sensitivity vs. effectiveness

I really wanted to address Molly's post on sensitivity because I found it very thought provoking. I too had some of these issues sophomore year but I never paused long enough to think them through. So thanks for making me think them through. Yes, I think there is a way to balance sensitivity with holding a good, successful workshop. I mean, I often go into the prison with the mentality of: Ok, I want this to go smoothly. I want people to generate good ideas and good writing. Sometimes I forget that people have lives outside writing, they've had bad days, prison sucks, there is a super personal aspect to this I will possibly never understand.

To give an example I went in sophomore year once and I said my day had been "painful" for some stupid reason or other. And one of the women just made fun of me for that, because how could my experience compare to theirs in matters of "pain"? I think it's one of those times to not take ourselves too seriously though. Things do slip out unintentionally-- you can't be uber sensitive all the time-- although the very fact that you think about this is great, and it should be a continuing process.

There's also just a huge discrepancy in the different types of women I've met throughout my time in SPACE. Some just "get it." Doesn't mean they're smarter, it just means they were probably educated in some similar manner to our educations, or their learning process melds well with the teaching methods most people use in highschool. Some people have never heard of Picasso. Just one of those things... I learned not to assume people's background or knowledge, and never never to underestimate anyone.

Umm yeah... so I don't really know how to answer your question, but only, do what you do best and be honest and a "good person" whatever that means, and people will see that and respond to that honesty.