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Paul Wheaton and Jocelyn Campbell discuss intentional community. Paul takes a look at human nature, and thinks that not everyone is pure and noble “when shit hits the fan.” He does a little math, showing how with 12 people there are 66 relationships, talks about the failure rate of relationships in general, shares some stories told to him by intentional community author Diana Leafe Christian, and then goes into the advantages of having what is more or less a modern fiefdom. Jocelyn explains Toby Hemenway‘s model comparing a dictatorship, democracy, and consensus-based system, using factors: decision-making, buy-in, and action. Paul’s favorite model is an independent/consensus/dictator hybrid. He uses the Bullock Brothers homestead as a healthy example.
Paul and Jocelyn share many anecdotes of their experiences in community, the topics of which include: task sharing left to poor human nature (the I provided 540 meals and received 2 story); successful division of food expenses (the $108 per person per month for food story); and the value of bonding naturally in a project based way (the farming vs. community focus story).
They also discuss: the benefits of 20 people sharing a home, such as inexpensive living and time sharing meals; the healthfulness of coconut oil for vegans; the abuse of intentional communication models; making decisions based on decency rather than in reaction to craziness or anger; ejecting people from a community; and having a diversity of passions make for a healthy community.