I like Kent's not very much and don't agree with much of it. What I like
is that he points to rich territory about what this list might be for or
about and relates it to the issue of "long lasting" conversations -
conversations that make an impact, that make a difference.
What I don't agree with is that the list needs a common purpose or
objective or that it even needs pursue depth beyond what is occurring.
And god knows I don't have a deep affinity with much of what is said or
the level of depth actually present.
What I do have is a sense of affinity for the intentions, the values and
the efforts at making a difference of those participating in the list.
And I like the diversity even when I don't like the specifics. I've
developed my own practices for making the variety work.
My perspective is that a community has formed. A community of interest, a
community of practice, a community of intention. Like all communities, it
has emerged. Like all communities, it has peripheral members and core
members - which shift. Like all communities, people come and go and yet
are part of the community even in their absence. Like all communities,
there is great diversity and even disagreement, argument and (probably)
"lawbreakers".
The community provides a forum or medium for certain conversations that I
don't have access to elsewhere.
I, for one, am not looking for a "shared objective" because I think that
it exists sufficiently in an implicit state. My evidence is that I am
still here and that an active community has formed and appears to be
self-sustaining.
And Kent's comments are part of the continuation of that community and I
welcome them.
Michael McMaster : Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk
book cafe site : http://www.vision-nest.com/BTBookCafe
Intelligence is the underlying organisational principle
of the universe. Heraclitus
--Michael McMaster <Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>