Hi Steve

This is an interesting idea and it has got me thinking. I am really not sure that representation and conceptualisation remove beliefs and predjudices. If I see a dot, I automatically transfer my beliefs.

I am still thinking about it :-)

"finding another thread through our experiences" - I love this, Steve.

Hi Anne Marie,

This got me thinking too. I think it helps me 'see' my own beliefs and recognise the similarities between us. I don't think it changes beliefs or prejudices but maybe it makes them more transparent?

Hi Both
I have to say I was transfixed by the dots, childishly excited and then compelled to write despite a nervousness about writing something stupid. I first noticed the shadow below the dots as an interesting feature - there possibly being more to this dot than just its dottiness. I then was whizzed off into association with snooker balls as the dots rolled about the screen and then the angry green dot reinforced this (3 points - if you have never watched the game!). Snooker balls then made me think of chaos and randomness as no game of snooker has likely to have ever been the same and at the same stroke I thought of energy and enthusiasm as the balls transfer their energy with very little resistance to other balls. I was then excited about the possibilty of using dots in my upcoming development session with my Board and as a group exercise visually ask groups of Board members to represent the Board using dots. I agree that it doesnt remove prejudice as I was thinking what colour dots to use and would black dots stir up imagery of race or hair colour or coloured ones clothes or eyes or moods. However it would be a start and a nice exercise to start conversations from some sort of a level playing fiield. Anyway my head is hurting with dots bashing about in my brain.
Pleasant downloading with you(s)
Gavin

Hi Gavin,

Great to see you here! The dots do become somehow more real when they cast a shadow...mmm...I guess we all cast a shadow of some sort!

Thinking a bit more about the dots and prejudice - I think that using dots does have some sort of an effect here. My sense is that it helps me to locate the source of the prejudice inside me; and so I own it to a greater extent that if the dots had a face.

I wonder if I can tempt Jeff to comment on this one...

Hi all!

What a fascinating discussion. My hope is that by modeling with dots, the dots would remove the prejudice between you and the dot. As you begin to see yourself in the same position as the dot, you should have a meta cognitive interaction and your prejudices should become as Anne Marie said, more transparent. It doesn't always seem to work but sometimes it does.

I am up against an interesting challenge right now with dot colors. Perhaps you can provide some advice: I am reading Joshua Cooper Ramo's book The Age of the Unthinkable and I am trying to build a model on a story he tells of Richard Nisbett's controversial study about how cultural backgrounds influence the way we think. The study tracked students eye movements as they examined pictures and found that the Western trained students focused on subjects in the foreground (example tiger in the forest, western students focused on the tiger) and Eastern trained students focused very little on the subject and focused on the background (forest instead of the tiger).

My goal is to model this finding around one of my favorite sayings "culture eats strategy" Any thoughts on dot color?

Also if you are open to it - I am collaborating with people from around the world on their dot presentations (@ no charge - of course the material and content have to be interesting :) )

Jeff,

Thanks for the link - this sounds a bit like the gestalt perspective on 'figure' and 'ground' - from the vast amount of data in the 'ground' we actively select the 'figure' to which we pay attention. And, as I understand it this is a cultural as well as cognitive preference.

In terms of dot colour...mmm.. what comes to mind is the images that are used in tests for colour blindness. They initially seem like a grey mess (and stay that way, I guess, if you are colour blind) but as you focus on them a clear colour letter or number appears. So, perhaps grey/light pastel becoming stronger/primary as the 'figure' appears?

Hope this helps!

Steve