Simon, very well said, as always. Your contributions to this listserv
are always excellent, and I appreciate all your work very much.
Best regards,
Kathrynne

Simon Coles wrote:
>
> Hi Janet,
>
> >i don't agree with your subject header in re community
> >i find that perceptions are much funnier
>
> >i don't agree with your hall metaphor either:
>
> Do you have a metaphor you could share?
>
> (we all pass mails back & forth, without actually communicating.
> Metaphor is a good way to expose our underlying assumptions)
>
> > >Over time, the hall gets more and more popular. The queue to speak on
> >>the stage gets longer, people struggle to be heard, and tempers are
> >>frayed. The room's full to bursting, the air conditioners can't keep
> >>up, and people are quietly leaving because they can't cope with the
> >>overcrowding.
> >
> >this perception has been around since the list was all of 600 members
> >maybe even earlier
>
> That may mean:
>         - people were wrong then (with the implication they're wrong now)
>         - people had a legitimate concern then, but the problem's gone away
>         - people had a legitimate concern then, and its still legitimate
>         - something else
>
> ???
>
> >we have choices in our perceptions
> >in the type of filter or lens we colour our world with
>
> Perceptions are the only thing that matters, because that's what people act on.
>
> If people perceive something and leave the list, then we either don't
> care because they are wrong, or we try and do something about it.
>
> >i see no queue to speak on stage
> >this is the first stage on the planet that has no queue
>
> You are correct that the Internet allows everyone to stand on stage and speak.
>
> Whilst bandwidth, disk space, etc. do place some costs on our
> activities, its not dominant for our purposes.
>
> What is the limiting factor is people's attention. This is why
> Internet sites that can grab people's attention are valued so highly
> on the stock market.
>
> If my Parkinson's community only comes in a lump called PARKINSN at
> 40 messages a day, and feel I can't deal with 40 messages a day, then
> I can't be a member of any Parkinson's groups on the Internet.
>
> Similarly, if my boss doesn't mind me reading stuff about PD at work,
> but doesn't feel so generous about chatty stuff (which is important,
> but we're talking about his perceptions) then I can't be a member of
> any Parkinson's groups on the Internet.
>
> That's a major tragedy. Routed in perception, but there's still "one
> of us" who can't participate, and benefit from our knowledge,
> experience, and support.
>
> (There is some stuff around about "The attention economy" - search
> http://www.google.com for those worlds - its all a bit rarefied
> though)
>
> >i feel no struggle
> >except with my own limitations
> >
> >my temper is never frayed
> >except when i feel that i am being dictated to or censored
> >
> >there are no space limitations in etheria
> >
> >each one of us controls our own climate
>
> How do you feel towards people who don't share these values & beliefs?
>
> >people come and go, quietly and loudly,
> >as their needs and perceptions permit
>
> Granted. I would like them to be able to stay as long as they need,
> and to be able to move onto a place that's appropriate for them.
>
> Simon
> --------- My opinions are my own, NIP's opinions are theirs ----------
> Simon J. Coles                                 Email: [log in to unmask]
> New Information Paradigms                  Work Phone: +44 1344 753703
> http://www.nipltd.com/                     Work Fax:   +44 1344 772510
> =============== Life is too precious to take seriously ===============

--
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD
Medical nutrition therapy
Author: "Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease"
"Parkinson's disease: assessing and managing unique nutrition needs"
http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/