15 Years Ago and the Great Debate
Here is something I recently found that I had written 15 years ago on the Usenet newsgroup sci.skeptics. The title was: "Validity of repressed memories, dissociation, multiplicity."
I have kept quiet about this seemingly endless debate for a long time now. I have not bothered to defend authenticity of repressed memories, validity of dissociation, multiplicity, etc. in the various posts I have read all over the place, until now. I simply keep in mind that everyone thought the world was flat at one time!
We tend to disbelieve things that we do not understand. And this is so unfortunate because it stifles our imagination and creativity as human beings. We are gifted if we have the ability to accept the things we do not know. And are limited if we accept things solely based on proof. Richard Feynman, the great physicist, said this: "I was born not knowing and have only had a little time to change that here and there." Now I am a scientist. And many probably think that scientists only deal with proofs... quite the contrary. Science moves on only when we allow ourselves to journey into the unknown. We have been given a great and wondrous gift, the opportunity to peak through nature's porthole to get a glimpse at what's inside. Let's stop standing at the door arguing whether there is anything inside. And let's just look! So, my friends, let's be humble enough to accept that there are things we do not know, work together to learn more about them, and stop this endless debate.
In the end it's people's experience that is important here. And who are we to tell them that their experience is not real? Let's learn and stop arguing. Besides the good scientists are not the ones arguing, because they know it is much more fun to discover.
So, you people can sit there arguing all you want. But I am going to "look in the door" and try to figure some things out.
I am a little bit blown away by this. It seems I have arrived at a place now that I was already at in 1994! How is that possible? I can't remember that! This changes things dramatically for me.
What surprises me is what happens when you read all the posts in response to my posting. People call me crazy. They said Feynman didn't mean that. That I'm stupid. That I'm being intellectually dishonest. I guess that's not surprising. I didn't post to the trauma group, but rather a science skeptics group. I either was a lot less smart back then or, more likely, I was looking for a fight.
I recently found all my postings to the alt.sex.abuse.recovery newsgroup also from many years ago, well before Web forums and blogs. And I'm shocked at all I found. How was I able to write all that? I have come to believe that I knew a lot back then. But I hadn't the experience to back up what I knew. This is why I have repeatedly said that what has been experienced by me (not just the good, but also the bad) is allowing me to grow in a very special way. This is all truly special. I am not a perpetual victim anymore. I am not looking to define myself by my trauma. Yes, I still have to deal with all of that, but it doesn't define me. I am transformed. Renewed. Living!
Hi Paul,
Okay if I did not know already, you are deep. And wise. That much is certain from reading your blog.
Personally i don't have anything from that far back. I tended to destroy my writings the first five years of my healing work. So I have no proof that I was wise. But survivors told me that, so I have to believe that they saw that in me because it was there. And I suppose I would see that way I am is similar to the truths I believed in then, but don't think that I was articulating it as good as you were and are.
Thanks for blogging. I will have to re-read your posts, that is dawning on me.
Kate
Well, I come across deeper in my writing than in real life. The blog has been for more "mature" parts, and I think this will eventually change. It just may take a bit. We'll see what happens. Congratulations on your new blog, too. I put it on my blogroll.
Thanks for putting me on your blogroll. I am adding you to mine as well.
It's easier to be deeper when you have as much time as you need to be articulate. Even so, I appreciate reading your blog. Thanks.
Kate
I think false memory syndrome was introduced by the perps themselves to cover their own arses. I also believe they planted some people to prove their theory.