Subject: Re: Laurie Ford and Werner on Accountability From: InaRuth@aol.com Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 22:47:17 EDT

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Ina here:

Larry - thanks for passing on the thoughts and the Werner quote - or almost
quote.  I may be getting feeble, but I believe the last two lines are an
alteration of the original.  However, it's still great to be reminded of that
quote.

A few words on the word "accountability";   I HATE IT.  That said, what we are
looking at is a distinction "accountability" not the denotative meaning (or
connotative meaning) of the word.  In the world, accountability means "the
buck stops here."  I have the responsibility (power) to impact x, and I am
accountable for doing so.  Then whatever specific measurable results that
should/could/need to be  produced are added.  Accountability without
responsibility (and power to impact) are bunk.

We had a couple of great discussions at our homework party tonight - mostly
centering on accountability.  Susan mentioned a quote she'd discussed today
suggesting "I am responsible for how people occur around me."  We teased it
out, including that there is an occuring I may have about someone that has
them occur (or actually act) certain ways.  I added that I was concerned about
what NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) calls "New Age Guilt".  It's about
believing you're responsible for everything that happens in your world - that
which you can impact and that which you can't.

I can't be responsible for what you say or do, I can only be responsible for
what I do with it.  I cannot be responsible for what you said or did to me (as
example) in the past.  The past is over.  I can be responsible for the impact
of that in my present.  New Age Guilt is assuming responsibility for the
actions of another - and is bull.

So this conversation about accountabiity leaves me reeling.  I am, in my
interviews, trusting people's responses to "What am I accountable for in this
relationship".  I have yet to get the courage or practice to ask, say my
postman at work (although Larry is a thoughtful guy).  It's a weird question
still to me, so I will continue to ask more intimate people first until I get
more comfortable with the question.

So, the question for inquiry is this: (you know I'll get to the point
eventually, right, Steve?) does accountability include stated agreements and
conditions of satisfaction or can one be accountable in other ways.  I told
Susan that in our relationship she is accountable for being (amongst others)
"a respectful friend".  There is no agreement, no conditions of satisfaction
in her "being" a respectful friend - it is a way of being.  Is this an
accountability?  If not, what is it?

love,
i

From sbauter@juno.com Thu Aug  6 00:40:46 1998
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Subject: Re: Laurie Ford and Werner on Accountability From: InaRuth@aol.com Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 00:24:10 -0400
How the Web Was Won
Subject: Re: Laurie Ford and Werner on Accountability
From: InaRuth@aol.com
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 00:24:10 -0400

Message-ID: <19980806.002412.3310.5.sbauter@juno.com>
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