urgency & philosophy

Sun Dec 30 07:49:37 CST 2007

Hi Anath,
Thanks for your thoughts, much appreciated.
As much as I agree (I don't use a dryer for most clothes, better too for the fabric) the issue seems larger.  Moreno observed large sociometric structures, forces he called them, in operation in human groups; in all of civilization.  These forces are what we are up against.  They appeaer, that is they emerge, in sociometric configurations within groups, within our lives, wihtin organizations.  Sociatry as I am coming to understand it, is the healing of these forces - but first we have to understand them. 
In my earlier years I was always one to rush to action.  As I get older (middle age!) I find it more appealing to consider fully, or as fully as I am able, what action is best to take.  And this seems especially true in this case.  That does not imply that reducing our own waste and our own addition to the problem should not be addressed as you wrote, with that I fully am on board. 

Some time ago I went to see Jonh Seed (If you don't know of his work -I recommend it).  He is an Australian scientist and he roams the world doing his CLIMATE CHANGE ROAD SHOW.  Consider Al Gore times 10.  He's a scientist, so it's great to hear his synthesis about the situation humanity faces.  For example if we stopped today we would still undergo dramatic climate changes.  Now as we are seeing, it is not in 2040, but 2012 that there may be no more ice in the artic.

Somehow I feel we're kind of sleepwalking.  The implications are sickening if this should happen.  But the point is that John suggests to consider action first - to take our time to consider what we must address about this because, as he said, some action might not help.  But I agree with your comment about personal responsibilty.

For me the action is simple:  let's talk and discuss what as Moreneans we can do.  But for me too, getting the nuts and bolts of sociatry finished seems to be the most important action I can take, then share it with whomever wants to have what we've done.

Thanks Anath,
Happy New Year....

