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Ah shucks...this probably came out sounding all maudlin, or something...but screw it, just trying to say how I felt about the whole experience.

Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!
by whataboutbob on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 09:15:36 AM EST
Ah, Bob, I read the title and the first few lines and was getting excited that this was going to be a wonkish diary about Big Concepts and whatnot. And then you just get all positive about meeting up with us!

But maybe this stuff is really not that complex. I had a great time with you all in Paris as well, it was great to see the faces and talk to you all, even the short conversations. What you described about your work and background in a couple of minutes sounded very meaningful. So by all means feel invited to write a lot more about it when you're in the mood.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 09:39:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]
To be candid, Nanne, there really hasn't been much interest in resilience related mental health concepts around these parts, so figured I wouldn't put much time into it..

Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!
by whataboutbob on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 10:41:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Considering you're probably the person that knows most about this on the site, that you recently described the topic as esoteric and are not the author of the only diary that is directly about resilience, I think you're being a bit unfair.

For instance, do you think that online community contributes to resilience like a real, physical, local community does? Do you think our meetups constitute [frequent] enough personal contact to make the community "more than virtual" for the purposes of building resilience? Is something on the scale of Yearly Kos too large (though physical) to build an effective community for the purposes of resilience?

Who on this site other than yourself do you expect to write diaries or comments addressing these questions?

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 10:57:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]
In other words: dare to be wonkish, Bob.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 11:00:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Are you suuuure you want me to be wonkish, migeru? Be careful what you ask for! <heh!!>

Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!
by whataboutbob on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 12:17:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Okay, don't, but then don't complain there's not interest.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 12:20:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Oh (and part 2), I absolutely know I'm not the only one who has written about resilience here...afew wrote a very interesting article on it...but I didn't feel it got the mileage it deserved. Its not a big deal, really, but the interests here really tend to be towards intellectual vs. emotional or intuitive type topics. Its hard to gauge interest, but if there isn't interest...that's all I'm saying. But, if you want more...

Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!
by whataboutbob on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 12:20:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]
You really want us to ask you for more, don't you?

the interests here really tend to be towards intellectual vs. emotional or intuitive type topics

Personally, I'm interested in intellectual rather than emotional treatment of any topic.

The only interest you need to gauge is your own interest in writing.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 12:34:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
OK .... you want to be groveled to ...

O Mighty whataboutbob we beseech thee!

PLEASE, oh PLEASE dispense your knowledge to us undeserving slobs.  (We are not worthy!  We are not worthy!)  Send forth thy insightful diaries to transubstantiate our darkness of ignorance into the light of Perfect Awareness.  (We are not worthy!  We are not worthy!)  Yea, verily, forsooth - and all that kinda crap - we await Thy guiding hand.

8-p


A doo run-run-run, a doo run-run

by ATinNM on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 01:29:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]
OK, you two, drop your "scientific front".

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena.
by metavision on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 01:44:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Like this:

?

A doo run-run-run, a doo run-run

by ATinNM on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 01:49:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]
ATinNM - you got me to laugh out (assuming it was a snark).

If, however, you think I really think that way (that I assume wisdom of some sort)...you read me totally wrong. That's just not me.

I enjoy the intelligence of the community...I learn tremendous amounts...daily. I don't have an intellectual approach to things, is all, but I am still curious and keen to learn (I was terrible at math, and not much interested in science either...until I got interested n psychology, and that's not a hard science). Anyway, my point was...from my experience, people are not interested in hearing about mental health or mental illness...generally its a conversation stopper...I don't know why, your guess is good as mine. I don't make judgements about it, but one tends not to pursue topics that stops conversation. I wasn't begging for pleas, though, even if it may have seemed like it.

Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!

by whataboutbob on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 02:35:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I was just foolin' around, man.  Having a little fun.

Please don't take it serious.

A doo run-run-run, a doo run-run

by ATinNM on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 03:34:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]
"dare to be wonkish" would be a good tag line for ET.

A doo run-run-run, a doo run-run
by ATinNM on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 01:45:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]
do you think that online community contributes to resilience like a real, physical, local community does?

From my own experience, I'd say it does in some ways.  I think I've mentioned before that I had ptsd after a really bad car accident when I was a teenager.  It involved trembling, sleeplessness, nightmares, etc.  The effects of that went away for the most part after some time, although I'm still not a good passenger.

However, more recently I went through a very long period of illness, during which I had a really terrible procedure done that I still don't much like to talk about.  After that, I had a really difficult time and was diagnosed with "medical ptsd."  This round, although it also involved sleeplessness, was less of the physical (no trembling or waking up screaming) and more of the emotional aspect.  The disconnect was far more intense than the first time.  I chalk this up to the different natures of the events -- one being an accident that was over in a few seconds and the other being a prolonged experience that, however necessary, was done deliberately.  It was very difficult to accept.

