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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
 Posted - 05/17/2007 : 23:48:33
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Hi TMS gang,
I just came across this little anti-Tom diatribe by Alexis that she has cloistered away in her Bio. It's one of the finest examples of quoting out of context I have ever seen. I quote it here out of sheer amusement. I have no problem with my contribution to this board, if someone is ever completely bored, they can count my positive posts versus those involved in flames (that I didn't start).
I am honored by Alexis's tribute to me. I will print it, hang it in my locker and think of her fondly whenever I read it.
It appears another attribute of TMS sufferrers is having NO sense of humor. Alexis, sorry if you thought anything I said to you was at all serious, but it's hard to debate assertions that are REDICULOUS, thus my only reply is resorting to sarcasm.
My major problem with you is not that I am a TMS fundamentalist but that you consistently used the board to proselytize doubt in the Good Doctor's theory by spreading in-accurate TMS information. If my correcting your TMS in-accuracies is deemed by you as bad for the board than so be it. Maybe because your father was a doctor you have some need to attack doctors. Not having you on my couch, that's only a wild theory on my part. If I drove people away, you plied them with doubt in the validity of the clinical science underlying TMS. They are better off leaving with flames at their butts and returnig to their TMS books. They are infinitely better off reading their TMS books than hanging out here.
I will repeat that you have done a fine job of taking everything out of context. Alexis, you are wasting your efforts here, you should get a job as a speech writer for Billary Clinton.
Your burying your hate-Tom diatribe deep in the bowels of your bio, is a good example of your cut and run character and inability to face life's problems head-on. I am working on getting a higher degree so that we can debate on a level playing field. I sympathize with your not wanting to associate with your social underlings, those possessing merely a BA from a state college. God Save the Queen!
Yours Truly,
Touche' Tom
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Quoting from Alexis's Bio:
"In case anyone arrived at my bio by clicking on one of the many futile arguments involving "TennisTom", I offer a little background info that might help explain what you're reading and why I am not responding. As a result of the simple idea in the previous paragraph - and any other comment I have ever made that didn't completely toe the most fundamentalist version of the TMS party line - I have been attacked repeatedly by Tom, the list's resident fanatic (a self-described "Sarno Fundamentalist").
**If you are new here, note that there exists a contingency for whom TMS is more religion than science, and for whom Sarno is more messiah than physician. Consider yourself warned.**
I choose now to generally ignore Tom's posts...as conversing with him is an exercise in utter futility. If anyone is puzzled by some odd one-sided tirades on his part...I'm just out of the conversation.
Tom, rather than addressing any point I have made, chooses to try to paint me as some weird subversive infidel to the Sarno creed. To avoid any real debate he throws out a series of either irrelevant comments or outright lies. This is a tactic he uses not just with me, but with anyone who disagrees with his ideas. In my own case a sampling of lies he has used in the past includes:
1) Accusations that I am actually lying about having read Sarno (despite the numerous times I've quoted him and credited the work for my recovery). Usually when anyone disagrees with Tom's ideas he just dismisses them by saying they haven't read Sarno, but in my case I explicitly made clear that I had...so by Tom's logic (or lack thereof) I'm lying.
2) That I copied any criticisms of Sarno's writing from Amazon reviews! (with no evidence, just saying it's obvious.) He's said this twice.
3) Claiming that I am some sort of anti-Sarno crusader (despite the vast evidence to the contrary).
4) Accusing me (again, multiple times) of "cutting and running" from the board when I have said nothing more than that I planned to taper off involvement...something he has said before himself, but unfortunately failed to follow through on. This "cut and run" accusation is a favorite of his, and he takes great pride each time he believes he has caused someone to leave the board.
This is his only known method of discussion, and the reason that after mid-February you will note I am not answering his posts. He has shown himself to be incapable of change or of admitting when wrong, so conversation is pointless. Any comment I make will merely be followed by more lengthy tirades in which he tries through lies and changes of subject to undermine my credibility, and I frankly just don't have the time to address each repeated instance of the same thing.
I'm afraid I believe that Tom and his ilk are some of the greatest barriers to this board's success. He has driven off more people than anyone else here and takes pride in that fact. He presents a fanatical and intolerant face to TMS to newcomers. It is a very, very sad state, and one which I regret will hinder the cure of many people.
-------
An actual Tennis Tom quote from March 10 2007:
".... it is difficult for me to keep track of all the people I've antagonized and driven away."
