Here's a quote from Donella Meadows, in "Thinking in Systems," a text I believe all humans should read. "Intrinsic responsibility means that the system is designed to send feedback about the consequences of decision making directly and quickly and compellingly to the decision makers."
In the case of the cut-down neighboring trees, the efficient power is apparently with the insurance company, but they have no appreciation for the consequences of their policy and procedure. It seems like a case where the cure is more dangerous than the condition. I have to agree with Joy Hughes: keep the trees and move the house!
And we should begin advocating that system policies, processes, and purposes be developed to flexibly adapt, that is, to not always be carried out like a death sentence.
This brought to mind Chesterton’s Fence (by G.K. Chesterton), which warns against reckless change: don’t remove a fence without understanding why it was built. Change should come only after grasping the reasoning behind the current state.
In other words, before you discard, discover.
I've always found Chesterton’s Fence to be a great perspective that promotes empathy and reminds us to quell judgement.
I'll hope that an arborist or other qualified person was called to determine the danger the trees may have presented, but if they were healthy oaks—which they appear to be based on the photo you've provided—they would probably have been fine with a trimming to remove some of the branches.
Your cacophony of crows has much resonance for me, as that is the working title of a file I keep to record thoughts and observations about corvids. We have a regular group of crows who visit our fire escape to enjoy nuts I put out for both them and other birds—most recently parrots have discovered this resource—and make regular appearances. We are able to observe groups of crows flying back to their roost every evening, and they occasionally gather in large groups between our building and those across the street. Sometimes there are 300 or more of them, which is quite the cacophony!
Sorry to learn about your insurance debacle. I suspect cancellations of policies will become much more frequent as climate disasters increase, and insurance companies have to figure out their liability in relation to their finances.
And yes, the oaks were very healthy. Given that they left quite a bit of all three trunks, it clearly wasn't an issue with the roots or trunks, and I think it could have been resolved with trimming. But we are all at the mercy of insurance companies. And oligarchs.
I didn't know about Chesterton’s Fence. Thanks for sharing that — and for reading and leaving such a thoughtful comment!
I know how you feel. I’ve been depressed since November 5, and though I try to manage and move on with life, it’s always there. It’s a real paradox, trying to stay informed, which I feel is important, and at the same time, maintain mental health.
Here's a quote from Donella Meadows, in "Thinking in Systems," a text I believe all humans should read. "Intrinsic responsibility means that the system is designed to send feedback about the consequences of decision making directly and quickly and compellingly to the decision makers."
In the case of the cut-down neighboring trees, the efficient power is apparently with the insurance company, but they have no appreciation for the consequences of their policy and procedure. It seems like a case where the cure is more dangerous than the condition. I have to agree with Joy Hughes: keep the trees and move the house!
And we should begin advocating that system policies, processes, and purposes be developed to flexibly adapt, that is, to not always be carried out like a death sentence.
Yes, our policies tend to be too broad and have no nuance or consideration for different situations.
We have to move this house - it is too close to the tree!
This brought to mind Chesterton’s Fence (by G.K. Chesterton), which warns against reckless change: don’t remove a fence without understanding why it was built. Change should come only after grasping the reasoning behind the current state.
In other words, before you discard, discover.
I've always found Chesterton’s Fence to be a great perspective that promotes empathy and reminds us to quell judgement.
I'll hope that an arborist or other qualified person was called to determine the danger the trees may have presented, but if they were healthy oaks—which they appear to be based on the photo you've provided—they would probably have been fine with a trimming to remove some of the branches.
Your cacophony of crows has much resonance for me, as that is the working title of a file I keep to record thoughts and observations about corvids. We have a regular group of crows who visit our fire escape to enjoy nuts I put out for both them and other birds—most recently parrots have discovered this resource—and make regular appearances. We are able to observe groups of crows flying back to their roost every evening, and they occasionally gather in large groups between our building and those across the street. Sometimes there are 300 or more of them, which is quite the cacophony!
Sorry to learn about your insurance debacle. I suspect cancellations of policies will become much more frequent as climate disasters increase, and insurance companies have to figure out their liability in relation to their finances.
I love that you're feeding the birds! It's always good to have crows on your side. You might enjoy this article featuring our neighbor Yvette, a crow whisperer: https://harpers.org/archive/2021/04/the-crow-whisperer-animal-communicators/
And yes, the oaks were very healthy. Given that they left quite a bit of all three trunks, it clearly wasn't an issue with the roots or trunks, and I think it could have been resolved with trimming. But we are all at the mercy of insurance companies. And oligarchs.
I didn't know about Chesterton’s Fence. Thanks for sharing that — and for reading and leaving such a thoughtful comment!
I know how you feel. I’ve been depressed since November 5, and though I try to manage and move on with life, it’s always there. It’s a real paradox, trying to stay informed, which I feel is important, and at the same time, maintain mental health.
❤️