that is not allowed in a mediocre society. But not so in realville where the best is lauded.

28:5.18 The Divine Counselors, to whom this order is attached, utilize them to reflect from one world to another the benefits to be derived from spiritual service. And by using the performances of the best to inspire and encourage the mediocre, these seconaphim contribute immensely to the quality of devoted service in the superuniverses. Effective use is made of the fraternal competitive spirit by circulating to any one world information about what the others, particularly the best, are doing. A refreshing and wholesome rivalry is promoted even among the seraphic hosts.

Here’s a great quote concerning the difference between progress and mediocrity. And what exact standard are the mediocre looking for? Obviously the standard that makes life as easy and pleasant as possible for everyone, and that is always the lowest standard because it has to include the very lowest functioning people.

48:7.29 27. Progress demands development of individuality; mediocrity seeks perpetuation in standardization.

Mediocrity is giving into material gravity, sinking to the lowest, and therefore most inferior level so everyone can be treated the same. The way of the universe is to overcome material gravity with mind and spirit gravity, to aspire to individual greatness through conquest of the cosmic circles, attainment of divinity and universe citizenship. Mediocrity does not do that, mediocrity pulls people down to the dead levels of materiality; it stifles the challenge to become the most you can be, and even dare to expand your capacity for even greater opportunities to serve.

In order to maintain the mediocrity of society, the leaders who demand it must continue to instill fear in the minds of the masses. Fear is the greatest stimulus for mediocrity. Mediocrity keeps the masses in check which feeds the power of those who perpetuate it. How do you instill fear in order to maintain mediocrity? You make it immoral to be anything other than mediocre and then use shame and guilt as a tool to control thinking and behavior. This is how mass media and social media can become a tools to control the mediocre and keep them mediocre. Then of course you have the institution of education, the very womb of mediocrity in today’s society.

Am I ranting too much?
Richard E WarrenParticipant
Jul 12, 2019, 12:45 PM

Bonita wrote:

Hey Rick, great topic. I’ve said much more than that about mediocrity but perhaps on other incarnations of the forum. It’s one of my bailiwicks. And incidentally, it’s number 4 in the list of the things to be prevented if we want to maintain our freedom and liberties. I love the use of the word stalemate here. It’s when societal progression comes to a screeching halt.

70:12.10 4. Stalemate of the dominance of mediocrity.

Mediocrity is exactly what we’re seeing in US society today and we’re in a terrible, terrible mess because of it. When it comes to politics, the modern definition of socialism, which is nothing more than communism with lipstick and heels, is the epitome of mediocrity. That’s my opinion, and I firmly believe it. When everyone is forced to behave the same, think the same and act the same because everyone is equal (except the leaders who are more equal than others), then you have a really, really mediocre and boring society stuck in a rut, a stalemate. Stalemates go against human nature, which is driven by evolutionary drives and urges. It’s the non-mediocre people who are the true problem solvers and real leaders, but in a mediocre society they are vilified and maligned because they “stick out” too much. True leaders are invigorated by challenges and it’s their energy that stirs and boils the mediocre soup of society. Disruption of the status quo really upsets mediocre people who generally think with a mob-like mentality (group-think).

48:7.7 5. Difficulties may challenge mediocrity and defeat the fearful, but they only stimulate the true children of the Most Highs.

Those individuals who believe competition of any kind is evil are mediocre individuals. Competition puts a magnifying glass on inequality, and that is not allowed in a mediocre society. But not so in realville where the best is lauded.

28:5.18 The Divine Counselors, to whom this order is attached, utilize them to reflect from one world to another the benefits to be derived from spiritual service. And by using the performances of the best to inspire and encourage the mediocre, these seconaphim contribute immensely to the quality of devoted service in the superuniverses. Effective use is made of the fraternal competitive spirit by circulating to any one world information about what the others, particularly the best, are doing. A refreshing and wholesome rivalry is promoted even among the seraphic hosts.

Here’s a great quote concerning the difference between progress and mediocrity. And what exact standard are the mediocre looking for? Obviously the standard that makes life as easy and pleasant as possible for everyone, and that is always the lowest standard because it has to include the very lowest functioning people.

48:7.29 27. Progress demands development of individuality; mediocrity seeks perpetuation in standardization.