Another good quote, in which he made accusations 1 and 2 at the same time is from February 17 2007:
"Many of us (H20 & me) are starting to suspect that you do not posesess a copy of Sarno but have only read reviews on Amazon. We are making an official Full Moon Challenge (it's in the by-laws) that you produce a dated copy of your receipt or a library card within 48 hours emailed to Dave."
April 21 notes: I haven't been reading Tom's posts lately, but I skimmed them today and amused to note that he started the day by falsely accusing Art of saying heroin was good for people, and by mid-afternoon was asking "Can someone tell me if Barry Obama gets elected president, will he be sworn in using the Koran?" Some things never change.
And April 23 sums up best of all why it's not worth engaging in discussion with Tom:
'I'm not into ... a set of "rules of logic" that are slanted for only one side to win the "discussion" and are a lose-lose for everyone not in the PC "club". '
If you, like Tom, want to reject rules of logic and debate widely acknowledged and accepted in cultures around the world for thousands of years, by all means "debate" away with Tom. Just consider yourself warned that logic is not likely to play a part.
Oh, and since Tom has taken to introducing the false implication that I never read The Divided Mind every time he disagrees with me (no matter how off topic) I guess I will clarify here that not only have I as previously stated read a copy I went to great trouble to get through ILL (which Tom knows full well) but I have owned my own copy since the paperback version became available. But I'm leaving this little one for Tom to chew on since his obsession with the issue provides such a great example of his issues.
If I had time to kill I'd like to look up the number of times he's taken the time to imply I haven't read this book. I think he is often determining a person's worth on the number of Sarno books they've read times the square of the number of minutes they ponder each sentence. And, even more bizarrely, he seems to believe others are doing the same.
April 30 -- and what appears to be Tom's life philosophy:
"Practice believing in yourself even if you are wrong, and you will get enough ego to overcome all the losers trying to hold you down to their level."
That combination of paranoia, irrationality and contempt for others should be scaring more people here than it apparently is."
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Some of my favorite excerpts from " THE DIVIDED MIND " :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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Woodchuck
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 00:22:35
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Hmm? Looks pretty accurate to me TT. Probably a mistake to have brought this out into the open. LOL!
Woodchuck |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 09:19:33
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Thanks for the kind words Woodie, I just feel it's cowardly of Alexis to hide her little tribute to me in her Saddam Hole bio. I have no problem dealing face to face. Actually, maybe we should all fill are bios with how we really feel about each other. I'll finnish my post in my bio.
Adios
Some of my favorite excerpts from " THE DIVIDED MIND " :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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carbar
USA
227 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 09:24:19
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oh, jeez. Rather than yall writing books of disagreement to one another, can I recommend a book?
Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D.
Fits right in with Sarno approach to living life with more emotions and has offered me a lot of insight...
Carolyn |
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Shary
147 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 09:46:07
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| Oh jeez is right! Can we get beyond this sort of thing? I'll practice tonglen and loving-kindness for both of you. (If you've never heard of these things, you should read Pema Chodron. Much easier on the emotions than firing verbal missiles at each other.) |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 09:54:45
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Point well taken Carbar. Everything one needs to know to be "cured" of TMS can be found by reading any one of the Good Doctor's books. All else is just distraction.
All the name calling and hurling abuse has just given me an eppiphany on the possible structural origin for TMS. Perhaps it emenates from the gall bladder with the release of bile--just a theory.
Cheers,
tt  
Some of my favorite excerpts from " THE DIVIDED MIND " :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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Edited by - tennis tom on 05/18/2007 20:03:17 |
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shawnsmith
Czech Republic
2048 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 10:23:41
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I have to admire Tom's flare for writing and witty remarks. I am secretly jealous of his abilities.
*************
Sarno-ize it!
************* |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 12:07:39
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Ah well...I've actually got a lot of sympathy for Alexis, although I doubt she'd want it. She's smart and I sense, passionate in her opinions. I also sense that she's very sensitive and dislikes confrontation. Putting that up on her bio was, I'm guessing, a way for her to vent without then having to endure the pain of endless and fruitless debate...
TT, Alexis is right that you've never, not one time to my knowledge, admitted to being wrong. Nobody's that smart. Were I you, I'd think about that and what it might mean. That said (and I know you'll be relieved to hear this), I've backed off of my initial impression of a man who positively enjoys hurting people. I'm sure you're a nice fellow (even if politically a mess)...
I think you're wrong at least as often as you're right, but the forum wouldn't be the same without you. It's not about right and wrong anyway, it's about the interaction and the emotions that follow.
