Cynthia Kurtz on why we should do a participatory project

When you worry that something you care about is going out of fashion, but you have no evidence for such a thing happening, the best course is to make the best argument you can for it as if the decline were happening. And then, if the decline is not happening, your best argument will still be useful.

So I thought: What is my best argument for participation? What would entice a listening-weary, stay-at-home population to leave home and travel to the other earths of the people around them? How about an appeal to enlightened self-interest? Let’s see what I can write along those lines.

— Cynthia Kurtz, Why — and whither — participation.

Cynthia Kurtz has crafted a long and important blog post that brings her usual clarity and approachable manner to the question of why we should be doing more participatory work. Along the way she explores some thoughts about why we AREN'T doing it much right now and what it takes to do more.  It's a beautiful post and I encourage you to set aside 20 minutes or so and read it thoughtfully.