Masters Course Experience - Part II of III
Eldonbraun
by V_____________
PART TWO
I started reviewing the Masters course as it had proceeded so far.
Where had the problem really started? I wondered. Why had Avra taken
notice of me at all? I looked to the events of the days before to see
if perhaps there might be an answer. A few things of note had happened
then. This is what I came up with:
1. I had enjoyed an interesting person-to-person chat with Harry the
day before, during which I did observe that Avra looked annoyed at how
well Harry and I were getting on. Or was Harry supposed to be doing
something else? Did Harry not take out the trash that morning? I don't
know. Who can guess what the little resentments might be in a marriage?
But I had taken note of it at the time and then sort of forgotten about
it. As a course student, I was sure that was "behind the scenes" stuff
I shouldn't need to bother with. So surely that could not be the source
of the problem.
Wasn't I the picture of the perfect little follower? I was so honored
to have been spoken to at all by the great Master! I was very impressed
with Harry; he has an amazing amount of charisma, and appeared to be
quite serene. But then, of course he would be. He was rarely around,
only dropping in occasionally to give an impromptu talk to great
accolades. It wasn't as if he had to put in all the day-to-day work
with so many students, which I am sure was exhausting for the
instructors. Work is work, after all, and Harry didn't appear to have
to do any of it! I only assumed he must be in his Ivory tower
"researching" new materials.
It isn't difficult to admire someone who has come up with a course as
powerful as Avatar. The actual course materials are worthwhile, and my
original Avatar course was one of the most incredible experiences I had
ever had. See how easy it would have been for Stars Edge to keep me
around? But that's another issue, I suppose. Maybe a lot of us were
disposable, what with so many people running through the course back
then, I don't know how it is today.
2. Did the problem stem from the fact that I did not want to "dance"
the previous night? I didn't realize that we were pretty much required
to completely kiss up to Avra's whims, and since the course work was
over for the day, I had wanted to retire to my room. So I quietly left
the room where Avra's dance was taking place that night. I had stayed
for the dancing the first couple of nights, but it sort of played out
like the Avra show. There was lots of physical intimacy and hugs all
round, which is fine, but not normally my style. That's not to
mention that I'd been grabbed both nights by the same guy who seemed to
have rather amorous intentions toward me. I was not comfortable with
that, and hoped to avoid a repeat. This certainly didn't seem to have
anything to do with just getting the course done and being able to
effectively deliver Avatar to potential students. I was under the
impression that opting out of the dancing might be okay. Maybe I was
wrong about that.
3. Was it the fact that I was sitting with B. (another student) the day
before when Harry dropped in for a visit with the class? Harry gave a
speech about geese and honking, then asked the class to honk. B. raised
his hand (being a typical New Yorker) and had a little chat with Harry
in front of everyone about how stupid it was. He didn't have any
particularly intelligent or antagonistic argument; he just said he
thought it was stupid, and everyone sitting in the classroom honking
sounded ridiculous to him. Then he asked what it really had to do with
anything, and what happened if you didn't want to honk? The room went
solid. Harry didn't say much, something about how you didn't need to
think honking was anything brilliant, and his entire point was about
people showing support. Then Harry started up another honking session
twice as loud as the previous one.
Ah, it's true that was the beginning of the end for B. (maybe me too!).
The next day, B. was taken off the course for all intents and purposes,
and spent the rest of his days there doing "Feel Its" with his hands.
Very strange. I do remember Harry and B. having some private
conversations later. Harry must have taken some sort of interest in
him. B. seemed to take the situation in stride. He'd never intended to
deliver the course anyway, so maybe he saw the trip to Orlando as a bit
of a vacation.
Avra pretty much treated B like a puppy, and seemed to find him
amusing. Well, at least she was nice to him. I guess that's the best he
could hope for. B. and I stayed in touch after he'd gone back to New
York and I back to Los Angeles. Shortly after he got back, he became
extremely ill. He had a very aggressive form of cancer. The last time I
talked to him, he was in the hospital. We'd been e-mailing for a
while. I don't know what happened, but at some point I never got
another e-mail from him. Hey B., you know who you are. If you're
reading this, get in touch. I'd like to know if you are still with us.
But I digress....
