I have this idea for a community . . . and I want to know if any of you would be interested
You are all used to me griping because of the non-productive conversations that go on concerning the "bigger" issues on europeanunion. In the past few days, I am pleased to report that a very productive conversation occurred -- numerous competiting views, ideas developed, members introduced to things they hadn't thought of, no one person dominating the conversation, no one region pushing anyone around, people who don't always speak up speaking up, side conversations that got into deeper problems of political organization.
Wow! That was super. Even better, what I enjoy most, which is opportunities for real shared exchange about countries and culturally embedded ideas actually arose and some were explored profitably.
I have long hoped to develop a community of who want to engage in shared cultural exchange -- for whatever that ends up meaning -- at a deep and high level of sophistication. Some of you on my flist were specifically asked to join my flist in the hope of more of that happening here, but I use this journal so much as a diary, I don't think it works for that purpose. Plus, there are a lot of people I'd be happy to engage with on some issues -- and publicly -- that I really don't want to chat about medication stuff with, to be just blunt as hell about it.
For a community like this to work, certain things would have to be adhered to rigorously, and many of them go to something I know I struggle with, which is humility:
1. We would have to listen to each other respectfully, regardless of culture or politics.
2. We would have to speak with an extremely high degree of civility, at least until we knew each other well.
3. Moderation would have to be fairly intense, and maybe membership limited somewhat (by invitation or recommendation) until a core group developed its own culture.
4. We would have to do more "asking questions" than "making conclusions."
5. We would have to set "George W. Bush" to the side, no matter if you like him a lot or if you want to guillotine him.
6. We would have to work hard at not being judgmental or stereotyping.
7. This could not be a primarily U.S.-weighted community, but the non-U.S. group would have to be accepting of U.S. members, or otherwise, U.S. members won't participate. Even people who don't like the president weary of being labeled killers or racists or whatever just because of something someone they never heard of in this vast land did.
8. There might be a lot of things I haven't thought of -- and again, maybe there's a lot of "listening" here to do.
That's a lot more rules than I like to see. These are also all areas I, at least, would be challenged in working on, so I do not think this is an easy project.
But no risk, no reward.
I do hear people out there fed up with the snarking communities, the political quarrelling, the lectures from those who have axes to grind. LJ could be for so many of us a great way to learn those things we can't get through because the media is mediocre (and let's face it, we all know this) and there are a lot of conspiracies out there to stop us from sharing ideas, making connections and getting along. The internet can combat that if we use it properly. I propose those interested try.
Therefore, this is a request for anyone who thinks this sounds interesting to let me know. In the next few days, I will also send out some personal invitations to others either on this flist or that I know from other communities and start to set the community up. If you know of someone -- whether you are interested or not -- who might want to take part, please help me get connected.
I don't know if this can work. I don't know if enough people could really be committed to make it work. I do know that if it could work, it could be truly amazing.
Wow! That was super. Even better, what I enjoy most, which is opportunities for real shared exchange about countries and culturally embedded ideas actually arose and some were explored profitably.
I have long hoped to develop a community of who want to engage in shared cultural exchange -- for whatever that ends up meaning -- at a deep and high level of sophistication. Some of you on my flist were specifically asked to join my flist in the hope of more of that happening here, but I use this journal so much as a diary, I don't think it works for that purpose. Plus, there are a lot of people I'd be happy to engage with on some issues -- and publicly -- that I really don't want to chat about medication stuff with, to be just blunt as hell about it.
For a community like this to work, certain things would have to be adhered to rigorously, and many of them go to something I know I struggle with, which is humility:
1. We would have to listen to each other respectfully, regardless of culture or politics.
2. We would have to speak with an extremely high degree of civility, at least until we knew each other well.
3. Moderation would have to be fairly intense, and maybe membership limited somewhat (by invitation or recommendation) until a core group developed its own culture.
4. We would have to do more "asking questions" than "making conclusions."
5. We would have to set "George W. Bush" to the side, no matter if you like him a lot or if you want to guillotine him.
6. We would have to work hard at not being judgmental or stereotyping.
7. This could not be a primarily U.S.-weighted community, but the non-U.S. group would have to be accepting of U.S. members, or otherwise, U.S. members won't participate. Even people who don't like the president weary of being labeled killers or racists or whatever just because of something someone they never heard of in this vast land did.
8. There might be a lot of things I haven't thought of -- and again, maybe there's a lot of "listening" here to do.
That's a lot more rules than I like to see. These are also all areas I, at least, would be challenged in working on, so I do not think this is an easy project.
But no risk, no reward.
I do hear people out there fed up with the snarking communities, the political quarrelling, the lectures from those who have axes to grind. LJ could be for so many of us a great way to learn those things we can't get through because the media is mediocre (and let's face it, we all know this) and there are a lot of conspiracies out there to stop us from sharing ideas, making connections and getting along. The internet can combat that if we use it properly. I propose those interested try.
Therefore, this is a request for anyone who thinks this sounds interesting to let me know. In the next few days, I will also send out some personal invitations to others either on this flist or that I know from other communities and start to set the community up. If you know of someone -- whether you are interested or not -- who might want to take part, please help me get connected.
I don't know if this can work. I don't know if enough people could really be committed to make it work. I do know that if it could work, it could be truly amazing.