Dear Daniel and Friends
posted by Elisa | January 17, 2010
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IcerocketAs I've watched my only 2 blogs I've ever written appear on Evolver's main page, climb in their grok rating, enjoy some commentary and then suddenly disappear into thin air, some questions have been raised for me. What's a grok? What determines a blog's rating? What's the shelf life of a blog until it is determined no-longer-fresh? Who or what determines this? What is the little plus sign under the grok number for that lights up green when you click on it?
Is it you Daniel Pinchbeck who is the main creator of this site? Are there one or two or ten others? Is there a hierarchy among you? Who looks after Evolver and how often?
Let me be clear and say I am deeply grateful for this site and excited by it's potential. So thankyou Daniel and Friends!
But I also hope to have some of my questions addressed as well, and also offer up an idea or two.
I'm aware Evolver and Reality Sandwich "are going to have to close down" if enough public funding doesn't come through soon enough.
What if you created a suggestion box, of sorts, where we the users could offer our feedback as to what we would like to see happen here, our constructive comments, questions, and also positive reinforcement as to what works very well? Do this in a public forum, via this site, so as to stimulate discussion amongst us. Sometimes it takes one person speaking an idea aloud for 30 people to agree aloud.
Also, I would very much like to get to know each of you better, not just
having to show up at an event, but why not by way of a column or
sidebar, feature one of you each week, for example with a nice pic of
your smiling evolving face over an article introducing youselves (for
those of us who don't know who you are and aren't familiar with your
books yet). Tell us what you're about, how Evolver came to be, and what
your greatest intentions are for the site and beyond. That way each new
evolver just tuning in has a perfect place to start and can feel a more
personal level of involvement with you. I don't know about anyone else,
but I'm still yet not totally comfortable giving my few extra dollars away to
you, "Daniel and Friends", not because I don't trust your intentions are good, but because I'm not certain exactly what they are or who you all are for that matter.
I don't mean for this to come across as a criticism, but rather these are thoughts that have been building in me lately as I enjoy this precious and wonderful gathering space, yet feeling it's source as a kind of phantom out there somewhere.
Comments
Not sure if it's a site
— Jan 17, 2010
Not sure if it's a site glitch, a limit of the iPhone, or my own technical ignorance, but upon re-entering my blog to edit, I could not figure out how to scroll down past the bottom of the window. Therefore all I could do was keep hitting "return" to get down to the next line, hence the choppy appearance of the above letter toward the end. Would love a solution to that issue too if anyone has one to offer! Thanks! : )
What I'd like to know is how
— Jan 18, 2010
What I'd like to know is how exactly a blog gets to the front page of Reality Sandwich? It's not by groks alone, of that we can be sure!
The Revolution is Within
to grok is...
— Jan 18, 2010
The word "grok" is borrowed from Robert A. Heinlein's epic 1961 sci-fi novel "Stranger in a Strange Land". (My favourite book ever, having read it four times).
From Wikipedia: "To grok (pronounced /ˈɡrɒk/) is to share the same reality or line of thinking with another physical or conceptual entity... grokking is the intermingling of intelligence that necessarily affects both the observer and the observed... to understand so thoroughly that the observer becomes a part of the observed—to merge, blend, intermarry, lose identity in group experience... In an ideological context, a grokked concept becomes part of the person who contributes to its evolution by improving the doctrine, perpetuating the myth, espousing the belief, adding detail to the social plan, refining the idea or proofing the theory."
what makes you so sure this
— Jan 18, 2010
what makes you so sure this site will shut down? was there a letter issued previously?
NARAYANA
"There is no End that is not a new Beginning..."
Thanks Mister Helliwell for
— Jan 19, 2010
Thanks Mister Helliwell for that grok definition.
And Adam..it was David who informed me in an email exchange recently about subscriptions, and I also read his reply to another person's comments on Reality Sandwich about the cost of an event fee. He himself has said twice that they'll have to shut down the sites without financial help.
