[Xmca-l] Re: Fwd: Verizon's greed

Greg Mcverry jgregmcverry@gmail.com
Mon Apr 25 20:03:54 PDT 2016 

Too late to write what deserves a long response to both your posts but if
you are getting into the history of the web I highly recommend The History
of the Internet podcast. Its very good.

On Mon, Apr 25, 2016, 10:21 PM Glassman, Michael <glassman.13@osu.edu>
wrote:

> Larry, Greg, Mike and others,
>
> I don't know the word Ikagai, and I try to be careful with words from
> other cultures.  I'm having enough trouble with the words in my own
> culture.  For instance I recently ran across Jenkins idea of participatory
> culture through some of the work I have been doing on gaming with a student
> - but I am at a loss because participatory does so much work for
> Participatory Action Research.  The former talks about active participation
> as opposed to passive consumerism (am I getting this right Greg) while the
> latter takes a much more political/economic/cultural perspective of
> allowing members of a group to participate in the trajectory of their
> social group as true members.  Then there is the other participatory action
> research and Levy-Bruhl's participation.  For me it boggles the mind.  How
> do we keep our ideas straight.
>
> As far as I know there is no word in the English language that seems to
> capture my minimal understanding of Ikagai, but it is important to then
> assume it is not there.  I tend to think that reason for being is not so
> well captured in English because it is a process, in many ways a search.
> Reaching back to an older thread maybe re-search is a continuation of our
> process to understand why we exist (perhaps that sounds a little
> overblown).  I also think it is dangerous to make a distinction between
> East and West.  Well of course there are differences between cultures, but
> I don't think they break down so easily and they are deeply tie to the
> particular time and social context.   At least in the United States, it is
> important not to confuse our economic paradigm with our culture (I always
> fall in to this).  It is true that there has been a focus on the
> individual, opposing her/him to the collective, but there have been times
> in the United States even that have been the complete opposite.  Where
> there was no light between the individual and the collective.  I have
> recently been doing a lot of reading on the beginnings of the Internet,
> because sometimes I get obsessed by a topic.  I am astounded by the ways in
> which individual and collective melded together almost seamlessly for a
> period of years.  We don't have to discover networked learning, we have to
> remember it.  I don't know other cultures well enough but I'm not sure this
> could have happened in many other places.  Perhaps they were working from a
> sense of Ikagai, a reason for being, I don't know.  It seems like nobody
> ever really stopped to think about.
>
> Michael
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu [mailto:
> xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu] On Behalf Of lpscholar2@gmail.com
> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2016 9:27 PM
> To: mike cole <mcole@ucsd.edu>; eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity <
> xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
> Subject: [Xmca-l] Re: Fwd: Verizon's greed
>
> Greg, Mike,
> If it is true that the concept  Ikagi is currently being culturally
> appropriated then why now? is one of the *reasons* because of this
> fundamental question that Mimi Ito asks:
> Why must developing individuality assume [pre-suppose] the need for
> opposing the individual to collective cultural  forms [configurations].
> This is a peculiar Western notion.
>
> This question resonates with  questions of reason [reflection]  as
> *external* or *internal* as illustrated with these two differing
> *pro*-positions. [presuppositions]
> 1) The actual world is *independent* of our descriptions or knowledge of
> the world, our values, preferences, and emotional responses to the world,
> and our attempts to understand or explain the world. This is an *external*
> sense of relation [of self and world].
> 2) All knowledge is a set of conventions governed by a central paradigm.
> Knowledge is derived and *informed* by that paradigm and does not refer to
> anything other than the paradigm it is *informed* by. This is an internal
> sense of relation from *within*.
> I hear Mimi Ito’s sense which she describes as a Japanese cultural sense
> leaning towards *internal* relations which does not posit the collective as
> external to the self.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>
> From: mike cole
> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2016 5:18 PM
> To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
> Subject: [Xmca-l] Re: Fwd: Verizon's greed
>
> That *is* a neat Venn diagram, Greg. And I just learned of the word today
> for reasons that grow out of an MCA project involving a hard to define
> non-English words. The link to Mimi Ito, connected learning zeitgeists, and
> passionate affinity groups is a welcome addition to my education.
