So what should be done with the archieves now?

Wed Apr 7 07:06:39 PDT 2004

I think -- as a matter of fact -- that the situation at the moment re:
archives is much the same as it has always been. Accessible to those on the
list -- and of course that means that they have signed in and have a pass
word. But Michael, or somebody with greater knowledge should answer for the
technicalities.

My concern, however, comes from a different place, and possibly a broader
perspective. As I said in a note posted some little time ago, which simply
re-iterated what I have said ad nausea, Open Space, from the moment I
created, developed, stumbled into it (fill in the blank) is and has been
free. BUT I have always insisted that there is a COST -- that we share what
we are experiencing and learning OPENLY (what else?). This LIST has been and
continues to be an incredible vehicle for sharing. Increasingly, it has
become a global resource for anybody who wants to push back the walls of
their world, ie Open Space. The nature of what we have shared covers a very
broad spectrum from the perverse to the peevish to the profound -- and
onwards to the philosophical, with multiple side trips to the technical
details. In sum, it represents the full spectrum of our collective journey
in Open Space, as we have chosen to share it. At no point in the history of
this LIST has it ever been, nor was it intended to be, a private club. We
have taken great pains, I think, to honor and respect each other, but at the
end of the day the purpose of OSLIST, or at least my purpose for this LIST
ever since I signed on -- has not been to provide a safe and secure
sanctuary in which the members may communicate. Rather, it has been to build
a body of knowledge and experience which will be available to anybody who
cares.

Speaking very personally, I can say that the fundamental purpose of my life
has been to share whatever I am, have experienced, or might know -- with
anybody who cared, to the extent that my presence, experience or knowledge
might be helpful. Have I always been true to my ideals? Definitely not, but
at least in terms of Open Space Technology, and all that I have learned
about Open Space in my life and world -- I think I have given it my best
shot. At a very mundane level, this is why I never chose to patent,
trademark, or copyright Open Space. Certainly my books are copyrighted, but
that was more a matter of convention, to say nothing of my publishers'
wishes (after all they were investing the "big bucks" and wanted some sense
of security). However, if you wander around the websites of the world
dealing with Open Space you will find large passages of my material, and
even my illustrations, presented without attribution. I am delighted! I know
that Open Space is not about me. It is about US -- and that includes a whole
mess of people who don't even know they are a part of US.

So back to OSLIST. My image (vision?) is that of a wonderful electronic
fishbowl with real people, opening real space, and reflecting on their
experience right out there in front of God and everybody. There is, and has
been, a real sense of intimacy and genuine community which is characteristic
of every Open Space of which I have been a part. This intimacy and community
is often manifest in wonderful hugs and kisses. It is also manifest in our
willingness to confront and engage each other directly and with respect.
Occasionally we have risen to the heights, and just as often we have found
time for a little peevishness. In short, there has been chaos, confusion and
conflict in abundance -- all included and transcended to become a viable,
organic reality available for all to see. This, so far as I am concerned, is
life in Open Space. Or to be truthful, it is just life.

I have always assumed that the people who populate OSLIST (including all you
wonderful Lurkers!) are of a special sort. They really care about Open Space
(or want to know more about it), and they really care to share what they
have learned and experienced with whomsoever. Our benefits on OSLIST are
considerable -- we have received support, encouragement, challenge,
suggestions, questions -- from which we (or for sure "I") have grown
enormously. We have cried together, argued, pontificated, blown our minds in
marvelous and positive ways. And with these benefits comes a responsibility
to share what we are, and what we have learned with anybody who cares to
know. That, at least, is my responsibility as I have come to understand it.

Harrison

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20845
Phone 301-365-2093

Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Nicolai
von Ertzdorff
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2004 10:21 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: So what should be done with the archieves now?

Hi,
I still wonder about the archieves.
May be, I'm not completely up to date, putting just the same questions, as
somebody did just before. -  But I still didn't get, why the archieves can
be found and accessed by google. Or is this just something, which is
planned? I mean, archieves can be very interesting for a community.
But the so called "container" , the "skin" , the "whomb" with the "cellular
compound", the baby inside has to be respected also. To me, it's very
important, to know about.
Not, because it bothers me personally. But it's just important, to know
about who in this is list is feeling like to do what?-I know some archetypes
of interests, but not much more...but to know, whether finally this becomes
a "tabu", just represented by having more "lurkers", or whether there is a
true consensus in the community, to me it's important.-So, finally, I'd like
to know about the problems quality: Is it a technical problem, or is it a
decission - problem?

If it is something to be decided,
where is a statement in favor of why the archieves should be opened to
anybody, even not being in the list? -To me, It would be, like taking away
the protecting skin, even if I have not the slightest problem about, for eg,
making jokes on "W"'s..being found later at somebodies webpage.. But, may
be, there are some convincing arguments also? Besides, dealing with
container-images: It's also important, that the "mother" feels good. If the
mother doesn't feel good, the baby neither won't..But who is who in this
case ? <grin>

If it is not,
then, why it's not just possible, to maintain the archieves protected by a
simple  password, like it's usual in many lists?
If somebody wants to make for eg a research, he can ask, simply..
Or, is it some problem, wich the "boisy"-staff is not able to solve,
actually? And what would be necessary to resolve it?

I'd love to be enabled to get some clear opinion about the issue .-))

With passionate interest in this list
Nicolai

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