Mediocrity is giving into material gravity, sinking to the lowest, and therefore most inferior level so everyone can be treated the same. The way of the universe is to overcome material gravity with mind and spirit gravity, to aspire to individual greatness through conquest of the cosmic circles, attainment of divinity and universe citizenship. Mediocrity does not do that, mediocrity pulls people down to the dead levels of materiality; it stifles the challenge to become the most you can be, and even dare to expand your capacity for even greater opportunities to serve. In order to maintain the mediocrity of society, the leaders who demand it must continue to instill fear in the minds of the masses. Fear is the greatest stimulus for mediocrity. Mediocrity keeps the masses in check which feeds the power of those who perpetuate it. How do you instill fear in order to maintain mediocrity? You make it immoral to be anything other than mediocre and then use shame and guilt as a tool to control thinking and behavior. This is how mass media and social media can become a tools to control the mediocre and keep them mediocre. Then of course you have the institution of education, the very womb of mediocrity in today’s society. Am I ranting too much?

No. That was a righteous and enlightening rant I get it! Mediocrity’s danger to democracy is enforced sameness. And sameness runs against the cosmic flow, so something has to give.

Knowing the relentless evolutionary pressure on progress to self-correct, I don’t doubt that mediocrity will evolve itself out of progress’ way. But it is hard to watch its consequences gathering on all Urantia, knowing how hard some will be jarred out of the state of the indoctrination in the efficacy and maintenance of mediocrity.

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Richard E Warren
BonitaParticipant
Jul 12, 2019, 2:13 PM

Rick Warren wrote:

Knowing the relentless evolutionary pressure on progress to self-correct, I don’t doubt that mediocrity will evolve itself out of progress’ way.

Yeah, and I doubt it will be a smooth painless evolution. Mediocre people will fight it with all they have because of fear, and also because of the belief that they are morally superior. It is really sad to see. All but the last phase mentioned below are mediocre, in my opinion.

101.7.4 The great difference between a religious and a nonreligious philosophy of living consists in the nature and level of recognized values and in the object of loyalties. There are four phases in the evolution of religious philosophy: Such an experience may become merely conformative, resigned to submission to tradition and authority. Or it may be satisfied with slight attainments, just enough to stabilize the daily living, and therefore becomes early arrested on such an adventitious level. Such mortals believe in letting well enough alone. A third group progress to the level of logical intellectuality but there stagnate in consequence of cultural slavery. It is indeed pitiful to behold giant intellects held so securely within the cruel grasp of cultural bondage. It is equally pathetic to observe those who trade their cultural bondage for the materialistic fetters of a science, falsely so called. The fourth level of philosophy attains freedom from all conventional and traditional handicaps and dares to think, act, and live honestly, loyally, fearlessly, and truthfully.
Mark KurtzParticipant
Jul 12, 2019, 2:59 PM
Yes, Rick. This is a great topic.

The opposite of mediocre seems to be robust, one of my recent favorite topics while thinking of progress and self improvement. Here is one of my favorite leaders into thinking about what robust should mean:

102:1:0 (1118.4) Childlike trust secures man’s entrance into the kingdom of heavenly ascent, but progress is wholly dependent on the vigorous exercise of the robust and confident faith of the full-grown man.

It includes trust! Without trust, how could anyone consider self improvement leading to self mastery ever lead to a robust self or society? Progress would be impossible without a worthy goal or wise direction. Perhaps it all is a nice package of philosophy leading our thinking on the pathway to future planetary settling into light and life!!

A search on “robust” even includes talk of energy forming stars and universes! There are many hits on the word.

Clarity is marvelous!!!! Makes one want to choose a life direction away from mediocre to robust!
BonitaParticipant
Jul 13, 2019, 12:47 PM

Mark Kurtz wrote:

It includes trust!

For certain. Mediocre people are not a trusting people which is why they prefer group-think and choose to shame or silence anyone who dares to have an independent thought. It reminds me of cultism.

Anyway, there’s a quote which describes angels who are in charge of inculcating trust into the minds of men. It says they have been somewhat successful in a currently evolving civilization. Which one do you think it is?

39:5.7 4. The Spirits of Trust. Suspicion is the inherent reaction of primitive men; the survival struggles of the early ages do not naturally breed trust. Trust is a new human acquisition brought about by the ministry of these planetary seraphim of the Adamic regime. It is their mission to inculcate trust into the minds of evolving men. The Gods are very trustful; the Universal Father is willing freely to trust himself — the Adjuster — to man’s association.

