I wouldn’t say that there is not value in “NVC”. People are excited by it for a reason – who doesn’t want to be a better communicator? It’s certainly true that empathizing and being able to understand what someone wants is critical to productive communication. It appears NVC has these goals in mind, which is certainly good. However I encourage people to be cautious, as it has the hallmarks of a self-improvement cult.
I think it’s great that people want to improve their communication skills. However, having been involved in network marketing (which also has similar cult hallmarks) at a much younger age, it’s pretty easy for me to spot this stuff. One look at the NVC website makes it pretty clear that it’s just another self-improvement cult. Browse the seminars, costing as much as hundreds of dollars, and don’t forget to order audio and video (cassettes!) available with quantity discounts.
I like the intentions of NVC, but not how it mixes wants with needs. You need food, water, shelter, and air. Most other things are not needs. They are wants and desires. Because of this, NVC screams “jargon”. Caution is advised. You’d think someone ostensibly focused on language (the NVC creator) would have noticed he was using a term incorrectly.
Besides, who would want to be seen as needy?
Easy suggestions for better communication: (more…)
In the past week, I have been conversing via e-mail with some the men who are prosecuting me. I have copied the correspondence below for public perusal. I am feeling confused because my need to understand and be understood is not being met. It would make life more wonderful for me and meet my need of understanding to receive constructive feedback regarding ideas on how to proceed. Please send e-mails with suggestions to LiveFreeOrDance (at) gmail (dot) com
E-mail 5: (Prosecutors’ “Final Offer”) April 17, 2012
Dear Mr. Horton,
My e-mail to you dated April 12, 2012 and sent at 9:46 AM (see below) constitutes my and Attorney Webb’s final offer prior to trial. Regarding the charges Attorney McLaughlin is prosecuting, you will need to contact him directly.
Should the matters being prosecuted by me proceed to trial, all charges will be brought forward for trial, and, should the State prevail, the State is, obviously, not bound by the proposed resolution below. (more…)
Despite Brad’s order, at least five people stayed seated this morning in Cheshire “superior” court. No one should stand for men in robes who harm others. Big thanks to the heroes who stayed seated in a court where robed men have kidnapped people for not standing as well as having uniformed men threaten those who remain seated.
Case dismissed without prejudice, over the objection of the State.
Thank you to Assistant County Attorney John Webb and New Hampshire Associate Attorney General Richard Head for being both cordial and helpful adversaries in the legal process. Judge Barry was extremely professional as well, so I thank him also.
Congratulations to Jason Talley and thanks to all the anonymous lawyers who took time to comment, call, and offer advice!
The Cheshire County Superior Court has unequivocally asserted that it is completely within the Court’s prerogative to order violence to force you to stand in the courtroom when instructed. In the past this Court has even done such ridiculous things as ordering law enforcement officers to lift people up by their elbows and ordering people’s arrest for not standing… only to release them five minutes later and wish them a “Merry Christmas.”
This stuff is happening in the United States of America. Really.
As an officer of the Court, I must ask you to comply with the Court’s order and stand under your own power when attending Jason’s trial tomorrow. If you don’t stand, you may be physically lifted or imprisoned.
If you’re unable to stand or are injured, you may just have to explain yourself further.
After a cost of eighteen days in a cage and a few months of legal threats, there is good news to report on chalking freedom out of Orlando, Florida. The ABA Journal published yesterday that Timothy Osmar, who was twice arrested for chalking at the Orlando city hall plaza, had his rights violated when he was legally kidnapped over protected political speech. US district magistrate David Baker’s ruling deemed the arrest for violation of a city ordinance to be an overreach of a code designed to prevent unauthorized commercial advertising. Unlike NH, Florida’s towns and cities are endowed with the power to write words powerful enough to invoke arrest for their violation.
Prior to the decision Friday, Orlando officials indicated that they would be appealing an “adverse ruling”. The city would find it difficult to play a purer than thou antichalk attitude in this case. Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer encouraged downtown businesses to chalk their sidewalks in support of the home team Magic when they were in the NBA playoffs in 2009. The city also permits a yearly chalk art festival held by the local Rotary Club. David Baker told Orlando bureaucrats, “The city may not selectively interpret and enforce the ordinance based on its own desire to further the causes of particular favored speakers.”
Mayor Dyer did not seem thoroughly interested in the deeper constitutional and moral issues regarding chalking arrests. His comment, while charges were pending was, “This was a guy who wanted to be arrested, by all accounts, and has been… This guy was given every opportunity not to go to jail, but he chose to go to jail.” (more…)
Derrick recently posted his interactions with the state prosecutors and referenced “Non Violent Communication“, a communication tactic that has surfaced among a fairly large group of liberty activists.
I didn’t really appreciate 
Case dismissed without prejudice, over the objection of the State.
