SpaceInvaders

Tue Aug 9 16:53:29 PDT 2005

Primarily the problem is with the label that sticks to the person and not 
the situation. So I'd be less inclined to rename the "space invader" and 
more inclined to name the situation.

So we might think of it as a sudden depletion of space, a vacuum (it sucks 
when it happens), a bottleneck, a constriction, a strangulation, a space 
storm (butterflies flapping wings and complexity and all), 

Something like that. Return to you, baseline shot, elegent backhand off your 
serve.

Chris

On 8/9/05, Harrison Owen <hhowen at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
>  Right On Baby! And Larry is right. Stole the words from an early computer 
> game. Dates me -- and Larry. We are talking a long time ago. No attachment 
> to the words. But the reality remains. Rarely -- .0009% -- a malignant space 
> invader shows up. So then what? How about some new words for an old 
> experience? The ball is in your court!
>  Harrison
>  Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
> Potomac, MD 20854
> USA
> 301-365-2093
> 207-763-3261 (summer)
> website www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com>
>   
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> *From:* Chris Corrigan <chris.corrigan at gmail.com> 
> *To:* OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU 
> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 09, 2005 5:57 PM
> *Subject:* Re: SpaceInvaders
> 
> I think we're in agreement here Harrison about what we do, just not as to 
> whether we use the term or not
> 
> I have been in that dreaded position of actually having a member of the 
> group, one who weilded much power and influence, grab the mic and try to 
> demand that we do this another way. And my reaction to it was to think about 
> what he ws saying and conclude that my responsibility was to the openeing of 
> space. I thanked him for his thought and suggested that actually most of the 
> people who had gathered were promised an Open Sapce and that's what we were 
> here to do. I don't know how happy he was but the group got on with their 
> work and some very very difficult issues were broached and dealt with.
> 
> So I know a little about what Harrison is saying, and to some exten I 
> don;t disagree with the idea that certain people in certain places are going 
> to react strongly against our expectations of the event and space will feel 
> like it is closing. We could call these people space invaders, but if that's 
> the case, there has only been that one person. On another occaision a person 
> derailed the process ina perfectly acceptable way, stepping out from the 
> circle and naming the fact that sponsor had not levelled with the group and 
> that there was a need for the group to talk about the sponsor's agenda 
> before opening space. As it happened the sponsor had in fact pulled me aside 
> just prior to the beginning of the meeting and shared information with me 
> that was completley at odds with what the group was thinking. In that case 
> my partner and I simply acknowledged the truth of the situation and left the 
> room. I think what we did was to offer the group the space that the sponsor 
> had in fact, in secret, already closed.
> 
> I guess my take on the whole thing is that the term "space invader" 
> doesn't quite catch the nuances of these interventions and it doesn't 
> capture the complexity of the dynamics that the situations embody. When one 
> is in the moment, all kinds of thoughts arise: did we do this right? Is the 
> problem with our framing of the issue? Did I screw up? Is this person 
> insnae? 
> 
> The judging mind is moving at a million miles and hour. The intuitive 
> heart is blocked, hiding, smothered by questions and anxiety. If one can 
> access that part of one's tool box - the intuitive discerning heart - then a 
> way forward will suggest itself. Simply labelling the situation "space 
> invader" and acting out of that place hasn't been helpful to me, and I 
> appreciate Harrison's explication of these nuances.. 
> 
> So in the end, yes, I have banished the term. But what I have tried to 
> develop in it's place is a more open approach to the situation at hand. 
> 
> After all, it's Harrison's own advice, that when conflict arises, open a 
> little more space. The trick is finding out where that space needs to be and 
> how much "doing" I am being called to..
> 
> Chris
> 
> On 8/9/05, Larry Peterson <larry at spiritedorg.com> wrote: 
> > 
> >  It was a marvelous OSonOS, to be sure. Much learning and connection.
> > 
> >  I was somewhat of a "space invader" at Lisa's session. I arrived late, 
> > got to get, respond to and pass on a question. I then remembered I had a 
> > report to write and left.
> > 
> >  I have some difficulty of the term "malignant space invader" but I 
> > agree with the direction of the view. "Space Invader" still reminds me 
> > of the early video game and shooting one down is now what were are talking 
> > about here. However, I recently experienced, during an Opening process 
> > (when folks were at the wall), one person in a relatively small group trying 
> > to organize all the topics into a logical format that allowed him to go to 
> > every session he wanted to. He was a tall, spiritually deep and 
> > respected part of the event and everyone was following his attempts and 
> > organizing the wall. I gently tapped him on the shoulder and asked to 
> > talk with him. When I suggested that there might be advantages to 
> > letting the order emerge rather than him organizing it for the group he 
> > immediately understood what I was saying. In the closing circle, he and 
> > a dear friend of his both saw that emergent order was possible and that 
> > going with the flow could create surprising results. He appreciated my 
> > "tap" and what he learned about himself. Guiding group spiritual 
> > practice can lead to attempts to control and he saw the possibilities of 
> > going with a deeper flow. His friend now saw some further steps he 
> > needed to take in his journey. Were that it was so easy always.
> > 
> >  I do think it is the role of the OST facilitator to "open" the space 
> > and to me this is part of the opening – dealing with those who would try to 
> > control it before the momentum begins.
> > 
> >  Larry
> > 
> >  Larry Peterson 
> > 
> > Associates in Transformation
> > 
> > Toronto, ON, Canada
> > 
> > 416.653.4829
> > 
> >  larry at spiritedorg.com 
> > 
> > www.spiritedorg.com <http://www.spiritedorg.com> 
> > 
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> 
> CHRIS CORRIGAN
> Consultation - Facilitation
> Open Space Technology
> 
> Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot 
> Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com 
> 
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-- 

CHRIS CORRIGAN
Consultation - Facilitation
Open Space Technology

Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com
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