Choices aka Ars Longa Vita Brevis
Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 10:02 pm
Welcome back everyone to the Choices thread, also known as Ars Longa Vita Brevis (art is long, life is short). For those who are new to this thread, we’ve re-posted our original introductory statement below. This thread is a bit different from other threads on the Lex, so if you’ve never posted here before please read our intro first. If you’re interested, you can find our earlier discussion on the original Choices thread here. It’s by no means required reading (!) -- but this is an ongoing conversation and you might find it helpful....
Intro to the Original Choices Thread:
The idea for this thread grew out of a series of private messages exchanged between four of us: December, Truelove1, LisaCullenAZ and IloveTwilight. As it went on we began asking ourselves why we were having our conversation in pms rather than out on the existing threads. We realized that we were looking for a space where a particular style of conversation was possible: thoughtful, passionate and above all open-minded. Conversation where we were trying to reach a consensus -- or clarify our differences -- rather than argue our positions. There are lots of debate-oriented threads on the boards -- and they've generated some wonderful discussion and insights. But this thread is for something different. Our ideal here is for everyone to get a clearer sense of why other people have the views they do, not to challenge their views -- or change them. THIS IS NOT A DEBATE THREAD.
There aren't that many places on the Lex where it's easy to do this. So please, if you want to contest anything someone says on this thread, ask them to step outside and debate it somewhere else on the Lex. It's easy enough to find a suitable place for it. And remember, this thread should be a place where everyone feels comfortable posting. There is always a way to state your opinion which remains respectful of the existence of other views -- even views that no one is putting forward here at the moment. Be mindful of all the opinions out there on the Lex. Achieving this is partly a matter of tone. Listen to yourself before you post. If someone says something you disagree with, it's more conciliatory to say "that's interesting, because I felt differently for the following reasons...." than to say "how can you say that?" or "I have to totally disagree...."
Full disclosure -- the four of us are all Edward-girls of one sort or another. You're a little bit in Swoony-girl territory, here. But we hope that everyone who is interested in our collaborative style of conversation will come join us, whatever their views.
And a brief word of warning: a lot of us tend to write at length. Long posts don't scare us. That's why it's Ars Longa....
Which brings us to a crucial request: the conversation here can get pretty elaborate, and it's hard enough to keep track of where we are with a single topic under discussion. PLEASE, EVERYONE, IF THERE IS A NEW QUESTION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE DISCUSSED, DON'T JUST PUT IT OUT FOR DISCUSSION! If you pm one of us, we can propose it when the existing conversation peters out. (And please, if someone else does start a new topic, resist the urge to run with it!). If we end up with several conversations going at once, it just gets chaotic.
Especially since there’s no such thing as a dead topic here. It’s never too late to return to a question we’ve previously discussed. We want people to take as long as they need to assemble their thoughts on a subject.
As for our subject, we're interested in the theme of choice. The whole Twilight series revolves around choices: Should Bella give in to her feelings for Edward, knowing that he is not human, and dangerous? Should Edward involve himself with Bella even though he is a danger to her? Should Bella choose Edward, rather than Jake and a normal human future? Should she become a vampire? Should Edward be the one to change her? Should anything matter more than their love for one another? You might say that everything that happens in Twilight comes back to this one central choice of Bella's: whether to give up her human life for love. Vita Brevis indeed....
-- December, llovetwilight, LisaCullenAZ, Truelove1
So welcome, everyone, newcomers and oldtimers, to our second Choices thread. Read, reflect, be thoughtful of one another -- and have fun! We have a lot to talk about....
Penumbrae Cerebri Dixerunt ~ The Brainshadows Have Spoken...