Discuss: Where Have All the Joiners Gone?

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P.S.

Attn: Dennis Mitchell

There are two kinds of people in the world, generally: EMOTERS and REASONSERS, where the former falls, generally, in liberals’ political camp, and the latter in conservatives’ poltical camp.  Read my articles in here:

Underlying Psychology of Politics
http://underlyingpsychologyofpoltics.blogspot.com/

To name-call Peggy “EMOTER” isn’t being negative but stating a fact about her opinion, as it is about HOW SHE F-E-E-E-L-S about race and community--based upon her anecdotal, personal experiences. 

I had referenced a HARVARD SOCIAL/CULTURAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL study about how racial diversity badly impacts communities’ sense of social and cultural cohesion.

Professor Putnam, a leftist, was shocked by his own findings!  But was brave enough, eventually, to publish the UNCOMFORTABLE conclusions.

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Quote from Deacon Elurby’s previous comment: “There are two kinds of people in the world, generally: EMOTERS and REASONSERS, where the former falls, generally, in liberals’ political camp, and the latter in conservatives’ poltical camp.”

I’m always suspicious of attempts to force the complexity of the human mind into two separate boxes; I sometimes say with a wink, “there are two kinds of people: those who say there are two kinds of people and those who don’t—I’m one of the latter”.  My suspicion grows when the two boxes are claimed to align neatly with other dichotomies, such as male and female or liberal and conservative.

I think it’s worth hearing Putnam’s own comment on his study: 

“It would be unfortunate if a politically correct progressivism were to deny the reality of the challenge to social solidarity posed by diversity,” he writes in the new report. “It would be equally unfortunate if an ahistorical and ethnocentric conservatism were to deny that addressing that challenge is both feasible and desirable.” (Quote from http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/08/05/the_downside_of_diversity/)

One other perspective on this: cultural diversity isn’t a new thing in the US; we’ve dealt with the challenges and blessings of diverse cultures and perspectives throughout our history.  The short-term effects are typically those Putnam describes; the longer-term outcomes can definitely be positive (as he also says).

I recommend reading the full article at the link above for a fuller, and naturally more complex, picture.  Also, a recent talk by Putnam is at http://www.ohiocampuscompact.org/cffm/custom/File/Putnam%20E%20Pluribus%20Unum.pdf.

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Attn: Dig on

Well, finally, someone has checked in with useful information on Professor Putman’s study! 

Thank you!

As for your being suspicious of anyone pointing out dichotomies, “such as male and female or liberal and conservative,” PLEASE NOTE:

Duality is the central, underlying foundation of this universe, which duality must ALWAYS be considered when analyzing ANY phenomenon within in it. 

Duh!  Doh!  Oops!

Please read my articles in here:
http://underlyingpsychologyofpolitics.blogspot.com/

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Deacon Elurby, sorry that you find me too emotional. I was merely stating my own experiences. I too, am fairly well educated, have a juris doctor, so please do not be so condescending. Your underlying psychology of politics was fascinating, but couldn’t find the references which verify your Left Brain/Right Brain theory. Perhaps I missed it.

Hi, Peggy:

There are no references in here because it’s an opinion piece not a research paper:

Underlying Psychology of Politics
http://underlyingpsychologyofpolitics.blogspot.com/

I’m not breaking new ground there but posing premises and conclusions based upon the unique - and known- characteristics of the left and right hemispheres of the brain

Applying hemisphericity to politics is new, though, for which theory of “political cross-lateralization,” - a term I had coined in the 1980s - I do take credit.

Regarding your emotionalism, it is a woman’s nature to be more emotional than men are, while it’s a man’s nature to be more reason-driven ((yes, my statement is a generalization; it’s a stereotype; it’s not politically correct; it’s bigoted; and IT IS TRUE in most cases for women and men)).

Because FEMINISM has been on the rise for decades while MASCULINISM has been in decline, emotionalism has been increasingly applied to social/cultural/racial/political problems in the West, which declining use of LOGIC-DRIVEN reason for emotion-premised “fixes” has caused increasing social and cultural and racial and political DECAY ((chaos)).

In other words, because feminism is on the march and masculinism in retreat, Western civilization has been ((is)) in decline.

Hrumph! It’s not proven, but to all intents and purposes I am quite sure that I am a male and yet, inexplicably, I am definitely having an emotional todo over some of the comments here. Most definitely emotional. What is a poor troll to do?

I say, my dear sir, do you mind passing that flask of testosterone? I fear my reason has done and gone fluttering out of the window and my Y chromosome threatens to let me down. There’s a good lad, yes.

What’s that you say? I shouldn’t make such unsubstantiated judgements without properly seasoned academic credentials? Wot? Male anger is not an emotion? Dear me, and I did so love those spats with the boys! So, shall we say, “invigorating”! Quite right, though. We men-folk are such level-headed amphibians. I’m certain that scuffle between the husband and wife next door undoubtedly arose due to her flighty nature. And he took the reins of reason, while I sat quietly nursing a cup of tea, as logic dictated. Those women are so emotional when they cry!

Toodle loo! I’m off to quench this abominable pathos. You just never know when I might turn female. Horrors!

Next thing you know the whole village will find itself valuing the welfare of all! All reason abandoned! Preemptive consideration! Warping of Myth Detection!

Shall we return to our discussion of the value of community? Or must we get A WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM HARVARD first?

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Attn: Miguel, et al

What we’re discussing here is critical to community cohesion and community longevity, as community leaders’/members’ lack of knowledge of the psychology underlying male/female dynamics - and the traditional, biologically engendered sex-roles in community - often causes an otherwise successful community to disintegrate.

Biology IS, to a great extent, destiny--no matter how hard feminists decry it.

We see that sex-based biological drive everywhere, and it is not due to environmental influences.

Here’s a recent example of hereditable sex-based biology driving sex-based behavior:

http://www.bigbuilderonline.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=366&articleID=512040

Among many reasons, communities die for lack of knowledge of the psychologies underlying intra-communal, male/female relationships.

Regarding emotion vs. reason, recall that feminist Gloria Steinem had told ABC 20/20 correspondent John Stossel, on national TV: “Logic doesn’t matter!"--in response to Stossel’s program about how girls and boys are born with inherently different drives.

Miguel, you’re able to have your testosterone (T) production tested, and if inadequate, you may have your doctor prescribe, say, a 5% jar of T-cream, as many post-menopausal women are using each day to bolster their sex drive and their general sense of well-being.

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Attn: Orion Society/Magazine Staff

You ought to contact the “Fellowship for Intentional Community,” which coordinates/disseminates information about INTENTIONAL COMMUNITIES across America, such as Virginia’s Twin Oaks community, and which contact might provide you with lists of names and addresses of folks who would be interested in your magazine. 

You may contact the main office in Missouri: 1-800-995-8342.

Fellowship of Intentional Community publishes an excellent quarterly magazine, and sells it national list of U.S. communities.

- just a thought -

As for the thread Peggy had started, regarding Professor Putnam’s “Bowling Alone” research, I have to quit it.

My apologies to anyone who posts a response to my last entry, as I won’t be able to reply.

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