(Treebeard demonstrates the optimum communication skills needed for the Conference by answering a question on plants from an earlier time in a very detailed manner. He also uses questioning as an example of how much of an answer is needed than the short versions usually offered.) 

---

Russ: greetings.

Treebeard: hello. We talk?

Russ: uh-huh.

Treebeard: okay. You prepared?

Russ: yes.

Treebeard: okay. Hmm, first I will say hmm, am focused.

Russ: excellent, it’s good to see you, it’s been a long time.

Treebeard: hmm, by your counting or mine?

Russ: my counting.

Treebeard: hmm. Okay, I start by saying it is honor being here?

Russ: it’s an honor to have you here.

Treebeard: thank you. I endeavor to act with one appearing of age beyond rejuvenation? We talk, act as two together?

Russ: uh-huh.

Treebeard: okay. Pulling on vast experience of long time, I think wise to pontificate my thought processes on subjects to be answered afterwards. Thoughts being of understanding and growing and time of being great length to grow to reach objective of learning and comprehension of important and weighted matters. With great life and understanding comes certain knowledge of patience to a point. Patience being prepared to sit down and listen and think and…..little word…dwell upon processes of comprehension and patience. Patience being important to learn. It is necessary to wait questions before giving answers. When talking in a manner of generalities, it is important to be general. If specified, then problems occur in not answering question. When given time to facilitate discussions, it is wise to weigh the answers and read all possible meanings which brings into play generalities when speaking. So by talking in a general way on the topic and not deviating is important for the coming processes which you will be able to participate and act as a facilitator for this process. It is from great learning and time that I think and weigh answers. In past I have been accused of not being focused on matters, this is far from truth. It is my processes of analyzing, thinking, weighing, speculating on possible replies that gives the appearance of not focused. In fact great focus is my problem, not lack thereof. So, when asking questions concerning botanical natures, I appear unfocused to outside, independent, unlearned observers but answer now given on how interaction of your species to animal forms and plant forms is given. Plants go through cycles like you do. Rhythmic cycles that are affected by your solar disk as you are. So plants track in their motions and always face towards your solar disk. This is part of their nature. Also, like you, you become less active as less of your solar disk is in your sky. And when it becomes of a lower ambient temperature they, like you, again become less active until they reach point of dormancy. Dormancy comes in two phases, normal cyclical dormancy on minimal scale, the rising and falling of the solar disk and on a larger annular cycle being the cycle of rotating away to your solar disk. Having studied over great time, I have noticed that in your summer you are further away from solar disk then in your winter but this is affecting the end cycle as the axis of your planet is tilted further away at a more acute angle then during your warm seasons. This answer is a reply and a demonstration on answering a general question. The question that was asked was, "how do plants go through their growth cycles?" That is a general statement, general being lack of specification on what species of plant. Are we discussing trees, bushes, shrubs or are we discussing annual plants that live their cycle from one year only and then return in seed form? So, my answer is also generalized. This is important for you with discussions that if you ask a general question you get a general answer even if it is not thought of as a general answer. It is necessary when facilitating in a discussion that you specify exactly what the question is. For example, how do you feel? That is a general question with many answers and meanings. For example, do you feel through the neurons within you, the nerves within your extremities or, do you feel as is stated on your planet with your mind meaning your emotional status or, how do you feel about something? How do you feel? That means many different things and the answers can be many and varied. If you take a specified question how do you feel through your fingers? That is a specified question. So it is important for these conferences and discussions to specify. Now, as I am stating I am focused, I have always been lucid. Now, ask your questions.

Russ: all right and that was quite informative actually. I do have some questions on those. First off, with the conferences coming up as you mentioned, the questions such as how do you feel when asked in such a general way is in another words we ask it as if it means nothing, it’s just something we say throwing it out let’s say, how do you feel? And it’s just a basic question. With the conferences, is it safer then to ask a more general or a more specific question?

Treebeard: it is best to start off with generalizing on questions. Later it is better to specify exactly what the questions are. In my quick thinking, it is necessary to say when you start off by generalizing, you will receive many different answers. This will tell you if the hosts are conscious or not conscious or if they are letting the participants speak unfiltered.

Russ: hmm.

