Relative Things

• Divergence in Gestalt therapy? by Timothy C. McNamara, 3/8/97
  • Condensing the Field by Philip Brownell, 3/15/97
    • Time by Joe Wysong, Editor, The Gestalt Journal, 3/15/97
      
      

These are interesting points, but relative in nature. What to one is a quick response is to another still a thoughtful consideration. Futhermore, certainly the internet invites a more rapid response than that which occurs in hard copy journal writing - the former can accomplish in days or weeks what would take months in the latter, and this does not necessarily, by virtue of the speed with which it occurs, eliminate mature, adult, intellectual discourse. Joe describes a knee-jerk, instant response when he alludes to something being adolescent, and that is, admittedly, what often takes place during a "flame war" on an email discussion list, but I don't really believe that that is what's taking place here, so again, I just disagree. Furthermore, my perspective on this forum is that it is not the same as journal writing - that if you put this between hard copy journal writing and a chat between colleagues over some fence, that this would reside more toward the latter. These are, afterall, described as "discussions." Dialogue can be protracted and careful, so careful as to disguise and distance real people, shielding one from another, or it can be lively and close, where there is risk. Once again, this does not automatically mean that there is anything immature about such relating. It seems, rather, to be a matter of personal comfort and support.

• Spontaneity of the Net by Bruno G. Just, Editor, The Australian Gestalt Journal., 4/26/97