39:5.8 This entire group of seraphim was transferred to the new regime after the Adamic miscarriage, and they have ever since continued their labors on Urantia. And they have not been wholly unsuccessful since a civilization is now evolving which embodies much of their ideals of confidence and trust.
BradlyParticipant
Jul 13, 2019, 2:13 PM
Gee Bonita…that sounds rather absolute, stereotyping, judgmental , and elitist about the majority of human beings alive today. Wow. I think perhaps people are mediocre because they are trusting people.

You ascribe a certain and I think inaccurate vicious mob mentality to the mediocre as well. Very odd…and very subjective and opinionated without evidence and I think self canceling…vicious mediocrity. It sounds as if it is you doing the shaming and silencing this time…

Mark…I would think ambitious and accomplished to be the opposite mediocre.

Antonyms for mediocre
different
excellent
exceptional
extraordinary
first-rate
superior
unusual

I wonder.… when we’re all superior, who will be mediocre?? hahaha. Of course if we’re all superior, then there is no superior…right? If superior becomes average than superior becomes mediocre. An interesting paradox. According to my understanding of the UB, there are always those beings who are more superior and less superior in skill. What makes that true? Not spirituality I do not think. Nor intelligence. Hmmmm……

Survival of the Mediocre Mediocre

Above is a link to a most interesting defense of mediocrity – The Lebowski Theorem. Entertaining and thoughtful.

Reminds me of socialization and civilization progress through the mortal epochs. The excellent leads while the inferior drags progress and the mediocre or average enjoy the most benefits and advantages with the least amount of risk and effort.

There is no excellence without great effort, great risk, and quite often, great loss. In fact, to win some battles costs you everything you have and makes victory a certain defeat (from The Art of War I believe).

A study of American democracy could never lead one to believe that mediocrity is recent or worse now than any prior 3-presidential terms in sequence. (This is not a comment on the current or past 3 presidents/administrations – it is my opinion we cannot name 3 historical Presidents/administrations in a row that were superior to the past dozen. American democracy is not getting mediocre, it remains so. Consider the Trail of Tears and runaway slave act and great compromise and Jim Crow and suffrage and so much more.) And Congress and the Supreme Court? Please!!! (Regardless of one’s politics.)

Our entire democratic process is owned and operated by the power elite (the money machinery) and will not be or become excellent until ethics, service, transparency, and accountability become foundational and functional elements in the process. It’s not about who votes for whom…its about who we are allowed to vote for!!! Who controls the candidates and candidate selection and the candidate agenda, no matter who wins the democratic vote!! Hello!!!??? PLEASE.

Perhaps what’s most interesting is the progress made despite all mediocrity? Remember that which is average remains the ideal and objective of those who do not yet personally enjoy the comforts and benefits of the average. And also remember that those who achieve excellence are often rewarded for the effort and risk such striving requires.

Perhaps it is the excellent inspire the mediocre while they inspire those who aspire even to the average? The excellent play to win, the mediocre play to stay in the game, and the below average play not to lose.

How does that combination of personal characteristics serve the whole I wonder? I am not at all convinced that our spiritization and Circle progress meaaures this in any way, shape, or form. Ambition is its own character trait and is certainly not a measure of one’s spirituality. I certainly agree that personal religious experience and growth delivers key results for social progress…higher ideals and less fear in facing social and material risk. This alone delivers progress over time.

Wasn’t Hitler and Lenin and Mao ambitious and successful in their ambition?? They each achieved excellence in their way, success which horrified and destroyed whole societies and all classes in those societies. Consider the ambition and excellence of achievement by the industrialists. And the Romans. Results of spirituality? Hahaha.

There are worse things than mediocrity. And far worse things than mediocre democracy.

Consideration of elitism comes to mind…..social and religious.

"Live loyally today—grow—and tomorrow will attend to itself. The quickest way for a tadpole to become a frog is to live loyally each moment as a tadpole."
BonitaParticipant
Jul 13, 2019, 3:16 PM

Bradly wrote:

Bonita…that sounds rather absolute, stereotyping, judgmental , and elitist about the majority of human beings alive today. Wow. I think perhaps people are mediocre because they are trusting people.

Where did I write anything about the “majority of human beings alive today”? Not sure where you got that idea from.

Mediocre people may be trusting people, but it’s a matter of what they put their trust in. Trust in established, standardized and traditional institutions at the expense of growth and progress is a questionable use of trust. It’s not really trust, it’s safekeeping or protectionism. I don’t think extremes are very conducive to democracy, and one of those extremes is the dullness of over-conservative mediocrity.

