This is a follow-up to my rebuttal to Jenny Gomes, to qualify my comments regarding Miguel Conner. First of all, I never wanted to bring up that whole thing again between us. I’d just as soon let it rest—it’s in the past. The only reason I said anything in my rebuttal is because Jenny had to open her big mouth and bring it up. And she introduced a word that I can’t ever recall using, viz. the word “illegal”, that my articles are “illegally” posted at Aeon Byte. I have never said anything regarding the legality of my articles as posted at Aeon Byte. I have absolutely no intention of litigating or dragging Miguel into court over this issue. If Miguel wants to keep the articles there then I’m okay with that. I did ask him to remove them but he has refused. And perhaps I can understand why. A significant part of Miguel’s knowledge comes from my articles and research; and if those articles were removed from his page it would leave him the awkward position of being plagiarist post facto, since a lot of things he has said or written are based in part on my research and insights. And I’m not implying here that Miguel isn’t smart or capable by himself. It just happens to be the way things turned out. Jenny claims I’m out to turn people against Miguel as if I’m on some crusade—as if my Timeline and Group are somehow devoted to destroying Miguel’s rep and Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio. This is not true. I do resent Miguel and our relationship didn’t end well. I’ve already talked about that. But if you talk to any of my Facebook friends you will see that many of them are friends of Miguel and they participate in his forum. I don’t have a problem with that and I hope some of my friends will comment in this thread and affirm what I say. There is no agenda on my Timeline or my Group, no conspiracy, against Miguel or Aeon Byte. Neither are a common topic here. I have discussed my negative experiences with some of my friends but I’ve also told them that if you’re friends with Miguel that is fine with me. Personally, I don’t trust the guy—but that’s just me based on my experience, which was unusual and not common. Miguel is definitely not perfect, but neither am I; and neither is Jenny Gomes regardless of what she imagines about herself. Furthermore I want to talk about the big picture above and beyond my own experience and resentment. Miguel is like me and a lot of other seekers. Many of us are waging personal battles and we have conflicts. And I do believe that Miguel has his portion of Insight and his portion of pain and conflict. And regardless of the negatives Miguel is a very talented individual and he has achieved great things. Only a fool would deny that. He is very creative with the shows he has put together. And the way he has brought all these leading experts together is a remarkable and monumental achievement. In the end I can’t overlook these things. And I am not telling people to stay away from Aeon Byte or not to be friends with Miguel. In fact I’ve said the opposite: don’t let what I say effect your own decisions. If you’re friends with Miguel that’s fine with me. I’ve never told anyone here that “no, you can’t be friends with Miguel” or “if you’re friends with him you’re not friends with me”. Miguel’s work, and his forum are a source of insight and information. I’m posting this as a counter-balance to what I said in my rebuttal. Yes, some really negative things did happen, and personally I don’t see myself ever trusting Miguel Conner again. And Miguel’s relationship with Jesse Folks is still one big question-mark to me: I don’t get it. To me hanging out with Jesse is like eating pizza with hardcore Jehovah’s Witnesses—only worse. But this does not negate the many good things Miguel has done or his great achievements. They will stand. And I can’t deny the good things that came from my collaboration with Miguel: my articles. Something good did come out if this in the end. It wasn’t all bad. So I owe a debt of gratitude to Miguel for inviting me to write for his webpage. And I know that many people have gained insights from reading my articles over the last six years since I started submitting them back in August of 2007. Nothing here has happened in vain. :-)
Posted on: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 06:26:36 +0000