The Coffee Shop

Debate of the moment before last moment:

Are we entering an age when ideas should be free?

This has been brought to my mind whilst doing this website. I wanted a way to store my ideas without using paper so that I can access them where ever I go. My Web site seemed like the best place but then I started to get a bit protective, What if somebody stole my ideas like that person stole Bob Monk house's joke book? As I thought it through I came to think that throughout history it may have been this protectiveness of good ideas that has caused wars, inequality, early deaths, famines, and a whole range of other nasty things. Maybe it is wrong to think that anybody owns intellectual rights and ideas should be free?

E mail me at bethbarlow@bethbarlow.com and I'll fill this space with your comments

What do you mean by footprint? Do you mean effect on the environment? If so we just need to accept that we leave a footprint simply by being here, that much is unavoidable. But what if the views we share lead to a reduction in the collective footprint in other areas, and there was a net reduction in the collective footprint, would it not be worth it then? Tread lightly and ensure that you are moving in the right direction, then your footprint will be a guide for others to follow. Posted by Greg

Yes that is what I mean by footprint and I know that with overpopulation the best way to cut down our impact would be to cease to exist but as we only get one life best make it the least impactful, as you say. This question came about because I was watching a film of the G20 demos in London and pondering if mass gatherings are the right way to tackle this problem as they probably have a very high environmental impact e.g. people traveling about. I was thinking that things like buy nothing day are a better way to send a message but that as people are geographically dispersed in their action on this day we need a creative way of demonstrating their combined effort. I have some more ideas but am still keeping them under my hat. Regards, Beth

Ok the suggestion is then don't travel and stay where you come from - not a sensible solution I reckon - native wild flowers versus non native species. Posted By Rob

I went abroad once in the last three years. It was nice but no more nicer than than the trip that George and I made around the Delemere Loop stopping off at a hotel along the way. At no time were we more than 5 miles from home but it felt like we could have been on the other side of the world. By stopping to look at stuff near at hand we found things of real value on our doorstep and had a great day. It was funny at a recent conference on climate change. Everybody sat around and said, "Yes Yes, we need to cut down on what we buy, buy local, turn the heating down." but then when it came to the question is Foreign travel Fair everybody said yes, even though most of the world don't have that luxury and air travel can do more damage than cars. Been a right geek I checked this fact at The man in seat 61. I'm not saying that everybody should stay where they are and not communicate with people from other places just questioning if there are other ways of doing this. Regards, Beth

Apathy campaigns such as "don't buy anything" are perfect. Look at the fuel protests - all you had to do was not buy fuel and everything changed as a result. Why not take this to the extreme and don't do anything. Don't shop, use carbon or for that matter oxygen and sit at home and hold your breath. Maybe a cult style mass suicide on a global scale and let the ants take over. They are just waiting for their turn anyway, along with those smug
dolphins. Problem solved. Posted by Michael

You must have read my mind. Was thinking about the legitimacy of staging a Do Nothing Day, maybe people would be allowed to breath and go to the loo, although maybe not flush it. Imagine the impact of that if nobody flushed their loo for a day, what would happen to the sewage system when they finally sent it on its merry way. Anyway that's an aside. Am just thinking about how these demonstrations which are geographically dispersed and not as visually impactful as a big demo could be given some visual impact. If only I'd thought of it before the Trafalgar Plinth went. Regards, Beth

Thanks for your comment Michael. I was watching a program on Tibet the other night and the people on film were fearful because they were expressing their views and would face imprisonment for it. Obviously we are lucky not to live in such a place of fear but I wonder if the voices of our young people are instead dampened down by platitudes and a lack of communication tools suited to their age and ability. I find that their is often a reluctance to express views and ideas in case they are deemed wrong or others don't agree. This isn't just true of younger people, we all have some of that fear I think. I can't dismiss forums and chat rooms out of hand because whilst I know it is only words and they can mislead you about the person you are talking to it sometimes creates a degree of clarity of thought to have to commit your brain waves to written word. All that "is the author dead?" debate was one I came across at college. Should we consider the author when reading a book? Maybe it would be interesting to apply the same to internet dealings. Harder I think though as the author is so current.

Regards, Beth

Debate of the last moment:

What do community groups get out of being involved with an artist on a community Arts project?

William sent this link on this subject http://nelsonarchive.blogspot.com/ and commented: It is much more than this and often not what was intended but neverless it is something positive about themselves and their community.

i liked the way that the project provides tools for expression and contexts for the thoughts but also enjoys the unexpected contributions which people make. I think that that is a lot of what an artist can bring. The idea that there will be a comprehensive assetic but within that not everything will be the same. Regards, Beth

Generally yes. The problems arise when I say that my idea is the only right idea. Science should look at the facts which are currently though to be true, and seek to either prove
them true or partly true.
Just as no religion can claim to have all the truth, one individual cannot claim that he
is always right, and others are wrong.

Each of us is unique, and each of us will have different ideas. Wouldn't it be boring if everybody thought the same

Each of us only has a part of the truth. If we can come together, knowing that we have been wrong in the past, so we could be wrong today. So we need to learn to listen to what
another person is trying to say.

The most amazing thing we all do in life, is to learn to speak. Young children learn by following our example, and by smiling encouragement. If we keep rubbish their efforts
to speak {and stick them in front of the T. V.!!!] they will not have the confidence to try and communicate, and communicating is perhaps the most important life skill.

The problem with debating forums, is that the ideas which are put over most forcefully
win. If we can learn to try and listen to what the other person has to say, then we may
be wiser.

Sadly one of the limitations of a web-site is that one cannot see or hear the person
communicating, so we only get the words., not the all important body language.

Just a start Michael.