>
> mike
>
> PS- Neat looking web page too!!
>
>
>
> On Mon, Apr 25, 2016 at 5:03 PM, Greg Mcverry <jgregmcverry@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > As we were discussing ikagi in this thread it reminded me that it
> > seems to be popping up more and more  in my circles.
> >
> > Here was a post I did a few months back after a group of us read
> > Jenkins, Ito, and boyd's latest book.:
> > http://jgregorymcverry.com/in-search-of-ikigai-meaning-making-as-cultu
> > re/
> >
> > It has no academic value or insight just a personal reflection.
> >
> > The concept of "ikagi" seems to be gaining cultural relevance in the
> > tech scene or emerging theoretical perspectives "connected learning--
> > a pragmatic amalgamation of learning theories with deep roots to XMCA.
> >
> > Not sure if the rising popularity of Ikagi is window dressing for the
> > newly minted millionaire's, "millennial attitudes," or effects of our
> > networked society.
> >
> >  Given that I hate generational distinctions and avoid guessing
> > anyone's motives I am going witha  theory that the  semiotic power of
> > a well balanced Venn Diagram and the meaning packed within creates an
> > inspirational aspiration.
> >
> > One that "hipster" crowd has appropriated. In fact if anyone has had
> > the chance to see the American satire show "Silicon Valley" I would be
> > willing to bet on an "Ikagi" joke.....which also speaks to a much
> > larger level of cultural appropriation.
> >
> > On Mon, Apr 25, 2016 at 7:34 AM Lplarry <lpscholar2@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Val opened this line of the intertwining  thread with her passion
> > > for requisite variety as the quality of permeable membranes and
> > > interface as necessary for general systems theory unfolding as human
> projects.
> > > This occurs at all levels (cell, self, families, teams, communities,
> > > nations).
> > > Two nations that Val offers as exemplary are Japan and Germany.
> > > Implicit is the realization that these two nations *tend* towards
> > > equilibrium having *requisite variety* This post lead to Andy
> > > exploring the notion of having a *reason* for getting up in the
> > > morning. Helen then contributed and elaborated on this quality of
> > > life.
> > >
> > > Then Wagner, taking his turn,pointed to a deep contrast with how he
> > > saw the *reality* of  Japanese culture and it’s focus on the ideal
> > > of not being a nail that sticks out as *actually* being more like a
> > > *linear* dynamic system that is generally closed and nonpermeable.
> > > This type of system  which displays qualities which *express*  what
> > > seems to have the quality of  mechanical systems having the
> > > opposite system characteristic  of cells which  have *organic
> permeable boundaries* .
> > >
> > > My question is how Japan can be conceptualized as both exemplary
> > > (living experience as if organically permeable) following the theory
> > > of general biological systems theory) and also be perceived as a
> > > dead and lifeless place which images a general mechanical systems
> > > theory with external
> > moving
> > > *parts* only mechanically related and therefore forming a sense of
> > lifeless
> > > *repetition*.
> > > It seems that within japanese culture we can be participating in
> > > both organic général systems (permeable membrane image) and at the
> > > same time participating in mechanical general systems (closed
> > > impermeable dead
> > > membranes)
> > > Both  forms of recognition in Nancy Frasers understanding of culture
> > > but it seems to hinge on the difference between mechanical and
> > > organic metaphors of system boundaries. Are system boundaries closed
> > > *walls*
> > > (Trump) or permeable *membranes*.
> > > Dead/mechanical or living/breathing systems.
> > > Is this the difference between *linear* and *nonlinear* notions of
> > systems?
> > >
> > > My turn is to reflect on the relation between *eco* system as a
> > > concept and the aboriginal image of *mother earth* as a similar
> concept.