In any case, I was a wreck and had very little, if any, resilience.  I really credit the internet for helping me get through it and come out of it.  During that period, I lurked on the blogs almost entirely for the feeling of having company.  It was sort of like having other people around, but without the emotional risks of interacting in person.

Oh, and Bob, I obviously agree with the people downthread who'd like to read more of your writing on this.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 03:47:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Wow, Izzy...that's intense to hear of your experiences...and this is interesting because Lil was just wondering about the same thing: can't the internet and blogs provide a person the sense of connection and support...and yes...a sense of reassurance. I thought yes. You affirm that.

Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!
by whataboutbob on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 05:02:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Migeru, I actually do want to respond to you more indepth, but was spending the late afternoon and evening with Lil. Its late now, but I think your questions are important, and will come back asap to give some more thoughts...

Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!
by whataboutbob on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 05:04:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Okay, here's some further thoughts for the moment, in response to migeru:

do you think that online community contributes to resilience like a real, physical, local community does?

See Izzy's response...but before she had posted I would have also said that I believe it can. Not for everyone, not always, but I would wager that a number of people besides Izzy have experienced a sense of connection through communication on ET. I definitely that I have. But I also believe that ET...in particular... is a unique online community, because people are willing to share more personal and emotional aspects of their lives. Like Jerome about his son, I have talked about stuff, Barbara (and Migeru) have shared a lot about their relationship...to name but a few...and I can think of many, many other examples in comments and diaries where people have shared very personal stuff about what have or are going through in their lives. That all said, I think this is really rather unique of the ET community, and it doesn't happen that often here...and maybe as we get larger we won't see as much of that. I don't know of any other blog that does what we do...only rarely other places. So yes, I do believe it can...specifically referring to ET. I think meetups are important because they deepen connections and the sense of community.

Do you think our meetups constitute [frequent] enough personal contact to make the community "more than virtual" for the purposes of building resilience?

I think here each person has to gauge their own experience. But I think quality of contact can be just as important as quantity...though quantity of contact is important, for certain.

Is something on the scale of Yearly Kos too large (though physical) to build an effective community for the purposes of resilience?

That's a really good question - and I would say that its pretty definite. In my research on helping communities in the aftermath of large disasters or wars, or even during ongoing social emergencies (like the HIV/AIDS pandemic), the efforts to stabilize and rebuild the communities is in fact working to do so through enhancing and supporting of existing resilience. And working to stabilize, support and encourage individuals resilience in turn feedback to the community. Its getting put into practice in a lot of places by the UN, by governments and by numerous NGOs around the world. So it is possible for Yearlykos to have that experience, yes...but I guess that's up to the individuals too.

My point is that I think we are having the effect of building resilience individually and collectively here, its just hard to say about other situations...

Anyway...I hope that moves the ball forward a bit...I will try to say more, as more comes to mind.

Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!

by whataboutbob on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 06:40:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Aside from being extremely intelligent and very well educated, there are a lot of, well, very nice people who make up ET. It's always good for the soul to get together with nice people and take in those good rayons.

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!
by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 07:49:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]
The thing that is challenging in talking about the whole concept of support and enhancing resilience, is that research on resilience in children is only 15-20 years old, and only in the last 2-3 years are there actual field studies now occurring with increasing frequency to study the how activities like education, sport, play, and arts may be able help kids overcome the traumatic effects of disasters and armed conflicts.

As far as studies of improving adult resilience...I don't know of many. Its still a very new concept, in relation to adults. But I believe it is entirely possible that group undertakings...like ET...can definitely have a positive influence on people's health. But I am basing this thinking on ET, I can't really say if that is true for a larger blog like Dkos. But...I do think Dkos is having a positive impact on a lot of people too...

Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!

by whataboutbob on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 12:25:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]
In the 'real world', does the size of the community count? (Was it even researched? (Would you research it?))

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
by DoDo on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 05:10:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I have read that there is a limit to how many people anyone can keep in their immediate close network - it's as if our brain has evolved to adapt to the need to deal with a band of 50 to 100 individuals, or something.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 05:59:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]
My sister must be of a higher-order species, then.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
by DoDo on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 08:03:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Test her one say. See how many acquaintances, friends and family she can actually name off the top of her head.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 08:11:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Count me interested!
by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 11:35:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Me too.
by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 11:41:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Dito.
by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 12:10:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Me too.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.
by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 12:55:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yep.
by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 02:45:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]
uh-huh

The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it. Chinese Proverb.
by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 03:59:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Well okay...I see there is interest...I was wrong. I will come back and say more soon here, but can't tonight. But, here is a little article I wrote that was published on the "International Platform for Sport and Development" back in January, called "Trauma, Sport and Resilience", that gives some basic background on resilience and kids...though my interest is expandng into work with adults now too:

http://www.sportanddev.org/en/articles/trauma-sport-resilience/index.htm

Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!

by whataboutbob on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 04:54:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I too find the issues of resilience to be extremely interesting. It mostly comes from my own observations of how I dealt with my childhood (without any external intervention such as counselling) and somehow turned out in one piece whereas others end up too badly damaged to function as adults.

