Keep the Conversation going and connect the dots for Better Understanding
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (28380)
Singapore
January 26, 2016 8:55pm CST
MyLot is a discussion/conversation site that enhances understanding sans borders. It connects people from across the world. It is a microcosm of humanity itself and we can even raise the bar as an enabler of better international relations – the sky is the limit when we have good intentions and the right attitude.
MyLot has clear guidelines and effective Terms of Use to keep fractious arguments/divisions at bay. It is a community site where we are expected to play ball. There are veterans in the site who can rein in those who cross the boundaries with a loving nudge to remind why we are here for. They do not resonate with a boss who says at the end of the meeting – you all are entitled to “my” view!
I often look at the location of members and find they are virtually from everywhere but they sound so alike – we are human after all! It is only natural we like few and give preference to them – and that is human nature and at most “harmless prejudice”. I have been in few sites and the bottom line has been we have similar emotions, come and leave the same way! Smile is the connecting bond that breaks the ice. I may add I was tasked to lead senior citizens on a tour but I couldn’t speak the language and when I was introduced everyone nodded in agreement when the tour guide said in Mandarin my language would be just my smile and attitude!
The world is suffering due to lack of trust and hidden agenda at every level. We should move towards truth and love for our creator as the building block for our existence that is always under threat. Many are losing the plot as they feel marginalized, and in our own way we can chip in through sites like this to enhance the bond of humanity.
How else can common folks have their say to influence our future?
17 people like this
16 responses
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
27 Jan 16
I take those as every rule has an exception. When we refuse to merge with the creative process we stick out like a sore thumb! Let them be, but the vast majority revel in the spirit of what the site is about. Just the goodness of humanity manifesting at common folks level and that gives people like me a spring in our steps; may I say, even to jump out of bed in the morning! siva
6 people like this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
27 Jan 16
@SIMPLYD All online sites promote a sense of camaraderie across the world sans borders. I have been welcomed with open arms everywhere and I felt comfortable in sharing my thoughts like I do here. After all, we are cut from the same cloth though few sow the seeds of discord and even succeed in their nefarious mission, but we should fight back so that we survive - siva
5 people like this
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
27 Jan 16
You have described it very well. Thank you! You are right that there are many people here from many countries and from very different cultures but we are all humans. Even though we are all constrained to communicate in English, which is more difficult for some than for others, the 'smile and the attitude' very often shows through.
5 people like this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
27 Jan 16
Thank you. It is apparent how easy it is for us to connect and how eager we are to understand where others come from. The underlying thread of humanity shines through despite whatever differences in culture, language, beliefs etc.
Hopefully, this medium of communication and technology will take us to another level of our understanding and coexistence. I dare say, wars are contrived and declared by politicians and zealots of all hues, but the victims are innocent human beings - siva
5 people like this
@innertalks (23739)
• Australia
27 Jan 16
"The world is suffering due to lack of trust and hidden agenda at every level."
Lack of trust is spreading as the population increases I think. I rang a tradesman, who sounded to be very nice on the phone. He even promised to call me ten minutes before he would arrive, to let me know he was on the way.
He never turned up at all.
Another person, I have known for fifteen years. He then borrowed some money off of me, and never paid it back, although he promised he would within a week. Years have now gone by, and I have said goodbye to that money, and to him too, as I cannot contact him now either.
4 people like this
@innertalks (23739)
• Australia
27 Jan 16
@Shiva49 How are the heart and trust related together?
Love gives trust to all it is given to.
Fear takes away this trust.
Is it really all that black and white?
Well, trust is an issue that exists where you feel loved by that person, not necessarily as love, but as being valued, respected, treated kindly, and humanely, with their genuine interest attached to you, and not just to them making profits from you for themselves.
This love factor builds onto the trust within that love which then comes out stronger and enters your mind assuredly so, so that you feel connected to that person by that trust then too, in a very special way, and dare I say it, this is in love's way.
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
28 Jan 16
@innertalks Thanks Steve for your analysis. Love is at a higher pedestal but basic trust is needed for cooperation and coexistence. But even between neighbors it is lacking among many countries and, sadly, even within families. Yes, fear could be a factor in this and also petty jealousy, self-worth etc.
