Journal Entries
New Member of WLC
Posted Apr 7, 2002
Hi Co-members of WLC and others,
I finaly did something here. I waited before my new pc would arive, but that keeps on hold for few days so I decided to pick up my task as member.
I am little bit scared if did it right, because I am sure if doing it right...
I love you all and WOW-greetings,
pheloxi
WOW - Wish Only Well
Discuss this Journal entry [9]
Latest reply: Apr 7, 2002
Anyone?
Posted Mar 23, 2002
Is this thing still on? Where is everybody?
Discuss this Journal entry [2]
Latest reply: Mar 23, 2002
The Need for Courage and Commitment
Posted Mar 11, 2002
Hello all. We have here this WLC and the reggabwoW project and we're hoping to achieve something with it. I see we're sending messages of love and support to many people ... we certainly ought to be working harder at it, though, and I will start throwing in my weight again from now on.
I'm thinking, though, that if we *really* want to achieve something, we should be willing to put in some really hard, and also *uncomfortable* work. Everything cannot be nice all of the time. We must be willing to confront some bad stuff, get involved in ugly situations, exercise our powers of judgement and decision-making ... make tough choices, and make sure they're the *right* ones.
We must be willing to recognise that we live in a world in which many horrible, horrible things happen. Many of the people here on h2g2 live in America and Europe, but some live in third-world countries where circumstances are tough. Many of us, even those living in first-world countries, have had very bad experiences, or know people who have had very bad experiences. A good friend of mine, for instance, over here in South Africa - his father was *butchered* by men armed with knives who burst into his office while he was working, and then left again. I don't think anybody was ever apprehended or punished for this crime.
I know many people from h2g2 who have been raped. I know many who have been assaulted. I know people who have been sexually abused as children by their parents or guardians. I know people who have killed other people. I have seen here on h2g2 how people have verbally abused each other. I have had friends of mine suffering so badly from verbal abuse originating here, on h2g2, that they've seriously contemplated suicide. I myself have contemplated suicide many, many times, and self-injured *thrice* as a result of things said by people here. Two times I took a knife and slashed myself with it, so upset was I (inflicting physical wounds so as to be a visible manifestation of psychological wounds). Another time I consumed a poisonous plant which caused me great pain and internal injuries.
My concern is that with all of this being nice-nice-nice we are ignoring many issues which are really unpleasant and painful to talk about, around ourselves, and even here on h2g2. What do we do when one of 'us' hurts another one of 'us' extremely badly, and we witness it? Do we stand up against the people doing the hurting, or do we look the other way because it's too hard to interfere? How far do we go, ourselves, to help and comfort people who have been hurt? How hard do we try to *solve* conflicts, before they get really bad, or forestall them? In our own communities, are we aware of the misdeeds being committed, and do we speak out about them? Are we aware of our neighbours who are being beaten by their spouses or parents ... or our neighbours who are suffering from depression ... or are alcoholics or drug addicts ... or have been raped ... or are suffering under constant verbal abuse ... or are even suffering from serious health problems? What do we do about our neighbours who are *doing* the beatings, the rapes, the constant psychological, emotional and verbal abuse? What do we do in our societies about the many wrongs? Do we speak out against our leaders when they make decisions that will lead to the suffering and even death of innocent people ... sometimes people far away, but so often even people inside our own countries, even our own neighbourhoods? Do we have the *courage* and the *commitment* to work there were our work is most necessary, but where we will need to confront people close to us, and say that what they are doing is *wrong* and they need to change their ways?
Are we willing to recognise that h2g2 is a community of *people*, not all of them nice ones, and misdeeds can be committed here as well? This place is a microcosm reflecting the macrocosm... human interactions in here are still interactions between fallible people, with many opportunities for misunderstandings and deliberate abuse. Conflicts happen here, similar to 'real life'. This *IS* real-life! What happens here affects people. Here, also, we may need to make difficult decisions, and say things that are uncomfortable to say. Here, too, we will need to confront the ugly sides of human nature. Are we willing to do that? I'd like to know the opinions of anybody willing to state them.
- Willem
Discuss this Journal entry [11]
Latest reply: Mar 11, 2002
Suz.
Posted Mar 1, 2002
Hey everyone... I've been talking to Suz lately, and finally got around to writing a reggabwoW message for her... If anyone would like to stop by that thread...?
And hello to SG and everyone else down there! 
~Shee
Discuss this Journal entry [2]
Latest reply: Mar 1, 2002
Hello, Everyone
Posted Jan 25, 2002
Hey all! I'm SmartGamer, Keeper Of That Which Breaks Down Easily (ACE). I just joined the reggabwoW project, so this is my official "hi!"
Time to go brighten someone's day!
--SmartGamer
Discuss this Journal entry [4]
Latest reply: Jan 25, 2002
The Willem Love Collective
Researcher U185434
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