So I walked around the lake, sweating and fretting. The stuck identity
problem really freaked me out, as I just didn't get what Avra had been
talking about. I felt I was doing well on the course in terms of
"duplicating" the technology of Avatar, and I was dead serious about
getting my license so I could deliver it. I am a fairly confident
person, and the fact that I'd paid two thousand for the initial course
and three thousand more for Masters was certainly proof enough that I
had a plan I intended to see through. I wanted to make a living at
delivering what I considered a wonderful service.
But instead I found myself being told I had an identity problem and
being harassed by Avra. I was extremely worried about this. It didn't
take a rocket scientist at this point to figure out that Avra had the
leverage. How my future plans were going to play out, whether I was
"source" or not, depended on her willingness to pass me on the course,
and perhaps my ability to assuage her in some way.
So, after a couple of hours, I went back and reported to Avra. Trying
to put on my best shiny face, I told her I thought I "got it." I
made up some story about feeling a lot better now and realizing that I
was really "asserting" that issue about the check sheet. I said I saw
how that was just an identity playing out, and now I felt like I was
really in present time and willing to experience the course however she
saw fit. Did she want me to redo my checklist for the day, or how
should I proceed?
She seemed pleased enough with that, and told me I only needed to redo
the last half if the items I hadn't had checked off. How nice of her!
And how totally arbitrary, I might add. But do you think I was stupid
enough to argue the point? No way! I went back to my studies and tried
to proceed, only to have Susan start checking in with me every 20
minutes or so.
Uh oh! There was that creepy feeling again. Maybe Susan was stepping in
for Avra. Perhaps Avra had other students to annoy. I mean, one can
only "monitor" so much at one time. Susan was also syrupy sweet. Now, I
realize this may sound a little strange, but she seemed to delight in
getting as physically close to me as possible, whenever she could.
Usually she'd walk up while I was sitting down doing drills with other
students. She would just stand there as close as she could get without
sitting on my lap. I just found it strange. One day I when was working
with my roommate, she even commented on it. I told her I really had no
idea at this point what was going on. I asked her if she'd had any
trouble. She said no, she just pretended she understood everything and
made sure to laugh and smile a lot.
After working with her for a while, it was obvious that she wasn't
getting the course. But hey, I didn't take that as my problem. I had
enough of those! As a side note, she ended up running a process on me
at the end of the course and completely botched it on all counts. She
graduated and was licensed. Oh, well. By the way A., if you are reading
this, thanks for finally sending back the watch you stole from me.
I'm still waiting for the cash you took from my night stand.
So, miracle of all miracles I made it through that day somehow. Avra
seemed to have mostly lost interest in me, and it appeared Susan would
be taking over for her, along with Kayt as a stand-in. You may ask,
what about the dancing? Oh, you bet I danced that night. Who needs
trouble for not dancing? I was in no position to argue, that was
certain. By this point, I mostly just felt disappointed. It was obvious
that I wouldn't be able to be honest about anything. I mean, you
wouldn't walk up to your boss at work and tell him you think his new
business plan is squirrelly and suppressive, and possibly designed to
cave people in. Even if it were true, you'd know you would be fired on
the spot. This was the position I found myself in with Avra. I was
pretty sure I was correct in my assumption. I guess I just wasn't used
to that sort of master-slave relationship, since I was nearly always
self-employed.
As soon as I got back to my room that night, I put a call in to my
masters back in Los Angeles. Possibly they could help me make some
sense out of this. When I finally got through to them, they said not to
worry because no "qualifications" existed for the Masters course.
Everyone graduated, and was sent out to attempt success at delivering
the course. My master told me that was a very natural way to determine
who was qualified and who wasn't. That answer seemed fine to me,
because I already had several students lined up for the course as soon
as I graduated.
Still, I felt so unnerved at Avra's antagonistic behavior. Just about
every time I looked up from my book or a drill, she'd be watching me.
It was uncanny to say the least. And now, Susan and Kayt seemed to be
getting in on the fun! Believe me, to this day I still have no idea
why I deserved all that "special" attention, but I am telling it just
as it happened. I talked to Miken about it; she said not to worry,
everything was fine. I talked to the male instructor, whose name I
can't remember. He assured me I was doing great.
Miken seemed to be far more even-tempered and sane than Kayt or Avra. I
worked with her when I could, but that wasn't often as I kept getting
sidetracked by Susan and Kayt. Even if I didn't need a checkout, Susan
would come round and tell me to come to her when I was ready. So that
put me in the position of not even being able to work with Miken or the
male instructor without potentially offending Susan. Giving it all the
benefit of a doubt, I hoped Susan was just trying to make sure I got
checkouts when I needed them. But in my mind, it really wasn't a big
deal. I just wanted to be able to move forward, that was all.