If we all love creation and humanity then we have nothing to fear as we have same agenda. But I find some not only accumulate beyond their needs but do so depriving others and thereby creating distrust and disharmony. We are not able to cross that hump for us to realize our true potential.
Hopefully, we can utilize mediums like this to help us see the larger picture that we are all created with similar emotions and there is no need for enmity and that awareness can make us move towards love that drives the creative juggernaut. Let us enjoy our freedom but also feel part of the whole - siva
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
27 Jan 16
There comes your bully again Steve!I remember reading about gangland killings in Melbourne and Moran brothers. Trust is an expendable commodity, especially at a higher level, where money calls the "shots" literally!
I have lost hard-earned money to those without a conscience. They talk very sweetly till our money is parted - then our money becomes their money while theirs remain with them! And then we are history for them. Just last year, I lost several thousand dollars to one who wanted my assistance and then is incommunicado now!
I know who will help me in need - the many with limited means because they have a heart - siva
4 people like this
@allknowing (153530)
• India
8 Mar 16
A lot of thought has gone into this post.
This is one site where we get to interact with every kind of personalities some talented, some rich, some laid back, some ambitious, some scheming, some rude, .the list is endless. The art is to hook on to those we are comfortable with regardless of where they come from.
2 people like this
@allknowing (153530)
• India
9 Mar 16
@Shiva49 Not the path India has chosen, sadly.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
9 Mar 16
Thanks, online sites are a microcosm of society. MyLot reflects our eagerness to coexist, while not downplaying our true inner self. It proves that we can coexist on a give and take basis.
The world has moved on from suspicion to better understanding though our leaders are still not willing to give up in their divide and rule ways. I do hope they get the message loud and clear what the majority yearns for - Siva
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
9 Mar 16
@allknowing We should get our message ring louder or step in to have a new order than the present conniving ones - a leopard cannot change its spots! siva
2 people like this
@inertia4 (27978)
• United States
20 Jan 17
Bravo on a great post my friend. This is a wonderful thing. I agree with you. We all all the same no matter where we are from or what language we speak. But we do live in a corrupt world with too many disagreements. I do wish we were able to break all the barriers and come out on top.
2 people like this
@inertia4 (27978)
• United States
20 Jan 17
@Shiva49 Exactly. That's why now, more than ever, we all need to stand together to beat down the one percent. The greed factor. And that will not be achieved if we just let go and accept what is happening now. We have to fight back and fight back hard to make change. Too much ignorance in this world.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
20 Jan 17
Thanks for the encouragement. The 99% has to assert as few dictate the agenda against the wishes of the vast majority - democracy or otherwise.
I am happy to see artificial barriers are breaking down. They were built to serve the interest of the privileged. Greed knows no bounds as also corruption as a short cut to reach higher. Behind every fortune there is a crime - siva
2 people like this
@moondebi (1199)
• Bangalore, India
29 Jan 16
I had some imaginary ideas for the people of different countries. Those were based on the stories of newspaper and magazines. But, when I got the scope to interact, I could realize how far there are similarities in thoughts. In a given situation, the world thinks alike.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23739)
• Australia
30 Jan 16
Yes, and they usually feel similar emotions too. The thing is though that I am an Australian, and my wife is Asian. We have been married for twenty years, or so. We often find our thinking to be coming towards the same point from completely different directions.
It is frustrating that we are on different carriages of the same train, and we do not know that we are on the same train until much later in a conversation, where after ten minutes of trying to get our point across, which seems to be completely different from theirs, we suddenly see the same station go past.
Something then twigs in both of us, at the same time, and we then both laugh as we were explaining the same thing, just from different perspectives, not unlike how those 6 blind men once explained the part of the elephant that they were describing, and they couldn't understand that they were all feeling the same animal.
If more of the world could realise that we are really all on the same side, the conversation would keep going, and more peacefully, understandingly too I think too.
This story originated in India, so I am sure you know it siva, if not here is a link to this tale:
This story originated in India, so I am sure you know it siva, if not here is a link to this tale:
Story(25) ELEPHANT AND THE BLIND MEN Once upon a time, there lived six blind men in a village. One day the villagers told them, "Hey, there is an elephant in the village today." They had no idea what an elephant is. They decided, "Even though we would not
@innertalks (23739)
• Australia
30 Jan 16
@Shiva49
Are there any different Gods other than God then?
