#emergent strategy

[boba-t-butch]

"The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion." - Albert Camus

#quotes #albert camus #emergent strategy

[misserinmarie]

But lately, as the attacks grow faster and more vicious, I wonder: is this what we're here for? To cultivate a fear-based adherence to reductive common values? What can this lead to in an imperfect world full of sloppy, complex humans? Is it possible we will call each other out until there's no one left beside us?

adrienne maree brown on cancel culture, from Emergent Strategy

#adrienne maree brown #emergent strategy #cancel culture

[knode-garden]

Lessons from family discussions

Our society and educational institutions do not teach us how to communicate and connect with each other, only how to debate, argue, and create divisions. I see it often when I have discussions with my family. Because they are discussions and not just conversations. Because they feel like arguments despite the fact that those on "opposing sides" are often saying very similar things and even agreeing with each other. At least once per quarter there is a discussion in which I feel the need to pause and say "wait, I want to be clear that I accept what you are saying. I hear you, I even agree with you. I am not trying to change your mind, I just want you to understand my point." Today was one such day.

I am grateful to my family that continues to have these conversations together; these borderline discussions / arguments. Every time we have them, I feel there is a little less anger and a little more understanding; despite the way we interrupt each other and raise our voices. (That's just how we talk, it wasn't anger.)

It seems silly on paper but today I used my "turn" in the conversation to pause and explicitly acknowledge what another person was saying. I explicitly accepted that this person was expressing concern for my safety; and I expressed that I was not disregarding their concern, that I do not intend on being reckless, and that I recognize the dangers and the risks and am being smart and strategic with my actions. I did this because I hate being misunderstood and I could hear from the back and forth that they believed us to be ignorant of the risks. So I clarified. And I received gratitude in return.

It was just one moment in a long conversation. But It was important and it was impactful. Not for some abstract idea of "feeling heard" but because there was true and genuine mutual understanding; and also the feeling of being heard. I walked away from that conversation at peace and feeling grateful for the opportunity to talk.

I keep thinking back on a comment a friend of mine made this month about building relationships within your community: "We don't have to like each other, we just have to care." I think family and other close relationships are a great way to practice this. Because even if there are disagreements, even if they are major disagreements, if there is care, then it is possible to have conversations that end with both parties understanding each other a little more.

It doesn't have to change anyone's position for that exchange to be incredibly valuable. Because at the end of the day, that love and care will lead to support, and that bit of understanding will lead to support.

And support is important, especially now, and especially in the future we are moving towards. We cannot afford to reject support even if we think it's not coming from the place we wish it were coming from.

#thanksgiving #family dinners #reflections #emergent strategy

[liberatory-ponderings]

"All these streams and rivers making their way back to the source, to the goal, to the collective vision of the sea. In building our movements, we learn this: we come from different places across the country and world, we face different obstacles, paths, twists, and turns -- some of us reshaping the very rocks beneath us, some of us moving the rocks with our combined strength, and some of us going around them when they can't be moved and finding another path to our desired goal. I've learned that those of us with the same dreams can find each other, and in finding each other, we can learn to move together, to build together, to shape the world together, to flow together, and maybe, just maybe...together we can reach the sea."

- Desiree Evans

#quotes #desiree evans #emergent strategy #p270 #from the ocean to the sea... free palestine requires working together in a collective

[amalopolis]

“ Can you drive me to the hospital?

Can you explain what is happening to me?

Can you stop my pain?

Can you open this water bottle?

Can you help me stand up? And sit down?

Can you open the door?

Can you put my bag in the overhead bin?

Can you bring me groceries?

Can you drive me to the airport and actually park and help me bring my suitcase inside?

Can you hold me while I cry?

Can you hear me?

And so on, for what feels like forever…

And most of all, the childlike request inside of storytelling: Can you listen while I feel this?

Again?

Again?”

- adrienne maree brown, Emergent Strategy

#adrienne maree brown #emergent strategy

[naturalpantheist]

Emergence is one of the best concepts I have learned for discussing this wow, this wonder. “Emergence is the way complex systems and patterns arise out of a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions.” It is another way of speaking about the connective tissue of all that exists—the way, the Tao, the force, change, God/dess, life. Birds flocking, cells splitting, fungi whispering underground.

From Emergent Strategy, adrienne maree brown

#adrienne maree brown #connection #interdependence #emergent strategy

[yeoldenews]

A mother's word for word transcription of the imaginary phone call her four-year-old made to Santa Claus in 1911.

(source: The Harbor Beach Times, December 22, 1911.)

Through some outrageous case of serendipity I found a recording of another phone call this same child made 60 years later. Though I have to say his choice of conversational partner is a definite downgrade from the first call.

