Missing in Action

Where have I been and why is this blog not updated? Good question. Here's the short version -- I may or may not get around to posting the longer story.

Let it suffice to say that on 1 June 2010, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, I had surgery to remove a golf ball-sized tumor on my pituitary gland. Recovery has been uneventful but slow. Benign, slow-growing, but probably has been affecting me for some time.

Now I'm back. Stay tuned.

Photos steal your soul: identifying with a community and suspending disbelief

Ever read about cultures that believe taking a picture steals one's soul? Well, there might be a little truth to that, at least in the sense of using communities to increase identification with a community.


Whatever else you think about their brand, you've got to admit that Pedigree understands about building community. This was an excellent self-identification tool. http://www.picturemosaics.com/pedigree/

A few years ago, I commissioned a Joomla component that does something similar: http://jdonate.com

Consider adding similar techniques to your  microdonation program.

What small churches can teach dog rescue groups.

Check this out. My friend Chuck Warnock turns up the most interesting articles on small church development and posted this link on Facebook. Contrast this pastor's experience at Chik-Fil with the dynamics in most rescue groups. How often do you feel YOUR group -- rescue, church, or whatever -- is this happy to see you?

http://trc.divinity.duke.edu/2009/12/why-chick-fil-may-love-my-daughter-more.html

http://trc.divinity.duke.edu/2009/12/why-chick-fil-may-love-my-daughter-more.html

Empathy and rescue: science

I need to start following my own advice. I tend to wait until I have a well-thought-out long blog post that's been through multiple rewrites rather than posting the shorter notes that occur to me more often. 

The "uncanny valley" -- saw a post by David Hinson on Facebook and spent some interesting time wikitrailing it. The more robots resemble humans, the stronger the positive reaction to them -- UNTIL they look human enough to look wrong. Then there's a strong negative reaction. But THEN, as "humanness" is increased even further, a strong positive reaction reemerges. Has implications for rescue groups and community in developing empathy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley

And interesting stuff on the effect of luxury goods -- among other things -- on empathy.

http://www.nationalaffairs.com/blog/detail/findings-a-daily-roundup/leader-board


And here: the chemical basis for empathy. http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2008/01/men_women_and_empathy.php

Transition from "Other" to "Us".

Community is about "us", and making this transition is critical to formation. Check this video out. Brilliance.

How to do, "It's not about you?"

A friend of mine -- thanks, Marti! -- posted this. It's an interesting approach to the "it's not about you" neutering program I talked about a few notes ago. Will it work on the hardcore? No. Will it raise awareness amongst those who aren't even thinking about it? Yep, I think so. Good job.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG6dAnIMDys

See Foot. Shoot Foot. Foot hurt. No surprises.

Ran across another seemingly-intractable community-at-odds situation within the Greyhound world: the Grey2K anti-racing organization and the Rescue community.

Grey2K is the relative newcomer in this world. Had they sought out a focal point to relate to the existing legal industry, they might have garnered some agree-to-disagree street creds. But it appears to me that they've blown it by demonizing the scads of GOOD folks and trainers and fans and owners in the larger Greyhound world. Not sure how they can come back from where they are now.

Well, actually, I do know how they could make a comeback from it. And how they could move toward building consensus. But based on what I've seen, the odds of the organization listening to good advice aren't high. Factual misstatements and deliberately misleading characterizations aren't a good way to persuade the undecided.

Now, in case you don't know this about me, let me just tell you up front that I've got six Greyhounds myself. A few retired racers and other assorted orthopedic cases, oops pups, and various bounce backs. I've had Greyhounds since 1998 and I love everything about 'em. Have even written a bunch of novels featuring them. Go check out dogbooks.org.

But as crazy about them as I am, I understand they're dogs, not furry little substitute children. I also understand that they love to run and that they're competitive about it by their very natures.

Grey2k proclaims: "Greyhounds are treated as simply property!"

Ah. Yes. Actually, that is the state of the law. Property laws apply.

But then again, we know how well this shrill PETA-style approach works. After all, that's why none of us eat meat anymore.

Oh. Wait.

Need some answers, folks. Not sure that Grey2K has 'em.