Sobering words and true. Thanks.

Sherm, see here.

hi sk,

For the sake of those who take with utter seriousness the importance of the crucial matters, clowns must be expelled, lest they lead people to mock their own lives away.

do you really meant that? Expulsion?

Hi Sherman,

You don't know me, I guess lurkers are the inevitable byproduct of a public blog and I sincerely hope you will direct any offence taken only to the words and not the person.

I find your post “clowning around” unnecessarily harsh and, maybe not purposefully, but not well thought through.

I will wager that you have not bothered to sit down and give any sort of thought whatsoever to the people who you deem “clowns”, nor to their motives in doing so except to ascribe them to the devil (such return to the theology of st Geraldine, particularly from one as well versed in theology as yourself, being rather disappointing).

Some people do not do well with “serious conversations” of the type you mention. Putting aside the fact that these may be people who you do not (even if you like to think you do) have enough of a relationship with to talk about such matters and the fact that Asians are by nature already rather circumspect with regards to broaching such topics; I find your utter lack of even an attempt at empathy extremely arrogant.

I do not doubt that it must be very infuriating for a person trying to broach a serious topic and expecting a serious and attentive audience to have a sole individual in the group cracking jokes and trying to lighten the atmosphere when the individual is doing everything in their power to keep said atmosphere staid and serious. However, if said individual is the only individual trying to keep the atmosphere staid and serious, one must also question the receptiveness of the group to such an action. In my opinion, if no one else is trying to stop the clown, surely due consideration must be given to the fact that there are other people in the group just as uncomfortable with the conversation as the clown but just too polite to say anything about it (which, at the risk of being told off for generalizing, many Malaysians may be just such people, putting aside the question of whether they should be).

Perhaps the next time a clown tries to lighten the mood, instead of ascribing their actions to the devil and seeking to expel them because they fail to play the part of attentive acolyte, you could pause to consider why they act in such a way. Just maybe, they are not comfortable with the conversation and instead of condemning them for mocking their life away you could consider momentary pity for the poor soul not as spiritually mature as yourself and not able, at this point in time, to ruminate on the grand theories you wish to expound on. Surely such a fool deserves your pity and, as long as he seeks to better himself (albeit at a pace slower than you would wish), not your scorn.

I do not doubt you have earned the right to your arrogance, but surely not all who do not show the same concern and attention to those topics you deem important are worthy of no more than your scorn and exorcism.

Reagrds,

Daphne Wong

Hi Dr Tang!

Hmm.. interesting question. I think if we're thinking of expulsion in terms of excommunication, no lah, I'm not thinking of something so serious.

But if I had someone like that in a group I meet with regularly, and he continues to kill the contemplative impact of our discussions with lame and disruptive jokes and comments, I'd certainly find a way to invite him out!

Dan, thanks for giving me more work ah...

My pleasure. You need some 'exercise', don't you?

I have a few clowns around me. How ah?

These clowns, perhaps they may have unresolved issues or perhaps they use it as a form of defense mechanism to prevent them from facing reality.
And btw, great message today. hehe

Hi Daphne

I've just come across your post.

If I read your lengthy comment correctly and try to paraphrase it, it seems like you're saying the problem may just be me and not the clown. And you know what, you may just be right!

The only thing is, I don't have specific occasions or events in my mind as I write about this. And neither do I have a particular "clown" in my mind. It's just a general observation of how group dynamics tend to function.

Thanks for your comment, although it does seem very much like you've read too deeply into my post, perhaps applying some interpretations from your own experience.

But your comment is appreciated. This post has obviously somewhat offended you. I'm sorry it has come across to you as arrogant... it wasn't meant to be that way. Thanks for popping by.

Hi Sherman,

I just wanted to clarify that my comment was not intended to attribute any blame (to you or anyone else), merely to make (rather forcefully, perhaps) what I felt was a point not given the consideration it deserves in your post; that such "clowns" would be better served by a hand extended and not a sword.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my previous comment though.

Regards,

Daphne Wong