149:4.3 He discussed one of their former associates whose imagination had led him off into visionary and impractical undertakings. At the same time he warned them against the dangers of the dullness of overconservative mediocrity.

Bradly wrote:

You ascribe a certain inaccurate vicious mob mentality to the mediocre ad well. Very odd…and very subjective and opinionated without evidence and I think self canceling…vicious mediocrity. It sounds as if it is you doing the shaming and silencing this time…

When did I ever use the word “vicious”? Again, not sure where you got that idea from. And what’s the deal with accusing me of shaming and silencing?

Bradly wrote:

Reminds me of socialization and civilization progress through the mortal epochs. The excellent leads while the inferior drags progress and the mediocre or average enjoy the most benefits and advantages with the least amount of risk and effort.

I’m not sure I’m reading this right. Are you advocating mediocrity? Mediocre and average are not the same thing. Average is a mathematical calculation; it has to do with quantity. Mediocrity is a character trait; it has to do with quality.

Bradly wrote:

Perhaps what’s most interesting is the progress made despite all mediocrity? Remember that which is average remains the ideal and objective of those who do not yet personally enjoy the comforts and benefits of the average.

TUB recommends that we foster the average, normal, stabilized human being rather than the supernormal or subnormal and that’s because of the genetic code. Mutations are more likely from mathematically average DNA. But TUB does not recommend fostering mediocre civilizations, which is what we’re talking about here, I think.

68:6.11 From a world standpoint, overpopulation has never been a serious problem in the past, but if war is lessened and science increasingly controls human diseases, it may become a serious problem in the near future. At such a time the great test of the wisdom of world leadership will present itself. Will Urantia rulers have the insight and courage to foster the multiplication of the average or stabilized human being instead of the extremes of the supernormal and the enormously increasing groups of the subnormal? The normal man should be fostered; he is the backbone of civilization and the source of the mutant geniuses of the race. The subnormal man should be kept under society’s control; no more should be produced than are required to administer the lower levels of industry, those tasks requiring intelligence above the animal level but making such low-grade demands as to prove veritable slavery and bondage for the higher types of mankind.

Bradly wrote:

Ambition is its own character trait and is certainly not a measure of one’s spirituality.

Well I can’t agree with that. If one’s sole ambition is to become God-like and one acts upon it, then that enthusiastic desire becomes a measure of one’s nearness to God, which is the definition of spirituality.

1:0.3 The transcendent goal of the children of time is to find the eternal God, to comprehend the divine nature, to recognize the Universal Father. God-knowing creatures have only one supreme ambition, just one consuming desire, and that is to become, as they are in their spheres, like him as he is in his Paradise perfection of personality and in his universal sphere of righteous supremacy. From the Universal Father who inhabits eternity there has gone forth the supreme mandate, “Be you perfect, even as I am perfect.” In love and mercy the messengers of Paradise have carried this divine exhortation down through the ages and out through the universes, even to such lowly animal-origin creatures as the human races of Urantia.

100:2.4 Spirituality becomes at once the indicator of one’s nearness to God and the measure of one’s usefulness to fellow beings.
BradlyParticipant
Jul 13, 2019, 3:56 PM
Bonita says: “Mediocrity is exactly what we’re seeing in US society today and we’re in a terrible, terrible mess because of it.”

You claim above that “society” is mediocre…sounds like a majority of the people alive to me. And are they trusting…or not? For they cannot be both. Please pick a lane here.

You claimed that the majority of people (society) are mediocre and then claim they tend to “silence and shame” those who are not mediocre – this is a description of mob mentality…the bully or vicious form of the majority….an attribute of the majority and the mediocre you claim but offer no evidence. I believe this particular symptom is only shared by the weakest of humanity and not the majority or society in general which you claim is mediocre.

I am not advocating mediocrity…but I am defending the mediocre from such an acrid and inaccurate attack by an obvious attitude of elitism or snobbery which your words reveal. It is apparent those who disagree with you are subject to being silenced and shamed, especially recently. It’s a very sad and recent trend that is most regrettable.

Ambition takes many forms and certainly the ambition to be like God is hardly the only or the most common form of ambition. Why deny reality? Let me repeat: Ambition is its own character trait and is certainly not a measure of one’s spirituality. Like a sharp blade, ambition can be used for either good or evil…it is not itself a virtue.

