A reflection on the evolution of Twin Oaks

By Keenan (from Your Passport to Complaining)

Dining: 

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Llano is crowded, noisy, and filthy and should be condemned.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) ZK sets new standard in luxuriousness and cleanliness at Twin Oaks.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) ZK is crowded, noisy, and filthy and should be condemned. Dining should happen in Llano, but only if it has a less offensive name.

Visitor program:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Visitors housed in SLG’s.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Visitors housed in Aurora.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Visitors housed in SLG’s and Ta Chenerates housed in Aurora.

Degania:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Degania is built for childrens’ program.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Degania abandoned.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Degania used for childrens’ program and then Degania abandoned again.

Technology:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) No video allowed anywhere.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) No video allowed in bedrooms.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) No video allowed in public spaces.

Allowance:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Allowance is .75 cents a month
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Allowance is $35.00 a month
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Allowance is $115.00 a month

Behavior issues:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Behaviorism will deal with any problematic behaviors among members.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Behaviorism doesn’t work. Problematic behavior is dealt with through policy: feedbacks, support groups, process team, mediation, mental health team, and membership team.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) nothing works to change problematic behavior—reject all visitors who exhibit any potentially problematic behavior.

A/C:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Air conditioning kills the planet.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Air conditioning protects equipment, but is not for people.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Air conditioning kills mold and saves lives.

What is offensive: 

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Makeup and shaving are offensive.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Having babies is offensive.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Wrong pronouns are offensive.

Buildings:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Naming buildings after past communal efforts is uplifting and inspirational.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) No new buildings to name.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Naming buildings after past communities with problematic values is offensive.

Children:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) No children until the community is ready.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) The community raises children. Biological parents discouraged from caring for children. Censor children’s books to remove all mention of “mother” or “father.”
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Pregnancy approval process to ensure that parents really want to be parents. Parents raise children.

Labor:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Variable labor system (members work too much).
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Quota is set at 49 (members work too much).
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Quota is set at 42 (members work too much).

Taking a break:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Don’t leave the farm during a hammocks push.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) P.A.L. policy
• Twin Oaks 3.0) P.A.L., Suspended membership, Emotional LOA, Sabbatical, and Associate Membership.

Building design:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Members reject mainstream building practices, like proper foundations. All building labor comes from Twin Oaks members
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Members accept mainstream building practices and most building labor comes from Twin Oaks members.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Building labor is hired.

Income:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Hammocks is main income source. Concerns about Pier 1 as main account eventually prove accurate.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Tofu is main income source. Concerns about cost of upgrading tofu eventually prove accurate.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Seed Racks is main income source. Concerns…?

Decision-making:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Members involved in all decisions of the community.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Decision-making happens at the managerial level after much community process.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Members are sometimes, but not always, informed of decisions.

Ex-members:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Ex-members are treated like traitors to the values of Twin Oaks.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Ex-members are treated like old friends and welcome to come to parties.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Ex-members buy adjoining property.

Cleanliness:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Cleaning is a bourgeois middle-class affectation that focuses on appearance over substance.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Cleaning with chemicals is bad for the planet.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Mold kills! Scrub everything! Use bleach!

Trees:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) There are no trees near newly built buildings.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Plant trees to provide coolness and shade buildings.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Fight mold! Cut trees near buildings down! 

You are a long term member after…:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) 2 years
• Twin Oaks 2.0) 5 years
• Twin Oaks 3.0) 10 years

Longest term member at Twin Oaks:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) McCune
• Twin Oaks 2.0) McCune
• Twin Oaks 3.0) McCune

Communal networking:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) Twin Oaks is isolated and focused on survival.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Twin Oaks helps build a national communal movement (Communities magazine, builds FEC, Leaves of Twin Oaks, welcomes national media).
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Twin Oaks helps develop a local network of communities in Louisa County.

Leaving Twin Oaks:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) You get nothing if you leave Twin Oaks.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) You get $50 and a hammock.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) You get nothing if you leave Twin Oaks.

Death:

• Twin Oaks BETA version) No need for a cemetery.
• Twin Oaks 2.0) Cemetery in the woods on a hill.
• Twin Oaks 3.0) Can’t keep track of buried bodies.

This is mainly satire, please don’t message the blamer…also…make your own additions to the evolution of Twin Oaks.