> > > These symbols both sharing notions of open  membranes but they do
> > > have a diiferent feel and sense of being organic life.
> > >
> > > Sent from my Windows 10 phone
> > >
> > > From: Wilkinson
> > > Sent: April 24, 2016 9:04 PM
> > > To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
> > > Subject: [Xmca-l] Re: Fwd: Verizon's greed
> > >
> > > Note (a continuation):
> > > I was in such a hurry that I couldn't remember "the project as unit
> > > of analysis." (thanks Andy)  We do progress!  It's not just survival
> > > of the fittest, but also mutual aid is a factor.  And like we used
> > > to say in Medieval Lit, "when Adam dug and Eve spun, who was then a
> > > "gentleman"?
> > > V
> > >
> > >
> > > On 2016/04/25 12:13, Wilkinson wrote:
> > > > Life in the present mode of existence, being.
> > > > Hello, dear Xmca-er colleagues.
> > > >
> > > > I'm checking in as a woman scholar voice doing research in General
> > > > Systems Theory.  Once I was just at the beginning and now nearly
> > > > the
> > end
> > > > of my institutional career.  In Japan.  A National University.
> > > > I live in an educational world where the children have been taught
> > > > that the nail that sticks out gets beaten down.
> > > >
> > > > As a systems theorist, at the level of self, group, community -
> > > > living systems naturally seek equilibrium.  So why would I vote or
> > > > not vote
> > for
> > > > Sanders?  Why would I vote or not vote for Hilary?
> > > >
> > > > 40 years of teaching languages, Latin, Greek, English, has been to
> > > > make my living.  What I love and want to talk about is how to
> > > > create a great team, produce a film, coordinate a satisfactory
> > > > project, with the young ones who are enacting the managerial roles
> > > > having the full support of the community of adults, both in and
> > > > out of the academy.  Moreover, peer-learning, which appears
> > > > essential, and has so appeared to me since I was seven, "teaching"
> > > > my one year younger brother how to read my
> > first
> > > > English primer.
> > > >
> > > > Time and again Andy, Larry, and Mike have responded lucidly and
> > > > kindly to my flashing dives into the stream.  I feel that Andy's
> > > > "project" as mode/method/focus for the self, the team, and the
> > > > community is
> > coherent,
> > > > articulate, manageable.  So if I fear and dread recursions of 30s
> > > > horrors, world depression, anti-union, the ghastly shape of Nazism
> > > > appearing, the shape of Joseph McCarthy's witch-hunts, it's not
> > > > going
> > to
> > > > help much with my projects of today, this week, etc.
> > > >
> > > > But coming back again and again to the present, the projects I am
> > > > doing now, this week, this month, working out how to stay in
> > > > contact with the players, get announcements out to the community,
> > > > well, that is quite enough for me to do.  Since the kids are grown
> > > > up and don't need me so much, I have to encourage young students
> > > > to join clubs, have meetings, plan events.  Just have to stay busy
> ...
> > > >
> > > > But always coming back to General Systems Theory, and moving with
> > > > the present, as a woman/mother/lover/teacher/faculty
> > > > member/participant-observer, I value the exquisite mind of Ross
> > > > Ashby and "requisite variety," which is what a viable system needs
> > > > to
> > survive,
> > > > an environment which draws out the creative, which satisfies the
> > hunger.
> > > >   Permeable membranes and interface is how I see the interaction
> > > > of nations and communities and teams and people and families and
> > > > the cells in the body maintaining health.
