with CJ, Dave, Jon, Kristen, Tony, Jordan & Savannah
<aside> <img src="https://img.icons8.com/ios/250/000000/chat.png" alt="https://img.icons8.com/ios/250/000000/chat.png" width="40px" /> Playtest 003: Tuesday - May 6, 2023
We Gatherned around the U.S. Surgeon General’s national priority on Social Connection through 3 media pieces: 1 - "The Healing Effects of Social Connection & Community" 2 - "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation" 3 - "The Six Pillars to Advance Social Connection"
Here are the highlights from our conversation.
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From Plato's Cave to the Rat's Cage
We contemplated the ephemeral, intangible nature of online personas, likening it to the allegory of Plato's cave, and questioned the lack of intersubjectivity in these relationships. We examined our inherent human ability to create together, hinting at our species' unique capacity for collaboration and connection. A poignant story about a rat experiment served as a metaphor for the powerful impact of a fulfilling quality of life, negating the pull towards self-destructive behaviors. Acknowledging the importance of embodying our realities, we talked about truly living rather than simply existing.
A Communal Ripple Effect
We mulled over the ripple effects of addressing a problem in a connected society: not merely remedying an individual's issue but invariably impacting a community. We highlighted the network's quality and its compounding effects, each added participant fostering growth, resembling network laws. Emphasizing the powerful role of communities, we explored how social involvement can provide an orientation to belong in a broader sense, creating healthier landscapes for all.
The Balance of Measuring Quantitative and Qualitative
We grappled with the tension between quantitative and qualitative assessments in guiding progress. As a group, we considered how rigid numerical metrics could limit a system's capacity to effect significant, more nuanced changes. We questioned the extent to which this reliance on 'hard facts' and KPIs could stifle a more holistic understanding of societal health and development. What’s the balance between the quantitative, tangible, and qualitative, intangible, aspects of our experience?