Treebeard: in analyzing possible questions in a hasty manner, I see how you will be able to determine if the hosts are aware of what is going on or not aware. This will be evident from A, the quickness of the reply and B, the construction of the sentences that will be replied. For example, how do you feel? I will wager that 80% will say, "I feel well". That would tell me that they are either semi-conscious or conscious and are putting in their personalities. If the reply is as I would expect from the Zeta Reticuloids, "please specify question more accurately", you’ll be aware that an analytic consciousness is involved. And, in analyzing the question even on a non-deep processes of analyzing, you are aware that you are dealing with a different perspective and consciousness.

Russ: so in essence there will be also a couple ways that this could be answered. It seems to be as for example with you, a longer lifespan or a longer time lived brings out more patience as opposed to someone like ourselves who have a shorter lifespan, we lack more of the patience. So perhaps a older lived race might think a while before answering.

Treebeard: yes.

Russ: hmm, okay.

Treebeard: but that is just the start of a answer. A short word is never acceptable in giving a answer, there are no such things as a yes or a no answer if you think carefully. I have noticed and observed in your species that you are rapid in your replies and therefore do not analyze and do not speak either truthfully on your feelings or you say things that you regret later. If I was to ask you a question, for example, did you do well at your place of earning? Your answer would be….

Russ: yes indeed.

Treebeard: that is a short, quick-thought answer that says nothing. So by watching, thinking and analyzing your reply, you have a conversation that is informative and entertaining. Short answers having lived to the age that I am to me shows lack of, lack of......I am looking for a word that is not condescending......lack of comprehension. 

Russ: uh-huh. 

Treebeard: also it shows a hurried nature which at times can be appropriate but in a relaxed environment is unnecessary. I have also through many years of observation before I retired and watching certain individual areas on your planet, have observed that differences in speech and thought patterns and pride in abilities varies from location to location. I have noticed that countries connected with the Imperial Empire of Great Britain have the ability to hold intelligent, long discussions yet countries that are either of French tend to be short and abrupt and not think things through. Areas that have been on their own or independent for a while seem to have the ability to answer without thinking and therefore decrease their fluidity in communication and blur languages. Next statement please.

Russ: okay. With the United States being a ex-Imperial Great Britain colony, are we similar to them or are we somewhere between the independent or the French and Great Britain?

Treebeard: I would say that it would be necessary for you to take a lesson in your country’s history. Your area was never a part of the Imperial British Empire. 

Russ: hmm.

Treebeard: to those that believe that it was, I will state simply and basically, when your colonies were a part of the British Empire it was not a Empire, you understand?

Russ: uh-huh.

Treebeard: so that is part of the problem of understanding, it is important to have facts when you make questions. To answer your question, it is independent and therefore there is a lot of, again I hate to sound condescending but it is something I have observed and listened to from your news media's, your entertainment media’s and general observations, inane drivel is transmitted frequently in your discussions.

Russ: quite true.

Treebeard: I feel that that is a waste of communicative and intellectual abilities. It is sad and is beyond retrieval in the near future. I remember hearing a young gentleman say, "me doth think he does complain too much" and that in itself is what I see from your area of the planet.

Russ: hmm.

Treebeard: much is said but nothing is intelligible.

Russ: uh-huh. Now a lot of our ability to communicate is based of course on our third dimensional existence. With the addition of telepathy, is communication then becoming a more fluid form of discussion then or how does that compare?

Treebeard: despite popular thought processes happening, it increases the linguistic ability and necessity to specify. As you project a thought processes, it is necessary to be specific and eloquent in how you communicate your words. If you communicate poorly on a physical and telepathy level, it leads to all kinds of misunderstanding and lacking in comprehension. It is important to specify exactly what you say. In specifying, it makes it easier to know exactly what is said. More youthful individuals transmit feelings and emotions as well as statements, generalized statements. This blurs the lines between eloquent communication and communicating on a normal level. Specifying exactly what is said is important.

Russ: uh-huh. Okay, so with the key ingredients of these conferences all being based on a physical communication, then it's more important than ever to…

Treebeard: specify exactly.

Russ: right, because you don’t have things like telepathy and such to….

Treebeard: that is correct. It is important to, as I have stated and something that I dislike to do is repeat myself but I will, it is important to weigh the answers and the questions. In understanding of these discussions, a misplaced word can slow down or reverse the conference processes. So it is important to specify exactly and to answer after weighing each question. In weighing the questions, you can formulate a coherent and intelligent answer.

