Jakesully said:
I think this is entirely fair.
Some of my biggest leaps forward in knowledge have come by doing what I now look back on and seeing as having been incredibly stupid, learning hard lessons by brushing up against some scary things, not knowing how to protect myself. But people can learn by burning themselves, and surviving builds muscles and experience. Laura's Wave and Adventures series are filled with brushes with wonderful things, but also horrible things which she simply didn't know enough to avoid as she would easily be able to do today, and those experiences have informed her enormously, giving strength and wisdom. My own explorations in the world haven't been quite as extravagant, (more Canadian?) but they were bloody well enough for me. Luckily, I didn't get myself damaged badly. Humans are pretty resilient. And thank goodness I didn't fall into the whole drug side of spiritual 'enlightenment'. I smoked a bit of pot when I was younger, but never touched any of the weird and powerful stuff. I think it's possible to do things to yourself that you can't come back from in the reckless exploration of the outside of the box.
Phenomenon chasing, it seems to me, is a pretty normal response when first realizing that Official Culture has been lying to one since birth. People naturally want to see some evidence that orthodox science hasn't got all the pieces. But it's a pretty dangerous time in the seeker's life, when one is open to all kinds of predatorial activities and some pretty dangerous experiences.
I sometimes feel like souls are like baby turtles trying to make it to the waves, dying by the thousands on the sand.