Meanwhile, I noticed several other students I teamed up with were still
doing several drills and then having them all checked off at once.
Weird, I thought.
END PART TWO
Senin
The whole structure of the Masters' Course sounds like on hell of a a
creation.
What kind of creation do ya think Avra is in?
see...@alexandria.cc
which your tale literally drips with, are anti-social characteristics.
I'm glad Avra caught your dishonesty.
Basher: a person who, with or without justification, blames and desires
to hurt others. (This is the point of your story, right?)
c/s: When you come to your senses, cycle between the Integrity and
Forgiveness Option mini-courses until you feel personally responsible
for your actions and no longer have any desire to blame, humiliate, or
hurt others. http://avatarepc.com/html/mini-eng.html
Alrick
Seeker-free?
Go 'seek' somewhere else.
Eldonbraun
demonstration of you-know-what. (I think he doesn't quite get it. They
have blind spots, you know.)
Gavin...@gmail.com
which your tale literally drips with, are anti-social characteristics.
I'm glad Avra caught your dishonesty.
>>>Just curious, is Stars Edge going to start issuing SP (suppressive person) orders just like the church of Scientology? Ron Hubbard has already listed in detail the characteristic of the so called "anti-social" personality. Maybe Harry has re-written (paraphrased) these for Stars Edge.
It looks to me from reading this story that the real nail in the coffin
for this potential master was, in actuality, her unwillingness to
manipulate and decieve. It's become common knowledge that calling Avra
on her BS, errr I mean "honesty" gets you nowhere on the Masters
course. And exactly who was really dishonest? This student paid the
money and did the course work, and got nothing from SA in return.
c/s: When you come to your senses, cycle between the Integrity and
Forgiveness Option mini-courses until you feel personally responsible
for your actions and no longer have any desire to blame, humiliate, or
hurt others
>>> c/s? Isn't this the term scientology uses for "case supervision"? So, this person first needs to "come to their senses" (I am assuming that means aligning to the Stars Edge party line.) And then cycle between these two courses mentioned above? Where do these courses sit on the Avatar bridge I wonder? Has Avatar become Scientology? After reading some of the wizard course material it's pretty obvious I guess. So far it reads like a $7,5000 student hat. If you ask me SA has a lot of nerve to whine about plagarism, they appear to be the experts on that one.I wonder how many hundreds of dollars this fine c/s would set this person back? What a joke. Didn't get what you came for out of our course? Well, the obvious solution is MORE COURSES. That's pretty smart business for as long as you could get away with it, but alas eventually ones luck runs out. Especially when these pesky non masters give HONEST accounts of what really happened. I think Harry would define that as exact time, place, form and event.I suppose if Stars Edge feels "blamed" humiliated" and "hurt" as stated above, that might really be their creation. Tell Avra I think she should take a nice long "Walk for Atonement" and Harry can tag along if he wants! When they are finished with this they could experience even greater relief from their humiliation and suffering by doing the right thing toward this person. Hmmmm? Sound like a plan there Harry? Remember, love precious humanity even if it costs you a few hundred bucks every now and then.
see...@alexandria.cc
Grab your copy of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, pg 701-702
"The essential feature of Antisocial Personality Disorder is a
pervasive pattern of disregard for, an violation of, the rights of
others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into
adulthood.
"This pattern has also been referred to as psychopathy, sociopathy, or
dyssocial personality disorder. Because deceit and manipulation are
central feautures of Antisocial Personality Disorder, ..."
Since the DSM is on the SE Trainer Course, I'll bet both Avra and Sue
knew what they were looking at.
Also this statement, It's become common knowledge that calling Avra
on her BS, errr I mean "honesty" gets you nowhere on the Masters
course." is false and probably libelous. Common knowledge to who? Eldon
Braun?
Gavin...@gmail.com
Scientology? Interesting.
Does this mean if you don't get what you came for out of a course the
cure is more courses? How many hundreds of dollars would this set this
person back I wonder? Good business technique there until it catches up
with you of course.
I suggest that if Stars Edge feels blame humiliation or hurt by the
truth (exact time, place, form and event) described in this story
perhaps a Walk for Atonement is in order?
