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Utopian EcoVillage Network Federation |
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Guiding people to Intentional Community living |
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81. Individual Pursuit of the Science of Leadership Practicing shared leadership means that everyone involved needs to study the science, principles and examples of leadership. Try to use what you learn by doing this in developing your own leadership skills. This is the only way in which egalitarian, democratic systems can work efficiently.
82. Identifying Special Interest Areas Leading an interesting life doesn't just happen to you; you have to bring something to it to make it happen. One step in this direction is to identify the things you are naturally drawn to, and be active in pursuing them, on your own and with friends.
83. Intellectual Vigor Strive to develop and utilize your intellectual faculties to the fullest extent. Being thoughtful and using the mind arc essential to mental health maintenance, good social relations and high self-esteem. Active intellectual participation is fun, stimulating, and rewarding.
84. Love of Learning A rapturous fondness of learning and study is a good thing to have, and should be cultivated.
85. Study and Use of the Gestalt-O-Rama Roster of Self-Improvement Techniques Read through the 130-plus Gestalt-O-Rama self-improvement techniques and try using any that strike your fancy. Be proactive about self-improvement and willing to try out new things.
86. Study of Current Events See yourself as an informed and caring global citizen. Interest and concern regarding what's happening in the world is a motivation to try to keep abreast of news and relevant global issues.
87. Keeping Up with 'Turns" You are responsible for trying to stay in close touch with, and understand, new theories, plans, policies, emerging ideas, events and other developments of significance that evolve through the group process.
88. Ability to Run Out Your Trip You should be able to tell others what the lifestyle package you are involved in is all about, including explaining the standards and nature of the growth/communications process you are using.
UNACCEPTABLE CONVERSATIONAL BEHAVIOR
89. No Button Pushing Intentional button pushing is unacceptable when done for it's own sake. Always try to present a controversial subject or critical input in a gentle manner. Only escalate intensity of language or tone when the recipient of the input has shown that she/he is clearly NOT receptive.
90. No Character Assassination Changing the subject from that which is being discussed to the qualities (or lack thereof) of the person holding an opposing position is unacceptable. People must stick to the subject at hand rather than attack the characters of other people in the debate.
91. No Entrapment Entrapment is asking a question on a debatable issue in which there are one or more answers, which will evoke a personal disapproval response.
92. No Harping on Weak Points & Sore Spots Once a Gestalt issue is resolved, sensitivity and discretion are expected. It should be reviewed only when relevant to the issue at hand and then with sensitivity and discretion.
93. No Digs Coming up with derogatory nicknames or phrases to be used repeatedly in debate or as a method of motivation is unacceptable.
94. Unbuggability: Strive to Become Unbuggable Try to think of intervening variables between stimulus and response, other than allowing your "buttons to be pushed" and getting bugged.
95. Consensus Minus One Consensus minus one is only to be used for behavioral or psychological feedback. It is NOT to be used for debatable issues or issues that can be verified by a different way. Members of Kerista are to realize that consensus minus one is only needed when someone is extremely defensive, and that a simple majority is all that is required to resolve most situations. Consensus minus one can also be used to determine if someone is in violation of a standard.
96. Responsive Listening Members actively listen to one another and respond to one another. This is what is meant by the Keristan respect for Martin Buber's phrase "The Life of Dialog". It is unacceptable that a Keristan is so wrapped up in her/his agenda that she/he cannot respond to a subject introduced by someone else.
97. Conversational Sensitivity Matters that are not urgent should not be introduced in the middle of another conversation. Instead, they should be introduced at an appropriate time.
98. No Interrupting Keristans make an attempt to avoid interrupting others. If in the flow of a fast-paced conversation someone cuts someone else and it is pointed out to her/him, the person who cut should back down immediately and gracefully.
99. No Humiliation It is inappropriate to give critical input to someone in front of relatives, old friends, visitors, business contacts or employees.
100. Non-Consensual Gestalt Gestalting people who have not yet decided that they adhere to the Gestalt environment's techniques is gauche. This applies to anyone we are meeting, including people interested in the community.
101. Conversational Humility None of our standards are dogma. Since this is true, it is inappropriate to have a reflexive negative response to new ideas.
102. No Arrogance It is considered gauche to imply that we are superior to other trips and philosophies or to go around saying that we have the only plan.
103. Sensitive Behavior Not Creating Awkwardness An attempt is made when visiting other persons, events or scenes to fit in, be the ideal guest and follow their agenda. Always strive to behave correctly in any given situation without doing anything you'll have to apologize for.
104. No Touchiness about Words or Phrases Keristans strive not to be touchy about phrases or words used by others (especially outsiders). Instead, they strive to understand the idea trying to be conveyed. Try not to have your "buttons pushed" by other people's use of shocking words.
105. The Oral Tradition There are other standards and behavioral norms besides those recorded in writing. It is not necessary to write down debatable issues or techniques before they can be talked out. The oral tradition includes what is OK behavior and what is not OK. Ultimately, all behavioral norms will be written down.
106. No Exaggeration or Hyperbole Exaggerating another person's point of view to the point of distortion is unacceptable. This is most often done in an attempt to generalize her/his point. Debate based on the general point is not the same as the debate against the specific point being made. Attempts to debate the generalized, exaggerated point are a form of changing the subject.
107. No Distorting Subjects and Meanings No attacking something different than that which was asserted. It is unacceptable to ignore a person's proposition that refers to a particular subject and, instead, interpret it in some quite different sense, and then refute the distorted subject. Taking a dialectical word or phrase out of context is a form of changing the subject. It is unacceptable to use different meanings of your opponent's words to refute her/his argument. Example: Person A says, "You are not yet initiated into the mysteries of the Kantian philosophy." Person B replies, "Oh, if it's mysteries you're talking of, I'll have nothing to do with them."
108. No Deceptive Requests It is unacceptable to trick someone into doing something that they would not ordinarily want to do. All members of the community are on an honor code to behave ethically towards one another, without introducing any kind of creepy behavior.
109. Sensitivity to Conversational Volleyball Each participant in a conversation attempts to refrain from dominating the conversation. She/he makes space for others to talk. Going on a long and drawn out explanation before coming to the point is a method of filibustering (dominating the floor), and is hence avoided.
110. No Prejudicial Connotations Concepts or ideas should not be refuted by inserting what you intend to prove into the definition of the idea, thereby distorting the opposition's idea, and arguing against your own distortion of someone else's idea.
111. No Phony "Intimidation" Rap It is unacceptable to repress feelings of intimidation over an extended period of time, and then finally blame someone else for these feelings. Example: "You've intimidated me all this time, and I've been too intimidated to say anything about it." It is extremely important to point out the intimidating words or actions immediately as they happen, so that the group can evaluate them objectively, and resolve any disputes before they grow out of hand. It is important not to practice "storing" and building up grudges and resentment.
Kerista Global Village Network
For more information, telephone Jud at (415) 558-9330 or email him at askbrojud@webtv.net
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The 111 Standards (81-111) |