I was just hoping to know more of the details. What are the operating costs for one thing. And also as much as I enjoy this site, I don't feel a sense of connection with David or the others involved. And quite frankly I'd like too. I like that we can gather here, but I don't have a feel for who David is, what he is about. And again...who are the others involved?
David's a bit of a ambiguous
— Jan 19, 2010
David's a bit of a ambiguous character, no question. The whole thing with evolver, though, is that neither David nor the rest of the RS crew exert their personal influence here any more strongly than most of the users. It would be pretty easy for them to dominate, considering, and I think they want to avoid that.
The Revolution is Within
UserVoice
— Jan 19, 2010
I also like the idea of having a user feedback section. You could check out UserVoice (www.uservoice.com) which allows people to post suggestions and then others get to vote on them.
-Chris
Addressing Some Questions
— Jan 19, 2010
Hi Elisa,
Thanks for your questions and interest in what we are doing. Essentially "groks" are equivalent to votes, and as Mister Helliwell explains above, it comes from a fairly popular term in "Stranger in a Strangeland." We thought it would be a more original way to do this. The votes are a way for the international community to decide what they are interested in. They stay up for 3 days, but will still be viewable on the site in "Recent," "Most Commented," and your own profile/blog afterward. As for the "Top Evolver Blogs" on Reality Sandwich, they are usually changed once or twice per week and decided upon by the Evolver editorial team. We like to pick a variety topics (that seem intriguing to other readers) and try to pick different writers each time.
The Evolver team has a few co-founders -- Ken Jordan, Daniel Pinchbeck, Michael Robinson, and myself, as well as other folks that keep it going -- Jennifer Palmer, Remi Gurak, Stephen Thomas, Maya Lemberg, and more, as well as a slew of fabulous volunteers, regional coordinators, interns, and other wonderful peeps that help us spreed the evolution. The reason we aren't always commenting and blogging is that our small crew works overtime just to keep Evolver and Reality Sandwich going. That said, we are encouraging people to sign up for Reality Sandwich Backstage to help support this project. We have upcoming calls with Rob Breszny, Charles Eisenstein, Jeremy Narby, and more to reward the Backstage Members.
http://www.realitysandwich.com/backstage-content
And as far as making suggestions, you can send me a message through my profile, or there's also a contact page that you can send suggestions, questions and comments. We love to hear from you.
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Jonathan
I too support the request
— Jan 19, 2010
I too support the request for a bit more coordination and disclosure on this project...and preferably through a self-organized body of regular users. It seems that an open-source style of virtual community could be very effective and progressive in this context. At present though, the founders (dues of respect and gratitude first, btw) seem to comfortably sustain a level of detachment and obscurity with regard to their involvement, vision and motivation here. I think financial profit has been a piece of the picture from the beginning, and that the net site itself is not yet very productive in that sense so thus languishes a bit until viewership/sponsorship/merchandise justifies greater attentions. I'm truly not opposed to the site as a revenue stream for someone(s), as I think we as 'evolved consumers' can ultimately dictate what and how we're getting fed and the terms of purchase. But as I said, my personal investment/participation would be vastly encouraged by heightened transparency and collaboration in the system. To specify one request, is there/can there be a designated 'liason' person in the core team who is consistently active here and available to facillitate communication and, well yeah--EVoLUtion! for the community as a whole? And to PS a #2 if I could, can we get a contingency plan from The Management to preserve/archive/transfer content from here if the venture somehow terminates as presently formulated? And a proposal to the community: perhaps a 'Group' could be launched to manage development of the site from a user standpoint, resolving issues and refining requests as best we can independently before piping up to the Beureau/liason? Volunteers?
just an fyi
— Jan 19, 2010
Just to let you know...
the regional group coordinators seem to serve as a sort of 'Evolver liason' by keeping everyone in the know at the monthly spore meetings as well as posting on the group pages. Consider joining a spore. Chris Hopkins and I do one in Sacramento. We just had our first one together last night (Chris has been running this for the last 5 months on his own), and it went so very very well. It seems that spores are where the magic and communication happen! So much love, and happy exploring!
