Comments for Xenia Institute http://xeniainstitute.org Transformation through Dialogue Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:05:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on ‘Recognition Lies at the Core of Dialogue’ by Zev Trachtenberg http://xeniainstitute.org/2010/03/10/recognition-lies-at-the-core-of-dialogue/comment-page-1/#comment-12433 Zev Trachtenberg Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:05:02 +0000 http://xeniainstitute.org/?p=6891#comment-12433 That introduction idea is really good. I guess there's an inherent difference between relatively closed sites designed for dialogue between a smallish number of people, and the open boards that seem so problematic. Maybe a desirable outcome is for there to be two kinds of boards--one with more civilized rules, like the one you suggest, and one wide open--with the hope that the understanding will evolve that the former is serious, and the latter is just entertainment. Ultimately the answer is in the realm of social norms, which are not the kind of thing that can be imposed . . . but they can be cultivated. I do think this is a topic that deserves some deep consideration--by people who spend alot more time on blogs than I do! That introduction idea is really good. I guess there’s an inherent difference between relatively closed sites designed for dialogue between a smallish number of people, and the open boards that seem so problematic. Maybe a desirable outcome is for there to be two kinds of boards–one with more civilized rules, like the one you suggest, and one wide open–with the hope that the understanding will evolve that the former is serious, and the latter is just entertainment. Ultimately the answer is in the realm of social norms, which are not the kind of thing that can be imposed . . . but they can be cultivated.

I do think this is a topic that deserves some deep consideration–by people who spend alot more time on blogs than I do!

]]> Comment on American Dream | Achieving the Dream by Chai http://xeniainstitute.org/2010/03/11/american-dream-achieving-the-dream/comment-page-1/#comment-12370 Chai Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:57:42 +0000 http://xeniainstitute.org/?p=5987#comment-12370 Nice work, Caitlin. A timely question to ask for those in my community in light of the school board's decision to close 26 of our public schools and lay off 700 teachers. What chance do those students have of success with the state of their public education? Anyone with money will send their children to private school or move to the suburbs, where the schools thrive. The students attending public schools in our urban core don't have that option. They are overwhelmingly disadvantaged by poverty and the ever-present remnants of racial segregation. If no one is willing to invest in their education, because those making the decisions have their children attending schools elsewhere, what chance will they have of attaining the American Dream? Sadly, not much at all. Nice work, Caitlin. A timely question to ask for those in my community in light of the school board’s decision to close 26 of our public schools and lay off 700 teachers. What chance do those students have of success with the state of their public education? Anyone with money will send their children to private school or move to the suburbs, where the schools thrive. The students attending public schools in our urban core don’t have that option. They are overwhelmingly disadvantaged by poverty and the ever-present remnants of racial segregation. If no one is willing to invest in their education, because those making the decisions have their children attending schools elsewhere, what chance will they have of attaining the American Dream? Sadly, not much at all.

]]> Comment on On the Trail: I Got a Job by Celena http://xeniainstitute.org/2010/03/10/on-the-trail-i-got-a-job/comment-page-1/#comment-12348 Celena Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:41:25 +0000 http://xeniainstitute.org/?p=6706#comment-12348 Congrats on your job, I am sure you are doing well. I hope the boundaries in your workplace get a bit more defined. Makes life less complicated, I'm sure. :) Congrats on your job, I am sure you are doing well. I hope the boundaries in your workplace get a bit more defined. Makes life less complicated, I’m sure. :)

]]> Comment on ‘Recognition Lies at the Core of Dialogue’ by Lessa Keller-Kenton http://xeniainstitute.org/2010/03/10/recognition-lies-at-the-core-of-dialogue/comment-page-1/#comment-12340 Lessa Keller-Kenton Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:08:32 +0000 http://xeniainstitute.org/?p=6891#comment-12340 Hello. Thank you for your kind words. It is certainly nice to learn that people are actually considering what you write :) Anyways, this post asked some fascinating questions. Like you I have noticed the tendency for web comments to turn into arguments rather than conversation due to the fact that the individuals involved feel no connection to the other. But how to try and overcome this tendency in order to utilize the potential of the web to facilitate dialogue? One thought that just popped into my head was the value of introductions. If one problem of web-conversation is people only see a chat name instead of a person, then perhaps building a fuller web-persona encourages connection. I have found that those bloggers who include personal details, even if it's only the occasional mention of their favorite hobbies or crazy pets, tend to generate more constructive comments/conversations because they are seen as more human and as being open to forming relationships with their viewers. Perhaps this approach might be incorporated into dialogue sites? This issue deserves a lengthy pondering, and I hope to come up with some ideas worth exploring in regards to your questions. Cheers! Hello. Thank you for your kind words. It is certainly nice to learn that people are actually considering what you write :) Anyways, this post asked some fascinating questions. Like you I have noticed the tendency for web comments to turn into arguments rather than conversation due to the fact that the individuals involved feel no connection to the other. But how to try and overcome this tendency in order to utilize the potential of the web to facilitate dialogue?