> > > >
> > > > It is hard for me to check in or dive in with a word, but XMCA
> > continues
> > > > to be the best forum for my serendipities and synchronicities and
> > > > reading of the news.  I'm still a GST person and keep my eye on
> > > > Ervin Laszlow and the Budapest Club for international cooperative
> > > > ventures in sustainable business, a benign transition to an age of
> > ultra-technology,
> > > > in which human communities can create harmonious dwellings,
> > > > environmentally friendly renewable energy and so on.  I live in
> > > > Japan and my brother's family members live in Germany.  Living in
> > > > the present does not mean just today.  I see that it means
> > > > progressing toward
> > better
> > > > education, better health, better food supply.  I still want to pay
> > > > attention to Japan and Germany - and where ever people have
> > > > learned
> > that
> > > > wholesome, calm work places, educational opportunities and
> > > > intrinsic development, taking it easy and taking it slow, are
> > > > altogether so much better than war, war, bombs, and
> > > > military/industrial complex money
> > blah,
> > > > messing up the academy, truncating creativity, killing joyful work
> > > > places. (But now I see that I am standing on a box in a park
> > > > instead of getting on with my projects for today).
> > > > Vandy
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > 2016/04/25 9:29, mike cole wrote:
> > > >> This is how Sanders represents himself in a way that appeals to a
> > > >> good many Americans. They do not know what to call it and neither
> > > >> does he. I offer it as evidence about
> > > an
> > > >> unusual phenomenon in American political life that feels to this
> > > >> dated person a LOT like what I understand of the 1930's in this
> > > >> country. I
> > > come
> > > >> from a line of premature anti-fascists and anti-racists (terrible
> > > >> sexists)
> > > >> who were firm believers in the first ammendment to the
> > > >> constitution of the US. What I see in this election is very
> > > >> disturbingly like what those years around my birth were all
> > > >> about.
> > > >>
> > > >> The result in that case was a massive world war and the beginning
> > > >> of
> > the
> > > >> atomic age.
> > > >>
> > > >> The result in this case?
> > > >>
> > > >> Who was  it you were asking me to vote for?
> > > >>
> > > >> mike
> > > >> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > > >> From: BernieSanders.com <info@berniesanders.com>
> > > >> Date: Sat, Apr 23, 2016 at 4:14 PM
> > > >> Subject: Verizon's greed
> > > >> To: Michael Cole <lchcmike@gmail.com>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> [image: Bernie Sanders for President]
> > > >>
> > > >> When the CEO of a company makes almost $20 million a year but
> > > >> then tries to outsource jobs, reduce wages, and cut health
> > > >> benefits -- that's the kind of corporate greed we need to get rid
> > > >> of in America. *And that's exactly what Verizon is doing right
> > > >> now.*
> > > >>
> > > >> Verizon's employees are fighting back. They're out on strike for
> > > >> a contract. *Stand with them against their CEO and add your name
> > > >> to Bernie's to say you support Verizon employees.
> > > >> <
> > >
> > https://go.berniesanders.com/page/s/stand-with-verizon-employees?sourc
> > e=em160423-full
> > > >*
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Bernie's email to you about this very important issue about this
> > > >> is below.
> > > >> Thank you for standing in solidarity.
> > > >> ------------------------------
> > > >>
> > > >> Sisters and Brothers,
> > > >>
> > > >> The CEO of Verizon makes almost $20 million a year in
> > > >> compensation. He leads one of the most profitable companies in the
> country.
> > > >>
> > > >> *Yet Verizon wants to take away employees' health benefits.
> > > >> Verizon
> > > wants
> > > >> to outsource decent-paying jobs. Verizon wants to avoid paying
> > > >> federal income tax. And right now, Verizon is refusing to sit
> > > >> down and negotiate a fair contract with its employees.*
> > > >>
> > > >> In other words, Verizon is just another major American
> > > >> corporation
> > > trying
> > > >> to destroy the lives of working Americans. *But this time,
> > > >> Verizon's employees are fighting back.*
> > > >>
> > > >> Thousands of very brave employees of Verizon and Verizon Wireless
> > > >> are
> > on
> > > >> strike until they can get a fair contract. They made a *very*
> > difficult
> > > >> decision that puts their families at risk -- but it's a choice
> > > >> they made to stand up for justice against corporate greed.