#I've started using 'our bees are all dead' as my standard filler during lulls in conversation #and no I am not kidding #that is actually 64 year old George Arthur Lincoln in the recording #I'm writing up a bio of him that will hopefully be up within a few days #because this kid grew up to be involved in Forrest Gump levels of 20th century historical events #he was the youngest american general in wwii and was involved in the strategy of d-day and the planned invasion of Japan #he was at yalta and potsdam #he started a social sciences department at West Point #which resulted in his students being called commies because why should soldiers study culture and economics instead of shoot gun at thing #he ended up as the director of the office of emergency preparedness while nixon was president - hence the phone call #this poor man had to sit through so many meetings with Henry Kissinger #his younger brother (Waunce from the letter) was also a general #they were known as 'big abe' and 'little abe'

[significant-narratives]

‘it’ll be interesting to see how the coaches manipulate line changes here’ spoken like a man who’s never experienced maple leafs hockey

#may i introduce you to our line strategies 1) the blender and 2) in case of emergency: send in the mouse #leafs lb

[communistkenobi]

I’m watching a documentary my friend recommended to me called the law in these parts, which is about the history of israeli military law in palestine, and like. jesus christ they were literally just doing lebensraum. the same low density suburban development that plagues north america, the same plan of fascist expansion eastward done by nazi germany was done in palestine, with the justification that these residential settlements built for settler civilians were actually military outposts and therefore legal under international law. it’s literally just lebensraum

#I wonder about the context of the justification as like a strategic exception to international law #like is this an essential strategy of fascism (/colonialism) or rather one we see emerge through the context of history #the nazis obviously did this prior to international law but those laws were written in response to nazi strategies iirc #I’ve seen people make the connection that suburban development in settler colonial states in general is a fascist practice #and like I was inclined to agree but didn’t fully get the scope of the argument #but this is making it click into place for me #again premised on the foundational argument that fascism and colonialism are synonymous processes that cannot be separated from one another #which is the strongest definition of fascism I’ve encountered so far in all of my readings

[johnbly]

[FIC] to be royalty

Summary: 

House Wolffort has successfully driven back Avlora and the Aesfrosti army, yet Roland is still troubled. Frederica finds him deep in thought and the two discuss support and strength.

Word Count: 1,501

read on ao3

Excerpt:

Roland can’t sleep.

He stares up at the ceiling of his room in Castle Wolffort. It’s not unfamiliar — several times as a child he’d spent the night in Serenoa’s home — but he’s used to this sight being by choice, not necessity.

Yet it’s not entirely by necessity, isn’t it? If the others had simply listened to him when the Scales were brought out, his view would be of…well, he’s not sure where Gustadolph would’ve put him, but the view would’ve undoubtedly been different.

And that’s why, instead of all the other reasons that have caused him difficulty in sleep as of late, he cannot rest tonight. After the vote, after his initial fears of the troubles their decision would bring, Roland had thought he was ready for the inevitable battle.

He’d been wrong.

It’s stupid, because they won. All things considered, the losses could have been far worse. They didn’t even have to use any of the fire traps. But it’s knowing what could have been: any one of his companions killed, him being captured after a long and bloody battle for naught, homes of civilians burned for nothing more than a desperate grasp at an advantage. All in his name. All because the world has determined he matters more than anything and anyone else. 

Yet while it could have been worse, many still lost limbs or lives. The fact that even one drop of blood had been spilled in his name when it didn’t have to be hurts like a physical wound. No doubt his father or Frani wouldn’t have been bothered like this. As if Roland needs any more reminders that he’s not ready for — let alone worthy of — the throne, providing there’s even one left at the end of this for him to take. Providing he survives.

And what right does he have to be disturbed when Cordelia is still at Whiteholm?

#roland glenbrook #frederica aesfrost #triangle strategy #tristrat #triangle strategy fanfic #my writing #i should probably be concerned by how easy it is for me to write characters beating themselves up internally but [shrug emoji] #anyways this was in my head for ages after my second playthrough with the scene where frederica is like. dude. we're with you. #but i didn't get around to writing it until this third playthrough #we'll see if any of the other tristrat fic ideas that lived in my brain for a bit will emerge some day

[boba-t-butch]

"Are you actively practicing generosity and vulnerability in order to make the connections between you and others clear, open, available, durable? Generosity here means giving of what you have without strings or expectations attached. Vulnerability means showing your needs." - adrienne maree brown

#quotes #emergent strategy #adrienne maree brown

[friendofthecrows]

How many projects do I have going right now?

Well, there's college, and then there's my jobs, and then there's the main project, and then there's the 3 side projects, and then there's the back burner projects and then the secret farther back burner projects and then the-

But it's not really that much. I mean, one needs to save time to dissociate for 8hrs a day. #selfcare

#i've utilized a similar scheduling strategy since approximately age 8 #i realized pretty quick that i just Could Not function along the same productivity rules as other people #and figured the best way to deal with this was #if i took on enough projects and things to do i can set myself into emergency mode time-wise enough that i will at least get SOMETHING done #which is much better than getting nothing done because i chose a couple of main things and made a reasonable schedule around them and then #couldn't do it #later it turned out I have aspd and comorbid adhd :) #DID too #'you say you don't have time. well what did you spend today doing?' #fuck if i know #i did Some Things #anyways this system seems to work but it cannot POSSIBLY be the best one bc i feel so burnt out all the time...

