Systems thinkers thinking about the general system. Thinking
about it, thinking about it. Since the general system is all
there is, the thoughts are plowed back into the general system
as input. Are they moderated so that it is a negative feedback
situation, or is it a runaway positive one? There’s no way
out. A perfect prison. What every systems thinker has to face,
I suppose, and come to terms with.
Author: Don Stockbauer (donstockbauer[ at ]hotmail.com)
Date: Mar 13, 2002REPLY: Self-reference
Don:
The most reliable way to get something done is to do it yourself. That includes answering your own questions, a lot of which I have had to do over the years. Don, you've hit on a biggie here. You're quite right, there's no way out. No joots'ing. You've got another good 20 or 30 years in you. Suffer it out the best you can. Maybe you'll amount to something when it's all through.
"Just what you want to be,
you'll be in the end"
- The Moody Blues
Sincerely,
Don
Author: Don Stockbauer (donstockbauer[ at ]hotmail.com)
Date: Apr 20, 2002REPLY: Non-positive feedback process
Of course, thinking about the general system does not get one
into a runaway positive feedback process. What was I
thinking???? Many factors moderate it. The finite memory
capacity of the human brain, the finite speed of neural
transmissions, etc. Well, we’re all in learning mode in
this "Blocks World" constructivist Universe we play in, where
it's much better to not get things right the first time and
instead iterate towards some final goal, whatever that might
be. And yes, Ann, I'm getting enough sleep.
Author: Don Stockbauer (donstockbauer[ at ]hotmail.com)
Date: Apr 21, 2002REPLY: Mental Illness
If one becomes a Systems Thinker (certainly, that exalted status is far above mine), then does one think too much about cybernetics and the General System? Obsessionally? Could it be viewed as a form of mental illness? Perhaps all Systems Thinkers should take up Zen and attempt to joots. But joots to where? "You can't win, you can't break even, and you can't get out of the game." However, the playground is pretty big, so claustrophobia should be no problem.
Author: Don Stockbauer (donstockbauer[ at ]hotmail.com)
Date: Apr 21, 2002REPLY: Version of last reply with carriage returns (correction)
If one becomes a Systems Thinker (certainly, that exalted status
is far above mine), then does one think too much about
cybernetics and the General System? Obsessionally? Could it be
viewed as a form of mental illness? Perhaps all Systems
Thinkers should take up Zen and attempt to joots. But joots to
where? "You can't win, you can't break even, and you can't get
out of the game." However, the playground is pretty big, so
claustrophobia should be no problem.
(You know, at my advanced age remembering to manually insert
carriage returns after composing text using a word processor is
asking an awful lot. If there a fix to this, anyone?)