Ed

-----Original Message-----
>From: thana ag <anathga at hotmail.com>
>Sent: Dec 30, 2007 12:09 AM
>To: Adam Blatner <adam at blatner.com>, list at grouptalkweb.org
>Subject: RE: urgency & philosophy
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>Dear Adam, Ed, Rebbecca,Connie,Ann -and folks from the list serve
>
>It
>is really wonderful to have a place where we can express our views,what
>we are passionate about,and  what  we feel ashamed about.
>I resonate with everyone.
>
>Yet
>it all reminds me a story about Maslow In a car ride  from Esalen
>Institute,he and few students were talking peak experiences. A young
>woman in the  back seat. thought she had one. Did you have a peak
>experience?-she asked Maslow.
> "No! That's why i write about them."
>
>So
>here is my point fixing society,,others etc. After all it is you and I
>who are the society. If we  change ourselves -no need to change
>others!!!.  Because they will be changing along with us. The thousand's
>monkey syndrome....Sounds simple? sure. But  easy ?!
>
>  About  the
>environmental challenge: how many of the concerned ore using a
>dryer,(the worst emission  producer  among household appliances)
>-despite  big back yards,how many carpool, as a policy, are aware of
>using water,economically etc.not because they are poor. 
>Few years
>ago my dryer broke down. Researching,in attempt to buy another one I
>learned about its polluting properties. After few month I realized hat
>i could live with out it. Then went the microwave etc. I can make
>do without a dryer,though it requires more planning doing the
>laundry,and hired help refuses. So i am doing the laundry.
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>Do  I tell anyone about it? No, I am quite  ashamed,since  I know  that
>my little input makes no dent really,and in return for the time i spent
>doing the laundry I could see two patients,and contribute the money to
>an organization who fights for environmental causes.....or do some real
>charity work...or plan what other could do to lessen pollution.
> 
>For
>years I 've been ashamed, that i am not politically active. This year I
>was asked to advice to one of the presidential candidates... while the
>negotiations went on I was almost euphoric, perhaps there was my chance
>to  finally  get  involved....
>But that  would require a big time commitment. Should  I then get a dryer? a microwave etc(and feel very justified: let other people economize)
>
>Being
>a  product of my society that exhorts me to do and to accomplish, i
>feel guilty when i don't  challenge myself..    then can do
>my laundry....
>
>Happy New Year!!!
>anath
>,
>> From: adam at blatner.com
>> To: edwschreiber at earthlink.net
>> Subject: urgency & philosophy
>> Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 10:25:09 -0600
>> CC: list at grou
>> Dear Ed and others,
>>     This email leaves the issue of  the source of a quote,  and speaks rather to your 
>> perspective of urgency of ecological work.
>>           First, of course you're right about the time theme.
>> (I'm even reminded of Al Gore's interview in the recent time Magazine as the 2nd place 
>> person-of-the-year).
>> 
>>       Yet, to shift the perspective a little, your urgency and passion, while noble, also 
>> brings up some issues that deal with sociometry: How much worry is optimal? And might 
>> people choose others who share similar tolerances for the degrees of worry they "vibrate 
>> with"?
>> 
>>     From other recent issues, I've become more aware that when it comes to worry, too much 
>> makes me crazy, arouses my limbic system so that I can't think straight.
>>          I remember a funny mantra: When in trouble or in doubt, run in circles, scream 
>> and shout!
>> 
>>  Yes, a little edge, a little worry, is needed for arousing the nervous system to optimal 
>> engagement.
>>     Too little and I become complacent, drugged, un-engaged. (This is one of the pitfalls 
>> of drugs, alcohol, and for many, television and other pseudo-addictions and escapes.)
>>      There is a range that seems just right---I do my work with my skills in my area of 
>> interest and ability. I may stretch a bit, give a bit to this or that political cause.
>>         But I find myself becoming wary about associating with acquaintances or groups who 
>> engage in levels of worry that I find abrasive, upsetting.
>> 
>>          This is important, because we are exhorted by thousands of sources to do more and 
>> more. And there's always more to do! politically, socially, etc.
>>        Worse, it's often quite unclear what must be done.
>>               Meeting and talking about it with no particular suggestions to consider 
>> rarely generates truly useful solutions unless it's dealing with something very local, 
>> such as is one's own business (i.e., brainstorming)---and even then, no guarantee that the 
>> improvisations and ideas will be fruitful. Even harder if the challenge requires the 
>> cooperation and collaboration of scores or hundreds or thousands of groups, becomes 
>> national and international in scope.
>>          How about giving money to a cause? Which cause? How do we know they're more 
>> efficient than many organizations who are strikingly inefficient? And in many cases, 
>> throwing money at a problem may go into the hands of corrupt politicians.
>> 
>>      There's also the problem of recognizing and responding to how much worry can be 
>> tolerable. (Here's where an issue of tele comes in.) There are some social and religious 
>> groups that carry a higher degree of urgency--- social action oriented, missionary 
>> oriented, this or that cause about homosexuality, abortion, women wanting to be 
>> priests---whatever the issue, however you may agree or disagree with a given position, the 
>> point is that for some groups these concerns are accompanied by a sense of urgency and 
>> worry.
>>        Often these groups perceive other groups or people who seek more comfort and peace 
>> of mind to be, well, complacent, and morally deficient, worthy of being judged and 
>> scolded: "Stop living in denial!"
>> .    And perhaps for some there's more than a germ of truth: There are folks who are 
>> indeed complacent.
>>             And others are in-between:
>>               (I remember a blessing that goes:
>>                     May the Holy Spirit forever continue to comfort... and disturb... 
>> u.   )
>> 
>>         The sociometric theme is that some folks feel vulnerable for not being more noble, 
>> but can't handle with any comfort the degrees of worry and urgency claimed by other folks. 
>> It then depends on who seems to be the great majority. (Scott Adams, the Dilbert 
>> cartoonist, notes that in any encounter the one who is more insane tends to dominate.) So 
>> in a group in which the more worried ones represent maybe 30%, that will end up seeming 
>> like a majority to the quieter, lower-key others.
>> 
>>         I haven't known how to talk about this because, on reflection, I used to feel 
>> guilty, ashamed, vulnerable for not wanting to get too het up about certain political 
>> issues. I realized gradually that worrying carries a threshold---some folks find it to be 
>> painful when done at 40%  (at 80% it's called agitated depression and it can be one of the 
>> worst, hellish feelings. I tasted this once in early 2002 following a flu syndrome. 
>> Cleared up with SSRIs.).
>>        Some folks like that edge and become accustomed to and even desirous of 
>> entertaining worry, stress---for them it's optimal challenge. Generally that may be at, 
>> say, 14-20%  Others really suffer when they are preached at to worry about things at a 
>> level of more than 10%
>>       My hunch is that kids at play, really engaged, spontaneous, trying out different 
>> solutions, are vibrating at a level of excitement, making mistakes, feeling just an edge 
>> of shame and fear that their mistakes may become too much, but this keeps them alert. They 
>> don't want the game to be any less challenging. I put this at around 5%
>> 
>> I know I feel very engaged and am quite active within my own range.  But 10% starts to 
>> mentally, emotionally "hurt."
>>     So I just don't get heroic in certain ways. I can't justify not wanting to do more---I 
>> wonder if even saying "it hurts" makes me seem like a wuss.
>> 
>>     But I've come to a point of reflection where I can not only accept my limits, but 
>> affirm them. This applies also to some other roles in my life. I'm not going to go much 
>> past what Vygotsky the Russian developmental psychologist calls the ZPD, the zone of 
>> proximal development, the region where I can stretch a little, but not get overloaded. 
>> (That's the aforementioned 5%)
>> 
>>        Thanks for helping me look at this dynamic. I wonder if anyone else senses this 
>> edge of when are certain issues "too much" and when do I want to address them. I also note 
>> that the variable of "what precisely can I do" is a factor here. My angle is to promote 
>> psychological literacy in my corner of the world, and on my website, etc.
>> 
>>       warmly, Adam 
>> 
>> 
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