Comments on: The Q-Horn: An Aid To Speaking Passionately Without Frightening One Another Too Much? http://www.tcfm.org/article/the-q-horn-an-aid-to-speaking-passionately-without-frightening-one-another-too-much Twin Cities Friends Meeting, in St. Paul, Minnesota, belongs to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). All are welcome. Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:15:51 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Richard Fuller http://www.tcfm.org/article/the-q-horn-an-aid-to-speaking-passionately-without-frightening-one-another-too-much/comment-page-1#comment-52187 Richard Fuller Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:15:51 +0000 http://www.tcfm.org/?p=262#comment-52187 No, its use did not continue. It was not actively rejected. Just not used. It was used a couple of times at that first meeting when I introduced it, after which I wrote this post, and perhaps once at the next meeting. I brought it (both horns) to meetings for months afterward and no one took them up. I believe that Friends knew that, if they had started getting self-righteous (in my opinion) I would have urged the horn upon them, and they stayed away from that tone. So the horns were a great success, in my humble opinion. (Honk honk.) No, its use did not continue. It was not actively rejected. Just not used. It was used a couple of times at that first meeting when I introduced it, after which I wrote this post, and perhaps once at the next meeting. I brought it (both horns) to meetings for months afterward and no one took them up. I believe that Friends knew that, if they had started getting self-righteous (in my opinion) I would have urged the horn upon them, and they stayed away from that tone. So the horns were a great success, in my humble opinion. (Honk honk.)

]]> By: Rachel http://www.tcfm.org/article/the-q-horn-an-aid-to-speaking-passionately-without-frightening-one-another-too-much/comment-page-1#comment-19816 Rachel Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:45:13 +0000 http://www.tcfm.org/?p=262#comment-19816 I do hope it's OK to comment here, despite not being a member of your community? I've been looking for resources for encouraging non-aggressive modes of communication (and specifically, communication of disagreement), and stumbled over this post. I fully agree with the point that a horn (or a talking stick, or similar item) is a valuable aid to communication in group meetings of any sort. I'm curious to know if the use of the Q-horn has continued in your meetings? I do hope it’s OK to comment here, despite not being a member of your community?

I’ve been looking for resources for encouraging non-aggressive modes of communication (and specifically, communication of disagreement), and stumbled over this post.

I fully agree with the point that a horn (or a talking stick, or similar item) is a valuable aid to communication in group meetings of any sort. I’m curious to know if the use of the Q-horn has continued in your meetings?

]]> By: James Riemermann http://www.tcfm.org/article/the-q-horn-an-aid-to-speaking-passionately-without-frightening-one-another-too-much/comment-page-1#comment-17968 James Riemermann Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:33:05 +0000 http://www.tcfm.org/?p=262#comment-17968 Patricia, Having been at the meeting where the horn was introduced, I have some difficulties with it--not its goofiness, which I rather appreciate, but the artificiality of it, at least for me. A honking horn is not my natural timbre, nor that of many people. That said, in general I appreciate the effort to give people a way to call attention to something they see as important, and at the same time to undercut the pomposity and presumption inherent in prefacing one's words with "this is important." But I have to ask, Patricia, if spirit can inspire words, music, dancing, gardening, friendship, painting, why can't it inspire the honking of a horn? What are the other things in life that humans can do, which are immune to spirit? I'm personally inclined to think there are none. Patricia,

Having been at the meeting where the horn was introduced, I have some difficulties with it–not its goofiness, which I rather appreciate, but the artificiality of it, at least for me. A honking horn is not my natural timbre, nor that of many people. That said, in general I appreciate the effort to give people a way to call attention to something they see as important, and at the same time to undercut the pomposity and presumption inherent in prefacing one’s words with “this is important.”

But I have to ask, Patricia, if spirit can inspire words, music, dancing, gardening, friendship, painting, why can’t it inspire the honking of a horn? What are the other things in life that humans can do, which are immune to spirit? I’m personally inclined to think there are none.

]]> By: Patricia Elliott http://www.tcfm.org/article/the-q-horn-an-aid-to-speaking-passionately-without-frightening-one-another-too-much/comment-page-1#comment-17726 Patricia Elliott Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:44:20 +0000 http://www.tcfm.org/?p=262#comment-17726 I am surprised that a meeting comprised of people that gather to share spiritual feelings and truths, find it necessary to be prompted...not by the Spirit, but by the honking of a horn to express their innermost feelings. Do I misunderstand your message? Isn't this introducing the use of 'directives' instead of spontaneous offerings as the Spirit guides? I think you are referring to use of the horn in business meetings, however, the Friends way is to allow the Spirit's guidance in all matters, in all meetings. Hmmmm. Maybe a bumper sticker could say: "Honk if it's You, Lord" (Whoops!) I am surprised that a meeting comprised of people that gather to share spiritual feelings and truths, find it necessary to be prompted…not by the Spirit, but by the honking of a horn to express their innermost feelings.

Do I misunderstand your message?

Isn’t this introducing the use of ‘directives’ instead of spontaneous offerings as the Spirit guides?

I think you are referring to use of the horn in business meetings, however, the Friends way is to allow the Spirit’s guidance in all matters, in all meetings.

Hmmmm. Maybe a bumper sticker could say:

“Honk if it’s You, Lord” (Whoops!)

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