Becoming an infant one more time

[coberst]

Becoming an infant one more time

 

During the last year I have been studying cognitive science and the sciences of psychology, and psychoanalysis. These three sciences put a great deal of emphasis upon the human unconscious. The sciences of psychology and psychoanalysis have placed special attention upon the effect to an infant’s unconscious resulting from the early months of its life.

 

Let us use the power of empathy in an attempt to become an infant once again. Using our imagination we will create an analogy that will aid us in this understanding. Each participant can develop whatever analogy is necessary to make a satisfactory transition that works for them. Together we might manage to enlighten our comprehension of what happens to an infant during the earliest weeks of its life.

 

Discussion to begin at 7 AM United States Eastern Time, which is equal to 11, IS GM Time May 11, 2007.

 

Don’t be shy, engage your imagination, this is just a first time experiment, ‘It ain’t no biggie’. If you have any questions that I might be able to answer post them on my thread “Making meaningful connections” there is not a lot of activity there.

 

The procedure we will follow will be that suggested by CraigD, which I copy here.

 

 

I propose the following procedure:

 

1. Thread-starting post describes topic for discussion, and Talking Circle Thread procedure (these steps), including “Start” date/time that must be reached before discussion can begin.

 

2. Until Start is reached, participants post a single “Join” post. No content beyond the word “join” is allowed in these posts. If the thread starter wishes to be a participant, they may post a “Join” post.

 

3. After Start is reached, the post starter (or the first member to post a Join post) posts a “Begin” post containing a single (possibly wrapped) line listing of the circle order, which is in order of the Join posts. Again, no additional content is allowed in this post.

 

4. The first person in the order list – the “talking stick holder”:

1. Posts any content he wishes

2. Ends his post with the order, his name moved from the front of the list to the back.

This step is repeated indefinitely.

 

5. At any time after Start a new participant may post a single “Join” post. Upon posting, the current stick holder adds her to the end of the list, immediately before their own name.

 

6. At any time, a participant may post a single “Un-join” post. This post may contain nothing but the word “Un-join”. Upon posting, the current stick holder removes him from the order.

 

7. When the current talking stick holder makes no post, the discussion is effectively ended.

[coberst]

join

[hug]

join

[coberst]

In an alien land

 

I think that it might be very worth while for all of us to empathize with a new born infant.

 

When I try to place myself in the ‘shoes’ of the new born infant I imagine myself as a captive of aliens who whisk me off into their world. I imagine myself in a world of giants who terrify me. I imagine that my vision is distorted and my hearing is increased so that I hear appalling shouts and noises that add to my shock and awe. I am naked and it is very cold.

 

One giant takes me into its arms and embraces me with frightening but warm strength. This giant stills my first feeling of terror and I am overcome with a feeling of joy, impotence, and dependence. I have found a refuge in this new and awful world of noise and fearsome creatures; I have found one creature that stills my terrible dread.

 

Before this creature held me I felt the same frightening feeling I had once when I was about to drown. This creature also seems to anticipate my needs for food and security.

 

Alarm! Alarm! My savior has gone! I was drowsy and I closed my eyes; I had such fearsome dreams, and now I am again all alone. The one agreeable aspect of this horrifying experience is gone. I am completely alone in a world of creatures who stomp about crushing things beneath their hulking horrifying bodies. I can hardly see and the sounds are horrifying and painful. I sense that one of these strange terrifying creatures is approaching me now!!

[hug]

Ouch! Ooooh. Wow! What?

 

Gee, it's bright out here! (although I don't know any of those words, of course)

 

AAaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!

 

OK, calm down. Things might be OK. I still hear a more clear version of that muffled sound I've been hearing since before I can remember. And I still smell a familiar smell. I am still here, I think, wherever "here" is?

 

AAaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!

 

(That one was just for attention. And it worked. I'm getting warm liquid, and everything feels soft.)

 

Ouch again. Hey, what did ya do that for? That's my private part (though I don't know that or feel that way yet). But, anyway, it DID hurt! I don't like you and your knife so much; I like that lady over there, the one who gives me that warm milk. I associate her with good feelings.

 

In fact, when I'm not distracted because I need to poop or pee or sleep, or when something else isn't distracting me, I feel drawn to cast my attention at that fuzzy shape, the first one I saw after feeling "ouch!", the one that I saw up close at the same time I was getting that warm liquid, the one that I see when I smell those familiar smells and hear that familar voice. Yeh, I like her. She seems familiar and (often) makes me feel good.

 

I can't really recall, but I dimly remember feeling certain things even before the "ouch" and the brightness. Warmth. A synchronized pulsing, sometimes. The muffled sounds and voice. All of these things have a familiarity to them that makes this new existence bearable, usually, and sometimes even downright pleasurable.

 

AAAAaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh! (I want more attention.)

 

Again, I have the feeling that there's something natural and automatic that seems to draw my attention to that fuzzy shape with two eyes and a nose. Especially those two glistening things, those things that move around, now THEY attract my attention. And that other thing that opens whenever I hear the familiar sound, that grabs attention to. I don't know why I'm so interested in those simple things. Shouldn't I be starting to study for my SATs? Well, maybe not. Maybe I have to learn how to survive, grab attention, and gain some comfort and pleasure first.

 

Well, enough for now. I'm getting tired. That was a busy nine months and one day, my tummy's full, my bladder is empty, and it's time for rest. My mom needs rest too. I'm sure (or at least I will learn about 25 years from now) that it was perhaps even more work and pain for her than it was for me. And it seems like that other thing over there, with that other face, not as pretty as mom's, but still, well, he seems to be helping alot too. I'll bet the last nine months have been fairly busy for him too, especially if he's the kind of guy that I hope God, or chance, or both, has blessed me with. I already know that mom's great.

