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To: C.N.S. who wrote (28572)	11/17/1997 1:55:00 PM
From: Tom Trader	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 58727

Hi Shivu--good to hear from you >>At the risk of alienating myself from the regulars on this thread You need have no fear of that, Shivu >>What I find disturing is all this use of strong words like cult and leader and the implication of sinister motives ?? Tom, are you sure that you actually believe that there is something sinister ? There is a big difference between a cult and a group of people one doesn't wish to associate with ?<< I think that what I said was that there was cult-like behaviour -- I was not suggesting that the ideas thread was a cult. I explained to Harry Lew in my post to him what my basis was for suggesting this. You will notice that a number of regulars will not take issue with Iqbal about anything--there is almost blind acceptance of what he says. And anyone who challenges his point of view is regarded as a threat to him and the thread--it is even suggested that there is a conspiracy to destroy Iqbal and the thread. I really believe that the anger and attacks against me had more to do with the fact that I chose to take issue with Iqbal on several market opinions that he expressed. Now compare the ideas thread to this thread--there is a lot of give and take, differing view-points, disagreements that are surfaced in a friendly manner, no real "leader" per se--Kevin started the thread but I don't think that he is viewed as the all-knowing leader--sorry Kevin:) Once in while there is acrimony--but that invariably blows away in short order. I don't believe ANYONE has ever been driven away from this thread unless they become thoroughly obnoxious in terms of language as opposed to the view-point expressed. Leadership, in any arena has its risks--one of the greatest risks is to end up having a bunch of admirers, sychophants and hangers-on--and those who disagree are marginalized. There was a famous leader--now deceased--of a country, who by virtue of circumstances and his own merit and personality became the undisputed leader of his country/political party--with no opponents to talk of. And as is wont to happen in such situations, he achieved a following of admirers, hangers-on, yes-men and people who never ever criticised him--and his power and authority grew and he became more unchallenged than ever. This man was an intellectual and he had a certain level of discomfort with his undisputed status as the leader of his country--and the absence of criticism. One day a lengthy letter was published in a national newspaper of his country questioning the unbridled power this leader had and suggesting that this was the environment that could create a dictator and a despot. When this letter was published there was a storm of criticism against the author of the letter, he was attacked mercilessly and his motives were questioned--as was the fact that the author used a pseudonym. Years later, the author of this letter was identified -- it was the leader who had written about himself!! Do you know who that leader was Shivu?? My regards to you