[Oz-gifted] Re: oz-gifted Digest, 1. Ability grouping (Kristy)

[Deidree McMaster]

Another one from our list:  when I asked D's permission, this is what 
he said:

You're most welcome. I confess this is not something I've thought heaps
about until it came up, but as I do think about it, it raises all kinds 
of
interesting thoughts about group membership, isolation, loneliness in a
crowd, etc. A fascinating subject in its own right.

Let me know if anything interesting develops.

This is his post:

J.W wrote:

> The real world does not ordinarily stream people

I think I would have to disagree. Although the streaming is quite 
haphazard,
there is a strong tendency for each person at various stages and in 
various
activities to find themselves in the company of others who are quite 
similar
in particular ways, without ever having made that conscious choice.

If you are a lawyer, doctor, economist, accountant, scientist etc it's
highly likely you will spend your days working with others who are like 
you.
Not everyone of course, but certainly not a random selection.

If you are a carpenter, plumber, brickie etc you'll be working a lot 
with
other tradesmen, and quite likely eating and drinking with them too.

If you're a petrol head or bikie, you're very likely to find yourself 
in the
company of others. If you have small children, you're likely to find
yourself amongst others with small children, which tends to define many
aspects of age, interests, activities, etc.

What I must emphasise is that these are not voluntary groupings. Even 
if you
don't like the other members of that group, you may not easily be able 
to
escape it. Life is like that.

There are of course major exceptions. If you run a small business, 
you're
probably the only person like yourself in that business.

Regards
D B