Rick is certainly aware of the O² downsides. He is often exhausted after a day of work and an evening of boisterous interactions with his work companions. He sometimes declares (to himself) that he has had enough of the “learning” and scrambling to fully appreciate the product or service being offered by his client. “How about working with something that is ‘old news’ and someone who is actually a bit boring!” Susan is not aware of the downsides. However, we can imagine a moment when Susan left her “old” job and “old” boyfriend. She pauses for a moment, tears come to her eyes, and she longs for the “old days.” Searching for a new job in a new (much larger) community will present Susan with many of these O² moment of regret and deep sorrow.
Similarly, we find collective moments in a society when the era of innovation and exploration gives way (for at least a brief period of time) to restive support for the way “we used to do things.” A conservative political party suddenly gains traction in the polls that are being conducted. Legislation is being prepared that restricts immigration or bans certain kind of Internet material. Attendance increases at theme parks which feature replications of old seaport villages or western towns. Reruns of old TV shows are to be found in abundance on Cable TV. These shows feature traditional families—and are replete with comedy rather than tragedy.
Polarity Dynamic
What is the outcome of this pull between S² (Home) and O² (Quest)? Barry Johnson would predict that Susan, Rick and society are moving from a positive perspective regarding and accompanying prioritization of one polarity to a negative perspective and caution regarding this polarity. From there a shift takes place to the other polarity and then to a growing concern about that second priority. Back to the first priority and then on and on from positive to negative to positive to negative to positive (once again). As portrayed in Polarity Diagram One, this swinging pattern produces a Figure 8 design. For Susan, the swing would begin with the positive of S² (Home), while for Rick it would begin with the positive of O² (Quest). We can begin at either pole when describing the polarity dynamic operating in most societies.
Dithering
I suggest that a polarity-driven swinging back and forth through Figure 8 can take place in several different ways. At the most elementary level, the swing can be portrayed as the forementioned Dithering process. There is a rapid swinging back and forth between the polarities. This dithering often occurs as a series of thoughts or feelings. Susan ponders the move to a big city, then recalls that she has a community bakeoff to attend, then feels annoyed that she has to go to this event. She wonders if there would be these “obligations” if she “got lost” in an urban setting. She then notes that it might be lonely in the city. Susan then gets ready for the bakeoff.
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