On Tue, 8 Jun 1999, Jeff Owens wrote:
>
> I view this as a tool for interfacing with the natural world and
> building community. It may also fit internet communications, where
> trust is the major ingredient in forming a comfort zone. Is it
> also possible we have a comfort zone related to ideas? If so we
> need to keep eco ideas visable, outside a persons comfort zone,
> and give people time to make friends with different ideas.
Without the benefit of body language it can be difficult to measure a
person's ideas comfort zone. It is one of the serious drawbacks of
internet discussions.
Living in an urban area can also present challenges to respecting comfort
zones. Imagine being in a crowded community centre. A man is striding
around the center staring at people one after another and saying sometimes
loudly sometimes quietly "Don't stare at me, I hate it when people stare
at me." It is very hard not to stare at him, but it obviously impinges on
his comfort zone to have people stare at him.
I'm teaching my children how to not react without shutting down. How to
recognize the people with comfort zones outside the norm, and how to avoid
triggering the potentially violent response while at the same time staying
open to the many friendly urban dwellers around.
I do find the urban core of Ottawa an on the whole friendlier place than
the suburbs. I'm smiled at and nodded at or greeted far more often now,
living down town than I was in the hybrid suburb I used to live in.
sph
Sandra P. Hoffman [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.flora.org/sandra/
----------------------------
The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due,
not a garden swollen to a realm;
his own hands to use,
not the hands of others to command. --Sam Gamgee