Remember: "Love Precious Humanity" even if it sets you back a few
dollars.
I find it odd that only half of my previous post went through, very
strange. Anyone else having this problem?
Eldonbraun
me with the ones that didn't show up, I'll be glad to post them with
attribution. They must say something someone would rather not have
exposed to the general public. That's a losing battle, of course.
Gavin...@gmail.com
on her BS, errr I mean "honesty" gets you nowhere on the Masters
course." is false and probably libelous. Common knowledge to who?"
You aren't aware that students are routinely warned about Avra before
they take the masters course?
Well, they are.
I don't see anything in this story that displays a diregard for the
rights of others. It looks to me she attempted to stand up for her own
rights. But then, that's considered suppressive. This isn't how it
works in the "real" world. I guess that's the first thing you lose
touch with when you become involved in a cult though.
Maybe if Harry actually was a psychologist as he claims to be his DSM
gobbledegook would be more accurate. So are the trainers essentially
trained to view students as Antisocial Personalities? Say it ain't so!
They pay your bills.
Eldonbraun
> "Also this statement, It's become common knowledge that calling Avra
> on her BS, errr I mean "honesty" gets you nowhere on the Masters
> course." is false and probably libelous. Common knowledge to who?"
>
> You aren't aware that students are routinely warned about Avra before
> they take the masters course?
> Well, they are.
lookout for any sign of disobedience, so be sure to kow-tow to Mistress
Avra. That's about how it goes. It's well known, but maybe it hasn't
drifted back to Hari yet. Or if it did, he just growled and lifted a
few licenses.
He's such an Alpha type, you know. He even dominates Mistress Avra, and
that must take some doing. Sort of like the Story of O. Ever read that
novel or see the movie?
LightLink Joe
<see...@alexandria.cc> wrote:
> Also this statement, It's become common knowledge that calling Avra
> on her BS, errr I mean "honesty" gets you nowhere on the Masters
> course." is false and probably libelous.
Seeker, you are neck deep in denial.
On the first day of my Masters in 1993, virtually every student was
talking about how you had to stay on Avra's good side in order to get
licensed. That meant no arguing with her, no confrontations. There
were plenty of horror stories about her vindictive behavior and people
getting thrown off the course based solely on her whims.
To label the comment about Avra "false and probably libelous" makes me
question whether you've ever done the Masters course. Have you?
waynemcmahon
can tell you from experience that it stings. It stung a little even
though I knew I hadn't finished the course; that the most important new
skill on the course looked, on me, like a flickering candle in a
hurricane; and that my delivery was shaky and uncertain and not up to
the quality of delivery of a really qualified Avatar Master. It would
have been a disservice to cut me loose on paying public.
I didn't need an Avra to tell me that: I was aware of it when I
presented myself at the table to find out how others graded my
acheivement. I won't pretend I wasn't hoping I'd phoney my way through,
though. I've got as big an ego as anybody else and maybe then some.
A bit of self-honesty helps avoid embarrassing displays of pretended
betrayal and disappointment.
If you guys can't see the self-righteous and ass-covering justifications
in that 3 part slice-and-dice Eldon-"edited" post, then I can only pray
none of you EVER get a license without a LOT of further work.
Money is the LOWEST motivation for wanting to deliver Avatar. Sure, we
all need money to survive in this society, and if you don't have the
skills to make money delivering it, stay away from trying. If you're not
motivated by truly wanting to help others, and to contribute to a better
civilization, then take the course for personal-development, and leave
the delivering to those with a higher call.
Frankly, listening to disappointed students whine about how much they
invested and how much they expected to reap, makes me sick. Yet those
with the highest calling seem to attract lots of students and live
pretty damned well in prosperity.
My gratitude and appreciation goes to those Masters who honestly and
completely made it through, and went on to deliver successfully.
And my MOST sincere gratitude goes to Avra, who won't take the easy
course and let an incomplete and non-competent Master out the door.
I'm surprised that Eldon, who has complained loudly about the poor
quality of Masters, isn't joyful that the standard today is much higher
than when he squeezed through.
It ain't easy, kids, or without honest and sincere effort. If it were,
you guys would be doing it. Me too, I guess.
----------------------------------------------------
Eldonbraun
> In article <1134574719.7...@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>,
> <see...@alexandria.cc> wrote:
>
> > Also this statement, It's become common knowledge that calling Avra
> > on her BS, errr I mean "honesty" gets you nowhere on the Masters
> > course." is false and probably libelous.
