Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: What's wrong with communes?

[Racheli&John (jnpalme]

** Reply to note from "Elizabeth Stevenson" <tamgoddess [at] home.com> Thu, 10 
May 2001 22:08:39 +0000
>From Racheli

   
> >> > What's wrong with communes?
> -------
> I think the problem is with the question, not the answers. It's not that
> there's something wrong with communes, per se, but that the perception of
> them is used by the media as a shortcut to explaining cohousing that is
> derogatory in nature and precludes the reader from making an informed,
> unbiased opinion. It's sound-bite journalism, and reduces cohousing to an
> idea that can be dismissed easily enough for people to re-affirm their own
> choices, even though they may be deeply dissatisfied with their lack of
> community.

I think the above description is often true.  But it doesn't explain why
we find ourselves tied by it.  I understand the need to attract people
during the building phase (even though I'd like to suggest that
if we weren't so worried about the "commune" thing, it might
allow us to attract in larger numbers the kind of people who think 
for themselves).  
It seems to me a bit odd that while we are all, to a larger or smaller
extent, agents for social change, there is such a pervasive feeling
that we should allow the media to determine what "is" and
what "isn't".

R.


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