[misserinmarie]

I have been in movement spaces for a long time, and we have a way of doing things that is so steeped in critique that I have often wondered if we would strangle movement before it could blossom. Sometimes I think we put up the critiques to excuse ourselves from getting involved, and sometimes I think we do it to protect our hearts from getting broken if it doesn't work out. Critique, alone, can keep us from having to pick up the responsibility of figuring out solutions.

adrienne maree brown, Emergent Strategy

#adrienne maree brown #emergent strategy #critique #criticism

[knode-garden]

I am reading two books right now, to give myself hope and strength in between moments of weakness and doubt in humanity:

Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown and Deciding For Ourselves edited by Cindy Milstein.

And within the first 10 or so pages of both what I have already learned is that everything rests on the relationships we have to people face-to-face. At the end of the day social fabric is about the relationships we have with each other. Each thread to each node. The stronger the thread, the stronger the fabric.

A one-sided relationship is weak, a two-sided relationship is stronger. But between two people can exist many layers of relationship. That of neighbors, of friends, of family, of admiration, of respect.

This week a friend gave me a small gem of wisdom, they said: "I use the word friend very liberally. We don't have to like each other, we just have to care about each other."

If we are to turn things around we need to start with the people we care about who care about us. Because love exists even when friendship doesn't, when w disagree on even some really heavy things. But as long as there is a connection, there is care, and that is the seed for relationship, for community, for a better society.

We need to be gardeners, planting seeds in our communities. Not only for trees to feed ourselves, but for the relationships that are our only salvation.

The revolution will happen at home and in our neighborhoods.

#free palestine #building community #emergent strategy #direct democracy #revolution

[liberatory-ponderings]

"Understanding that you can be wrong, have been wrong, helps to increase the compassion needed to work through the emotional and material impacts of being wronged by another. We often think that we must hold our position, regardless of what we learn or feel. But in fact the opposite is true. We must learn to develop positions together, adapting to changing conditions around us -- sometimes this means we must relinquish our positions, to voice our feelings and thoughts, and hear and be influenced by, other people's opinions and information."

- adrienne maree brown

#quotes #emergent strategy #adrienne maree brown #p263

[craig960114]

why my brother sqaig will help me take over the world

In the imaginative world where Craig reigns supreme, his brother Sqaig emerges as a formidable ally in their quest for global domination. While Craig possesses cunning and adaptability, Sqaig brings his own unique strengths to the table, making them an unstoppable duo poised to reshape the world in their image.

Firstly, Sqaig complements Craig's abilities with his own brand of charisma and charm. While Craig may excel in clandestine operations and behind-the-scenes manipulation, Sqaig shines in the spotlight, captivating audiences with his magnetic personality and infectious enthusiasm. Together, they form a dynamic duo capable of rallying followers from all walks of life to their cause.

Secondly, Sqaig's ingenuity and creativity add a new dimension to their plans for world domination. While Craig may rely on tried-and-true tactics, Sqaig isn't afraid to think outside the box and innovate. Whether it's devising bold new strategies or leveraging emerging technologies, Sqaig's inventive spirit ensures that they stay one step ahead of their adversaries.

Furthermore, Sqaig's unwavering loyalty to his brother Craig strengthens their bond and solidifies their alliance. In a world where trust is a rare commodity, Sqaig's steadfast commitment to Craig serves as a powerful foundation for their partnership. Together, they weather the storms of opposition and adversity, emerging stronger and more determined than ever to achieve their shared goals.

In conclusion, the union of Craig and Sqaig represents a formidable force in the world of global politics and power struggles. With their complementary strengths, unwavering loyalty, and shared ambition, they stand poised to conquer all obstacles in their path and usher in a new era of dominance and influence. Beware the rise of Craig and Sqaig, for their reign may soon be upon us.

#In the imaginative world where Craig reigns supreme #his brother Sqaig emerges as a formidable ally in their quest for global domination. While Craig possesses cunning and adaptability #Sqaig brings his own unique strengths to the table #making them an unstoppable duo poised to reshape the world in their image. #Firstly #Sqaig complements Craig's abilities with his own brand of charisma and charm. While Craig may excel in clandestine operations and behind-th #Sqaig shines in the spotlight #captivating audiences with his magnetic personality and infectious enthusiasm. Together #they form a dynamic duo capable of rallying followers from all walks of life to their cause. #Secondly #Sqaig's ingenuity and creativity add a new dimension to their plans for world domination. While Craig may rely on tried-and-true tactics #Sqaig isn't afraid to think outside the box and innovate. Whether it's devising bold new strategies or leveraging emerging technologies #Sqaig's inventive spirit ensures that they stay one step ahead of their adversaries. #Furthermore #Sqaig's unwavering loyalty to his brother Craig strengthens their bond and solidifies their alliance. In a world where trust is a rare comm #Sqaig's steadfast commitment to Craig serves as a powerful foundation for their partnership. Together #they weather the storms of opposition and adversity #emerging stronger and more determined than ever to achieve their shared goals. #In conclusion #the union of Craig and Sqaig represents a formidable force in the world of global politics and power struggles. With their complementary st #unwavering loyalty #and shared ambition #they stand poised to conquer all obstacles in their path and usher in a new era of dominance and influence. Beware the rise of Craig and Sq #for their reign may soon be upon us.