Storytellers

7. Massively Parallel Roles & Tasks

In her BI essay on Narratives and Storytelling, Julia Chaitin explained that "people are storytellers -- they tell narratives about their experiences and the meanings that these experiences have for their lives. All cultures and societies possess their own stories or narratives about their past and their present, and sometimes about their view of the future. These narratives include stories of greatness and heroism, or stories of periods characterized by victimhood and suffering." 

In the context of intractable conflict, such as the hyper-polarization now consuming the United States, people tend to create very simple narratives that prove (in their own minds) that their side is right and good, the other side is wrong and bad. These stories eliminate all nuance, all ambiguity, all doubt about right and wrong. They are simple, clear, and emphatic. 

But stories do not have to be that way. If we start telling stories that more accurately illustrate the complexity of our modern world, and the issues we face, we can develop an entirely different way of relating to our world and the people in it. Such stories can help us develop empathy for ourselves and others, deal with past trauma, and chart a course forward that will diminish paralysis and fear, while building trust, cooperation, and a sense of agency to deal with the many real and complex problems we face. 

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