Thoughts on an Ideal Society

Thoughts on Learning and Knowledge}

 1.   Information is freely shared. It is not hoarded and guarded jealously
      by some for the purpose of having power over others. 
   
      - Information gives the community expanded abilities to make choices.
	(About what? See below...)
      - Information is not regarded as magical.
      - If I know something that you wish to know, I help you learn.
      
 2.   People are assumed by default to be intelligent and capable of learning
      and understanding.

 3.   People have the opportunity to learn (and be taught) to the limits of
      their capabilities.

 4.   There is absolutely nothing wrong with ignorance --- there is no negative
      value judgement associated with it.
  
      - Because ignorance is not something to be ashamed of, there is no
        fear of being found ignorant and therefore such fears do not stop
	people from seeking information and beginning learning of an
	area they deem useful at any time.
      - Learning is not restricted to a timeline.
      
 5.   Apprenticeship is a highly valued form of learning.
 6.   Peer groups are determined by interests and abilities in given areas
      of interest --- not by age.
     
      - Peer groups overlap and individuals belong to many circles.
      - ``Membership'' in such groups is fluid.
      
 7.   Learning is considered a continual and natural part of daily life.
    
      - ``School'' does not take place separated off from life in a
	set location during set times.
      - Rather, children (and all people) learn by living life and
	articipating in the community.
      - People are never considered to be ``done'' with learning.
      - Classroom learning is one of many possibilities. Participation
	in such is voluntary.
      
 8.   The purpose of learning is to enable active participation in the 
      community, and satisfy interests.

Thoughts on Work

 9.   People work to live, and live together. People do not live to work.
    
      - Personal relationships and sharing within the community is the
	center of life, as opposed to something that happens as an
	afterthought after work.
      - Work is a community activity.
      
10.   While work is an important part of a person's identity, it is not by
      any means a defining identity. 
     
      - People ``do work,'' as opposed to ``are workers.''
      - All labor is valued.
      
11.   Work is essentially cooperative, rather than competitive.

Thoughts on ``Stuph'' and the Community

12.   The cohesion of the community is of utmost importance.

13.   Experiences, both community and individual, are more highly valued
      than material possessions.
      
      - Frugality is valued.
      - If ``things'' are acquired it is with the aim of improving
	experience, community life, and relationships, after careful 
	consideration.
      - ``Things'' acquire value through use.
      - Memories are valuable.
      - Collection is utterly nonsensical.
      
14.   New technologies, items, or practices are adopted or rejected by the
      community based on whether they will enhance or harm the cohesion of
      the community.
     
      - Items or practices that will reduce the dependency of community
	members on each other are rejected.
      - ``Self-sufficiency'' is valued at the community level.
      - Technology is not regarded as magical.
      - Technology is not regarded as inherently bad or inherently good.
	Technology is recognized as a collection of tools, which may
	have many uses, and individual items and practices are accepted 
	or rejected as described above.
      
15.   The community and its physical spaces are truly regarded as belonging
      to everyone.
      
      - Public as ``owned by all'' rather than ``owned by none'' ---
	everyone has a personal interest in public things (maybe
	everything is public).\\
        (Note: I know ``ownership'' is problematic for many. I suppose
	I've cast this one in largely 1998 USA terms. What I'm 
	trying to get at is a situation where people feel involved in
	the community and its spaces, as opposed to one where people
	feel that community spaces belong to no one so they have no
	responsiblity to take care of them.)
      - People do not view themselves as separate from or above the
	``public,'' better than ``hoi polloi.''
      
16.   The focus of life is local.

17.   People are trusted. Immediately.