48:7.19 (557.3) 17. Ambition is dangerous until it is fully socialized. You have not truly acquired any virtue until your acts make you worthy of it.

69:8.10 (780.1) Today, men are not social slaves, but thousands allow ambition to enslave them to debt. Involuntary slavery has given way to a new and improved form of modified industrial servitude.

"Live loyally today—grow—and tomorrow will attend to itself. The quickest way for a tadpole to become a frog is to live loyally each moment as a tadpole."
BonitaParticipant
Jul 13, 2019, 4:51 PM

Bradly wrote:

Bonita says: “Mediocrity is exactly what we’re seeing in US society today and we’re in a terrible, terrible mess because of it.” You claim above that “society” is mediocre…sounds like a majority of the people alive to me.

No, I said we’re seeing mediocrity IN US society today. I didn’t say that US society is mediocre. I said mediocrity is IN it and it’s causing a mess. Maybe I should have said WITHIN it?

Bradly wrote: You claimed that the majority of people (society) are mediocre and then claim they tend to “silence and shame” those who are not mediocre – this is a description of mob mentality…the bully or vicious form of the majority….an attribute of the majority and the mediocre you claim but offer no evidence.

Again, I never used the word majority. That is your word, not mine. And yes, mediocre groups prefer mediocrity. Attempting to silence those who challenge their mediocrity through shaming, using morality, is a frequent tool. If a mediocre group truly believes they have the moral high ground, there is no way to convince them otherwise. And that same belief in moral superiority is what is so often used to coerce others of their better and more righteous way of living. Consider the problems the TUB community has with fundamentalists who believe TUB was written by the devil. I’m not saying fundamentalists themselves are mediocre; I’m saying that claiming moral superiority is a tactic sometimes used to maintain the status quo. Fear of change is a feature of mediocrity.

Bradly wrote:I believe this particular symptom is only shared by the weakest of humanity and not the majority or society in general which you claim is mediocre.

For the third time, I never used the word majority. You did. If you look back at all my posts before your unwarranted accusation, the word is not mentioned at all, ever.

Bradly wrote:

I am not advocating mediocrity…but I am defending the mediocre from such an acrid and inaccurate attack by an obvious attitude of elitism or snobbery which your words reveal. It is apparent those who disagree with you are subject to being silenced and shamed, especially recently.

Hold on there bucko. It’s okay for you to attack my ideas, but it is not okay for you to attack me personally.

Bradly wrote:

Ambition takes many forms and certainly the ambition to be like God is hardly the only or the most common form of ambition.

Ambition is a one of those mind ministries meant to help us evolve, and evolution is always toward spirit. Civilization does well if encourages individuals to aspire to achieve their highest ambitions. Egoistic goals do not satisfy the definition of “highest ambitions”. But even so, adjutant ambition can be fruitful to society as well. We’re told ambition and invention are better than war.

70:2.9 During past ages war was a social ferment which pushed civilization forward; this result is now better attained by ambition and invention.

We’re also told that culture is developed by material prosperity because it fosters “leisure combined with ambition”.

81:6.6 2. Capital goods. Culture is never developed under conditions of poverty; leisure is essential to the progress of civilization. Individual character of moral and spiritual value may be acquired in the absence of material wealth, but a cultural civilization is only derived from those conditions of material prosperity which foster leisure combined with ambition.

Moreover, certain types of religious philosophy are debilitating because they destroy human ambition.

94:2.4 This philosophically debilitating teaching was soon followed by the invention of the doctrine of the eternal escape from self by submergence in the universal rest and peace of absolute union with Brahman, the oversoul of all creation. Mortal desire and human ambition were effectually ravished and virtually destroyed. For more than two thousand years the better minds of India have sought to escape from all desire, and thus was opened wide the door for the entrance of those later cults and teachings which have virtually shackled the souls of many Hindu peoples in the chains of spiritual hopelessness. Of all civilizations, the Vedic-Aryan paid the most terrible price for its rejection of the Salem gospel.
BradlyParticipant
Jul 13, 2019, 5:06 PM
Bonita says “No, I said we’re seeing mediocrity IN US society today. I didn’t say that US society is mediocre. I said mediocrity is IN it and it’s causing a mess. Maybe I should have said WITHIN it?”

Bradly here: What a well picked nit!!! Hahaha.

You said: “…maintain the mediocrity of society…”

Indeed….or is it just some minority element WITHIN society you meant to say?

