Comments on: The Program http://www.saltshaker.net/20080122/the-program Casting a little flavor (and a few aspersions) on the world of food, drink, and life Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:03:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: dan http://www.saltshaker.net/20080122/the-program#comment-88304 dan Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:58:44 +0000 http://www.saltshaker.net/20080122/the-program#comment-88304 I'd suggest that it's possible that not all programs of "this sort" are about improving one's personal life, self help, self actualization, etc. and, since we're engaged in this conversation, to suggest that as someone who hasn't participated in this work (or, to the best of my knowledge about you, anything remotely like it), it's just possible you're being a tad close minded, no? As a journalist, it seems you're coming to this with a preconceived idea of what you think you'd find, rather than a curiosity to see what it might be about. There's no doubt there are programs out there that are all about self improvement, etc. - and the roots of this one, in the est training, certainly have tended that way after several decades. However, it's one of the principal reasons behind the break with that organization. Rather than being about improvement, or for that matter, anything self oriented, Contegrity is about altering the conversation in the communities you participate in so that it's focused around neither improvement, nor mere results (in the form of things or scores or money or...), but rather around what makes life fulfilling, <em>i.e.,</em> worth waking up for in the morning, for all of that communities' members, and if one then extends that out, for all the connected communities to that one... eventually, one could extrapolate, to consider the entire population to be one community which could actually be engaged in something other than mundane existence. I’d suggest that it’s possible that not all programs of “this sort” are about improving one’s personal life, self help, self actualization, etc. and, since we’re engaged in this conversation, to suggest that as someone who hasn’t participated in this work (or, to the best of my knowledge about you, anything remotely like it), it’s just possible you’re being a tad close minded, no? As a journalist, it seems you’re coming to this with a preconceived idea of what you think you’d find, rather than a curiosity to see what it might be about.

There’s no doubt there are programs out there that are all about self improvement, etc. - and the roots of this one, in the est training, certainly have tended that way after several decades. However, it’s one of the principal reasons behind the break with that organization.

Rather than being about improvement, or for that matter, anything self oriented, Contegrity is about altering the conversation in the communities you participate in so that it’s focused around neither improvement, nor mere results (in the form of things or scores or money or…), but rather around what makes life fulfilling, i.e., worth waking up for in the morning, for all of that communities’ members, and if one then extends that out, for all the connected communities to that one… eventually, one could extrapolate, to consider the entire population to be one community which could actually be engaged in something other than mundane existence.

]]> By: ksternberg http://www.saltshaker.net/20080122/the-program#comment-86305 ksternberg Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:08:05 +0000 http://www.saltshaker.net/20080122/the-program#comment-86305 If it helps you improve your life, more power to you. If it helps you improve your life, more power to you.

]]> By: dan http://www.saltshaker.net/20080122/the-program#comment-86304 dan Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:48:52 +0000 http://www.saltshaker.net/20080122/the-program#comment-86304 While you may be right that many people, if asked, would come to a similar conclusion - it's the rare person who actually does anything about it. Contegrity is not a religion, nor, from my experience a "this organization" of the sort that I'm betting you're referring to. The people involved take on real world projects, problems, and work as a community to accomplish them - as noted, it's not some self-help, feel better about yourself sort of group. In fact, those aren't even interesting conversations within the context of Contegrity's programs. While you may be right that many people, if asked, would come to a similar conclusion - it’s the rare person who actually does anything about it. Contegrity is not a religion, nor, from my experience a “this organization” of the sort that I’m betting you’re referring to. The people involved take on real world projects, problems, and work as a community to accomplish them - as noted, it’s not some self-help, feel better about yourself sort of group. In fact, those aren’t even interesting conversations within the context of Contegrity’s programs.

]]> By: ksternberg http://www.saltshaker.net/20080122/the-program#comment-86271 ksternberg Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:02:29 +0000 http://www.saltshaker.net/20080122/the-program#comment-86271 I'll be interested to follow your outlook and plans for life in Argentina, although Gail's quotation at the top does not strike me as especially original or profound. I think that given enough years and experiences, most people would reach the same conclusion on their own. I feel very hesitant toward organized religions, and probably just as dubious about things like est or this organiztion. But then, I am just such a cynical New Yorker. I’ll be interested to follow your outlook and plans for life in Argentina, although Gail’s quotation at the top does not strike me as especially original or profound. I think that given enough years and experiences, most people would reach the same conclusion on their own. I feel very hesitant toward organized religions, and probably just as dubious about things like est or this organiztion. But then, I am just such a cynical New Yorker.

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