In the end, what matters around here is what we can learn about ourselves, and how we can help the struggling newcomer...The rest is just noise...
Just one man's opinion...
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Edited by - art on 05/18/2007 12:25:40 |
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shawnsmith
Czech Republic
2048 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 13:17:47
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quote:
Originally posted by art
It's not about right and wrong anyway, it's about the interaction and the emotions that follow.
You have hit the nail right on the head, Art, with the above sentence. Ultimately, as much as we might want to, we can never change the people around us no matter how hard we try. We cannot, at least at the most fundamental level, even change ourselves.
*************
Sarno-ize it!
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Woodchuck
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 13:28:31
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quote:
Originally posted by art
..... In the end, what matters around here is what we can learn about ourselves, and how we can help the struggling newcomer...The rest is just noise...
Excellent summary.
Woodchuck |
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alexis
USA
596 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 06:36:50
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quote:
Originally posted by tennis tom
Your burying your hate-Tom diatribe deep in the bowels of your bio, is a good example of your cut and run character and inability to face life's problems head-on.
Dude, this stuff is only "buried" if you're too lazy to read people's bios before responding. I read everyone's bio, so I rather expect others to do the same. Trust me, plenty of people have read this already and I didn't have any feedback disagreeing until now. It wasn't buried, and I just figured you were ignoring it and me like I ignore you. That seems fair.
I don't read every one of your post that follow mine and I when I do I sure as heck don't plan on repeating the same answers to the same random comments over and over. Putting the answer in one place is just efficiency since you almost never say anything new.
Maybe if I do bother to read your bizarre criticisms again I'll just paste a link back to this thread as an explanation instead. But I'm not going to answer the same baseless accusations and irrelevant questions over and over again into eternity. |
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shawnsmith
Czech Republic
2048 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 07:14:00
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I think Alexis and Tom should pair up, they are obviously right for one another.
*******
Sarno-ize it!
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kilton
38 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 08:21:02
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Well so much for your streak of not responding to Tom's posts since mid-February. Time to update that sentence in your Bio.
I ask that this thread be locked or deleted. And here's a book recommendation for you two: Emotional Intelligence, by Daniel Goleman.
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 08:41:36
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Hi Y'll,
Art, I'm pleased you are starting to take a liking to me, and that I am right 50% of the time. I assume that is in regards to my political and life-style views. The board is about TMS nominaly, and I think that I am right on my TMS info close to 99% percent of the time. It's only on my political views that I am wrong, vilified and ostrcized for.
I am seeing a pattern emerging here, that a number of the board people are members of AA or have been. I've heard about the 12 step program but that's about it. I enjoy a cocktail or a beer now and again but have never had a problem with alcohol. Maybe part of the AA program is having to prostrate oneself in front of the group and admit to doing bad things. I don't know, but I'm sensing that 50% of Art's irritation with me is that I won't drop-down and admit to some character flaws that I am not guilty of, in my NOT so humble opinion.
So my TMS info is accurate, but I just won't tow the party line on the board's predominate PC politics of GW, pot, hate Bush and Iraq is the new Viet-Nam. In the end it all seems to boil down to politics. If someone disagrees with one's politics they are compartmentalized and WRONG on everything or at least 50% wrong. I reiterare, I don't start the political squabbling, I just retort with an opposing view, AND then get piled on as if I started it and began the name calling--quite Kafka-esque if anyone still reads Kafka. For people who clain to have open minds and into the diversity thing, it's quite amazing how narrow the band-width is in that department. Around the rest of the world people sit around on street corners and coffee house discussing divergent politcal views without walking out.
I just have differnet views on politics than a few on the board but shared by half the rest of the country, mainly the half that feeds, clothes and houses the ivory tower and the paper pushers, but aren't out there demonstrating because they are too busy having a life and working, to walk a picket line and man the barricades.
Since we are on to politics again, may I point out that Germany and France have had recent elections, voting in moderates as a reaction to the previous governments anti-USA stands and violent unrest in their streets.
I will admit to, pretending I was wrong, ONCE, but, I lied about it. It was to DrZiggles, about Alzheimers. I don't think he likes me either, because he perfunctorily disagreed with me on my view that Alzheimer's or what is thought to be it, is often a TMS affective equivalent. I didn't want to piss off the occasional professional that drops in on the board from time to time, so I thanked him for correcting me. I give docs some leeway on the tennis courts in THEIR bad calls because, if I keel over they can save my life. But trust me, docs make plenty of bad calls on the courts too. I've played against psychiatrists that cheat like hell. We all put on our pants or tennis shorts one leg at a time.
