The Joint Sharing Law, more commonly referred to as the Joint Sharing Theory or JST is a basic law of human nature which explains group relationships. (huh?). Yeah…here is the article which I use as an excuse when people ask me why I made a blog. Original concept by IWCBH Subject #1.
Explanation
The JST describes what happens when a group of people are involved in any activity which requires the participants to share resourses. While extremely simple it portrays it’s effects in many places and is accurate in many situations. Imagine a group of people, sitting in a circle taking turns to use a single resource. It can be anything really, a gameboy, looking at a photo which has just been taken, or an earbud attached to an MP3 player playing ‘Virtual Barbershop’. But for this argument we shall assume that the resource is a joint. If you don’t know what it is, then just assume it’s a gameboy. Now this item will stay in possesion of a single user for a predetermined span of time. Obviously everyone will try and cheat and use as much of the resourse, but the next in line will be paying attention that such a thing will not happen so as not to upset the balance of nature. To observe this phenomenon one must focus on a single participant and observe his/her actions. As the joint approaches this user, such that he is the next in line, he will subconciously enter a sort of ‘alert mode’, making sure to observe when it’s time for him to obtain the resource. When the signal is given, the user will stretch out, often requiring him to discomfort himself to obtain the resourse. Almost immediatly he will return to his original position or preferably in a more comfortable and/or secluded position. Once the time is up and the user is ready to move the joint the situation changes. At this point he will not stretch himself out to hand the resource to the next in line, but rather, stay in the same comfy position, secretly making use of what is still within his grasp. At that point the next in line will be the one to stretch out and reach for the joint. This effect will continue around the circle ad infinitum.
JST definition: Any person interacting within a group will go through an effort to obtain a resource but will make no effort to pass it on.
Applications and Implications
Learning to use this basic law is an extremly important lesson in life. "But," you say whilst scratching your beard and looking at a slightly elevated angle, "what is there to learn from such a simple and basic feature of human interaction?" Well, considering it’s so simple you should figure it out on your own…no? Anyway, let me explain. Lets assume you and your friends are in a circle sharing a joint. Directly to your right is one person, and on your left, maybe a half a metre away is another person and you are the person who gets to decide the direction of flow. Now since you, most likely, are in a comfortable postion you would instintively pass it to your right, since it requires the least amount of movement. However, when the thing goes around, you’ll be further away from the person on your left, and the JST kicks in requiring you to stretch to obtain the joint. Therefore, in these situations it is always best to hand it to the person who is furthest away from you, since in reality, he will be the one to make an effor to retreive the joint making somewhat no difference to you. However when it’s back to being your turn, you are close and will require less effort. Since this is an analogy, I will explain it in non-examplar form. When a resource needs to be passed between several people, always give it to the person who will make it the most difficult to get it from. That way someone else will have to get it from him and you get an easy way out.
The second thing to keep in mind is this. If you want someone to do something for you, don’t expect him/her to come bothering you to do it. When you need someone, or someone is doing you a favour, don’t expect this person to come running after you. So if you need something, go and get it yourself and don’t expect a computer expert to go out of his way so he can install an application on your PC. That is also under the effect of the JST since in group activity the one who is comfortable will not move to hand something to another person who needs it.
And that was the JST. Now you know it…
This needs to be wickied!