DiscussMormonism.com

I was wondering about the whole textual mirror thing. Does it really work?

What happens when one holds up a textual mirror to a someone holding up a textual mirror? Do we end up with an infinity of reflections, or is just an infinity of distortions given that no mirrors are perfect?

What happens if one holds up a textual mirror to a textual vampire?

What can be accomplished if textual smoke is added to the mirrors?


I think I'm mostly just trying to be silly, but what I also often wonder with the whole mirror thing is whether it's ever been productive. Do people really improve if one offers unsolicited help? I say that it generally does not and yet I can think of times when we sort of force someone to do things for their own good (such as children) or perhaps even prevent people from entering dangerous areas. Yet I think it unlikely that I could change anyone's opinion or outlook on Mormonism unless they were interested in understanding things from another perspective. There seems to be a world of difference between one who goes and asks a counsellor for help and one who is given unsolicited counsel.

What say ye?

Is there any textual garlic to ward off the textual vampires?

I think I agree with you. I'm not especially keen on "mirroring" as technique of counseling, textual or otherwise. And while children may often need unsolicited advice, I think its rarely helpful in adult situations for several reasons---one being the kind of person that usually is found dispensing such "help."

I doubt anything I might write on a message board would "change anyone's opinion or outlook on Mormonism" and that's certainly not what I'm trying to achieve. My reasons for posting are to increase my own perspective through exchange with other people. I think others may benefit from that, too, and in fact I hope they do but more in terms of making it a productive experience for all, rather than a presumptious desire to see others benefit from my "wisdom."

Now as for textual vampires, I suspect they are real threat and found all over the internet, not just in its dark corners. The garlic, cross and holy water I use against them is basically the practise of looking away from the screen occaisionally, getting up and making a cup of coffee or playing with my cat, or anything else which breaks the 'net trance...