A Social Experiment

koan · Post by **koan** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:32 pm

I've started conducting an experiment that challenges many of my natural behaviours. I've invited people who consider themselves "independent thinkers" to attend social gatherings at a local coffee shop. I didn't know exactly why and don't know where it's going to lead but it is evolving.

The first challenge was for me to be social in a "real life" setting where I'm not being dragged somewhere against my better judgement but actually choosing to meet new people I know nothing about with no parameters as to required age, educational level, or political beliefs.

The second challenge was to figure out why I was doing it. I decided that I believe independent thought needs to be encouraged to break out of a social system that is failing. That includes an assumption that the social system is failing and might be a point that others will disagree with. (Though my initial contact included the trait of always sensing there was something wrong with society.) I also decided that I believe we need social interaction to validate our sense of self worth and a lack of self esteem is the biggest foundational flaw in our current society.

The third challenge is creating a space in which the people present are feeding positive thought progression. That's a fancy way of saying I didn't want to use my mental energy arguing with conspiracy theorists. I'm not against conspiracy theories in principle, just the point where they create an interconnected web of ideas only accepted by merit that they support the ideas of other conspiracy theories... breaking down the critical thinking abilities. I'm not pleased with deciding to eliminate a "type" of people as an assessment of merit. I'm going to stick with it for now in an attempt to grow the group based on it being a place where your mind isn't going to be under assault.

I haven't joined any Occupy movement groups as I haven't seen an abundance of critical thinking yet. I see a lot of finger pointing, lawsuits, and encouragement of anger. On the good side, I see people talking and listening to each other in ways that are empowering. The biggest social threat right now may be in overthrowing the figureheads of a system but letting the system fill the seats with more replicas. I'm a big believer in treating the cause and not the symptom. Their protests generally assume that a present body is a supporter by merely being there. I guess this is my small way of forming an Occupy Your Mind movement.

If nothing else, it's been really interesting to actually go out and meet people I'd never have spoken to otherwise.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:30 am

Sorry, I won't be able to make it. Kind of a long drive for me.

How many times have you met so far?

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 6:00 am

I'm not a social butterfly either, but I prefer it that way. Good luck with your experiment.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:55 am

Ahso!;1381511 wrote: I'm not a social butterfly either, but I prefer it that way. Good luck with your experiment.

Yeah you're more of a social moth from my observations.

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:39 am

We should be meeting for the second time on Sunday. The snow has kind of thrown the week for a loop though. Everything is closing, none of the streets are being cleared. It should be a functional town again by the weekend though.

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:45 am

How many are participating?

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 11:13 am

Had six responses and it looks like four people who will be coming back. It's a good starter group small enough for coffee house meetings

AnneBoleyn · Post by **AnneBoleyn** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:12 pm

What part of Canada do you live in?

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:17 pm

Vancouver Island

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:02 pm

Sounds like a worthwhile experiment that *should* provide some good results if you can keep it going.

It appears, on the face of it, to be a lot like one of Edward De Bono's "thinking clubs" - will you be that formal or will it be more of a free for all?

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:40 pm

Very much like the "thinking clubs". I'm trying to create an egalitarian group with no leader. I'm just taking the initiative to be a contact point and to arrange the meeting places. The only "rule" I foresee is that we are to encourage thought and provide constructive criticism to help each other focus our goals, meaning that no one should humiliate or otherwise attack another person's ideas.

It's a nicely varied group right now with a wide range of view points and different cultural backgrounds.

AnneBoleyn · Post by **AnneBoleyn** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:39 pm

Vancouver Island. My husband was born there, some of his sisters still live there. Lucky you! It's a wonderfully pretty place.

koan · Post by **koan** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:49 pm

Even prettier now that it's covered in apparently unremovable snow. Though my last shovel of the sidewalk helped in covering a whole lot of dog pee. So... only pretty for a short time.

koan · Post by **koan** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 1:17 am

Had the first group meeting last Sunday and I can share that it's far more productive to choose a couple of feature topics in advance.

Also discovered that I'm not a big fan of being a motivator. I've watched others and it's easier when you are assembling a group who you want to have give you praise. When the goal is just to promote social interaction there is less drive.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:16 am

koan;1382410 wrote: Had the first group meeting last Sunday and I can share that it's far more productive to choose a couple of feature topics in advance.

Also discovered that I'm not a big fan of being a motivator. I've watched others and it's easier when you are assembling a group who you want to have give you praise. When the goal is just to promote social interaction there is less drive.

I would have thought it essential to chose a topic in advance - two is probably one too many.

koan · Post by **koan** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:19 am

The topic was too broad.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:23 am

koan;1382441 wrote: The topic was too broad.

OK, there's the learning curve

koan · Post by **koan** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:41 am

There's a "We Are Change" group in town and I've read bits and pieces of their facebook group page to see how it's going for them. There was a spat of frustration trying to co-ordinate a film screening and not getting any help from group members. They have a different agenda that's mostly fuelled by anger so I'm interested in how their group dynamics play out. I don't expect my little adventure will result in a growing mass, like they're trying to do. I'm approaching it one meeting at a time and trying to enjoy the social exposure as a singular event each meeting.