Comments on: Meaning-Making Machines

By: Swati

Swati — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:04:45 +0000

You have given me a new idea! Thanks. Will respond some day perhaps with another thought. For now, because I couldn’t comment on the big mirror post, you do realize of course that a person will be afraid of the same kind of behaviour as he or she is capable of? A liar will wonder if the other is lying. A manipulative will take care to be on the lookout to avoid being manipulated. A thief will hear ‘you have stolen this’ in any question asking how he or she got a thing. We know the tools we use, and those are the only ones we really know well, so those are what we expect the others to use. Even if we know this not to be the case, there is precious little we can do because we don’t have any other knowledge!

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:25:22 +0000

Considering things I’ve witnessed online – again – in the past day or two, this is really fascinating to think about. Thank you for sharing! I’m all swirly with thoughts now…

By: LaliaTK

LaliaTK — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:10:35 +0000

Given the horrifying things that have been happening in the economy lately, I found this part to be particularly comforting:

“When you’re feeling powerless, maybe you should stop and think about what you really care about — something you do have control over.”

Thanks, Derek. :)

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:05:32 +0000

My wife says I don’t have a full experience until I talk about it and the more I talk about it the more it falls more naturally into a story form for better transmission.

Storymaking is the next step after simply thinking outside one’s head, it’s the publishing step.

Great post Derek, it has me thinking (for now inside but soon outside my head).

By the way, happy new year.

By: heather

heather — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:28:22 +0000

Great post Derek. Other psych-ish terms for that “in control” feeling as you put it are grounding or feeling safe. I prefer focussing on feeling safe/free than the term “in control” because when you’re feeling safe and in that easy place, you’re better able to deal with things you *don’t* control. And you simply cannot control other people (no matter how much we all may try :-)

I believe it works even more strongly with the body than the mind. Being with someone in person helps ground you (unless the person(s) you’re dealing with completely ignore you). It’s one of the key reasons I use food and physical action as well as personal passions to anchor people when I draw them out in my shows.

You’ve given me food for thought and I will ponder more on ways that can translate this online.

By: Rasmus

Rasmus — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:45:15 +0000

Very interesting and it makes perfect sense, when you think about it. Oddly though, I would think that being able to see tons of images would be preferable. Maybe I just like not being in control. Where else am I supposed to find inspiration? :)

By: Ted R.

Ted R. — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:38:35 +0000

Fascinating and spot-on from my experiences. Thx!