Comments for The College of Mythic Cartography

Comment on Stop Hating Teens, and Start Respecting Them by Jason Godesky

Jason Godesky — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:33:57 +0000

Seems trifling to note this, but since I heard you say this before and absorbed its more profound meanings then, reading it this time made me think of games. When Chronica Feudalis came out, some of the indie kids started musing about historically-accurate medieval games. Zac D. had some ideas about using the “three orders” of medieval society. As Bishop Adalbero of Laon put it, “Here below, some pray, others fight, still others work.” Zac proposed that you make a character who explicitly belongs to one of these orders. If you make a knight, you automatically win in a fight against a cleric or a peasant. If you make a cleric, you automatically win spiritual or intellectual conflicts with knights or peasants. If you’re a peasant, you automatically win conflicts involving physical labor against clerics or knights.

Your statement made me think if the Fifth World should do something like that, honoring age instead of such an absurd “caste” system. You can play a Child, an Adolescent, an Adult, or an Elder. As a Child, you’ll always beat an Adolescent, an Adult, or an Elder at playing. As an Adolescent, you’ll always beat a Child, an Adult, or an Elder at risking. As an Adult, you’ll always beat a Child, an Adolescent, or an Elder at providing, and as an Elder, you’ll always beat a Child, an Adolescent, or an Adult at sharing stories. And naturally, a healthy society needs them all. It gets interesting when you get to the question of which one you need right here.

Comment on The Law of Two Mukluks by Willem

Willem — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:05:35 +0000

You don’t understand?

1. I love mukluks. They keep my feet warmer than any other kind of winter footwear I’ve ever used.

2. I love Open Space Gatherings

3. The one law of OS gatherings, the Law of Two Feet, means:

“If you are neither learning or contributing in your current conversation, go find a conversation where you can learn or contribute.”

4. At Chris Corrigan’s OS they renamed the law, the Law of Two Mukluks. I like it. I also appreciate his work sharing the OS process with First Nation folks, a natural fit.

Comment on The Law of Two Mukluks by timeLESS

timeLESS — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:35:09 +0000

i dont understand

Comment on Stop Hating Teens, and Start Respecting Them by timeLESS

timeLESS — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:02:45 +0000

This remembers me of the people that to this day engage in the process of creating the world. This remembers me of the ever-latering day. This remembers me of life always being a verb. Willem my western mind wants to praise you ! but my wild side wants to say: Sure, you’re being so obvious!!!!

thanks

Comment on Stop Hating Teens, and Start Respecting Them by Teen hate, adult regrets « Story by the Throat!

Teen hate, adult regrets « Story by the Throat! — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:22:45 +0000

[…] elder, humanity, Jason Godesky, maturity, myth, Mythic Cartography, neuroscience, NPR, teen My friend Willem wrote an article about the profound disrespect for adolescence imbedded in our culture. He takes a piece of NPR […]

Comment on Stop Hating Teens, and Start Respecting Them by Joel

Joel — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:29:30 +0000

Oh my God. Willem, thank you SO much for this article. As a parent, it’s the best thing I could have heard right now as I gaze out with my mind’s eye across the mist-shrouded landscape of my daughter’s future life.

Unfortunately it’s also the WORST thing to hear as an adult with his teen and “risk-taking years” behind him. When I read your punchline, I wept, seriously. I feel those years are squandered forever, that I truly “haven’t lived.” Jason’s words are a comfort, though–the knowledge that the brain NEVER “finishes” developing that way, as well as the friendship of folks at a similar stage of existence (like you!) gives me hope that I’ll be able to fully claim my present moment for the fullest life possible.

Whew. What an emotional wringer! But a necessary one, I think. I think I’ll have to blog it myself.

Thanks once again for kicking off the crust of lies and letting life shine through.

Peace,
-Joel

Comment on Stop Hating Teens, and Start Respecting Them by Kayser Jefthas

Kayser Jefthas — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 07:07:39 +0000

Excellent. Perfect, great. This is all so true; it takes a particularly brave version of an adult (in the current society) to support teens in their wildness; well written, good on ya!!

Comment on Widening Conversational Scope: “Identity” by Breathe Deep « Eros Philia Agape

Breathe Deep « Eros Philia Agape — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:33:00 +0000

[…] a couple pieces that I could not agree with more: Stop Hating Teens and Start Respecting Them, and Widening Conversational Scope: Identity. And if you haven’t seen it yet, Willem is currently engaged in developing and spreading […]

Comment on Stop Hating Teens, and Start Respecting Them by Breathe Deep « Eros Philia Agape

Breathe Deep « Eros Philia Agape — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:17:14 +0000

[…] friend Willem Larson has written a couple pieces that I could not agree with more: Stop Hating Teens and Start Respecting Them, and Widening Conversational Scope: Identity. And if you haven’t seen it yet, Willem is […]

Comment on Stop Hating Teens, and Start Respecting Them by Shannon Burton

Shannon Burton — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:47:43 +0000

My 8.5 and 5.75 year old are very capable of making choices and decisions in their life. They get lots of freedom to test different options, and have parents willing to offer advice and guidance when they ask for it or need it. They also aren’t in school each day, subject to rules. Our family life is guided by the principles of safety and happiness for all, and we often discuss choices within that framework.

I think a better assessment would be that teens can be adept decision makers, willing to take risks for their beliefs and goals - *if* they have been given the chance to make lots of choices, throughout life, and know they can trust the adults around them to offer advice and guidance - or a safety net, should things not go according to plan.

Of course, if the adults have set up an adversarial relationship - why then would any teen want to go to these people for help? That really would be a poor decision, no?

I love your writing, Idzie. I don’t know how anyone could read your well considered essays and still think adolescents lack insight. =)