A-Infos (en) US, NYC, RAT #4 - The New York RAT's very own advice column... ASK The Platypus!

Dear Platypus:
  Lately there has been some drama going
on within the scene. People have been get-
ting wrapped up in personal conflicts and
have allowed their issues to spill over and
negatively affect collective projects and
group dynamics. What are some ways for
our community to deal with internal con-
flict in a productive and respectful way?

Dear Frustrated:
  Conflict resolution is a key component to en-
suring the strength and vitality of any commu-
nity. Platypuses have through the ages found
most conflicts are best resolved with a talk, and
failing that there is always the venom spur! For
our poisonously-impaired fellow mammals we
suggest de-escalating conflicts before they re-
quire formal resolution processes. An ounce of
prevention is worth a shit-load of cure when it
comes to conflicts in our communities.
  So how does one prevent conflicts in the first
place? The majority of conflicts are a combina-
tion of misunderstandings and gossip. Gossip
creates an toxic atmosphere and should be dis-
couraged by the community. Misunderstand-
ings are harder to prevent, especially in e-mails
and newspaper columns. Most conflicts occur
when there are organizational difficulties al-
ready present in the community, namely a lack
of good communications and transparency.
  When conflicts do occur don't immediately go
heading for a "professional mediator" who is
outside your group. This is almost always a big
mistake. Conflicts may be between individuals
but usually also have a community component
to them. Drawing upon the entire community,
as opposed to a neutral bystander, is almost al-
ways more effective. Conflicts can only be re-
solved when the community is committed to
their resolution and the parties in conflict come
to the mediation in "good faith". Without either
of these, conflict resolution is as impobable as a
duck-billed, egg-laying mammal.
   There are a number of strategies in dealing
with conflict resolution, but these must be de-
termined by the community and agreed to by
the individuals causing all the ruckus. The com-
munity should have a chance to meet without
the parties in conflict to reaffirm their reasons
for being in a community together, vent their
frustrations, and articulate their goals for the
mediation.
  This is an often missed point in mediation. All
successful mediation requires a predetermined
tangiable goal and hopefully a reasonable time-
frame. This gives everyone an endpoint to work
toward. Additionally, the community must de-
cide what will be done if the mediation fails,
and any alternative plans should be made clear
prior to the start of the mediation. Remember,
if mediation fails there are always cage matches
to settle things!

Dear Platypus:
Lately my male anarchist friends have been discussing
their summer plans, which include various forms of
trainhopping, hitchkiking, and backpacking to differ-
ent states and countries. Some of them plan to travel
alone, following their hearts, breaking the rules, and
laughing at danger. I feel like I want to do the same
thing, but there is something holding me back. Is it
just harder for females to be that brave?

Dear Scaredy Cat,
 It's not that you're scared, it's that you don't realize how brave
you actually are. In our culture women are taught to be timid,
weak and frightened, as opposed to being the crazy fearless
trainhopping hitchhiking bomb throwers that we can be- if we
want to be!
 That said, we do live in a patriarchal society where the life ex-
periences of males and females tend to be very different. Most
males have no idea what it is like to be a single female traveller
and the issues and concerns they might have to deal with. Re-
member, it's not a competition. You should work within your
own comfort levels and maybe, for you, travelling alone isn't
the ideal situation. Talk to other womyn and find inspiration
in their experiences and stories. Ask how they dealt with spe-
cific situations that you may feel anxious about.
Check out some inspiring female travel zines,
such as Off the Map for further advice.
 And remember, don't let patriarchy run your life-
whether that means being too afraid to do some-
thing new or feeling compelled to do something
just because the guys are.
Follow your heart; it won't steer you wrong!
Dear Platypus:
 I was reading the March issue of the RAT
and although I agree with your advice, I
want to remind you that us radicals should
know ourselves as well as our enemies. In
your advice column you refer to yourself as
a "near-sighted marsupial" when you are
actually a monotreme. And you only have
poison spurs if you are a male.
Dear Kingfisher,
Indeed! My gender is ambiguous; I leave it up
to you to choose whether to fear my poison
spur or lack thereof. As for revealing my true
species type- that's just horrible security cul-
ture! It's fucking awesome to have a local an-
archist naturalist to keep you on your webs!
----------------------------------------------------------
        Write to the Platypus!
Send us your questions, ponderings, frustrations, and
      curiosities about love, life, and anarchy!
               newyorkrat@riseup.net



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