Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Creative Consensus Solutions

[Wayne Tyson (landrest]

Frances and CoHo:

This issue is of much broader implication than cohousing, of course (e.g., 
governance at all levels, foreign relations). Coincidentally I just watched 
Robert Remini's lecture about his book, "At the Edge of Precipice: Henry 
Clay and the Compromise That Saved the Union" on C-SPAN 2. Those interested 
can watch it on the website.

I may have mentioned previously the work of Laura Nader on conflict 
resolution (Mexican villages). Of course A. H. Maslow's "Politics III," an 
all-too-obscure paper published by the Stanford Research Institute is one of 
the great "sleepers" of all time on the subject.

I hope to hear more from the various cohousing units about the kinds of 
conflicts that arise, how their resolution is accomplished, and ideas from 
anyone about how creative consensus solutions might be reached. One of the 
main issues that gives me a bit of pause in considering cohousing is that 
they might turn out to be little more than glorified condominiums in hip 
clothing, and my experience with HOA's has been horrifying. Nonetheless, I 
continue to hold out hope that I will someday fall into a place and group 
that quite naturally has a level of social cohesion that will set an example 
for the world--or at least one that has the elementary characteristics that 
will continue to head in that direction.

WT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frances Freewater" <freedoan [at] sonic.net>
To: "Cohousing-L" <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 10:31 AM
Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Creative Consensus Solutions


> I LOVED THIS.......AND WILL PASS IT ON TO MY COMMUNITY.
> YULUPA CO HOUSING IN SANTA ROSA, CA
>
> THANKS,
>
> FRANCES FREEWATER
> On Feb 13, 2011, at 12:28 PM, Wayne Tyson wrote:
>
> > Hi y'all:
> >
> > By definition, you must look outside of consensus for a creative
> > "solution" that did not "exist" prior to the consensus process
> > (e.g., manipulation through (friendly) persuasion or intimidation or
> > authority. More than that, you must be dedicated to a continuous
> > process of questioning of all assumptions.
> >
> > Many people do not like this, and will object, because they seek
> > power, and this process frustrates the concentration of power--it is
> > more "powerful" than authority because it is flexible, resilient,
> > adaptive. It embraces change rather than resists it. That's why
> > peaceful resistance disarms the armed.
> >
> > The root of this cultural phenomenon is egocentrism, a
> > characteristic which once was recognized for its corrosive effect
> > upon social cohesion and was isolated or modulated by social mores.
> > It may have peaked in the recent "me" generation although evidence
> > of its persistence is glaringly present in media, and it is
> > increasingly "uncool" amongst the twenty- and thirty-somethings whom
> > I know.
> >
> > Consensus may certainly be a useful, even necessary or vital bridge
> > upon which to transition to an Age of Reconciliation from the Age of
> > Exploitation, so it is natural and encouraging to see a question of
> > this level of intellectual integration arise. To "answer" it
> > requires a confession of ignorance; I hereby confess.
> >
> > One possible way of keeping the door open for creative solutions
> > might be to "require" that all consensus statements include all
> > alternative points, ideas, analyses, etc. That could be a fairly
> > simple starting point, especially when looking back after a period
> > of consensus-statement testing in action.
> >
> > But the most important mental state of all might be something like
> > "The suspension of judgment is the highest exercise in intellectual
> > discipline." --Raymond Gilmore
> >
> > WT
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Ann Zabaldo" <ZABALDO [at] EARTHLINK.NET>
> > To: "Cohousing-L Cohousing-L" <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2011 8:20 AM
> > Subject: [C-L]_ Creative Consensus Solutions
> >
> >
> > > Hi all --
> > >
> > > Can you recount an issue/situation that any group you belong to
> > > used consensus to achieve a creative solution to what looked like a
> > > deadlocked black or white choice?  That is, by staying in the
> > > consensus process you were able to achieve a solution that did not
> > > exist prior?
> > >
> > > I'm looking for examples of using consensus that resulted in the
> > > surfacing of a creative third or fourth choice.
> > >
> > > Many thanks!
> > >
> > > Best --
> > >
> > > Ann Zabaldo
> > > Takoma Village Cohousing
> > > Washington, DC
> > > Principal, Cohousing Collaborative, LLC
> > > Falls Church VA
> > > 703 663 3911
> > >
> > > _________________________________________________________________
> > > Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
> > > http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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