So perhaps my interest lies in a more familiar day to day sense (divorce or family breakups, abuse, neglect, bullying, exclusion and poverty) rather than massive trauma caused by wars or similar extremes.

It intrigues me as to the process by which some people can rationalise their experiences and separate themselves from it in order to move on with life and others hold onto everything in a way that tears them apart.

It is purely personality and intelligence or are there other factors?

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 09:21:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]
So perhaps my interest lies in a more familiar day to day sense (divorce or family breakups, abuse, neglect, bullying, exclusion and poverty) rather than massive trauma caused by wars or similar extremes.

It intrigues me as to the process by which some people can rationalise their experiences and separate themselves from it in order to move on with life and others hold onto everything in a way that tears them apart.

Thank you In Wales! This is exactly the kind of thing I am interested in too. And just because it isn't traumatic like a disaster or war, but if you are a kid feeling your way through these kinds of very stressful events, it is still extremely challenging. And why is it that some people are able to manage adversity better than others? (that's a root question)


Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!

by whataboutbob on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 02:36:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes that is the question that I've thought about for many years.  I don't have an answer beyond my own intuitive thoughts which I articulate badly since I don't have the psychologists language to use on it.  

Do you think that assumptions and stereotypes further the damage for some people ie assuming that a young black boy whose father is in prison for assaulting his wife and kids is going to be a troublemaker, too disruptive and damaged to do anything for?

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 03:15:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
by DoDo on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 05:12:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Moi aussi!

"Ne te courbe que pour aimer..." René Char
by Melanchthon on Sun Jun 24th, 2007 at 07:39:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]
mich drei
by PeWi on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 08:48:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]
PeWi, with apologies to Bob whose diary I'll read when I have more time, here is an inpromptu German grammar question. I just can't figure out how to render the following sentence correctly -- below a version I1m certain is wrong somehow, but hope it conveys what I want to tell:

...4 Exemplaren auf Deutsch und 1 Exemplar auf Ungarisch. Wir bitten Sie, den ungarischen und eines der deutschen Exemplaren zu unterschreiben...

(In English, roughly: ...4 copies in German and 1 copy in Hungarian. We ask you to sign the Hungarian and one of the German copies...)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 09:35:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Sorry, hope this is still on time:

I had to read it twice but I would write:
4 ExemplarE auf Deutsch und 1 Exemplar auf Ungarisch. Wir bitten Sie, DAS ungarischE und eines der deutschen ExemplarE zu unterschreiben...

or for a cut and paste job:

4 Exemplare auf Deutsch und 1 Exemplar auf Ungarisch. Wir bitten Sie, das ungarische und eines der deutschen Exemplare zu unterschreiben...

by PeWi on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 10:44:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]
however, I am not quite sure if Deutsch and Ungarisch is written with a capital, hmmm - yet I don't think it is that important somehow.
by PeWi on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 10:47:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Thanks for the expert opinion! ;-) It came late, but this formulation will come up again, so I am very grateful to know.

That one about auf Deutsch I am certain of. However, I couldn't decide whether the "ungarische" in "das ungarische"[corrected] is a pseudonom[sp?] or an adjective, and thus whether it should have the gender of Exemplar or a generic masculin or what... I was only pretty certain that in the next part, I can't go with "und ein deutsches Exemplar" in this context, was I right?

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 11:13:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]
no, it is the gender of Exemplar (afterall it is 'dominated' by it, as an adjective.

If you had sent more than one hungarian versions you would have written:

Wir bitten Sie, eines der ungarischen und eines der deutschen Exemplare zu unterschreiben...

And since there is only one definitive hungarian it is 'das' in your text, since Exemplar is neutral. but the undefinitive version makes it easier to see, what the endings ought to be.

You had to go with :eines der deutschen Exemplare - since there were more than one versions. But :und ein deutsches Exemplar: is more correct than the version you wrote. because while it is incorrect as it is and literaly not specific enough (wrong in this context) it is actually gramatically correct.

Hope this helps

by PeWi on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 11:37:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Wie er großartiges Vizier dieses Aufstellungsortes, ich Sie beide auf PNing auf englisch beglückwünschen kann

You can't be me, I'm taken
by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 02:17:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Als das großartige Vizier dieses Aufstellungsortes, kann ich Sie beide auf PNing auf englisch beglückwünschen

You can't be me, I'm taken
by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 02:18:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]
A full pack always contains a couple of Jokers...

You can't be me, I'm taken
by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 02:22:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]
and I am not sure if you really have to apologise to Bob that much, afterall this Diary is (also) about this community, and its strengths, one of which is that we mutually support each other in our work (-:
by PeWi on Mon Jun 25th, 2007 at 10:48:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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