hmm...thanks; however
— Jan 19, 2010
Can anyone elaborate on this arrangement? Is there a formal link between regional coordinators and 'evolver central' that serves to pass important info and inquiry back and forth? That would seem tragically exclusive, as very little of such exchange presently reaches the broader collective here. Personally I am most interested in and inspired by the non-locality of this online venue, as a bit of a nomad and wilderness afficionado. There are many avenues to progressive 'tribal' intercourse in population centers, which I happily engage as fitting. What seems most vibrant in the potential for this space is the ability to link and synergize much of what occurs, or due to varied factors CAN'T occur, in such delimited environs.... Ultimately I recognize the juicy potency of yeah, Magic, that occurs in dynamic social proximity, and recall from an Evolver launch party that this was probably the main aim of the founders (and documented request of RS audience survey) so conceding that we're still in early stages, priority #1 carries the day. I do feel that voices may be steadily stronger on the above concerns and want to advance growth to accommodate these.
options
— Jan 19, 2010
wasn't alluding to an idea that this was the only system of communication, simply pointing out the avenues of connecting and getting further involved. coordinators are in communication with evolver in order to carry out the task of expanding the consciousness movement beyond the digital world, to make the ideas transform into reality... yes, there are the advantages of the online world, no doubt, but the real change has to happen in real life or we are just mentally masturbating here.
"It's our world to change"
— Jan 19, 2010
That is the slogan that this website uses. "It's our world to change." What the people that have started Reality Sandwich and Evolver are doing is trying to change it(from what I can tell). They put together both of these sites and are busting their ass's 24/7 to run them. They are horribly understaffed and need as much help as they can get. At present there are 3,774 members on Evolver and as many as 75,000 visitor's to reality sandwich a month. Both of these sites are ran by too few people. If you have a problem with the way things are ran, then you can 1) contribute to funding (and get a lot back for your money in the backstage program, the teleconference calls are great) so they can afford more help 2) quit your job move to New York and apply for there Intern call out and hope that enough other people donate money so you can live off of your internship while being way over worked until you get more help or 3) start your own site and contribute to the consciousness movement. Evolver would probably be very happy if you did any of those three things. They are just trying to spread the word. You could also start a regional group in your town/city and contribute that way. I started one myself and its a lot of work. I have to do all the promoting, all the event organizing, try to get speakers, obtain documentaries to screen, and learn enough about the content of that months spore to teach something to everyone that attends. I would love help myself, if you would like to give it, or have a problem with how Evolver Sacramento is ran, come volunteer(just like Evolver as a whole). I would also like to add that most of the help I get is from Evolver headquarters, and a bunch of horribly over worked people. Once again I repeat "it's our world to change", if you don't like something you have the power to change it. This website is very open source, and not corporately owned. There are a lot of great things on it, better than any other social network I'm a part of. Sure it's not perfect for everyone, but what is? Like I said if you don't like it you can always get a team of about ten people and then bust your ass spending a few years to build a couple of your own websites, that cater to thousands of people, all while trying to maintain enough income to live in the process.
just my 2 cents here
— Jan 19, 2010
it really doesn't matter if your post is taken of the main site I mean this not a popularity contest to see who gets most commets or the most groks... I guess if anyone wants a more "refined" social network website you can go to facebook or make your own blog via google... I think the website is really straight forward and simple without being dull... I tried to manage a regional group but soon discovered that I wasn't fit for the task and yes the main goal is to meet, share, create and play in the real world... the internet is great and I love checking this site every day to read the posts and maybe if a get inspired write something down to share and most importantly (at least for me) make friends with similar mindset... anyway I do have a suggestion though I propose we do a surf couch thing here at the site nothing fancy just you know make friends with however you fancy the most and if possible meet... I have a pretty good size couch myself so anyone who wants to visit san anton and share philosophies, ideas, art and whatever just become my friend and we'll take it from there... no crazy people though LOL =P
Anyway let just stop looking at the small details of the grok or the bla bla... who cares... but if anyone out there is a computer/website/guru-designer well say "I
' and do it probono... think of it as social service... in the meantime let's understand that the RS and Evolver crew have to eat and to eat you have to have money just like all of you do...
