Q & A on the Ideal World Book

So I have been able to have a couple of conversations about my idea and a couple of criticisms have been brought up that I would like to address.

1. There isn't one Ideal World, but several based on many factors including geography, ethnicity, language, religion etc.

Rebuttal: There is only ONE WORLD, and I can't begin to speak for all 6.6 billion people that we can't come to a consensus on what that looks like. Yes, we do live in a world divided by our differences; and Yes, the idea of an ideal world is both philosophically opposed to the world we live in and it is currently nothing but a pipe dream. However, the point isn't to highlight why we are all different and why we can never live harmoniously, the point is to find out where we are similar and really to find out what direction that might take us. How we can orient ourselves to not only embrace our likeness with one another but to begin to create the Ideal World through these similarities.

2. It will create conflict, particularly when we can decide who's ideas are good and who's are bad.

Rebuttal: Conflict is always seen as a negative, whereas I tend to think controlled, non-violent conflict can be rather productive. We are looking at a world where wars and arguments are started over differences. How many conflicts start because someone was trying to show how they were similar? Granted, there is potential to start an argument over whos ideas are best, but if its starts a dialogue then it would be a success. I am asking that people look at their world and lives differently then they do now. We make sense of our world by what we are not, and what others are and it is about time we start to think about why we both are and where we want to go. If it starts an argument then all the better. I would rather it happen over an internet connection with words then face-to-face with a gun. Understanding one another sometimes may just take an argument or two, but in the end if something positive comes then it was worth it.

3. It may just become a book of cliches and it wont be empirical enough.

Rebuttal: In a world with very little hope, and a great deal of fear if this book is a cliche and even just one person can look at it and see a better future then that is its purpose. Empirical facts and ideas mean nothing if the person reading them has lost all hope of a better future. Hope brings action, and words can provide hope. When I look to the Millennium Development Goals, which are rather factual (although vague), they don't inspire me to do anything. They don't provide me any hope that the world will look better in the end. Sometimes people just need a message of encouragement and that is this books purpose. It can't be everything to everybody and I welcome anyone who wants to create something that has hard information for people to go ahead and create it - I will be the first to read it.

4. It needs to have ideas for people to do, not just have the vision of a better world but the practical ways to create it.

Rebuttal: I agree, it would be amazing to hear how we can make it come true. The second part of the question is, "...how do we make it so?" This would be the opportunity for people to provide their ideas for making it a reality. I can't control whether people will include this part of the answer, and I certainly can't provide all the answers myself. The book becomes what the community puts into it, and my hope would be that people will put in every effort possible to make it the best they can.

5. How do you get the message to those without an internet connection and how do they participate?

Rebuttal: It is the biggest and hardest reality of this idea that it will not reach 6.6 billion people around the world. I cannot predict how many people will participate but I can do everything in my power to spread the word to those who can hopefully disseminate it to more people, who will pass it along to more people and so on and so forth. I have ideas on how to get it to people but it does not mean that I will be able to control it. I have the passion and ambition to try but it does not mean that I will not fail.

Which brings me to criticism 6. This is a big idea that is likely to fail.

Rebuttal: I may fail but at least I tried. Failure is a stepping stone, it is just a stone on the path to success. I do not fear my chances of success, knowing how small they may be. What I do fear is that it will never be tried. I won't stop until I succeed. It may not happen in a year or even 5 but maybe it will happen in 6 or 10, I have no idea but I am starting now and have every expectation that it will be a success. Dreaming big is the only way to go.

If you have other criticisms or dislike my answers I would appreciate hearing them. Either give me a shout through email or post your comments here for me to take aim at. I will not take anything personally.