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%ALIENATE CONTROL TABOO TRAP DISINTEGRATE CONFLICT 921013 Communities which attempt to control dangerous behaviors through the threats of alienative taboos fall into the trap of perpetuating the dangerous behaviors which they seek to avoid. The threats of alienation which are inherent in the use of alienative taboos causes people to seek to avoid and forget the memories associated with the breaking of the taboos. Thus memories associated with the proscribed behaviors are repressed, confused, masked, and otherwise made unavailable for use as aids in dealing with the consequences of the proscribed behaviors. Then in ignorance of the details of the natural consequences of the proscribed behaviors; the members of the community do not know how to take practical steps to avoid repeating the mistake of engaging in the proscribed behaviors. They in ignorance cannot distinguish between proscribed behavior and integrative behavior. Communities which attempt to control dangerous behaviors through the threats of alienative taboos thereby fall into the trap of not being free to recognize and respect the integrative behaviors which are conceived by their most creative members. Often new integrative patterns of behavior appear to fearful people to be much the same as proscribed taboo behaviors---because of the ignorance and confusion which has been generated through the functioning of alienative taboos. Thus they cannot transcend the ignorance and confusion which are generated by alienative taboos; because ignorance and confusion inhibit the encouragement of integrative creativity. The avoidance of dangerous behaviors is better promoted by open and honest dialogue regarding the natural consequences of the dangerous behaviors, than by alienative taboos which inhibit open and honest dialogue regarding the natural consequences of the dangerous behaviors. It is better to promote knowledge and understanding of the consequences of dangerous behaviors, than to promote ignorance and confusion regarding the natural consequences of dangerous behaviors. The natural consequences of dangerous behaviors must be distinguished from the artificial consequences of alienative taboos. People will not take seriously the dangers which are inherent in dangerous behaviors---if those real dangers are masked/confused by an overlay of the consequences of alienative taboos which are not direct natural consequences of the dangerous behaviors in the absence of any alienative taboos. It is better to promote dialogue and clear memories of the natural consequences of dangerous behaviors, than to overlay and confuse the natural consequences with artificial threats which are alienative in character. If open and honest dialogue is promoted regarding the natural consequences of dangerous behaviors---then the ignorance, confusion and forgetfulness which is generated by alienative taboos can be avoided; and in addition there will be the benefits of clearer understanding and memories associated with the recognition of the conception of new and creative behaviors which are essentially integrative in character. Within the context of communities which are regularly engaged in open and honest dialogue, creative members will be encouraged to conceive and share with others many new patterns of behavior which are more integrative than the old patterns of behavior. Alienative taboos do not encourage such creativity. (c) 1997 by Paul A. Smith in "Search for Integrity and Honesty" (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)