Tuesday, 7.45pm
Sheffield, U.K.
In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. – Friedrich Nietzsche
I have always been wary of groups. It comes from leaving home young and seeing early how people act – and deciding I didn’t want a part of that.
Of course, that’s not a good thing.
In Terry Pratchett’s books wizards live in a university, well fed and satisfied – only looking for how they can climb the ladder by helping someone higher up out of his shoes.
It’s only men, of course, except when there was a woman but that’s a whole book.
This is because wizards, when left to themselves, retreat to towers and start hurling fireballs at other wizards and everyone gets very upset as a result.
Isolation is something that we think leads to creativity – but that might only be a romantic notion.
Real creativity happens in groups, in collaborations, when different kinds of knowledge come together.
But it’s hard to get into a sandpit and play nicely with others.
And even if you do get in the issues don’t end – they just become one of group dynamics rather than individual ones.
Groups that follow one approach seek to convert people on the fence, flatter those that already believe in them and criticize those on the other side.
But if you really want to understand why someone thinks differently than you then you have to spend time listening and watching.
Not judging.
There is no easy solution to this – walk your own path or join a group. Which do you choose?
I guess you try both and see what happens.
Cheers,
Karthik Suresh
Handcrafted insight 