I will let those who read your entire first post and subsequent ones to discern your rather obvious meaning regarding majority …or not.

Your political biases are your own and plenteous indeed but your low opinion of those who disagree with you is quite obvious enough. Your politics seems intolerant and aimed to shame and silence any and all who might disagree, something I agree a truly superior perspective would neither include nor demonstrate.

What is the difference between mediocrity and the glorification of mediocrity I wonder?

"Live loyally today—grow—and tomorrow will attend to itself. The quickest way for a tadpole to become a frog is to live loyally each moment as a tadpole."
BonitaParticipant
Jul 13, 2019, 6:00 PM
Bradly wrote: Your political biases are your own and plenteous indeed but your low opinion of those who disagree with you is quite obvious enough. Your politics seems intolerant and aimed to shame and silence any and all who might disagree, something I agree a truly superior perspective would neither include nor demonstrate.

67:1.3 And of all forms of evil, none are more destructive of personality status than betrayal of trust and disloyalty to one’s confiding friends.
BradlyParticipant
Jul 13, 2019, 6:53 PM
Rick posts/asks above: “The “glorification of mediocrity” is first in the list of the five dangers to democracy. The other four are easy to associate with danger. But I can’t quite connect the dots between mediocrity and democratic danger. Why do you think it wouldn’t be a danger to all forms of governance? And maybe it is, the UB author (a Melchizedek) didn’t exclude them.”

Bradly here: Perhaps the point is that all other forms of government are themselves inferior and dangerous to societal progress? So it is only the dangers to the potentially progressive democratic forms of government considered?

We also should consider that other forms of government do not encourage or even allow upward mobility and economic or creative aspirations, generally speaking. The masses are managed to not form any threat to the minority gripping power. Idealism, aspirations, and ambitions are dangerous to the stability and perpetuation of most forms of government other than majority ruled democratic forms.

Mediocrity is not itself the risk listed for democracy but its glorification. I think this means that democracy delivers the most potentials for progress but those are lost and wasted whenever the average becomes the aspirational ideal…people quit striving for excellence and personal best and become unrewarded for risk taking and effort.

What conditions might support the diminuition of the pursuit of excellence and aspirational ideals?

"Live loyally today—grow—and tomorrow will attend to itself. The quickest way for a tadpole to become a frog is to live loyally each moment as a tadpole."
BradlyParticipant
Jul 13, 2019, 8:07 PM

Bonita wrote:

Bradly wrote: Your political biases are your own and plenteous indeed but your low opinion of those who disagree with you is quite obvious enough. Your politics seems intolerant and aimed to shame and silence any and all who might disagree, something I agree a truly superior perspective would neither include nor demonstrate.

67:1.3 And of all forms of evil, none are more destructive of personality status than betrayal of trust and disloyalty to one’s confiding friends.

It is unfortunate my disagreement with your opinions is taken as betrayal and/or disloyalty. But I do know the feeling…recently in fact.

And I do disagree with several of your claims and opinions here. Democracy offers a wide spectrum of options for majority determined self governance, few of which have been incorporated yet. The ideal economic system is not the same as the ideal political system and both will develop independently for awhile longer.

Democracy that serves the greatest good for the greatest number for the longest time is unlikely to conform to any bias any of us hold today. Just sayin’…

"Live loyally today—grow—and tomorrow will attend to itself. The quickest way for a tadpole to become a frog is to live loyally each moment as a tadpole."
Richard E WarrenParticipant
Jul 14, 2019, 9:30 AM

Bradly wrote:

What conditions might support the diminuition of the pursuit of excellence and aspirational ideals?

Secularism, atheism, solipsism, selfish love, come first to mind… It’s hard not to equate/associate mediocrity with error/evil if not sin. It’s glorification involves going against the will of divinity. But is mediocrity’s glorification a conscious choice? Can we unchoose it? Maybe mediocrity is only a symptom, an effect of shallow choosing and lazy thinking. The root of the mediocre must be somewhere in human frailty. An animal can’t be or do anything mediocre, can it? Neither can it do anything majorocre (that should be a word)?

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Richard E Warren
AndréParticipant
Jul 14, 2019, 9:47 AM
Hi,

^39:5.7 Suspicion is the inherent (innate,inborn) reaction of primitive men.

Suspicion (ignorance breeds suspicion).

How could it be otherwise?

Suspicion/mistrust/uncertainty/mediocrity … all descends from m.o.b.

