Many people are sharing their memories tonight of Neo, not only on line, but even in their own homes. They are remembering how very educated and articulate he was, what a voice of reason in a chorus of chaotic thought. But the loss to SI is much greater than just his voice of erudition.
Neo once told me during a rough SI patch that he stayed because he felt he had something to contribute here. though he often got discouraged. I think he meant politically and philosophically, but for me Neo had something more important to contribute.
Neo was a nice man. And I say that knowing that it is a wimpy, abused word but believing that it is a quality we need much more of at SI and in 3D. He treated everyone, friend or foe, with much the same courtesy. He was seldom reduced to anger and namecalling or ugliness. He saw himself as a gentleman, and his actions were reflections of his self-perception. He was governed by his own internal belief about himself and what was right and proper. He didn't gauge his response by the nastiness of what was aimed at him, but by what he knew was the right and true heart of Neo.
Several people have commented on his last post; it seems so ironic, but it was typical Neo. He always excused himself when he left the party at the end of a day, so that he didn't insult someone by walking out in the middle of an exchange. He told us to take care, and I think that was because Neo did care.
Neo saw his posts as reflections of who he was and he tried hard to stay true to himself even when he was attacked or maligned or ridiculed. I admire him tremendously for that.
That is the true loss to SI. Not his informed voice or his encompassing classical knowledge, which were impressive, but his strength in not becoming part of the ugliness of SI. Not that he was a saint, no, he certainly had moments of lost temper or snideness. But these are so few that it's their very small number that makes them stand out.
He wrote a poem to Edwarda once, and I hope he will not mind my posting it now with one alteration:
Neo, so soon to leave, was there a hurry?
did you decide to make arrangements in advance,
so that someday, when all are gathered,
you would be host of an elegant soiree,
and we would marvel at the table you had set,
and we would eat and drink and talk awhile together,
late into night,
as the fire burns low
and we move closer
to keep
warm.......
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