This site is dedicated to those who seek a better world through understanding and communication. We both hope you have a very nice day and fulfilled forever :-) 

 

This site contains the research, findings, and white papers of an independent study of the influence of assertive and aggressive behavior on group dynamics. The study examines, startup companies, schools, classic style businesses, and on line communities. The roles and personalities of system administrators, teachers, long time members of social communities, and business leaders are examined and their ability to influence and direct the group dynamics, setting the tone and protocol for interactions between members. When the group dynamic is disrupted, there is action to restore it. This action varies from absolute authority to gentle influencing through suggestion.

By joining existing on line communities, we were in a similar position that a child joining a new school confronts. A child joining a new school mid term disrupts the group dynamic. The 'leaders' then move to restore it using their influence to change opinions or protocol. In the more extreme examples, a bully may taunt a new student, even resorting to violence, to regain control. In some cases students are forced to move to yet another school, especially if they refused to capitulate to the protocol established by the 'leaders'.

On line communities are not unlike schools, there are ratings, scores, rules of behavior, bullies, kind mentors, friends, and a diverse and socially rich environment in which either constructive or destructive results can occur. Conflict management has challenged organizations since humans formed tribes. Conflict while sometimes not desired, is a natural result of growth and development. Decisions and choices made without dissenting opinions can result in suboptimal results. We studied how members viewed transgressions and conflicting information and the methods or services provided by the communities to resolve conflict.

This study like many others shows that people will attempt to influence others when opinions differ. If they lack the authority to force others, they will often resort to methods reminiscent of thugs. Bad mouthing and denigrating their antagonist to anyone they come in contact with through web sites they frequent.

Survey results will be published 4-29-07. We had planned this for 4-22-07 but other issues prevented us from working on the survey.

We would like to thank everyone who stops by for their comments and encouragement. Some of the websites cited here may cease to exist, and we apologize for that. Some of the comments about other web sites may appear incorrect as revisions are made.  

A long time ago there was a story about the escapades of a Don Quixote

Once upon a time there was a garden. It was a most lovely garden full of flowers and plants. Each unique yet all were similar in most ways. The qualities that made them unique were sometimes barely visible. To discover that uniqueness is to understand nature. To appreciate and nurture that difference is to love. Even the most unusual and striking plants are still just plants with a difference. The same is true of animals and people. It doesn't matter who or what we are, we each have a quality that differentiates us from everyone else, even if the difference is just opinions.

Like the colors of flowers with specific hues and placements, the opinions and thoughts of humans are placed into our own perceptions of reality. Our opinions add color and modify the sensory input to fit our models of reality. This is our perception as viewed through our consciousness. For example: suppose the only flowers on my bit of reality were blue. If asked a question about red flowers, my perception of reality might express an opinion that red flowers do not exist. Depending upon my relationship to my brain-consciousness connection, I might be willing to wager that all flowers are blue. Of course, my perception is flawed when viewed from the vantage point of all possible flower colors. Does that mean I am flawed? No, it merely illustrates the difficulty associated with the communication of abstract ideas and thoughts. Opinions which express those ideas and thoughts may be challenged by others. It is in the tone, the motivation of the challenge that humanity transcends the need to be correct and nurtures the growth of knowledge and wisdom through experimentation and mis-takes.

This image is dedicated to Web Creeps :-)