The recent set of conversations about the focus of this list has prompted
this response.
It is true that some people on this list have a very narrow range of issues
on which they comment - however that is not the primary issue I wish to
address. What is more important to me is the way in which these issues seem
to have consumed their advocates.
Having become committed to a particular point of view, some people seem
totally bemused why their perspective isn't immediately obvious to the rest
of us - and simply spend all their energy repeating what they have previously
espoused.
At one level this confidence is understandable - almost any one who develops
a "new" point of view, or who wishes to do "good work" in the face of the
prevailing orthdoxy faces a crisis of personal confidence at one stage or
another - and many find they only way they can deal with this is to become
completely certain of their point of view. They then simply repeat this
point of view ad nauseum.
At another level this confidence is astounding. If the espoused view was so
"obvious" we would all immediately pick it up and it would cease to become
contentious.
However, the real dilemma for me is that people who have "formed a view" are
apparently blind to the fact that many others (on this list for example) do
not share their view (as the current discussion about which came first cities
or rural communities shows). Hence, no real discourse takes place - and it
is virtually impossible for understanding and collaboration to develop.
What we end up with is a series of emailed volleys fired across from fixed
positions to other fixed positions, most of which land relatively harmlessly
with respect to people, but probably do damage to the landscape in the
process.
So my interest in the quieter list is not necessarily to have a "better
focus" on the future of work - but to have a group who are committed to
learning and growing not to shouting and preaching. If someone finds one of
these, of if FW/L turns into that I would love to be there.
Charles Brass
Chairman
Future of Work Foundation
PO Box 122 Fairfield 3078
Australia
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The mission of the Future of Work Foundation is:
"To engage all Australians in creating a better future for work"
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