Peace
I like Evolver
— Jan 19, 2010
for the like minded individuals...
I kind of like the system .. it keeps things fresh...
I do, too. I dig that it's
— Jan 20, 2010
I do, too. I dig that it's not all flashy and "MySpacey"...kinda feels like anarchy, like the future...meaning, like an Archaic Revival kind of thing- the best of open source and tech mixed with the DIY of tribalism.
BTW, thank you to the peeps that make this happen!
Thankyou Jonathan for the
— Jan 20, 2010
Thankyou Jonathan for the thorough response. Yes it helps. You have a wonderful peaceful energy about you that I've noticed in some of your other responses you've written to other members as well. I admire the example you set and particularly how you don't allow your own feathers to get ruffled.
It's interesting to notice how we can so easily take what others write personally, and there begin little tiny wars of our own right here on Evolver.
Even as I sit quiet reading the various emotional reactions people allow to come out in their expressions to others, I notice my own emotional body begin to quiver, the automatic pilot ready to kick on and join in.
But isn't that the very quality that distinguishes us from animals?...
That we have the capacity to pause, and notice our emotions become triggered?
That we have the capacity to notice?
Language is so very very important! We who are evolving from an era of battling with clubs and swords and guns, evolving from brute force...
Yet our words still club each other, sometimes subtly but it is there, it is evident the force.
Let us each begin where we are with our words!
So powerful the word!
Where is the kindness?
Always we can be supporting each other...
This is where it starts!
With the word.
With our vibration.
With pausing to notice our self.
Amen, Alisa. I have been
— Jan 20, 2010
Amen, Alisa. I have been guilty of those same actions, fighting those same little wars here. Believe it or not, it was simmering on my mind almost all day long. Thank you for observing that trend and bringing it to focus.
hi elisa I just finished
— Jan 20, 2010
hi elisa I just finished reading your response and I agree... I'm not gonna lie I jumped at this post assuming youall thought like me in the sense that I (more often than I would like) catch myself hoping that whatever I post gets a lot feedback and groks or whatever just to feel accepted or to feel that I'm right... anyway yes some the responses to your post were more in the attacking side rather than in the dialog side... please check out the following link I think you are going to like it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aLWHGJLN7s
so yes language is very important specially in this site where all we use is words images and videos too but mostly written language... and what happened to your post has happen in others too... I think we get offended because this is very important for a lot of us specially the ones deeply envolved either with the website or with regionals and feelings get carried away... but regardless of that the important thing is that this website exists and it's a great tool and i think with time we'll get better at our language skills...
take care
Awesome serch. And thanks
— Jan 20, 2010
Awesome serch. And thanks for the link. You're right, I did appreciate her. I love how she says that we must offer our point as a gift to our conversation partner. Beautifully spoken!
And lastly serch, there's nothing wrong with your desire for groks on your blogs. To express something totally unique to our individuality is one of the most fundamental human needs. Even if we find ourselves checking our posts for ratings, that is not why we post. We are posting because we have something to express. If we make a difference to someone then all the better.
Im glad you could feel the
— Jan 20, 2010
Im glad you could feel the truth on it spacehippy.
I'm glad you are strong enough to admit it.
We all fall into it at times.
The important thing is to notice, and the more we notice, the easier it gets to pause and consider carefully the vibration we want to transmit to others to the world.
This also becomes easier as we remember that we are all One. That our physical eyes see us as separate is an illusion ~ so the vibe I convey to you, is the vibe that I get back. You are me. And I am you.
This is why the healing of the planet and our systems of gov, and our relationships...all begin with me.
And they keep on beginning, every moment of my day, on this site as I "speak" with you, at the store, with neighbors, strangers, etc.
The challenging personalities in the world are really challenges for myself to heal my own emotions, and only then can I find the way to reach what is universal in us both.
