Human cooperation

So how do we embed the Open Source Mode into our being? What works for me is a kind of Aversion Therapy. I have a set of memories I can go to of moments when I caught myself. behaving or thinking wrong out of fear or ego. And recalling the impact of catching myself alsways puts me into this non-judgmental mindset. For instance, I was volunteering at fundraiser for Promise Ranch here in Colorado which offers Therapeutic Horse Riding for children with disabilities. While directing traffic onto the ranch I noticed a young man, late 20s leaning against the back of a van waiting for the rest of his group to unload. He was dressed in black with sunglasses and his pants tucked into his boots, sunglasses and a guitar slung around his back. I thought, “Get a load of this guy”. The band soundchecked an hour ago so I knew he wasn’t going on stage. Then I saw the group put their arms around the man-in-black who was struggling to walk down the road as people with cerebral palsy do. I collapsed emotionally — my judgmental mindset crushed by compassion. I got it wrong. This young man probably spent the better part of that afternoon dressing in that outfit to feel part of the scene on a night out with friends to forget about the pain for a while. And there I was judging him. I got it wrong. But I hold on tight to that crushing moment because it puts me in Open Source Mode. And it doesn’t matter what we call it, Open Source Mode, Strategic Inclusivity, Anti-Bullying, what matters is that dget into this frame of mind as often as possible and be the person that joins the group that’s helps a man-in-black down a road. Because the truth is that we are all a man-in-black — struggling down a road toward bliss — where we can forget the pain for a little while and maybe even get on stage.tomrosscom.medium.com
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