Eric wrote:
> I wouldn't call going along with cultural norms "crazy" or "mentally ill".
> Throughout history people have done many strange things as a culture and
> thought it perfectly normal.
Concepts like "cultural immersion", "crazy", and "normal" can be either
positive or negative. It depends upon ones reference point. To survive
in a culture or adapt to another culture requires "cultural immersion" and
this is big business. If we search for "cultural immersion" on the internet
we find hundreds of courses and tours. We find almost zero interest
in removing "cultural immersion". Does thinking about it make us
uncomfortable?
The definitions of "crazy", "normal" or "mentally ill" are all relative to
our culture and struggles with definitions are almost always from a
totally immersed state. So... possibly the struggle in this discussion
between seeking immersion and seeking a different viewpoint.
I did a web search and found volumes of data on this topic. Most of
it put me to sleep but some of it was interesting. Two languages are
now being played with to change thinking, one is E-prime and the
is called Lojban. The most interesting thing i found was that each
branch of science has its own version of "the map is not the territory"
and each thinks it is a different concept. If anyone is interested in
this there is an essay which identifies all these mini-immersions.
----
jeff owens, [EMAIL PROTECTED], http://www.teleport.com/~kowens
underground house, solar power, self-reliance, edible landscape
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