So the question is, is the board being influenced by an over-lay of the rules of the AA program? Anyone out there who knows please answer. Am I, and possibly others, who may have been chasesd away by the predominately liberal politics of this board, allowed to have a say on TMS issues here? Should the board be divided into separate forums based upon political party affilitation, so the politics can be kept out? If so, should it be organized by Dems, Repubs, Liberts, Greens--or a hundred or so different forums like the Italian system?
Lastly, I don't feel I am wrong 50% of the time, that would be an F and I got mostly A's and B+'s in school and hope that I've gotten smarter in life and not dumber. I give myself a 98% in all due modesty.
Sorry to be have jumped around so much in this post but just want to get it out and get on with my day and have some fun.
Cheers,
tt
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 09:02:08
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quote:
Originally posted by alexis
quote:
Originally posted by tennis tom
Your burying your hate-Tom diatribe deep in the bowels of your bio, is a good example of your cut and run character and inability to face life's problems head-on.
Dude, this stuff is only "buried" if you're too lazy to read people's bios before responding. I read everyone's bio, so I rather expect others to do the same. Trust me, plenty of people have read this already and I didn't have any feedback disagreeing until now. It wasn't buried, and I just figured you were ignoring it and me like I ignore you. That seems fair.
I don't read every one of your post that follow mine and I when I do I sure as heck don't plan on repeating the same answers to the same random comments over and over. Putting the answer in one place is just efficiency since you almost never say anything new.
Maybe if I do bother to read your bizarre criticisms again I'll just paste a link back to this thread as an explanation instead. But I'm not going to answer the same baseless accusations and irrelevant questions over and over again into eternity.
Hi Dudette,
I'm pleased we are interacting face to face once again. I'm NOT too lazy to read your bio, I look at all new poster's bios and occassionaly a refresher scan. That's how I found your epistle to me-- duh!
Most people write very little info in their bios making them virtually useless. Do you read everyone's bio before each and every time you make a new post?
I think that you are mistaken about what you think is the purpose for the Member Bio--and maybe on a few other facts of life also!
You are the rarity who uses their to write volumes. When I discovered your epislte, I felt it deserved the light of day and not to be hidden away. You obviously put much thought and effort into your dislike for me and I thought it deserved to be viewed by all. I felt it deserved to be out of the closest.
Let me give you a guiding hand in your future journaling about me--not EVERYTHING I say is to be taken seriously.
Best Wishes,
tt
Some of my favorite excerpts from " THE DIVIDED MIND " :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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Edited by - tennis tom on 05/19/2007 09:07:29 |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 09:10:41
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quote:
Originally posted by shawnsmith
I think Alexis and Tom should pair up, they are obviously right for one another.
*******
Sarno-ize it!
Sure Shawn, if she's cute, but don't tell my girlfriend.
Some of my favorite excerpts from " THE DIVIDED MIND " :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 09:13:07
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quote:
Originally posted by kilton
Well so much for your streak of not responding to Tom's posts since mid-February. Time to update that sentence in your Bio.
I ask that this thread be locked or deleted. And here's a book recommendation for you two: Emotional Intelligence, by Daniel Goleman.
Come on Kilton, it's been a long hard week and we deserve to have some R & R.
Some of my favorite excerpts from " THE DIVIDED MIND " :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 09:45:24
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quote:
I don't know, but I'm sensing that 50% of Art's irritation with me is that I won't drop-down and admit to some character flaws that I am not guilty of, in my NOT so humble opinion.
It's interesting as well that as far as I can recall, you've not even once asked for any sort of assistance. One might safely infer that a person fitting this description might well be, in the psychoanalytic vernacular, "highly defended."
In the grand scheme of human foibles, being highly defended is not the worst thing in the world, but it is unhealthy. Highly defended people are prone to anger and depression and general unhappiness. By definition, they have a big problem with intimacy as well...
Food for thought TT...Food for thought..
Hey, don't get mad at me...I'm just throwing this out there
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Edited by - art on 05/19/2007 09:49:37 |
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shawnsmith
Czech Republic
2048 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 09:52:22
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I at times am resistant to asking for assistance on the board as I have dispenced a lot of advice and any requests for assistance demonstrates a show of weakness on my part - that somehow I don't have a proper grasp of the TMS concepts. I want to project an image of intelligance and competance and I am resistant to showing any signs of weakness in public. In essence, I want to the the expert, the guru, the one who people come to, and not the other way around. My rant thread, however, is a exception to that rule. This is a demonstration, as far as I can see, of low self esteem as well as lingering doubts which I don't like to admit to. But the recognition, I hope, will unmask some of the strange behaviours I partake in which, I feel, act as a form of self defence.
