Inner Circle -> Whole circle LO12336

Benjamin B. Compton (bcompton@geocities.com)
Mon, 03 Feb 1997 08:50:48 -0700

Replying to LO12319 --

I agree with Roger, the entire list is it's own "inner circle." I don't
know how other people are perceived, but for a few years now I've been
known by many of my colleagues as an extremely eccentric person with
really wild ideas!

I find it amazing that no one on this list has ever sent me an E-Mail
saying, "Hey, Ben, you're a lunatic!"

This, then, links this thread to another one: "Why we post." I post on
this list because it allows me to express _some_ of the things bouncing
around in my head without having to spend an inordinate amount of time
trying to get other people to see what I'm talking about. This makes this
list a place of refuge. Many nights I sat in my study late at night
downloading my mail, reading each message, pondering the ones that struck
me, and enjoying the conversation. It was a time when nothing else
mattered to me. . .a time when I could just be "me" without any pressures
or expectations. . .it has been a healthy thing for me to participate.

Another reason why I post on this list and not on others is the strong
sense of community I feel here. It is _safe_ to post here. Some of my
thinking has been challenged in private E-Mail's, but no one has ever been
unkind or demeaning.

I still remember my first post. I challenged Rol on one of his posts. Rol
responded in the most civil manner that I felt a little awkward for having
written the message I did. But this introduced me to the basic rule of the
list. . .civility. What a rare value to find on a listserver!

My participation has dropped as I've worked through some of life's
challenges, but it is still a place of refuge.

-- 
Ben Compton
The Accidental Learning Group                  Work: (801) 222-6178
Improving Business through Science and Art     bcompton@geocities.com
http://www.e-ad.com/ben/BEN.HTM
 

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>