MARY, on 19 March 1998 you wrote in Serendip,

I have just discovered Serendip Forum. My next move was to discover what if any space there might be for my particular bent.

Mary, welcome to Serendip. I am the self appointed host, a veteran Serendipian, by tacit approval from Prof. Paul Grobstein (Paul), the creator and supreme chief. Please read his guidelines. Now I have my own say: We are a select club, accepting only those who are interested in joining. You automatically join by posting just once --ergo, welcome to the club! Kibitzers are also accepted.

The categories of participation in Serendip, as far as I can discover, are either through following the data available,...

Actually, according to Paul's uncomplicated rules, or, if you don't mind, my own, which are there somewhere. Mainly, unambiguous economic language, avoiding the word 'metaphysics'.

...OR through establishing one's own line of musings via its forums,...

Better than musings, their edited results, once approved by self critique.

...which have no possible discernable consequences in the world of societal decision-making ...

No such pretenses here. Our society is modest in its designs. Of course, if you play bridge, you know that the 'Acol' system started in a London club and that by now it is the preferred one in the world...

...thereby relegates them to a chat category, the value of which is largely entertainment or argumentation to no real purpose!

Would you care to write again, after perusing the material available in the forums, please?

At 78, I've become increasingly intolerant of this way of filling one's remaining years.

Till 120, I wish you!

I have a friend who travels the world warning that our children are already lost to us and that, barring major changes in society's ways of destroying their minds and spirits, the human race is destined for very bad times indeed.

I tend to agree with him. I am doing my best to prevent that catastrophe, without becoming gloomy, but rather enjoying life.

Cousteau has told us that we have… ( few)… years before irreversible changes in the earth's biological makeup begin to occur.

This means that we should do our best to get the best of those scant years…

Why are we wasting our lives engaging in such narcissistic chit-chat which has NO RELEVANCE to the real world?

YOU answer that! I do not feel part of that "our lives."

… if you feel like challenging …(me),...

About what?

... I won't engage in argument for its own sake… Argumentation may temporarily relieve… (one's)… sense of futility… can become counter-productive as a draining off of the life energy it takes to begin to institute change.

Well, I'm glad you have finally reached such a far-reaching conclusion! Now you are ready to provide us with the mature fruits of your life experience… And now, Mary, it is my turn to tell you my own philosophical story, heard from my wise brother: An octogenarian was asked what the secret for his young fresh looks was. He answered that he avoided argumentation.
"I cannot believe that; you must be wrong!" was the retort.
He said, "Perhaps…"