Comments on: Teaching old tropes new tricks: Community-building with a 21st-century twist http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:21:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Renata Ferraz http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-112732 Renata Ferraz Fri, 23 Nov 2007 01:37:08 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-112732 Hi Penelope: I've read so many of your posts, but this one rings especially true. Among my seemingly disparate areas of interest are urbanism and urban planning. However, that only started after I immigrated to Toronto and experienced urban sprawl first-hand in a GTA suburb. For a while, I couldn't understand why anyone would choose to live this way. Having read your post, it now makes a whole lot more sense to me why 1) I will never subscribe to the suburban way of life, and 2) why I've started an online group for my downtown condominium and will run for the board. I think mankind (here's a generalization to make you grin) is done searching for meaning - there's just way too much information out there. People are looking for context. And that's what generalizations, and therefore trends, accomplish - they put things into context, into perspective - just like history. Hi Penelope:

I've read so many of your posts, but this one rings especially true. Among my seemingly disparate areas of interest are urbanism and urban planning. However, that only started after I immigrated to Toronto and experienced urban sprawl first-hand in a GTA suburb.

For a while, I couldn't understand why anyone would choose to live this way. Having read your post, it now makes a whole lot more sense to me why 1) I will never subscribe to the suburban way of life, and 2) why I've started an online group for my downtown condominium and will run for the board.

I think mankind (here's a generalization to make you grin) is done searching for meaning - there's just way too much information out there. People are looking for context. And that's what generalizations, and therefore trends, accomplish - they put things into context, into perspective - just like history.

]]> By: Dave Atkins http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110236 Dave Atkins Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:34:08 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110236 I'd be curious as to any thought anyone has on how to get young people involved in institutional forms of community action. There are organizations--like ypcommons.org--of young professionals and of course there are all sorts of new media avenues for involvement like blogging, etc. But how do you interest younger people in joining churches and serving on town committees? What I hear, time and again in my community, is that having kids is the key. Once you have kids in school, you have all sorts of activities--mainly sports--that really hook you up with the rest of the town. When we went trick or treating last night with our toddlers, we found that our neighbors were either senior citizens or young families. I think the dark houses were people without kids who are at work, like I was at their age, at 7pm on a weeknight. Or maybe they were upstairs blogging in a dark room :) I'd be curious as to any thought anyone has on how to get young people involved in institutional forms of community action. There are organizations–like ypcommons.org–of young professionals and of course there are all sorts of new media avenues for involvement like blogging, etc. But how do you interest younger people in joining churches and serving on town committees?

What I hear, time and again in my community, is that having kids is the key. Once you have kids in school, you have all sorts of activities–mainly sports–that really hook you up with the rest of the town. When we went trick or treating last night with our toddlers, we found that our neighbors were either senior citizens or young families. I think the dark houses were people without kids who are at work, like I was at their age, at 7pm on a weeknight. Or maybe they were upstairs blogging in a dark room :)

]]> By: John Joseph http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110216 John Joseph Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:52:44 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110216 <p>I've probably posted 20 times in my entire life but this article compelled me to make a few brief points:</p> <p>1. The focus on generalizations or lack thereof is misplaced. It is implied in most generalizations that the trend in question does not apply to each member of the demographic generalized. Focus on whether the trend exists, not the generalization inherent in most discussions of trends -- particularly generational trends.</p> <p>2. I think the trend toward community is real and will grow stronger. In my opinion, our generation -- at a gut level -- realizes there are large forces at work that are having a very real impact on our lives. Of course we will immediately think about globalization, but that's just a framework to understand the trends.</p> <p>3. This trend is a good thing. Achievements and accomplishments in this life are undoubtedly satisfying and fulfilling, but they lose their luster if not connected to an impact on or relationship to others. We do not exist in isolation or in a vacuum; we exist relative to other people.</p> * * * * * * <I>Thank you for this comment, John. I especially appreciate your number one - very clear on the topic. -Penelope</I> I've probably posted 20 times in my entire life but this article compelled me to make a few brief points:

1. The focus on generalizations or lack thereof is misplaced. It is implied in most generalizations that the trend in question does not apply to each member of the demographic generalized. Focus on whether the trend exists, not the generalization inherent in most discussions of trends — particularly generational trends.