I think that it really is
— Jan 20, 2010
I think that it really is our responsibility to make this platform what we want it to be. I enjoy the work that the people behind the scenes do, but for that there is RS. I wouldn't want to see pinchbecks stuff on the front page of evolver all the time.
What do we all want to achieve really? What's the goal? If the goal is to waste everybody's time forming committees to scrutinize how a $30/year subscription fee is budgeted or whatever nonsense, then count me out. I'm here to meet like minded people, get inspired, and yes even enjoy some frivolous entertainment.
Sure it can be fun when stuff gets kind of culty, but at the same time if we want to affect real change then only our actions IRL count. This network is a medium of information and ideas and it's our responsibility to put the best ideas into action.
I'm not so concerned with the cluster of young white males who put this site together as I am about what projects conceived and organized on here might blossom into. Gift economies, new technologies for local currencies, new collectives of people, etc.
I too would like to see more
— Jan 20, 2010
I too would like to see more of the people behind the scenes here. But yes, they have struck a nice medium where they're not hovering over us and dictating everything.
I've had an argument or two on here, and I'm glad the moderators just let them happen. What I learned from that is sometimes it doesn't matter how choosy you are with your words -- people can still take things personally and hit below the belt. Just because we're here doesn't automatically make us saints and saviors, we're still people looking for answers.
I do have a question for anybody who has an answer. Since I am on here quite a bit, I wouldn't mind contributing a little something to keep things going. My question is, do I have to subscribe to RS for that? How can I make sure my money is going toward Evolver? (no offense to RS, I know it's the same people, but it's a completely different website, and I'm just more partial to Evolver) I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels that way, so if anybody can let me know how to do that, I'd appreciate it.
Anyhow, I think it's nice that someone decided to shout out to the people who keep this site running. We know you're there and we know you work really hard and we appreciate it =) And you clearly put a lot of thought into how to run this place, or it wouldn't run as smoothly as it does. So kudos all around to everyone!
All the funds that go to
— Jan 20, 2010
All the funds that go to Reality Sandwich also go to Evolver. They are one and the same. Evolver was created because of the popularity or Reality Sandwich. They wanted to build a more open source social network where they could start getting people together in the real world. They do all kinds of retreats, teleconferences, videos, lots of back stage stuff, and other various projects to keep both of these sites going. If you help Reality Sandwich you are helping Evolver. Besides if you donated money to Evolver you get the well being of knowing you helped out; but if you get the Reality Sandwich backstage pass you get the well being of knowing you helped out, plus all the extra video's, teleseminars,and other things that come along with it. I to do a lot more on the Evolver site than Reality Sandwich, but I also know they are one and the same.
What is the goal? Thankyou
— Jan 21, 2010
What is the goal? Thankyou for posing that question VincenzOh.
As I read the many posts, and become more familiar with the site, I am beginning to form an understanding in my mind of just what Evolver seems to be about. For as many different evolvers as there are on this site, there are different ideas of what it means to evolve.
And THAT is the beauty of this site!
Some of us may believe it's about coming together to discuss "peak oil", and that our energy resources are of primary concern. Others may be more interested in simply having access to a forum that attracts people who are interested in discussing topics of an alternative nature, such as UFO's, psychedelics, and conspiracy theories. And others yet may be most interested in consciousness itself and the immediate challenges of the path of self-awareness.
As each of us expresses his or herself on this site, we can come to learn about each other, and hopefully expand ouselves. We will be more drawn to some than to others, depending on our values.
That we tolerate each other's differing values would be a worthy goal indeed, to start. That would be evolution in my book, against the backdrop of this world.
The goal is an attempt at
— Jan 21, 2010
The goal is an attempt at spreading the growing consciousness movement. Educating people to more fringe ideas that aren't as readily available in schools. To help everyone live more aware, caring, conscious, and fulfilling lives. To help people learn to care about the planet, their impacts on it, and impacts on every other form of life. To help usher people into this new age of the next evolutionary step of consciousness. That is the goal of Evolver the way I understand it.
