Town Meeting

I love meetings. Anytime humans get together in any group setting preferably in a range of around 8-20ish is always awesome. Usually you get a good cross-section of society. This is of course barring polarized groups such as "Poodle lovers who Pray for Rush", or "The Movement for Better Bowels".

These meetings are akin to me of the Far Side titled "Gods Recipe for Disaster".

First you start with a room full of people. What kind of people? Well, you have people with low-self-esteem, high self-esteem, Me (see Narcissus). People who have had a good day. People experiencing a bad day. People with people-type issues. Height, Weight, Hair Loss (typical head), Hair Gain (typically facial, occasionally back, often times ear goes generally unnoticed and is approved socially by the AARP). People with more complex issues. Sexuality for instance. Lack of Sexuality. Guilt from Sexuality with something inflatable.

This also cracks me up in terms of the idea that humans aren't so much animals. The only difference in a group of humans and a group of dogs is basically the smelling scenario. We just take more time and diligence to sniff. Dogs cut straight to chase. Smell, and learn everything they need to know quick-like.

Then there is the Alpha and not so Alfa pecking order thing. Generally speaking these groups are put on by well meaning people who mean to be in charge. These people are usually frequently interrupted by one to three other people who want to be in-charge but lack the focus and or initiative, and or intelligence to form a meeting; so they simply attend said meeting and speak as to sound important to themselves. All the while, mind you, generally irritating the rest of us. As meetings go one of these people are tolerable, in that eventually a group tires, and someone or 2-3 someones gradually reign them in and muzzle them so to speak. 2 of these types are trickier. Why? If they don't get along and can't share the spot-light (clashing personal issues) they leed meetings totally off track all though its often more entertaining then the said meeting anyway. But if they agree, and oft they do; then your in for a long night of whining and negativity (Me thinks my jaded sarcasm meter is up a tad today).

Finally, and I could write a book about people in groups, I am always interested in the dynamics of where people sit. You have different areas in a room, which can tell you a lot about people. People who sit on the outside or perimeter (Me), are generally observers, watchers, occasionally stalkers (acquitted). People in the front row, are focused, aggressive, task oriented, and generally resented by the observers. Middle to back you find the a range of casual observer, who pays some attention, but not for long, to the oblivious, who fixate on boogers, and their inability to creatively place them anywhere but under something. Also in the corner, back to wall, you have the paranoid type. Not often spotted, but a fascinating creature to observe (extra note: GIVE LOTS OF SPACE).

Peace,
j