INDEX (back to beginning)
ISSN: 1530-5775
July 2009, Vol.11 #7
From the EDITOR
Salvation from Georgia Jones
The Ultimate Gestalt
from David Donar
Fun with Alpha
The Mommy Connection
Day Care Toileting Accidents with Fiona Lohrenz
Living Spirit
Understand Emotional Eating
Georgia Jones
A new book on teen dating
Jane Roberts - Making History
New Poetry Program and a Special
What to call this one?
A Review of The Little Giant of Aberdeen County
Announcements from our Friends
Guess what I heard...
Your chance to say what you think
print this article separately
|
I remember my 11th grade speech teacher telling the class that "Gossip is the lowest form of communication. Talking about people is coarse, about things is necessary, but talking about ideas is the only worthwhile pursuit." I agreed then, and still do in the abstract, but I think that gossip (talking about people) needs another look. We like to talk about people; we interest us. Is that a character flaw? If so, it is one we all share. We talk about our concerns for other people, and though that might be contrived to have a higher value, it is gossip, too. We speculate and judge. I think all of that has its place and that it is a healthy place, a part of what makes us who we are as a species. What are we really doing when we speculate on someone else's life; when we attribute a specific motive based on only the smallest hint from their behavior or history? What we are doing is empathizing. Empathy is something humans may own exclusive rights to, certainly we have honed the skill or characteristic to a high level of importance. The ability to empathize is considered a humanizing virtue, while gossip is considered a fault. Is it possible that our contempt for gossip is based on perceptions of class rather than value? All of the characteristics of an average human being have been classified throughout our history as mean or coarse and civilized or genteel. When two Victoria gentlemen dueled over a "point of honor" (usually a woman) if was "character building", while lower class boys fighting over a girl were labeled "hooligans". Might gossip be the same kind of class division applied to words? We speculate about our friends and neighbors; some of it constructively: in order to understand and help; some of it less constructively: to judge and, thus, to feel superior. We are a communal species and this talent for understanding is probably essential to our ability to function in groups. Understanding is important to us. We do not like our questions to be left unanswered, but in empathy we find the deepest connection to each other. At the same time we embrace our connectedness, we see ourselves as separate from the group and the need to feel superior is a part of individuality. Humans are never one thing or another, we are always a complex mix of parts. So gossip has its place in making us who we are. But is gossip a worthy pursuit for a whole society? It is interesting how when we endow our group identity, our culture, with the traits we need or can tolerate in individuals, it is destructive to that whole. I worry about a culture built on gossip and celebrity. It is easy enough to adjust our systems, communication and economics, to reflect these valued forms of behavior, but what do we lose when our lowest form of discussion—course or genteel doesn't come into it—when talk about people replaces talk about ideas? I love a good "who-done-it" just as I can feel empowered by speculation on why my teenager felt compelled to be so self-destructive, or why my neighbor came home so late last night, or why my favorite celebrity might have chosen a certain role or wife or whatever, but when my information, the intense interest of my culture and my world, has shifted away from ideas to speculation I worry about the ideas that are not being developed, the future we are not building, and the rot that begins to grow where once I had a brain. Once again... In the spirit of communication this is information you should know:
|
Read this feature from past issues.
print this article separately
|
At LadybugFlights we have always encouraged the participation of our readers. For that reason we have this space, a place where you can be heard. Nothing as formal as an article or a column... Just some venting, self-expression, or a chance to communicate what you are thinking on almost any topic. Send it to us and we will let you know if we can use it! |
|
Thanks so much, Georgia, for reprinting our Dollar a Week announcement! You are a good friend indeed. And congratulations on another fabulous issue. I especially like the main feature, Sufi Tears. What an extraordinary story! I may send a piece for Fiona's section one day. I was a day care mom for 15 years, so she rings some chimes for me. Peace and all good,
|
Read this feature from past issues.
|
Who makes this possible?
Regular contributors to these pages include:
Lynn Andrews:
Amy Cipolla Barnes, BabyBug columnist:
In December 2001, I had my first child, Joel David. I learned to type one-handed while nursing. He can't read (yet) but he's calling mamamamama. My brief two-handed typing stint is over.
David Donar, cartoonist:
Irma Hudson, Correspondent, Virtual World:
Richard Kuhns B.S.Ch.E. NGH Certified:
Fiona Lohrenz:
Fran Sbrocchi, Correspondent, Australia:
Beatrice Spreadmoore, Correspondent, Financial:
Do you have something to say the whole world should hear? Here at LadybugFlights we are dedicated to the voices of women. In order for women to become a true force in the world we need, first of all, to talk to each other. It is with that in mind that we offer these pages and encourage your participation. It is our intent to publish one short fiction or feature article and one poem per issue, though this combination will vary according to the material we receive and may be replaced by special issues with a focus on news, fiction, or poetry — Special issues will be announced well in advance so submissions can be prepared in a timely way. Short-short stories, up to 1,000 words, and poetry under 40 lines can be submitted according to the same process as news articles (below). Longer works require special consideration so please send a proposal first. Longer works may be published up to three months after acceptance. News items are provided from our regular contributors and from any of you who have a newsworthy item to pass on. News articles of 100-400 words will be published with a byline or you can send facts and sources and we will write it. Longer, feature, articles (1,000 to 1,500 words average) and columns will be considered on an individual basis. We want news from all over the world and are counting on you to help us find it! (Because the language of this publication is English, all materials must be in English.) Unfortunately, we are not yet able to compensate writers who contribute here, but it is our hope to be able to offer modest compensation soon. SPECIAL CATEGORIES: Exceptional Women is a regular series of short articles, approximately 1,000 to 1,500 words about women of accomplishment. These can, certainly, include the famous and the should-have-been famous women of the past and the present, but it can also include stories of exceptional women who are not likely to be recognized by history because their unique contributions did not involve large numbers or dramatic events. We look to you to tell us about the women you admire. AFFILIATE PROGRAM: We know there are a lot of good women's businesses, ezines, and individual sites out there and if you are from one of those we are happy to help you be seen. Send us material we use and we will credit your site by putting a link from the information so our readers can find out more about you. To submit work for LadybugFlights: Send short pieces in the body of an email message, being sure to state the source of facts and quotes you may be including. Longer works, special categories, and proposals, can be sent in the body of an email message or as an attachment saved in doc or rtf format. Deadlines for each month's publication are firm: one week before the end of the month, unless it is a special issue and another deadline has been announced. New issues are posted late night on the last day of the month and remain active until the next month, when they are moved into the archive and kept available for one year.
Send an email with either completed work or a summary of the information or feature article you have in mind to:
LadybugFlights Copyright LadybugBooks.com
Copyright to original work on these pages is retained by the author. Original or copyrighted material on these pages may not be reprinted without permission of the author. To reprint all or any part of this ezine, written permission must be obtained. To request reprint permission email Permission.
Fair Use
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 USC. Section 107, the material on this site is published without profit for research and educational purposes. For more information. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
LadybugBooks.com |
16964 Columbia River Drive
Sonora, CA 95370
209.694.8340
Georgia@ladybugbooks.com
What's New? Independent Publishing
Lane Willey (Ms. Elani):