from Ed Ford (920329.19:47)
Gary - concerning your comments about my PBS program. I was working
under two constraints, time and simplicity. Both segments were to
equal 45 minutes to give the station time for their promotional stuff.
Ultimately it was 46 minutes. I had control over the credits, and they
ran exactly what I wanted but they could have added a second or two
more. The commercial copy should have my publishing company info.
During the two weeks of practice sessions, I kept trying to simplify
the content while trying to maintain the integrity of control theory.
The purpose for the credits at the end was first to give credibility to
to the show's content (1st half) and control theory and second,
references for those interested. The response to the program met the
station's goals, and they plan to promote it to other PBS stations in
June at some kind of gathering. If it's popularity continues to rise,
then I plan to do at least two more, one on Freedom From Stress and one
on Teaching Responsibility. The format MUST involve an audience and
its participation, but there will be role plays, etc.
This brings up the intent of all my programs. It seems that when a
person passes the "aha" threshold of understanding control theory, and
I mean really understanding it, one's perception of others changes,
quite radically. You begin to realize, slowly, that everyone you meet
is truly a living control system, with all kinds of complex and
inter-related agenda's and created perceptions, all of which you'll
really never understand, cause you haven't had the exact experiences
from which they've created their own unique perceptions and the
creation of a perception from the same experiences could be quite
different.
The difficult art of understanding and then learning to live with one
of these systems as well as the potential satisfaction that comes from
successfully living with another, that's what my first tape was all
about. Understanding PCT helps you cut through all the baloney and
miscellaneous crap that is so prevalent in today's self-help culture.
It forces the spouse/parent/teacher/therapist to respect the unknown
world of those with whom they deal. It teaches you not to push, not to
judge, not to control or you'll do violence to their systems. Rather,
you learn to respect, to ask, to teach the other person how to
establish and evaluate their goals, priorities, standards, what they
want, how they presently perceive things. PCT forms the basis from
which you can help others build efficiency into how they operate their
system, thus helping others to function more effectively so they can
satisfy their own internal goals.
I really believe that when you really understand PCT, it allows for
only one effective alternative when dealing with another; you've got to
respect their system. As I read my CSGnet mail, I'm overwhelmed at
times by the complicated stuff that's discussed. I've also notice the
respect everyone has for others, which is the true mark of a control
theorist. Once you understand the theory, you realize this respect is
the only way to learn from and deal with another. I remember our first
CSG meeting in Chicago, and the respect I was shown, even though (as I
now look back) I knew precious little about control theory. It was
that respect that told me that I was in the right place.
My present effort is to look for ways to help others who are struggling
with their lives by getting them to look at what they are doing, not
to try to control, push, or analyze them, but to teach them how to
create a more satisfying life through a solid understanding of how our
system operates, based on PCT. Basic to all this is the continuing
respect I must maintain for the living control system with whom I am
working. I realize this is all elementary to most of you, but it is
what I'm trying to do.
Ed Ford ATEDF@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU
10209 N. 56th St., Scottsdale, Arizona 85253 Ph.602 991-4860