Interview with Mr O. Wilkinson

Shinju - First of all I'd like to thank you very much for agreeing to do this for me.
Shinju -It's much appreciated.
Osric - It's cool, thanks, I'm happy to help.
Shinju -Could you tell me, for the sake of the audience, who you are and what you do?
Osric - My name is Osric Wilkinson, I'm a programmer. I write computer programs to help people communicate.
Shinju -Thank you. Could you tell me, what in your opinion constitutes a Shaman?
Osric - A Shaman is someone who lives at the edge of (the local) reality, who brings information back from the outside.
Shinju -Are those the only qualifications?
Osric - I tend to use broad definitions - inclusive rather than exclusive.
Shinju -So living at the edge of reality must mean something pretty specific to you?
Osric - Reality is a shared concept (because we live in groups). 'Reality' is the known, the understood. It is possible to spend one's entire life within the boundaries of the known, but there is far more 'out there' than just the known. Living at the edge of reality means acknowledging the unknown, and maybe even exploring it.
Shinju -So bearing in mind your definition would you consider yourself a shaman?
Osric - Yes. I explore the Internet - a vast unknown for most of my friends - and bring back new concepts and information.
Shinju - Interesting.
Osric - I also explore the inside of my head, but that's far more personal, and possibly only of use to me.
Shinju -So, are people in academia researching the various subjects available, Shamans?
Osric - The ones on the edge, those who *are* exploring new areas, yes. There are too many people in academia 'catching butterflies'
Shinju -Or stamp collecting?
Osric - That's the phrase! Or staying within the rigid boundaries of the known.

Shinju -Yeah I understand. Could you tell me a little about the other Shamen you have met?
Osric - I'm not really a people person.... Some of my friends have explored the edges of their own realities, generally through the use of drugs and trance music. I'm not sure about them - they do the exploring, but they tend to forget the 'reporting back' part of the job. (Like I say, I'm not a people person, so maybe they just don't talk to me about it). Most of my friends are into self-examination (exploring inner space) but again; most of them seem not to report back in the way I would expect of a shaman. Maybe I've missed something.
Shinju -What about the ones who do? Tell me a little of those you do actually consider true shamans (by your definition).
Osric - That was the point I was trying to make - I'm not sure I know any true shamans.
Shinju -Fair enough, so how do other (less shamanic) people fit into the life of a shaman?
Osric - As an audience? In the past, the tribe provided for the shaman, and the shaman provided guidance for the tribe.
Shinju -Gosh, that's an interesting thought.
Osric - At the present, shamen can support themselves, so there is less need for other people in the shamans life, except as people to show their discoveries to
Shinju -Can they? Support themselves, I mean.
Osric - I can . Yodhe (closest person I know to a traditional shaman) seems to be able to. Of course, everyone lives in society, so no one supports themselves on their own. But the exploration can happen as part of a 'normal' life.
Shinju -Yodhe only supports himself through his partner.
Osric - Yeh, that's true. Hmm.
Shinju -Catriona cant/cant, I don't/can't. Maisie is finding it very difficult and Maggie too
Osric - I'm not finding it easy actually and I've got your help. OK, so shamen do need the support of the community around them.
Shinju -So how does this alter your original proposition that "there is less need for other people in the shamans life, except as people to show their discoveries to".
Osric - One of the problems facing shaman today is that the 'job' is not really recognised, so it has to fit in around a 'normal' life - or the shaman has to know a tribe to support them. I've flipped completely. There is a need for other people in a