Russ: hmm.

Treebeard: last question......

Russ: okay….

Treebeard: please.

Russ: what about plants if I could? When they, plants as you mentioned work, we were discussing animals last week and on instinct. Are plants similar in their instinctual levels as far as their relating to the world around them?

Treebeard: hmm, this I cannot give you a direct answer. A, due to the vagueness of the question and also to my lack of knowing what was said last time that you communicated with us. I will state that I will dwell upon this and remind you that your time measurements are meaningless to me as I do not measure in your mode of measuring. I measure time in cycles and processes of the plants that I take care of and communicate with. It is part of the understanding that in these processes, that if I give a statement that is quickly answered, I give inaccurate answers on these passions that I have.

Russ: all right. I’ll see if I can reword the question though to a more definitive one.

Treebeard: okay, first I will make a deal with you.

Russ: okay.

Treebeard: if you ask a vaguely worded question, I will answer with one word, specify.

Russ: all right, fair deal.

Treebeard: okay, let us proceed. Reword the question in a way that is specified.

Russ: okay. Last week, Alana and myself discussed the instinctual communications that animals have and their abilities to be able to......the differences how they communicate or think. Some think and have an intellectual ability to understand the world around them and some react strictly by an instinctual level that is merely based on their emotions or fears or happiness. With plants, I have always wondered about their ability to understand the world around them and whether or not they have a sense of their surroundings and are able to form a…..

Treebeard: specify. I will change the rules slightly, you are generalizing with the term plants.

Russ: plants. Okay, daisies, I like daisies.

Treebeard: daisies are non-sentient and non-comprehensing.

Russ: ahh, okay.

Treebeard: however, one of the reasons I am here on Hades Base is a…..I think it is time that you know who I am related to. My great, great, great, great, great, great grandniece is a student of another distant relative of mine on the base. My most favorite great, great, great, great, great, great grandniece has my talent. My talent is, and this will answer your question as you try to process who they are, is I penetrate and slide under shields. No, try again.

Russ: hmm.

Treebeard: my most favorite grandniece by six has done that to you many times but plants, trees, trees are my most favorite…..no, you are close…..are my most favorite of all the fauna of your planet and my planet because like myself they dwell, they think, they feel. Of all the fauna, those are the most highly evolved. But, it does not come in a sapling, a yearling or a century. Your trees that you have near to your residence have long, long time to go before they get to that level of awareness.

Russ: hmm.

Treebeard: having dwelled upon your area when you are asked questions, the nearest that you come are the few groves of ancient trees and the ones on your recreational area that you indulge in. I believe the name you have given them is.........sorry it eludes me.

Russ: sequoias?

Treebeard: not the ones in your recreational area (Heavenly Ski Resort).

Russ: ahh, those ones.

Treebeard: Bristlecones.

Russ: hmm.

Treebeard: very ancient and learned but seldom communicate in a intelligible way. They are not sentient but they have vast knowledge if you know how to listen to them. Now, with my ability and great experience, I was able to probe both you and the friend that you had with you. We will save that for a time when I have not pontificated on such a level.

Russ: excellent.

Treebeard: now, who is my great…..I will not repeat that as that bored you, grandniece?

Russ: Tia.

Treebeard: I do not have pointed ears.

Russ: well yeah. I thought Kiri and you said no........Lyka.

Treebeard: no but when you said Kiri you had part of the statement.

Russ: hmm.

Treebeard: she has a student.

Russ: oh, you mean Miranda?

Treebeard: not so….

Russ: young.

Treebeard: young.

Russ: it'd be…..is it? Oh, Leah.

Treebeard: yes.

Russ: it is Leah?

Treebeard: yes.

Russ: ahh, okay.

Treebeard: and who is my most favorite great…..?

Russ: grandniece.

Treebeard: correct, who is she that has my ability?

Russ: well I thought it was Bunny.

Treebeard: yes.

Russ: oh I did get that right. Oh, because that’s one where I thought of and you said, "no, but you're close".

Treebeard: you did not specify her name, Bunny is her nickname.

Russ: oh, Huna.

Treebeard: correct. 

Russ: ahh. 

Treebeard: again, Huna is her stage name.

Russ: oh.

Treebeard: but Huna is acceptable.

Russ: okay.

Treebeard: thank you.

Russ: thank you.