Comments on: On Community, Groups, & Vulnerability

By: PSP Go

PSP Go — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:45:24 +0000

Many of us are these days disconnected from our communities and we no longer live close to our extended families. This has been shown to have an affect on people’s stress levels and may also account for increased modern levels of depression. People are social creatures and need to feel part of a group.
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By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 08 May 2009 06:21:22 +0000

It seems to me that those outside a group are far more vulnerable than those inside it. To the average group, outsiders are literally unacceptable–and opposing the will of the majority is dangerous indeed!

By: Jeremy Day

Jeremy Day — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:07:23 +0000

Hi Linda,

You do make some good points. I would venture a guess that there are groups out there made up of people dying from cancer and also cancer survivors. I would say your loved ones make up a group. They are connected by blood and therefore form a group in that way.

I know there is a whole heap of scientific data on groups and their harm or benefit. “science” has proven that people thrive in groups and also has proven that people don’t.

All cults are groups, but not all groups are cults…

And like I mentioned in the article not all groups are beneficial…

I imagine there is a certain level of vulnerability in a scrap book group although it may be very low. If anything, scrap books are about memories and I am sure conversations about those events will happen in a group, thereby making you vulnerable.

Not sure what a dump diving group is although I can guess. And yes, there is a certain level of vulnerability because they have a shared experience.

You don’t need to be vulnerable in a group, but the very action of participating in a group leaves you vulnerable to varying degrees.

I would also point out that attending meetings does not make you part of a group. If you go to AA and never open your mouth you are not part of that group, you are simply an observer. It takes participation to say you are part of that group.

So if you never participate then you are never vulnerable. You won’t be a part of that group and therefore you are not required to be vulnerable. That is why being part of a group, participating in it, requires vulnerability.

Hope that makes sense and maybe clears up some confusion about what I was trying to get at.

Cheers,
Jeremy

By: Linda Degus-Barns

Linda Degus-Barns — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:26:48 +0000

Here is one for you Jeremy.. If humans have an innate need to be part of a group, then why, when you are in the process of dying, say, on Hospice in your home, do you NOT feel that need? Like there is no group for, "dying persons." Yes, they may be surrounded by their loved ones, although I do not consider them a group per say.. Is there scientific data out there that people thrive in groups? Are cults the same thing as groups? Did anyone thrive hanging out with Charles Manson? Or in Waco? Do you need to be vulnerable to be in a "scrap book" group? Or a "dump diving group"? Why do you need to be vulnerable to be in any group? One could be in AA, and never share anything.. you could go to many meetings and never open your mouth. Just because you are there, does not mean you are vulnerable.. or are required to be. Linda Degus-Barns’s last blog post..SPD MOM: SPD Playgroup & Mom

By: Paisley

Paisley — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:28:24 +0000

I honestly never ever thought to connect intimacy with belonging to a group. I think you've hit a nerve with that. I'm going to have to give this a lot more thought. Maybe there's more to my previous opinion than I realised. Will have to think about this one. Paisley’s last blog post..Instinctive Words, a Painting, a Pawnbroker and an Invitation

By: Keith

Keith — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:45:05 +0000

I think you’ve done a good job getting to the heart of the matter. “Groups” in and of themselves are benign, but it is the mentality (both individually and group mentality) of them that matters. Groups are like any thing else. For example, money is neither good or evil but it can be used for either. Groups are the same. They can be good, especially when they are welcoming and supportive, or they can be very bad, as in when they become exclusive and shut out others and are generally destructive as opposed to being constructive.

Good article, really got me thinking..and that’s GOOD!

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