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Thread: Dynamics of Beta Quadra Social Groups

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  1. #1
    Let's fly now Gilly's Avatar
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    Default Dynamics of Beta Quadra Social Groups

    This appears to be a pretty controversial issue, as some people are hesitant to identify with Beta values on the basis that their groups tend to be too loud, rowdy, etc.

    Now, I'm part of a Beta "pack" at school, and we basically find our identity in NOT being the loud, drunken slops who go out and get shitfaced and act like assholes. We are stoners. Most of the time, we sit around and play video games, debate, play pranks on each other, and so forth. When people of this other drunken, sloppy variety join up to hang out with us for an afternoon, they say we're "too much," that they feel like they have to be on their toes instead of just being carefree and drunk and not giving a shit about how they act. They don't like it, and they usually dismiss it as immature.

    There's an underlying power dynamic in the group, a constant kind of one-upsmanship: even in something like a video game, there's clearly a kind of competition beyond just winning or losing the game, and when one person wins, they take no qualms in berating whoever they lose, albeit in a jokey fashion. Even in a conversation, if you do or say something silly that shows that you're not really all there, you'll get a little jab or poke of an insult; not hurtful or mean, but just a little teasing to keep you on your toes mentally.

    There is, however, a good bit of drama, and there's no denying it. You can pretty much count on the fact that someone has done something questionable recently and given that we're a pretty tight knit group, it probably involved at least one other person from the group, so everyone is going to be talking about it. We don't create drama; if anyone was suspected of that, they would be completely shunned, no questions asked. But when you've got as many nutty people as us in one place, drama just happens.

    Another one of the things that characterizes our group is our propensity for "events" and entrepreneurial activities. We generally have disorganized, impulsive activities and just hang around, but once or twice a week we'll pool our efforts and money and do something together, even if it's as small as rolling a bunch of blunts and driving to wal-mart to goof off and buy new shit to improve our rooms or whatever. Sometimes it's a camping trip. Sometimes it's a drug deal. Sometimes we make art. Sometimes we build stuff. It's just our way of reminding ourselves that we can do more together than apart, I guess.
    Last edited by Gilly; 01-02-2008 at 07:25 PM.
    But, for a certainty, back then,
    We loved so many, yet hated so much,
    We hurt others and were hurt ourselves...

    Yet even then, we ran like the wind,
    Whilst our laughter echoed,
    Under cerulean skies...

  2. #2
    Let's fly now Gilly's Avatar
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    Betas have a big thing with emotional support too, I find.

    I'm really not big on letting people in on my emotional life. I keep my feelings and my problems to myself. In a Beta group, these lines of privacy are definitely respected and rarely breached, but we do help one another. When someone is having a hard time, and it's hard enough that we can tell it's wearing on them, we'll draw them out, and make them tell us what's up. Now obviously only the person who's having problems can fix them, but we can tell when something is affecting someone enough that someone else needs to at least get them to open up a little, and maybe we can even brainstorm with them on solutions. Sometimes really deep feelings are discussed, sometimes they're left out, but the point is that the person is made to talk about the problem and think about it, and it becomes a little less intense and internal and a little bit more manageable once it's put into words and made finite.
    But, for a certainty, back then,
    We loved so many, yet hated so much,
    We hurt others and were hurt ourselves...

    Yet even then, we ran like the wind,
    Whilst our laughter echoed,
    Under cerulean skies...

  3. #3
    zenbrat's Avatar
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    Betas gather to experience life in many colors, from every possible angle and viewpoint. We want to share thoughts, ideas and significant experiences. Sometimes, just vibing in on someone elses stream of consciousness *is* the experience.

    It's never just sensory bs'ing around, even if it centers around a predominately "sensor" activity like getting high or kicking around en masse. It's intelligent, whimsical, conversational, philosophical interaction.

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    Ezra's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gilly View Post
    This appears to be a pretty controversial issue, as some people are hesitant to identify with Beta values on the basis that their groups tend to be too loud, rowdy, etc.