 

I'm curious about all this new stuff, but I'm mainly tired, so . . . . . off to sleep.

 

P.S. -- coberst, great idea of yours, and congrats on your insight and creativity.

 

P.S.2 -- Is there any made-up adult rule that says that moderators can't play this game?

[coberst]

Anyone can join merely by posting "join" then they enter at the end of the line since there are only two of us that line is short.

[coberst]

Its about Affection

 

I was taken to a place and circumcised; without any pain killer!

 

The creature with whom I had begun to feel somewhat comfortable with handed me over to another creature that smelled very bad and that creature proceeded to cut on my body with a metal instrument and the pain was beyond describing. They all crowded around me and seemed to be in high spirits and ignored completely my screams. I think I fainted with the pain. When I again became conscious the pain was unbearable yet I had nothing to do but bear it.

 

I am exhausted from the screaming and the pain and cannot even eat or even think about eating. I drift off into a long sleep. Fortunately there is sleep, even though my sleep is filled with dreams that are beyond my ability to describe or to comprehend.

 

One great consolation out of this experience has been the bond that has formed between me and Affection. Affection is the name I have given to the only creature here who has made me feel secure and calm. Affection has made me warm when cold and has made me calm when frightened and stressed. The one great thing that has come about from my very painful experience has been Affection.

[hug]

I'm just in here in this big room, on some sort of bed, in soft sheets, apparently with lots of other babies like me. I'm doin' OK, I guess. Everything seems so new to me.

 

Wait, I hear something . . . .

 

WAaaahhhhhhh!

WAAAAaaaaahhhhhh!!

WAahhAaahhAAaahhh!

 

Why do I hear all those cries? They make ME wanna cry . . . .

 

WAAAaaaaahhhhhhhh! (see, I did it)

 

That's funny. I thought I was doing OK just a couple minutes ago. Now everyone's crying. Now I'M crying. What happened?

 

Someday, when I'm in middle school or high school or college, hopefully, someone will explain my "mirror neurons" and the roots of human empathy to me. In the meantime, I'll just have fun letting them continue to develop.

 

Hey, we need some more babies in here! It'll be fun. Give it a try.

 

Gotta go, and I think I'll be pretty busy tomorrow too. It's Mother's Day! Gotta do some shopping today, and maybe a hair cut, but probably not a hair cut come to think of it. I'm a quick learner, and it usually pays to make Mom happy. And I want to anyway. She deserves it!

 

WWaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!

 

Talking Circle Order following this message:

coberst

hug

newcomers?

[InfiniteNow]

Coberst, participation in this idea, although it has a great deal of merit, was rather low. Do you have any ideas as to why? Can you conceive of any ways to increase engagement among others? :)

[Queso]

Digitally.

[coberst]

Coberst, participation in this idea, although it has a great deal of merit, was rather low. Do you have any ideas as to why? Can you conceive of any ways to increase engagement among others? :)

 

 

A good question that I have pondered without a conviction that I have the correct answer. I have tried this new approach on other forums and the results are exactly the same. My conclusion is based upon my analysis of why few viewers become responders.

 

I have concluded that responders are individuals who feel compelled to place their opinion in public view. Often they never read beyond the title, their responses often have no connection with the subject matter of the post except in so far as the title reflects that content. Responders have opinions but seldom have considered opinions and responding to this type of format requires considered opinions.

[InfiniteNow]

I have concluded that responders are individuals who feel compelled to place their opinion in public view. Often they never read beyond the title, their responses often have no connection with the subject matter of the post except in so far as the title reflects that content. Responders have opinions but seldom have considered opinions and responding to this type of format requires considered opinions.

 

That's a thought. I am concerned that again you put all fault on others for not being "capable" or "thoughtful" enough, but your theory does have some merit.

 

My own interpretation was, admittedly, a bit more topical. My sense is that you don't get enough (to use a bad corporate term) "buy in" before you start. You need to generate some more mystery around your idea. Make people curious and seek out more information on their own. Then, you start gently reminding them in clever ways. You already do this with your thread titles, so I know you know how.

 

We evolved as hunters. Make your prospective audience crave the approach that only you can offer, then make them hunt for it before you say, "here's your dinner, why aren't you eating it?"

 

I am going in for my first cup of coffee, so please do tell me if none of the above makes sense.

[coberst]

That's a thought. I am concerned that again you put all fault on others for not being "capable" or "thoughtful" enough, but your theory does have some merit.

 

My own interpretation was, admittedly, a bit more topical. My sense is that you don't get enough (to use a bad corporate term) "buy in" before you start. You need to generate some more mystery around your idea. Make people curious and seek out more information on their own. Then, you start gently reminding them in clever ways. You already do this with your thread titles, so I know you know how.

 

We evolved as hunters. Make your prospective audience crave the approach that only you can offer, then make them hunt for it before you say, "here's your dinner, why aren't you eating it?"

 

I am going in for my first cup of coffee, so please do tell me if none of the above makes sense.

 

If I had the ability to write as well as you wish me to write I would be writing as a professional. It would be nice if I was a skilled writer but I am not and I must accept what limited skills I do have.

[InfiniteNow]

If I had the ability to write as well as you wish me to write I would be writing as a professional. It would be nice if I was a skilled writer but I am not and I must accept what limited skills I do have.

 

Yeah... why bother trying, eh? Your passion is stellar.