Space Invaders? (Sensitivity & Inclusion)

[Chris Corrigan]

John:

We had an interesting discussion at OSonOS IX about space invaders, and
the conclusion I arrived at was this:

Space invaders are people that violate our own standards and our givens
as facilitators.  But they are operating out of passion and
responsibility, for it takes great courage to stand up and be contrary
(I'm talking about space invaders, not terrorists...)

When we label people "space invaders" we are saying more about ourselves
than about them.  We are saying that we alone possess the judgement and
the power to decide what constitutes such behaviour.  We operate from
behind our own filters, and our understanding of what a space invader is
comes from those filters.

In a truly open OST meeting, as facilitators do we have the audacity to
say that some people are merely participants and some are space
invaders?  By what right or authority do we have that ability?

In a broader sense, who are we to say who are valid participants in the
world and who are not?  It seems to me that we in the west will be
making that choice very soon.  I have a lot of fear about that right
now.

Love,

Chris

--
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Consultation - Facilitation
Open Space Technology

http://www.chriscorrigan.com
corcom at interchange.ubc.ca

RR 1 E-3
1172 Miller Road
Bowen Island, BC
Canada, V0N 1G0

phone (604) 947-9236
fax (604) 947-9238

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