    Now, I'm part of a Beta "pack" at school, and we basically find our identity in NOT being the loud, drunken slops who go out and get shitfaced and act like assholes. We are stoners. Most of the time, we sit around and play video games, debate, play pranks on each other, and so forth. When people of this other drunken, sloppy variety join up to hang out with us for an afternoon, they say we're "too much," that they feel like they have to be on their toes instead of just being carefree and drunk and not giving a shit about how they act. They don't like it, and they usually dismiss it as immature.

    There's an underlying power dynamic in the group, a constant kind of one-upsmanship: even in something like a video game, there's clearly a kind of competition, and when one person wins, they take no qualms in berating whoever they lose, albeit in a jokey fashion. Even in a conversation, if you do or say something silly that shows that you're not really all there, you'll get a little jab or poke of an insult; not hurtful or mean, but just a little teasing to keep you on your toes mentally.

    There is, however, a good bit of drama, and there's no denying it. You can pretty much count on the fact that someone has done something questionable recently and given that we're a pretty tight knit group, it probably involved at least one other person from the group, so everyone is going to be talking about it. We don't create drama; if anyone was suspected of that, they would be completely shunned, no questions asked. But when you've got as many nutty people as us in one place, drama just happens.

    Another one of the things that characterizes our group is our propensity for "events" and entrepreneurial activities. We generally have disorganized, impulsive activities and just hang around, but once or twice a week we'll pool our efforts and money and do something together, even if it's as small as rolling a bunch of blunts and driving to wal-mart to goof off and buy new shit to improve our rooms or whatever. Sometimes it's a camping trip. Sometimes it's a drug deal. Sometimes we make art. Sometimes we build stuff. It's just our way of reminding ourselves that we can do more together than apart, I guess.
    This I identify with. In fact, I have a little squad of Betas. An SLE, an IEI, me - an SLE, and what I think is more Delta, but he kind of joins in on the whole poking fun thing; but it's primarily at me for some reason. He likes to scapegoat me. Maybe he doesn't feel comfortable around me or something. We normally play Dawn of War as a collective, and sometimes we'll go out drinking. It is basically a game collective though (Halo 3 is the one that the possible Delta joins in on).

    The only thing I don't agree with is your construction and entrepreneurship. This could just be because I don't feel properly 'grouped' if you get me. I hang around with quite a few circles of friends. Three at the moment while I'm at uni in my halls. I've got the Beta squad, a kind of weird collection of what I think are Alphas with a few Deltas and Gammas (I don't really fit too nicely, but I can enjoy myself nonetheless) and then a group of Alphas (one of which I get on with very well, but sometimes I can be a bit much for her). Your group, Gilly, is the kind of group that said Alpha group is pretty much opposed to.

  5. #5
    Let's fly now Gilly's Avatar
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    Obviously this kind of behavior is not exclusive to Beta, but I think all groups that are predominantly Beta, or at least have influential people who are Betas in them, will exhibit a similar dynamic to some degree.
    But, for a certainty, back then,
    We loved so many, yet hated so much,
    We hurt others and were hurt ourselves...

    Yet even then, we ran like the wind,
    Whilst our laughter echoed,
    Under cerulean skies...

  6. #6
    Creepy-Diana

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  7. #7
    Let's fly now Gilly's Avatar
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    Yeah, I'm not saying that all groups are like mine, and the loud obnoxiousness definitely can be a part of Beta; probably moreso than any quadra. I even enjoy it from time to time. But it's definitely not always there.
    Last edited by Gilly; 12-30-2007 at 09:37 PM.
    But, for a certainty, back then,
    We loved so many, yet hated so much,
    We hurt others and were hurt ourselves...

    Yet even then, we ran like the wind,
    Whilst our laughter echoed,
    Under cerulean skies...

  8. #8
    Creepy-Diana

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