> > > >>
> > > >> *I'm asking you today to stand up and tell the CEO of Verizon
> > > >> that you think Verizon employees deserve a fair contract that
> > > >> protects health benefits, guarantees fair pay, and stops
> > > >> outsourcing. Click here to
> > add
> > > >> your name in support of Verizon employees.
> > > >> <
> > >
> > https://go.berniesanders.com/page/s/stand-with-verizon-employees?sourc
> > e=em160423-full
> > > >*
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> *Add Your Name »
> > > >> <
> > >
> > https://go.berniesanders.com/page/s/stand-with-verizon-employees?sourc
> > e=em160423-full
> > > >*
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Twice last week in New York City I stood with Verizon workers in
> > > >> the streets. I did so because they're doing something very brave:
> > > >> they're standing up not just for themselves, but for the millions
> > > >> of Americans who don't have a union.
> > > >>
> > > >> The working class of this country deserves to earn decent wages,
> > decent
> > > >> benefits, and not see their jobs go to low-wage countries.
> > > >>
> > > >> Verizon's CEO doesn't think that. He called me "contemptible" for
> > saying
> > > >> that his employees need a fair contract, and that Verizon should
> > > >> pay
> > its
> > > >> fair share in federal income taxes.
> > > >>
> > > >> What I think is contemptible is CEOs with multi-million dollar
> > > >> compensation packages, presiding over extremely profitable
> > > >> companies, and still refusing to give their employees fair
> > > >> contracts.
> > > >>
> > > >> Corporate greed is a scourge on this country, and it will take
> > > >> all of
> > us
> > > >> standing up for justice in order to rein it in. *One significant
> > > >> way
> > you
> > > >> can stand up to corporate greed is by standing with Verizon
> > > >> employees
> > > who
> > > >> are out on strike.*
> > > >>
> > > >> *Add your name and say you support Verizon employees who are
> > > >> standing up to the CEO in order to get a fair contract with
> > > >> health benefits, fair pay, and job protections.
> > > >> <
> > >
> > https://go.berniesanders.com/page/s/stand-with-verizon-employees?sourc
> > e=em160423-full
> > > >*
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Corporate America is slowly beginning to realize that they cannot
> > > >> have
> > > it
> > > >> all. Thanks for helping them know it.
> > > >>
> > > >> In solidarity,
> > > >>
> > > >> Bernie Sanders
> > > >>
> > > >> *Contribute
> > > >> <
> > >
> > https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/lets_go_bernie?refcode=em16
> > 0423-verizon
> > > >*
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Paid for by Bernie 2016
> > > >>
> > > >> [image: (not the billionaires)]
> > > >>
> > > >> PO Box 905 - Burlington VT 05402 United States - (855) 4-BERNIE
> > > >>
> > > >> This email was sent to lchcmike@gmail.com. If you need to update
> > > >> or change your information or email address, click here to update
> > > >> your info <
> > >
> > https://go.berniesanders.com/page/s/change-your-information?source=ema
> > il_footer
> > > >.
> > > >>
> > > >> Email is one of the most important tools we have to reach
> > > >> supporters
> > > like
> > > >> you, but you can let us know if you'd like to receive fewer
> > > >> emails <
> > >
> > https://go.berniesanders.com/page/s/fewer-emails?source=email_footer&e
> > mail=lchcmike@gmail.com&zip=92075
> > > >.
> > > >>
> > > >> We'd hate to see you go, but if you need to do so, click here to
> > > >> unsubscribe <https://go.berniesanders.com/page/unsubscribe/>.
> > > >> Stand against the powerful special interests who are
> > > >> systematically buying our Congress
> > > and
> > > >> have their sights set on the presidency by contributing to Bernie
> > > >> here <
> > >
> > https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/lets-go-bernie?refcode=emai
> > l_footer
> > > >
> > > >>
> > > >> .
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>
> --
>
> It is the dilemma of psychology to deal as a natural science with an
> object that creates history. Ernst Boesch
>
>
>

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