*******
Sarno-ize it!
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 11:23:03
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quote:
Originally posted by art
quote:
I don't know, but I'm sensing that 50% of Art's irritation with me is that I won't drop-down and admit to some character flaws that I am not guilty of, in my NOT so humble opinion.
It's interesting as well that as far as I can recall, you've not even once asked for any sort of assistance. One might safely infer that a person fitting this description might well be, in the psychoanalytic vernacular, "highly defended."
In the grand scheme of human foibles, being highly defended is not the worst thing in the world, but it is unhealthy. Highly defended people are prone to anger and depression and general unhappiness. By definition, they have a big problem with intimacy as well...
Food for thought TT...Food for thought..
Hey, don't get mad at me...I'm just throwing this out there
Hi Art,
Why would I get mad? Disagreement is NOT the same as being mad--it's just a different point of view.
You're point is well taken, I haven't asked for TMS help here. That's not what I'm here for. I'm just interested in the topic of TMS and the board has become part of my homeostasis and increasingly of decreasing value to me, a habit to break, (hold the loud cheering, please, I'll leave on my time-table and my terms). Maybe posting on this board is my TMS/ocd symptom--I am in good company with Howard Stern on that one, my hero.
I don't have a TMS symptom, (that I'm aware of), at the moment. Long ago I thought my hip may be TMS--but now it is what it is. I have learned to recognize and de-fuse many TMS twinges and attacks in their tracks. TMS "knowledge penicilin is part of my medicine cabinet along with Band-Aids, RICE and a styptic pencil.
One is always subsceptible to a TMS attack. To proclaim oneself CURED of TMS would display a great hubris and a profound mis-understanding of the Good Doctor's theory.
But, if I had a serious TMS attack, like my "significant depression" of a year or so ago, I wouldn't ask for help here. I would do what I do when anything else in my life needs fixing; be it my truck, lamp, toilet, legal or medical matters, I would fix it myself or if I couldn't or din't want to use my time, I would seek out the best professional I could afford, someone knows what they are talking about and let them do it.
It takes about six months for a therapist to get enough info on a client to get a handle on the depth of their life situation. Art, you have not walked in my shoes and know darn little about me outside this board. I'm sorry to have to resort to my ususal rejoinder to your arm-chair psycho-analysis of me again, but, maybe you should be pondering if YOU are projecting your life onto mine?
I have seen several TMS therapists and been mutually judged "TMS sane", happy and productive. I have even been DX'ed by a Balinese healer to be the picture of health with "no hang ups". I seldom see doctors, but when I do, my lab-tests come back healthy and I walk-out of the office feeling better than when I walked in.
So Art, what's your problem with me, accept that I won't cop to a basket of problems I don't have and we disagree on politics? Shawn and I vehemently disagree on politics but I don't discredit his knowledge when it comes to TMS accuracy. Your insinuations of me dicredit my character and are not aimed at just my social/political views. I don't have any problem accepting that people can have differing views then mine and we can co-exist without my forcing them to change their character. Vive le Difference!
Is it possible for you to conceptualize that I, or anyone else on this planet, may be relatively happy, productive and leading a rich life and not harboring some dark Jekyl/Hyde underside needing constant scrutiny and picking at like scab?
Best Wishes,
tt
Some of my favorite excerpts from " THE DIVIDED MIND " :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 11:28:42
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quote:
Originally posted by shawnsmith
I at times am resistant to asking for assistance on the board as I have dispenced a lot of advice and any requests for assistance demonstrates a show of weakness on my part - that somehow I don't have a proper grasp of the TMS concepts. I want to project an image of intelligance and competance and I am resistant to showing any signs of weakness in public. In essence, I want to the the expert, the guru, the one who people come to, and not the other way around. My rant thread, however, is a exception to that rule. This is a demonstration, as far as I can see, of low self esteem as well as lingering doubts which I don't like to admit to. But the recognition, I hope, will unmask some of the strange behaviours I partake in which, I feel, act as a form of self defence.
*******
Sarno-ize it!
Shawn, you are doing a brave and probably worthwhile thing; I promise not to use it against you. Keep up the good work!
Good Luck,
tt
Some of my favorite excerpts from " THE DIVIDED MIND " :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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Hi Alexis