>
> Seeker, you are neck deep in denial.
>
> On the first day of my Masters in 1993, virtually every student was
> talking about how you had to stay on Avra's good side in order to get
> licensed. That meant no arguing with her, no confrontations. There
> were plenty of horror stories about her vindictive behavior and people
> getting thrown off the course based solely on her whims.
next Wizard course. Remember that last year, Hari dressed up in a
doctor suit, a military uniform, a monk costume, and I think western
minister or priest garb with a collar. Right?
So what might Avra wear for this year's show? Leather? Latex? Purple
lingerie? Maybe she and the girls can do some dungeon stuff with whips,
chains and so forth. Might was well be creative with the stagecraft;
the motif seems to be already well implanted.
waynemcmahon
Avra doesn't rip my arms and legs off for saying so.
But Avra has a pretty good sense of humor. (I hope!)
Guys, I REALLY like Avra. Although I've never seen her "rip someone's
face off" as I've heard it claimed here, I'm pretty sure all 100 pounds
of her could do it to any of you self-righteous morons. And do it with a
raised eyebrow.
How about a few stripes on your back at a thousand paces, huh? Why don't
we make it fair and she'll count to a thousand while you make a run for
it, and she'll roll her eyes to destroy you.
I'm qualified to work with guy's that have arms as big as my legs, guys
that been lifting weights for years in prison, and I'm a lot less
intimidated by them as I am of Avra. She has incredibly high altitude:
ethically, in knowledge and experience and practice, and in the decency
of her heart.
She has a wonderfully soft presence. And even on a slow day, I suspect
she brings happiness and newly-discovered peace to more people than you
guys will in a lifetime, or ever dream of doing.
She's perfectly capable of handling, with impeccable grace, a room with
a couple of thousand people, many of whom are exploring their deepest
and most detested emotions and beliefs.
You'd better hope Avra never notices you guys: I'm terrified just
thinking about, and all I'm worried about is the spatter.
Think it over while you're quakeing in your boots, and pass the word: if
you're a jerk she'll ................ (fill in your favorite fear.)
Meanwhile, I plain like Avra and I'm grateful for the good work she's
done for decades, and for all the good souls who are happier, healthier,
and better people because of her. Including me.
---------------------------------------------------
Gavin...@gmail.com
thinking about, and all I'm worried about is the spatter.
Think it over while you're quakeing in your boots, and pass the word:
if
you're a jerk she'll ................
Yeah, sounds like a real siant doesn't she? I know you think you stand
in favour of SA Wayne, but be careful you might fall prey to some kind
of Tom Cruise syndrome.
So, in actuality you're saying we should be afraid of Avra? Why? Has
she physically harmed students also?
waynemcmahon
windows and chasing them to jump up-and-down on them.
Actually, she IS a real Saint. Saint Avra!
Guys, I'm sorry if life has given you so much pain. I feel your pain. It
slices-and-dices my little burnrd-out cinder of a heart.
I stay up nights thinking about how much you've suffered, and how much
more suffering you'll suffer because you're so goddamned comfortable
with it.
Get comfortable. It'll all be over soon.
Tom Cruise? Yeah, he's suffering. I'm suffering. We're all suffering.
Moo goo gai pan.
------------------------------------------------
Gavin...@gmail.com
see...@alexandria.cc wrote:
> Actually Gavin, that has nothing to do with Scientology.
>
> Grab your copy of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
> Disorders, pg 701-702
>
Gavin...@gmail.com
I tend to agree with that. I wonder why I was so heavily chided for
suggesting that I would like to deliver Avatar for free to those who
didn't have $2,000. In my opinion if you don't have two grand that
shouldn't automatically disqualify you from recieving Avatar. I was
told if I gave the course for free the student wouldn't have any gains.
I simply see no basis in reality for that claim. Then I was told I
could deliver Avatar to "family" for free as long as I gave Stars Edge
their cut. When I mentioned that I really wanted to give it to my best
friend of twenty years I was told that wasn't allowed because she
wasn't family. However some clear policies in writing would have been a
lot of help.
So with money being such a low form of motivation and SE being such an
enlightened organisation can you tell me where I can sign up for free
courses with them?
