[Winona Online Democracy]
To those of you who are tired of the analysis of WOD process, feel free to
delete at this point--sorry, but it happens to be a subject of interest to
me, so I'll be self-indulgent here.
The past few days I've been reading words like "commoner" and references to
individuals "casting themselves as superior" which reminds me of the parable
of "ups" and "downs" (see
http://www.augsburg.edu/education/edc210/dumb-ups.html)
I think that it is true that we are all both "ups" or "downs" at one point
or another. I know that I have felt unfairly labeled "elite" in this
forum--not a term that feels comfortable to me. I happen to be outspoken in
a lot of "group discussion" situations because I know participation is
essential to discussion. I do it in face to face situations, too, but I love
being able to take time to choose my words and compose my thoughts in this
medium.
But I digress...in thinking about this nature of ours to place others and
ourselves in some sort of social hierarchy, I realize that in many ways,
this forum has allowed me to converse with folks that I most likely would
never have spoken with face to face--most likely because of feeling that
they were of some "higher status" than myself. So for me this has been much
more empowering than other ways of discussing these kind of issues. I think
that is part of what the mission of WOD is supposed to be.
As far as being "common" vs. "elite" I find myself amazed every day at
things I've been able to do that my grandparents could not even imagined.
My grandfather was a custodian at Purdue (cleaned bathrooms on campus) and
my grandmother cleaned house for an English professor from there. I've never
thought of myself as having any great social status--certainly my work as a
social worker was not high-status, as professions go. Now I've had this
opportunity to train a new generation of students to do the work that I
value so much and with that comes a title, "Professor". Now people project
all sorts of stuff onto me because of that title and I'm still the same
person of humble means and roots that I've always been. So, is this me
trying to show off to others how great and superior I am? That was not my
goal at all and it is not my intention, but now somehow I am responsible for
others' feelings of inferiority when I still have plenty of my own!!??!!
Anyway, I think there is a lot of this stuff for many of us and it affects
the way we communicate in this forum--just my opinion. Do others think so?
And if this is part of what contributes to the silence of some and the
hostility of others, what can be done to help us wade through all of this?
Maybe just being mindful that each individual has a story that has brought
them to these moments of participating here, so let's try not to judge too
quickly or harshly. I'm open to hearing what other think--especially if you
disagree. I am here to learn from all of you.
Kathy Seifert
----- Original Message -----
From: "jjs" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2005 9:36 AM
Subject: [Winona] Re: understanding now
[Winona Online Democracy]
Duane Peterson
Sat, 30 Jul 2005 12:01:01 -0700
To begin with, no one on WOD commissioned the scholars to study
and/or criticize WOD.
True, and thank goodness scholars need not depend upon commissions in
order to do studies for the same reasons online groups like WOD should not
need permission nor commissions from the city to exist.
WOD members have no need to respond to the criticism of the scholars.
Absolutely true, of course. I believe I noted the same in my post.
The fact that you were dismissed from the group probably accounts for your
>characterizing all of us as "casting themselves as superior".
I was not dismissed. In fact, I was quite surprised to receive as many
supportive emails as rebuttals made on WOD, which again points to the
possibility that many people read but may not feel they can post to WOD
without, perhaps, receiving comments like yours from the regulars.
I, for one, don't feel superior and don't wish to so denegrate (sic)
others on
the list. Your tone, like many I have heard in the past in the practice
of law, >demonstrates only your anger, not your logic.
Now that you wish to make it one-to-one personal, I submit that if you did
not feel you were superior, you would not have mentioned your profession.
Regardless of your former position as a judge, your statement is an appeal
to authority. So much for good logical form. And from whom did you hear
this anger? Are you trying to cast my role here as a criminal or one
seeing a frivolous civil remedy, or are you including your fellow legal
professionals?
--
jjs - a NORP and proud of it
_______________________________________________
This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy
All messages must be signed by the senders actual name.
No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list.
To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit
http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona
Any problems or suggestions can be directed to
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected
officials, go to the Contact page at
http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
_______________________________________________
This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy
All messages must be signed by the senders actual name.
No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list.
To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit
http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona
Any problems or suggestions can be directed to
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at
http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
