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seeds
December 2008 
About Seeds: My Vote
Posted on Nov 15th, 2007
by 
Traveling Alchemist
Traveling Alchemist
From Siona's introduction to the Trust System:
"...if you see something that you feel goes against the values of the community, use the system to pass out a 'bad seed' so as to both warn other members and to make sure that piece of content is deemphasized."
REAL community is about everyone being leaders. This means that the members are already aware of who is behaving in a harmful way toward the community. It means that members of the community protect it by offering loving ways to create harmony. And when it is clear that harm would come to a community, the member who does not have the community's best interests at heart is asked to leave.
From my experience here at zaadz, information is already being passed around, and members are taking responsibility for their community by offering honest and authentic expressions. To me, there is no need for such a system. It feels controlling to me, and an offense to my value of freedom. It also has intonations of judgment.
As I grow, I see no need to feel 'popular' or worried about my reputation. This is not eBay. I don't need 'stars' by my name for being who I am. And what about the judgment of 'good' seed or 'bad' seed? Is this a 'take-off' from the parable of the good seed and the bad seed, those that flourished, and those that didn't?
At another site I'm a member of, you get 'badges' and 'gifts' for certain participation on the site. So there is an element of competition and achievement. Not something I need. This 'trust system' seems to be grounded in the same kind of mediocrity. I'm wondering just who is on the team that decided this was a good thing - I have trouble believing that the 'elders' of zaadz would support it. This system says to me, "We don't trust you to have wisdom about your membership here, so we have to have a code, and we'll veil it as fun." How is this system "Empowering the community"? I thought we were already empowered...
Are these seeds meant to germinate? Or are they just a form of exchange, like money? Think about it. If this was 'real', as in face-to-face, and we passed around actual seeds for being how we are, what would be the intent...would we be forever shifting the numbers of seeds, or would we do something constructive with them?
What kind of seed would I be? What kind would each of us be? We are already 'seeds' of Spirit, with our own inner resources for our growth, to become that which we were designed to be. And we already are passing around to the community 'who we are', as in sharing our light with others. Light, not judgment.
Perhaps passing 'bad seeds' to the team who implemented this system is in order!
"...if you see something that you feel goes against the values of the community, use the system to pass out a 'bad seed' so as to both warn other members and to make sure that piece of content is deemphasized."
REAL community is about everyone being leaders. This means that the members are already aware of who is behaving in a harmful way toward the community. It means that members of the community protect it by offering loving ways to create harmony. And when it is clear that harm would come to a community, the member who does not have the community's best interests at heart is asked to leave.
From my experience here at zaadz, information is already being passed around, and members are taking responsibility for their community by offering honest and authentic expressions. To me, there is no need for such a system. It feels controlling to me, and an offense to my value of freedom. It also has intonations of judgment.
As I grow, I see no need to feel 'popular' or worried about my reputation. This is not eBay. I don't need 'stars' by my name for being who I am. And what about the judgment of 'good' seed or 'bad' seed? Is this a 'take-off' from the parable of the good seed and the bad seed, those that flourished, and those that didn't?
At another site I'm a member of, you get 'badges' and 'gifts' for certain participation on the site. So there is an element of competition and achievement. Not something I need. This 'trust system' seems to be grounded in the same kind of mediocrity. I'm wondering just who is on the team that decided this was a good thing - I have trouble believing that the 'elders' of zaadz would support it. This system says to me, "We don't trust you to have wisdom about your membership here, so we have to have a code, and we'll veil it as fun." How is this system "Empowering the community"? I thought we were already empowered...
Are these seeds meant to germinate? Or are they just a form of exchange, like money? Think about it. If this was 'real', as in face-to-face, and we passed around actual seeds for being how we are, what would be the intent...would we be forever shifting the numbers of seeds, or would we do something constructive with them?
What kind of seed would I be? What kind would each of us be? We are already 'seeds' of Spirit, with our own inner resources for our growth, to become that which we were designed to be. And we already are passing around to the community 'who we are', as in sharing our light with others. Light, not judgment.
Perhaps passing 'bad seeds' to the team who implemented this system is in order!
Access: PublicTagged with: seeds
Well said!
Thank you for this thoughtful, mature post.
I agree! Don't doubt about one of your goals. You did it and spoke openly. Very “grace”full.
I feel the same and wrote it too at the Zaadz team.
Thank you!
I feel totally bad about this new thing, but finding other Zaadsters feeling like me makes me happy.
Me three!
“We are already 'seeds' of Spirit, with our own inner resources for our growth, to become that which we were designed to be. And we already are passing around to the community 'who we are', as in sharing our light with others. Light, not judgment.” Beautifully stated. Thank you!
Yeah…. the flagging thing is a dangerous power. Our blogs are supposed to belong to us, and we should be able to post whatever it is we feel we want to post. For someone to have the power to FLAG a blog post is just….. wrong.
When I read something I don't like on a blog, I don't visit the blog again. That person has the right and should have the freedom to say whatever it is they want, whether or not I agree.
So there's my two cents!
Nice to see you Grace!!!
~Wendy
You've stated what you feel so beautifully! I've been reading up on this quite a bit,but haven't really posted my feelings on it. You've summed it up beautifully and since we make up Zaadz the team is sure to listen to those that are opposing it. I'm sure that it has been brought to life with good intentions however I believe anyone should be allowed to be on here whether they are living from LOVE at all times or not. At this time many people are still seekers and I believe everyone's voice should be heard in order to heal this planet.
those in control always call it “empowerment” when they ask you to give away your freedoms… they always say it's good for you, and tell you that anyone who disagrees with them must be crazy rather than answering any valid concerns. They always attempt to marginalize those who are different, they invalidate anything anyone says that might upset the herd. And they always call themselves “enlightened” in one way or another, implying that somehow they know better than we do what is best for us, because it's all for our own good that they control us, you know, we can't possibly be relied upon to control ourselves.
I had a few words to say about all this foolishness in my blog, also. I think my seeds are weed seeds, too. WONDERFUL!! After all, a weed is something growing where it isn't expected. A weed creates challenge and variety. AH… I think I'll keep on being a weed.
I've posted about this in several of the discussion threads and on my blog. Before this, we were all equal - no blog, no comment, no person - was better than another. Now, why would anyone want to mess that up?
I think they feel stretched thin but this isn't the way to address a manpower shortage, if there really is one.
I don't get any “good” feelings from passing out non-existent kernels of judgment. Big Love - ha! Those I care about already know and an anonymouse kernel does nothing for anybody.
The outlaws all love the Bad Seed idea. It can only hurt those who already feel misunderstood and marginalized.
I can't believe they want to use the number of seeds to silence voices - or I guess I can believe it - sadly - because they said it. Where's the growth in that?
Deb
I'm really glad that they've gotten rid of the “bad seeds” since you posted this, and still what you are saying about community is true and has much wisdom. I appreciate the thoughts that helped me deepen my understanding of community as I was reading.
Thank you, everyone, for visiting here for a few moments. I care deeply about community, and I am grateful for each one of you in mine!