2. I think the trend toward community is real and will grow stronger. In my opinion, our generation — at a gut level — realizes there are large forces at work that are having a very real impact on our lives. Of course we will immediately think about globalization, but that's just a framework to understand the trends.

3. This trend is a good thing. Achievements and accomplishments in this life are undoubtedly satisfying and fulfilling, but they lose their luster if not connected to an impact on or relationship to others. We do not exist in isolation or in a vacuum; we exist relative to other people.

* * * * * *
Thank you for this comment, John. I especially appreciate your number one - very clear on the topic.

-Penelope

]]> By: Dale http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110184 Dale Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:20:49 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110184 Community is by nature a sticky artifact of life. What I mean by sticky is that the more one becomes a part of a community, the harder it becomes to leave it. Note, most immigrants are young and have less of an emotional commitment to the community they leave. True, this is a generalization, and true there are other factors at play in immigration decisions, but by and large it holds true that the last to leave a community are those that have existed within it the longest. Now, having offered that snippet of observed behavior, I should say that the pendulum swings in the other direction once the transplant arrives at his or her destination. We become ardent citizens of our new community or rather a part of it (usually among other transplants like ourselves, often with those from our specific place of origin). This being said, it is extremely easy for me to see how a generation programmed to work in teams and value the group, would relish the formation of community as a mandate of emotional wellness. It just makes sense, but that too is a generalization:) Community is by nature a sticky artifact of life. What I mean by sticky is that the more one becomes a part of a community, the harder it becomes to leave it. Note, most immigrants are young and have less of an emotional commitment to the community they leave. True, this is a generalization, and true there are other factors at play in immigration decisions, but by and large it holds true that the last to leave a community are those that have existed within it the longest.
Now, having offered that snippet of observed behavior, I should say that the pendulum swings in the other direction once the transplant arrives at his or her destination. We become ardent citizens of our new community or rather a part of it (usually among other transplants like ourselves, often with those from our specific place of origin). This being said, it is extremely easy for me to see how a generation programmed to work in teams and value the group, would relish the formation of community as a mandate of emotional wellness. It just makes sense, but that too is a generalization:)

]]> By: Jeremiah http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110107 Jeremiah Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:09:31 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110107 It amazes me when people absolutely refuse to accept generalizations. I know it is wonderful to think that we are all these exceptional, unique individuals but the truth is that there probably THOUSANDS of people with very similar experiences in life as yours. This article is about the trends of various generations for the entire country; not just your neighborhood, city, circle of friends, etc. To speak on my experience, my last 2 years of college ('05 b-school grad) consisted of almost entirely of team projects; community service is always being vaulted as a great way to gain experience in what seems to be a job market where a BS is as common as a high school diploma. Popular topics like synergy, making isolated business functions "strategic", mash-ups, and Web 2.0 all are about how things can work together. So please, just stop a minute and think of this information in context of everyone and not just you. It amazes me when people absolutely refuse to accept generalizations. I know it is wonderful to think that we are all these exceptional, unique individuals but the truth is that there probably THOUSANDS of people with very similar experiences in life as yours. This article is about the trends of various generations for the entire country; not just your neighborhood, city, circle of friends, etc.

To speak on my experience, my last 2 years of college ('05 b-school grad) consisted of almost entirely of team projects; community service is always being vaulted as a great way to gain experience in what seems to be a job market where a BS is as common as a high school diploma. Popular topics like synergy, making isolated business functions "strategic", mash-ups, and Web 2.0 all are about how things can work together.

So please, just stop a minute and think of this information in context of everyone and not just you.

]]> By: Swaroop Bhushan http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110104 Swaroop Bhushan Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:22:43 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110104 IEEE's tech community is unbeatable. National fairs, regional and sectional gatherings, all the way down to student chapters at colleges. It's a fun way to keep your org skills in shape, be professionally networked, and still have pizza! IEEE's tech community is unbeatable. National fairs, regional and sectional gatherings, all the way down to student chapters at colleges. It's a fun way to keep your org skills in shape, be professionally networked, and still have pizza!

