article Sociatry

[Peter Howie]

Hi Adam,

RE: So there's a sociometric dynamic: Can I object to this or that turn of 
statement without feeling that others will be overly angry?
         Thus does intemperate language affect the social field.

In the hope of stating the obvious and in the hope of being wishy-washy and 
also in the hope of keeping this going a bit longer - Adam isn't this 
dynamic one of the, if not the main cultural controlling factor we become 
imbued with from our families and more especially our schools and other 
institutions. And the corollary -  If someone gets overly angry with me 
then I will be rejected/isolated/attacked etc. And then I am faced with the 
"psychotic fear of abandonment" as Bion put it.

And I think you are well aware that there is no rationality without 
emotion/feelings. It is these feelings and emotions that drive us in a 
particular direction where our rationality then becomes applied.

How about we celebrate the ongoing development of a place (this forum) 
where participants are able to speak/present/respond in a less strictured 
way. I know I respond when it happens. I think for two reasons - I like to 
see what others are moved by (it helps me to find my place and thinking in 
the world) and I love it that people are able to respond in a way that 
allows their thinking to then progress. I mean this forum has to be one of 
the safest group spaces around. I think we have enormous margins to make 
mistakes but only if we take them and don't get killed - metaphorically.

How can we expect others to have great debates when we can't chew on each 
other's liver here?

Cheers again

Peter