I see that Chuck Bazerman has already done some thematizing (thank you!),
which will help me make my points. One of the issues Chuck noted as
factoring into "the success of modifying the flow of the stream" is that
people may take different stances toward the activity they jointly pursue,
exploiting the "leeway" () available within the system in choosing and
interpreting goals. One sort of individual/social relation that
individuation makes possible for people is that of "passing." From the
perspective of the actor (whether the individual is a person or a group)
passing opens a symbolic space for planning, for strategizing, for
networking with others, widening the position from which actions can be
taken, thereby exploiting the means to make difference without the risk of
marking one's actions as irrelevant to the activities of the whole group.
Among those who practice passing, I suppose, are change agents, cheaters,
liars, and many students - probably everyone, since politeness systems
probably depend on something like the practice of passing.
Since Bateson was of the aristocracy, he had whatever social graces he might
need to go with the flow in privileged settings, and he didn't have to worry
about the material conditions of his life. No wonder he told the anecdotes
he did. I would argue that Bateson exploited the symbolic potential of
individuation within human ecosystems, and that he had some influence on the
navigation of the system. Those who struggle more with the everyday
conditions of their lives have less opportunity to influence the course of
things. I suppose by reference to the correspondence between social class
and leeway, I am invoking Bernstein, though I doubt that either Bernstein or
Bateson would have imagined themselves in the same text.
I'm uneasy about sending this message, which has been more an exercise for
my own benefit than for anyone else's. But here it goes.
Judy