Barbara
<waynem...@cox.net> wrote:
> If I listened to you jokers, I'd think she was throwing bodies threw the
> windows and chasing them to jump up-and-down on them.
>
> Actually, she IS a real Saint. Saint Avra!
I love it. I can just see you swinging in your hammock, the
self-satisfied grin of the cult sychophant beaming on your face.
It's nice being the unofficial cult apologist, isn't it?
Whatever the subject, you have a great story. Whatever the debate,
you're on the righteous side. You have been a beacon for anyone
looking to see how enlightenment manifests itself in a human being.
Your kind, thoughtful, even-tempered posts are an example to everyone.
Merry Christmas, Wayne. I hope you get that solar system someday.
Barbara
<bpja...@rushpost.com> wrote:
> I love it. I can just see you swinging in your hammock, the
> self-satisfied grin of the cult sychophant beaming on your face.
Whoops! Make that "sycophant". ;-)
Eldonbraun
> Money is the LOWEST motivation for wanting to deliver Avatar.
>
> I tend to agree with that. I wonder why I was so heavily chided for
> suggesting that I would like to deliver Avatar for free to those who
> didn't have $2,000. In my opinion if you don't have two grand that
> shouldn't automatically disqualify you from recieving Avatar. I was
> told if I gave the course for free the student wouldn't have any gains.
> I simply see no basis in reality for that claim. Then I was told I
> could deliver Avatar to "family" for free as long as I gave Stars Edge
> their cut. When I mentioned that I really wanted to give it to my best
> friend of twenty years I was told that wasn't allowed because she
> wasn't family. However some clear policies in writing would have been a
> lot of help.
[Avatar Masters] can charge whatever they want." House monkey Penny
Phillips later explained why: "Price fixing is illegal." This refers to
federal and state antitrust laws (sometimes called "competition laws"
in other countries). Star's Edge is prohibited by law from telling
licensees what to charge or coersion that amounts to vertical price
fixing -- in just about every jurisdition on the planet. Furthermore,
Avatar Masters are forbidden to conspire to maintain a set price
(horizontal price fixing). I suppose Star's Edge can set the royalty
per course at a percentage of the "recommended price." But I'm not sure
about the sliding scale royalties that decrease from 25% to 20% to 15%
based on the total number of deliveries. That would require a legal
opinion, I guess.
Naturally, Star's Edge can charge whatever it wants for the courses it
teaches. But it CANNOT fix the price of the basic Avatar course. Also,
I wonder if students going onto the Master course are told that Star's
Edge pays a $300 "commission" per head to Avatar Masters who sell their
students on taking the Master course. Seems like that should be
disclosed.
Now once again, where are those written policies and full disclosures
about the Master course licensing and internship requirements, and the
disclosures regarding the potential business opportunities of becoming
an Avatar Master? Has the Senior Avatar Council convened a meeting yet?
waynemcmahon
friends and family, and I understand you desire to do so: you want them
to also have the good results you enjoy.
I've had the same impulse. But it isn't the ideal scene and in fact is
far from that.
People just don't treat things they get for free the same way they do if
they have to put out effort to get them. It seems to me the ideal
student would be one who really wants the course in order to improve his
own life and the lives of those around him. It would be a lot different
if you were telling them "you've got to take this course which I'll do
for you for free because it's the greatest course ever invented to
create Enlightenment."
If they didn't jump out the window to get away from you, it would only
be because they hold you in highest regard and have exceptional patience.
The ideal student DESIRES to change conditions in their life, and wants
to become the person they want to be.
I have several kids who had done Resurfacing a couple of years ago. Now
two of them want Avatar, because they've ripened to the idea, know the
exercises create results, and they realise they could have a better
experience of life with better tools. I know they'll get a better result
now than they would have several years ago when I first had the impulse
to deliver for free to everyone I know.
As to your idea that there's nothing to the claim that people won't get
complete gains if they don't pay for the course, consider this. Imagine
you showed up at a party where everyone is exchanging gifts and giving
you gifts, but you had brought nothing to the party. Would you feel
out-exchange? Would it be an unpleasant experience? Embarrassing or
humiliating? Why do this to a friend?
How about if everyone was giving each other brand new cars but you had
brought cheese dip?
I believe it's fair to say that Avatar, properly delivered, is a jewel
of immense value. It makes it a good exchange to put a fair price on
it, and improves the result.
Anyway, that's my thoughts.
What do you think?
--------------------------------------------