The question itself uses personification to pose the question. Neither Poetry or Risk are persons yet, we easily understand the poetic device (metonym). This kind of poetic device is used all the time in risk and safety where a thing is substituted for another or an object/topic is given a life of … [Read more...] about What Can Poetry Say to Risk?
Safety Poems
Poetics and Risk Part V; What is Poesis?
Poetics comes from Aristotle, and SPoR uses it all things that are unmeasurable. The Creative person that is in the creative space. Poesis is about the idea of creating something, bringing something into existence that wasn’t. Rob’s mapping of Poetics above can show you what is going on in the … [Read more...] about Poetics and Risk Part V; What is Poesis?
Xmas Safety Poem–Safety Tells
Safety Tells (sung to jingle bells) Dashing through the scrub On a scorcher Christmas Eve Slip, slap, slop the go Pulling down my sleeve Brim on hard hat wide Hi viz head to toe Sun protection aussie style Zinc cream on the nose, hey! Chorus: Safety tells, safety tells Safety tells each … [Read more...] about Xmas Safety Poem–Safety Tells
Does Safety Have A Soul?
Does Safety Have A Soul? In Chapter 1 of my latest book Envisioning Risk, Seeing, Vision and Meaning in Risk , I discuss the linguistics of ‘soul’ in art, music and movies. In the top 500 songs of all time we find endless reference to spirit, transcendence, Afterlife, soul and the … [Read more...] about Does Safety Have A Soul?
When Only More Guilt Will Do
I Chose to Look The Other Way - When Only More Guilt Will Do The idea that I am my brother’s keeper (https://safetyrisk.net/safety-as-a-patriarchal-activity/) is a psychological attachment infused in the theology of safety. How interesting that safety is apparently a ‘choice I make’ yet the … [Read more...] about When Only More Guilt Will Do
A Poetic Worldview
Someone asked me the other day what was the opposite of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). An interesting question because it begs a binary answer. One might think the opposite of STEM is the Arts and Humanities but I don’t think that really captures the difference enough. When ones … [Read more...] about A Poetic Worldview
Solace In Times of Uncertainty
Amidst the constant uncertainty of life, there are no answers found in measurables. There is no assurance to uncertainty in Qanta (https://safetydifferently.com/todd-conklin-quanta-risk-and-safety-conference-2019/ )! Technique, mechanics, behaviourism and data offer nothing for persons when faced … [Read more...] about Solace In Times of Uncertainty
Power and Influence Through Poetics in Risk
I wrote about vision in Envisioning Risk, Seeing, Vision and Meaning in Risk . Without Vision there is no learning, no ‘thought leading’ or humanising in risk. Using the word ‘vision’, doesn’t make one visionary, using the word ‘learning’ doesn’t mean learning, using the word ‘difference’ doesn’t … [Read more...] about Power and Influence Through Poetics in Risk
Do Not Go Gently, SPoR and the Civility Myth
Continuing our series on Safety Myths – see them all here Dylan Thomas captures the criticality of facing death, in the throes of life, in his classic poem: ‘Do not go gentle in to that good night’. Sometimes when things cannot be stated by propositional definition they can only be spoken in … [Read more...] about Do Not Go Gently, SPoR and the Civility Myth
Poetics of the Self
When it comes to risk and safety, method is critical. Brutalizing and dehumanizing people to get a safety outcome doesn’t work (https://www.humandymensions.com/product/it-works-a-new-approach-to-risk-and-safety/ ). The best way to ensure a humanizing outcome in safety is to move away from zero, … [Read more...] about Poetics of the Self