oslist core purpose & the exchange of "ideas"

[Birgitt Williams]

oslist core purpose & the exchange of "ideas"Chris,
I think you have steered us in a very valuable direction with this posting
so that we can examine the purpose of the list, developing a shared sense of
the purpose, noting the purpose on Chris Corrigan's FAQ list, and being
clear with others what it is and what it is not.

I also thank you for recognizing that my posting was not about fear of a
free exchange of ideas nor about emotional hurt, but about something deeper.

With light and love I wish you joy, peace, God's grace and blessings, and
that you prosper in all things,

Birgitt



  -----Original Message-----
  From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of chris
weaver
  Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 6:23 AM
  To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
  Subject: oslist core purpose & the exchange of "ideas"


  hmm.

  as i read birgitt's posting and the replies, it arises for me that the
free exchange of "ideas" from this list is a value for many people, and that
an ever-widening and indiscriminate availability of what has been posted to
this list is a value for many people.  these appear to be "givens" for many
people in their understanding of what the list is and means.

  noted.

  oslist doesn't have a stated, agreed-upon purpose.  the FAQs describe it
as an "international mailing list" and a "lively forum" of open space
facilitators and others interested in the process.  i would suggest that as
an organization, the fact that oslist does not have a stated purpose is an
important awareness.

  in my own use of Open Space Technology and other ways of opening and
holding space, the free exchange of ideas is an integrated part of what is
going on.  but where do these "ideas" come from?  in face-to-face Open Space
work, each idea is born in individual passion and intensely filtered through
layers of meaning-making and personal responsibility before it is shared in
the space.  and that process within individuals of refining an "idea" for
sharing is deeply influenced by the context of the Open Space, including the
givens, the theme (which relates to the purpose of the organization), the
specific people in the room, the spirit in the room, and the meaning and
motion of this meeting in the life of the organization or community.  an
idea born and refined this way is, in my experience, much more than just an
idea.

  in my world of Open Space, these elements are about creating sacred space
which invites in the wholeness of the people in the circle.  in my world,
the larger purpose always connects somehow to healing, integration, the
expansion of awareness, the creative collaborative move toward wholeness -
even when the theme is very practical.

  if oslist's core purpose is the free and indiscriminately-available
exchange of "ideas," then so be it.  if that were the core purpose of the
other Open Space experiences i am involved in, then i reckon we'd have a
digital video camera tuned into that circle all the time and linked to the
web.  we don't, and the reasons we don't have to do with purpose.

  oslist could have other core purposes.  perhaps oslist has had other core
purposes.  perhaps it does.  it is clear to me that birgitt's posting is not
about fear of the free exchange of ideas, nor is it about emotional hurt,
except in the way that vulnerability shared is always a finger pointing to
something important.  i suggest we look deeply.

  with love,
  chris

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