[MD] Pirsig the Prophet

[MarshaV]

At 01:12 PM 8/22/2007, you wrote:
>      [Marsha]
> > Isn't 'safety' a wishy-washy, soft word?
>
>      yes, it can be.  I was using this word, safety,
>to set up a point of departure in the discussion.  I
>notice you were saying to Platt, that Platt was being
>too general.  I used safety as the starting point, for
>that's the starting point we use where I work.
>Provide safety to the residents.  All else stems from
>this.  If safety is not being provided, then we will
>have more problems to deal with.  If a resident that
>has problems to begin with on their first day of
>arrive at the facility doesn't feel safe, then we may
>never actually get to the problems the resident had
>BEFORE arrive to the facility and we will be dealing
>with problems that stem from the resident not feeling
>safe upon arrival.
>
>      [Marsha]
> > Isn't it relative to each person's unique fears?
>
>      Oh, yes indeed.  For example, a supervisor over
>the weekend said to resident, a resident that was
>threatening to "slap somebody" beside she didn't want
>to do her community service, the supervisor said he
>will call the "big boys" to come over if she will not
>calm down.  She continued to yell and scream, threaten
>to hit people, so, they asked her repeatedly by this
>time to go to the time out area.  Eventually they had
>to put hands-on the resident and physically escort her
>to the time out area.  She became VERY elevated after
>the supervisor mentioned he'll call the "big boys" to
>come over.  Meaning, he'll call staff that are
>physically tough enough to face her threats.  Well,
>she got upset even more after he said this due to he
>past were boys ganged up on her.  I don't know if she
>was raped from this, or if the boys were playing
>around with her as if she would get raped from her -
>but this whole event at work brought out this
>flash-back that was very violent in her personal
>history.  Now imagine other residents laughing at her.
>  Saying she is so wierd and so on.  We would have to
>deal with these other residents targeting her on a
>daily basis.  Would we ever make her feel safe?  There
>are going to be unique fears, such as what this
>supervisor said, but this is a unique fear that this
>resident never shared with anybody before.  Staff were
>doing their jobs to make her and others feel safe, but
>taking her threats seriously.  If we didn't take her
>threats seriously, then what would the other residents
>do and feel?  I would say unsafe.  When residents
>begin acting more and more tough towards each other
>and staff, it usually means something is going on that
>is beginning to make them feel unsafe and they are
>trying to show a toughness to protect themselves from
>others.  They are saying non-verbally and verbally,
>"Don't mess with me - back off!"
>
>      [Marsha]
> > And what does it have to do with playing in
> > one's house?  Or playing within one's self?   From
> > your country to another's country?  When?
>Five-years ago?
> > Ten-years ago?  Twenty-years ago?  Thirty-years ago.
>  Forever?
> > Do you think by birth a person must be wedded to the
>Social Level?
> > What are you talking about?
>
>      Is it safe for you to go outside and play?

SA,

I think the better question is, 'Is it safe for you to go inside and play?'

Marsha