Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Coho & LIFESTYLE CHANGES--> Sustainability?

[Rob Sandelin (robsan]

Stu wrote:
>I don't personally subscribe to the view that any set of values is OK if
>only a community has all clearly agreed to it in advance.  Some values
>are better than others.  An extreme example would be a cohousing
>community which existed for the support and encouragement of pedophilia.
>Less extreme examples are communities which are not taking any
>responsibility for what they are doing to the planet.

This strikes me as a classic values discussion.  Some people hold 
environmental values, others do not and see those values as a deterent 
to business, productivity, etc. (Typical republicanism one could say).

Both have valid viewpoints based on their values.  If I don't hold 
environmental values, then I say the world is fine as it is and that 
there is no problem.  If I don't care about extinction (who needs 
spotted owls - lots of people need wood and paper), then the 
clearcutting of the forestst is an easy decision to make.

If sustainability is a value your group holds, then you want to be sure 
you promote and discuss that value with potential members so people who 
join you share your values.  The biggest fights and conflicts I have 
observed and been involved in boiled down to values differences and 
lack of respect/understanding of those differences.   To claim that 
some values are better than others, is subjective to your viewpoint.  
If I don't hold your values, and you proclaim them to be superior, then 
I can just write you off as an "extremist".  As a community, if the 
founders hold values, don't articulate them and people who join later 
don't hold them, you will potentially have a large area for conflict.  
I know of a handful of communities which have disbanded over values 
differences and I know of others where large numbers of people left 
over values conflicts.

I would also point out that values are the root of passion.  Most the 
time I care intensely about an issue in my community, the root of my 
passion is a value I think is being transgressed on.  So if people 
respond passionately to an issue, delve into what values they hold to 
get a clue about where they are coming from.

Rob Sandelin
Sharingwood.