the compassion manifesto - conscious style...

CONSCIOUS EDITING

The Compassion Manifesto@consciousstyles #EdsGuild2017

HOW NOT TO MAKE

EVERYTHING WORSE

HOW CAN EDITORS FOSTER COMPASSION

AND HEALING?

THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE

BRAIN, MIND, AND BODY IN THE HEALING OF TRAUMA

by Bessel van der Kolk, MD

Break the pattern of using language that causes trauma. Change the script.

Adapted from The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk, MD

Question a writer’s insistence on the right to leave slurs lying around.

Fight racism instead of just abstaining from racism.

CONFLICT IS NOT ABUSE

OVERSTATING HARM, COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY,

AND THE DUTY OF REPAIR

by Sarah Schulman

In conflict, accountability is mutual. In abuse, one has power over another.

Source: Conflict Is Not Abuse, Sarah Schulman

• gaslighting• shaming• ghosting

• stalking• bullying

OVERSTATING HARM?

People with power often claim to be the victim. Source: Conflict Is Not Abuse, Sarah Schulman

•Protesting abuse is not “harassment.”•Resisting abuse is not “threatening.” •Bringing an abusive system into balance is not “discrimination.”

WHEN RESISTING ABUSE

Instead of using the language of abuse, ask what actually occurred.

Source: Conflict Is Not Abuse, Sarah Schulman

Don’t respond to struggles against cruelty with more cruelty.

Source: Conflict Is Not Abuse, Sarah Schulman

by Dylan Marron

CHANGE THE FORMAT

When we feel safe, we are open to changing our minds.

THE ART OF COMMUNICATING

by Thich Nhat Hanh

“RIGHT SPEECH” GUIDELINES

1. Tell the truth.2. Don’t exaggerate.3. Be consistent.4. Use peaceful language.

Source: The Art of Communicating, Thich Nhat Hanh

The path to reconciliation is through loving speech and deep listening.

Source: The Art of Communicating, Thich Nhat Hanh

The greater cost of exaggeration is that we discredit ourselves.

“Sometimes even the most skillful words can cause

pain. That is okay.”

—Thich Nhat Hanh

Gatekeepers are gate openers. Let through more of what we want to nurture in this world.

Go beyond style guides to build the foundations, bridges, and homes necessary to ground your work in wise compassion.

CONSCIOUS LANGUAGE

LIVES AT THE INTERSECTION

OF CRITICAL THINKING

AND COMPASSION.

Karen YinStorify of #EdsGuild2017 reactions:

http://ow.ly/BJ3R30fqadP

Language evolves. Be included.

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