MK forum

@ Gene:

Skepticism, skeptic, or skeptical: according the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary the word means, inter alia, the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism characteristic of a skeptic.

As such, while "caution" may connote more "leeway" as you put it; I suspect the use of the word "caution" is less inflammatory or perjorative than "skeptic" or its derivatives. It also, in my view, is more passive. However, when I used the word, "skeptic", I meant the act of "suspend[ing] judgment" and doubting of a system (if, by system, you mean NTM as a whole process of thinking, acting, and doing) up to this point, based upon its past track record. I AM cautiously optimistic that what Larry, et. al., did in GA will be replicated elsewhere, just as I am cautiously optimistic (given the recent acts in GA) that similar investigations into other fields will be conducted in the same thorough manner as GRACE did with Fanda. However, I am skeptical, as in suspending judgment of approbation on the whole, until continued incidents such as what happened in GA are done elsewhere AND NTM decides to utilize GRACE or a similar entity of sterling character and repuation to conduct investigations into sexual abuse that occurred on other fields and reporting such, when corroborated, to the appropriate authorities.

@ MK Sheri: I also think it is easy to go from skepticism to cynicism. For me, anyway.

It is easy for others, including myself, as well. Thank you for your clarification. My post was an attempt to guard against cynicism, while suspending judgment pending further developments (i.e., continued investigations, more GRACE-like reports, and further reporting of abuse to authorities) and greeting positive developments with a little handclap. I'll jump ecstatically later . . . .

@ Gene: I'm going to stay away from approbation and opprobrium altogether from now on, too.

No need to stay away from using those words. Perhaps a little memory device, if I may. Approbation is similar to "approve" . . .appro & appro. Opprobrium is similar to "oppose", and means to reproach or be contemptuous of a person, place, or thing.

Hope this helps . . . .

@Publius

A little handclap is fine. clap.

That is my dad who reported my abuser to the authorities and who playfully said OT would do a backflip because someone called the authorities.

Thanks, Dad. It was a good thing to do. Now if more parents and MKs could do the same, we could start to make a tidal wave.