That’s an interesting speculation to speculate about.
"You shall have no other gods before me."
Exodus chapter 20, verse 3, says this, (see above).
On the one hand then, God said not to have any other Gods beside himself, but does this not also imply that there are other Gods besides God, indirectly?
Genesis chapter 1, verse 26 says this, (see next line below).
Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness."
Who are these "us", that are mentioned here then?
This “us” being referred to here is not to God, the God of Moses, the I Am, the Universal oneness of all.
No, this “us” simply refers to the many other angels and entities in heaven, all also all fashioned like God, I think.
In the beginning was God, and his word created all else from himself.
No wonder, they all look a bit like him them, because he is within all parts of his creation too.
Bible > Genesis > Chapter 1 > Verse 26? Genesis 1:26 ?Parallel VersesNew International VersionThen God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and
@innertalks (23739)
• Australia
22 Jan 17
@Shiva49 Are we truly trying to understand each other and does this help us to understand ourselves more, and our own place in it all?
Are we really all from the same source, what could that mean anyway?
Sometimes I think that just understanding myself is enough, and I seldom try to understand others, I just accept them as they are, is this a right or a wrong approach to dealing with others, then?
The responsibilities of love go both sides of love to stretch it within each receptacle of that love.
This inner understanding turns to outer understanding if we stretch it past ourselves into others, and then peg it there for a while we grow, and in this way we can love more when we allow our horizons to include all others within it, instead of our just thinking that the sunset is solely only for ourselves.
Inner understanding is not enough on its own, as it tends to make us selfish, too inner-directed, and not so caring outwardly, we are overly focused on ourselves only.
We need then outer understanding of others too, and when we gain this, paradoxically then we will find greater inner understanding will then come about for us then too.
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
22 Jan 17
@innertalks These sites help us to understand and even appreciate where others come from. These are a microcosm of the real world but decency and decorum is maintained so that we play by the rules rather than hitting below the belts as happens in the political arena.
We are from the same source when we come to realize we are so similar in the way our mind and physical bodies react to outside forces and emotions.
We react differently too according to circumstances. Once we understand what makes us so, then we appreciate more where others come from. We need deep introspection at times to find real fulfillment in life.
Yes, we have to leave others alone if they so prefer and value their privacy like we do too.
What we discern from outside has to be digested within to make sense at times and to satisfy ourselves there is always a reason for how the world in general works - where we see the extremes of love as also cruelty - siva
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
27 Jan 16
no man is an island, we need each other to survive, and in this site, we need friendship from all walks of life to grow.
4 people like this
@artemeis (4189)
• China
4 Feb 16
There is no doubt that the majority albeit of different countries, family backgrounds, cultures, races, religions and so on, we can find that we all stand on the same platform as far as conscience, morality and principles are concern. To me, I am always thrilled that we are all of similar standings when it comes to the better good and it is motivating to know this. I just hope more people will come in and eventually be able to make things better in our surroundings wherever we may be.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
4 Feb 16
Yes, sites like these testify to the underlying thread of humanity. It is human nature to help another irrespective of who, where we are from. Those that are supposed to keep us at loggerheads pale in comparison to what we have in common right from the air we share, and breathe! To quote Gandhi "“The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed."
I always say it is the politicians that create the war and the common folks suffer and even die. I wish the power to decide our future will soon rest with the 99% that wants peace. I see no differences among us be it color, country, race, gender, wealth. We should break free from the clutches of those that enslave us into compartments like what I have stated above.
We are under the collective destiny of humanity and our actions impact nature and world. We should be aware of this and let each do what is prompted by our inner voice. Again to quote Gandhi “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” - siva
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
31 Jan 16
The irony is the few are able to break our trust all along but the vast majority would be happy to live and let live. It is time society everywhere worked towards the goal of coexistence. With modern technology we should be able to see the big picture - siva
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
31 Jan 16
@lokisdad Yes, progress cuts both ways and it is for us to make wise choices - agreed, easier said than done.
The way forward is to make collective choices to benefit mankind and not look at from individual countries' interests. To start with, we should stop the arms race and taking it as a very good business to make quick money - siva
1 person likes this