Jesus, our Father never put emphases on error.

When confronted to it, he shed light in it. He referred to it (m.o.b.) as light of those primitives ages.

Can I set myself free from it? Can you?
AndréParticipant
Jul 14, 2019, 10:43 AM
Hihihi …

What a uncamaraderie situation between 2 loved fellowship !!!

I do know and beleived such circumstances is temporary and will resolved as soon you involved and search Father’s with the aim of

reaching the fairest outcome. We are full-time religionist.

It couldn’t be spared such argumentation when exercising individual point of view. ^63:4.9

Ends and means do not belong to separate realm.

For sure, count me in concerning our camaraderie.

With brotherly affection to Bonita and Bradly or vice-versa.

André
BonitaParticipant
Jul 14, 2019, 11:54 AM

Rick Warren wrote:

Maybe mediocrity is only a symptom, an effect of shallow choosing and lazy thinking. The root of the mediocre must be somewhere in human frailty. An animal can’t be or do anything mediocre, can it? Neither can it do anything majorocre (that should be a word)?

You are what you think, right? Shallow lazy thinking results in a shallow, lazy and mediocre character. If educators reward shallow, lazy thinking their students will perform mediocrely and these students make up the electorate. Some will eventually be elected as leaders of their democracy even further inculcating shallow, lazy thinking.

I think this quote describes mediocrity pretty well. Shallow, lazy thinking blames (and shames) others. It sounds like an indictment against socialism to me, which is why TUB says democracy is the ideal. What should a democracy do for these people? Or should they do something for the democracy?

70:9.16 The weak and the inferior have always contended for equal rights; they have always insisted that the state compel the strong and superior to supply their wants and otherwise make good those deficiencies which all too often are the natural result of their own indifference and indolence.
BonitaParticipant
Jul 14, 2019, 11:56 AM

andré wrote:

With brotherly affection to Bonita and Bradly or vice-versa.

Thank you André. Brotherly affection to you as well. Thanks for being here.
BradlyParticipant
Jul 14, 2019, 3:57 PM

Rick Warren wrote:

Bradly wrote:

What conditions might support the diminuition of the pursuit of excellence and aspirational ideals?

Secularism, atheism, solipsism, selfish love, come first to mind… It’s hard not to equate/associate mediocrity with error/evil if not sin. It’s glorification involves going against the will of divinity. But is mediocrity’s glorification a conscious choice? Can we unchoose it? Maybe mediocrity is only a symptom, an effect of shallow choosing and lazy thinking. The root of the mediocre must be somewhere in human frailty. An animal can’t be or do anything mediocre, can it? Neither can it do anything majorocre (that should be a word)?

.I don’t think ambition, intelligence, creativity, insight, and inventiveness are limited to the religious and withheld from the secular/scientific/material pursuits of humanity or the individual. Are the unreligious or less religious mediocre? Hmmm…

IMO, in my country (USA) the church going congregationalists and pulpiteers the past 3 decades have been the greatest danger to our democracy perhaps in its entire history…the moral majority is neither. Odd. Indeed, did religionists deliver democracy to our world? And how much scientific, material, economic, and other forms of secular progress has come despite the religious leaders and masses? And what of those who murdered Jesus? Weren’t they religious? This issue is more complicated I think.

Religionists do not necessarily pursue excellence and secularists do not automatically pursue mediocrity. Blaming mediocrity on secularism or political trends or parties or platforms we disagree with misses the point altogether I think. I wonder if mediocrity isn’t merely a reflection of general comfort with the status quo? Or the fear of losing that status quo? Psychologically, the fear of loss is a greater influence on choice and behavior than the hope of gain and so keeping what one has from loss is more a motivation than the ambition and hope of gaining more. Only those with courage, or nothing to lose (the desperate), are willing or eager to take chances that may threaten the status quo.

Remember, it is not mediocrity but its glorification that is the danger to democracy. I think complacency and indolence and laziness and comfort with the status quo and the fear of its loss leads to the “glorification” of the status quo which leads to mediocrity.

132:3.3 Man tends to crystallize science, formulate philosophy, and dogmatize truth because he is mentally lazy in adjusting to the progressive struggles of living, while he is also terribly afraid of the unknown. Natural man is slow to initiate changes in his habits of thinking and in his techniques of living.

"Live loyally today—grow—and tomorrow will attend to itself. The quickest way for a tadpole to become a frog is to live loyally each moment as a tadpole."

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