"I put them together in my head and draw a conclusion, which is probably based on my own expressed fears. Given that this conclusion will shape my reactions going forward, better to bring them out into the open so they can be discussed. Isn't that a healthy part of the process we are creating?"

Not necessarily.

First: no action is completely healthy (I would use beneficial here; our health isn't at issue I hope!).

No action is completely beneficial, because adjectives are black/white abstractions, and it's a mistake to presume that they're not.

black/white fallacy

So what we do is more or less beneficial.

And how would we agree on a measure for that? We might see it in different ways; there's no absolute truth to the matter, so how could we agree? Is there any point to discussing how beneficial (or moral) an action actually is without some agreed-upon measures?

Here's my take on this: If one is often extremely suspicious then that's probably too suspicious and one should work on being less so.

I think that you've always been very suspicious of me, questioning me about my intentions and my actions, and making our conversations about me instead of about thinking and learning. That is very much too suspicious in my view. Your considerations about our conversation have dominated our conversation. This is a conversation that I don't want to be having, but my commitment to you drives me to keep doing it.

Please consider this very carefully, Tigrilla. IMO this is far less beneficial than our dialogue might become if you'll move on to a different topic.

Do you understand this yet? Do you really think that this is the best that you/we could do??

"we are passing near where we once were only higher."

Well, if that's the case for you, that's good and I'm glad. However, that's your trip. I'm not on your plane (pun intended!); I keep circling back to meet you.

"Do you see our roles as purely teacher-student, peer-based, or some fluctuating combination of the two? This would probably be important to establish, because if each of us sees it differently, then we will probably interpret completely differently."

Tigrilla, we've already done this! Seriously!

If we're talking plant consciousness, you're the expert and I'm the student. My expertise is human being. What's the question here?

"Which specific competence do you think I doubt?"

I don't know and I don't care! That's not the point. It doesn't matter. It's the doubt that has brought the conversation to this point and prevented us from moving farther.

Do you intend to stay stuck? That's what matters here. This conversation is all about our intentions and whether our actions fulfill our purposes.

What's your main purpose in talking with me? Which actions will fulfill that purpose, and which ones will prevent that purpose from being fulfilled?

Please consider that.

"You asked me follow a process that involves complete transparency, or did I misunderstand? If that is the case, wouldn't my expressions be an example of trust?"

Yes.

I'm continuing to trust that you'll eventually move past your historical boundaries. I'm in no hurry.

"I might need to put a pin on where we are today and start with fresh eyes!"

Yes, please do.

"What do you think about using a more scientific approach."

This isn't science.

"In order to answer, can you tell me what "brief description" was mysterious to you?"

You talked about your interaction with someone, but there were hardly any details.

Here's what I believe is important to our future dialogue - please tell me the following:

1. What important and useful insight(s) (if any) have you gained from discussing my experience?

2. How did your insight change your perspectives?

3. How were your actions affected?

If anything like that happened, then we could move on from there - that would be forward-going and it could be very progressive.

If nothing like that happened, then why are we still talking?

[wondering]