One thought that just popped into my head was the value of introductions. If one problem of web-conversation is people only see a chat name instead of a person, then perhaps building a fuller web-persona encourages connection. I have found that those bloggers who include personal details, even if it’s only the occasional mention of their favorite hobbies or crazy pets, tend to generate more constructive comments/conversations because they are seen as more human and as being open to forming relationships with their viewers. Perhaps this approach might be incorporated into dialogue sites?

This issue deserves a lengthy pondering, and I hope to come up with some ideas worth exploring in regards to your questions.

Cheers!

]]> Comment on Pondering Dialogue… by ‘Recognition Lies at the Core of Dialogue’ | Xenia Institute http://xeniainstitute.org/2010/03/05/pondering-dialogue/comment-page-1/#comment-12329 ‘Recognition Lies at the Core of Dialogue’ | Xenia Institute Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:30:28 +0000 http://xeniainstitute.org/?p=6782#comment-12329 [...] Lessa Keller-Kenton mentioned in her post was particularly thought-provoking for me: her conversation with the elderly man from West Texas.  [...] [...] Lessa Keller-Kenton mentioned in her post was particularly thought-provoking for me: her conversation with the elderly man from West Texas.  [...]

]]> Comment on When It Hits Home: ideas through dialogue by Sneak Preview Photos « 1 in 3 Production's Blog http://xeniainstitute.org/2010/03/05/when-it-hits-home-ideas-through-dialogue/comment-page-1/#comment-12270 Sneak Preview Photos « 1 in 3 Production's Blog Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:29:42 +0000 http://xeniainstitute.org/?p=6833#comment-12270 [...] out the Xenia Institutes coverage of 1 in –>  When it Hits Home, Follow-Up, Ideas Through Dialogue, [...] [...] out the Xenia Institutes coverage of 1 in –>  When it Hits Home, Follow-Up, Ideas Through Dialogue, [...]

]]> Comment on When It Hits Home: follow-up and the future by Sneak Preview Photos « 1 in 3 Production's Blog http://xeniainstitute.org/2010/03/05/when-it-hits-home-follow-up-and-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-12269 Sneak Preview Photos « 1 in 3 Production's Blog Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:28:42 +0000 http://xeniainstitute.org/?p=6846#comment-12269 [...] out the Xenia Institutes coverage of 1 in –>  When it Hits Home, Follow-Up, Ideas Through Dialogue, [...] [...] out the Xenia Institutes coverage of 1 in –>  When it Hits Home, Follow-Up, Ideas Through Dialogue, [...]

]]> Comment on When It Hits Home: An Evening Concerning Intimate Partner Violence by Sneak Preview Photos « 1 in 3 Production's Blog http://xeniainstitute.org/2010/02/15/when-it-hits-home-an-evening-concerning-intimate-partner-violence/comment-page-1/#comment-12268 Sneak Preview Photos « 1 in 3 Production's Blog Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:26:16 +0000 http://xeniainstitute.org/?p=6176#comment-12268 [...] out the Xenia Institutes coverage of 1 in 3 here –>  When it Hits Home, Follow-Up, Ideas Through Dialogue, [...] [...] out the Xenia Institutes coverage of 1 in 3 here –>  When it Hits Home, Follow-Up, Ideas Through Dialogue, [...]

]]> Comment on When It Hits Home: ideas through dialogue by Sandra http://xeniainstitute.org/2010/03/05/when-it-hits-home-ideas-through-dialogue/comment-page-1/#comment-12113 Sandra Sat, 06 Mar 2010 03:20:13 +0000 http://xeniainstitute.org/?p=6833#comment-12113 Clint, I appreciate your promptness and look forward to clarification on the matter. Unfortunately, when dealing with subjects as delicate as domestic and sexual violence, rhetorical precision is of the utmost importance, so as to not misinform, lead astray, or misrepresent the intentions of the Xenia Institute to any visitors of the site. Sandra Clint,
I appreciate your promptness and look forward to clarification on the matter. Unfortunately, when dealing with subjects as delicate as domestic and sexual violence, rhetorical precision is of the utmost importance, so as to not misinform, lead astray, or misrepresent the intentions of the Xenia Institute to any visitors of the site.

Sandra

]]> Comment on When It Hits Home: ideas through dialogue by Clint http://xeniainstitute.org/2010/03/05/when-it-hits-home-ideas-through-dialogue/comment-page-1/#comment-12107 Clint Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:49:57 +0000 http://xeniainstitute.org/?p=6833#comment-12107 Sandra, Thank you for your comment; I really appreciate your candor. I'm not certain that the facilitator who listed this idea meant that students would be "play pretending" to be in life-threatening situations. I think the context of that idea had more to do with situations in which one student might recognize that a fellow student was upset about a situation that had happened at home. The purpose of role play in that instance might be to teach students to report this situation to an adult. I'm not certain, though, and will check with the facilitator and submit a follow-up post soon. Clint Williams Xenia Sandra,

Thank you for your comment; I really appreciate your candor. I’m not certain that the facilitator who listed this idea meant that students would be “play pretending” to be in life-threatening situations. I think the context of that idea had more to do with situations in which one student might recognize that a fellow student was upset about a situation that had happened at home. The purpose of role play in that instance might be to teach students to report this situation to an adult. I’m not certain, though, and will check with the facilitator and submit a follow-up post soon.

Clint Williams
Xenia

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