]]> By: Charlie http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110103 Charlie Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:15:36 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110103 Thanks for recognizing the importance of community. Someone once told me that religion is less about promoting shared beliefs and more about cultivating community. I'm glad you pointed out that theme from the Anti 9-to-5 Guide. I read that book last month, but I hadn't put together the common thread of leveraging the power of communities. I love that book because it is inspirational, practical, and realistic. Thanks for recognizing the importance of community. Someone once told me that religion is less about promoting shared beliefs and more about cultivating community.

I'm glad you pointed out that theme from the Anti 9-to-5 Guide. I read that book last month, but I hadn't put together the common thread of leveraging the power of communities. I love that book because it is inspirational, practical, and realistic.

]]> By: Suzanne http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110100 Suzanne Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:16:44 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110100 I think a lot of what gets people annoyed with Gen Y is mostly life-stage related. The oldest of them are still in their early 20s. Many of them do imature things - didn't you at their age? There are three things that impact the communication/behavior of a generation - formative cohort experiences, current lifestage, and the current state of things (i.e. the economy). For instance, if you look at Gen X, yeah, they listened to grunge music and took a bit of beating in the 90s, but we need to stop bringing up what happened 15 years ago. I don't think the Babyboomers would like to be hit over the head with "Don't trust anyone over 30" for the rest of their lives. In general,compared with Boomers at the same age more Xers have a college education, make more money (when adjusted for inflation), and owned their own home sooner. There is a lot to be learned from the study of generational communications. I think generalizations are okay - but we need to stay away from the stereotypes. www.generationXpert.com I think a lot of what gets people annoyed with Gen Y is mostly life-stage related. The oldest of them are still in their early 20s. Many of them do imature things - didn't you at their age?

There are three things that impact the communication/behavior of a generation - formative cohort experiences, current lifestage, and the current state of things (i.e. the economy). For instance, if you look at Gen X, yeah, they listened to grunge music and took a bit of beating in the 90s, but we need to stop bringing up what happened 15 years ago. I don't think the Babyboomers would like to be hit over the head with "Don't trust anyone over 30" for the rest of their lives. In general,compared with Boomers at the same age more Xers have a college education, make more money (when adjusted for inflation), and owned their own home sooner.

There is a lot to be learned from the study of generational communications. I think generalizations are okay - but we need to stay away from the stereotypes.
http://www.generationXpert.com

]]> By: wayne http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110099 wayne Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:37:08 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110099 I really liked this article. I see some people taking issue with the generalizations, but everything you said about Gen X is me to a T. And ditto of the Gen Y's that I know (1 of my 2 best friends is 13 years younger than me - a Gen y). Thom did make a point when he said their are Gen Y who "are as much a part of the “ME” Generation as their baby booming parents". Most of the "good deads" done by the Gen Y's I know where done in order to surve a self serving purpose (to spruce up their college application) rather than to help their fellow human. While they are a teamwork oriented group, I think it's because many 20 somethings are accustomed to alot of hand holding and attaboys. They need alot of attention and can't go it alone like the Gen Xers can. I really liked this article. I see some people taking issue with the generalizations, but everything you said about Gen X is me to a T. And ditto of the Gen Y's that I know (1 of my 2 best friends is 13 years younger than me - a Gen y). Thom did make a point when he said their are Gen Y who "are as much a part of the “ME” Generation as their baby booming parents". Most of the "good deads" done by the Gen Y's I know where done in order to surve a self serving purpose (to spruce up their college application) rather than to help their fellow human. While they are a teamwork oriented group, I think it's because many 20 somethings are accustomed to alot of hand holding and attaboys. They need alot of attention and can't go it alone like the Gen Xers can.

]]> By: Serge Lescouarnec http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110097 Serge Lescouarnec Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:17:45 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/28/teaching-old-tropes-new-tricks-community-building-with-a-21st-century-twist/#comment-110097 Mentioned your site and this piece in my Monday Work Etiquette bit on 'Serge the Concierge'. Here is the link http://www.sergetheconcierge.com/2007/10/from-brunch-to-.html I have to check all the resources you mention. Take care Serge 'The French Guy from New Jersey' Mentioned your site and this piece in my Monday Work Etiquette bit on 'Serge the Concierge'.

Here is the link
http://www.sergetheconcierge.com/2007/10/from-brunch-to-.html

I have to check all the resources you mention.

Take care

Serge
'The French Guy from New Jersey'

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