(REGARDING) Buzzards, Bats, Bumblebees -- and Viruses

Tue Jun 7 14:27:41 PDT 2005

Hmmmm.

Interesting inquiry regarding the roll of the "virus" in organizations.

My initial insight is that you "recruit" the virus and modify its "RNA
message"or "payload" -- leaving its fundamental viral behavior in tact.

Viruses are communications savants.  They transport information across
and throughout systems.  And they can be very efficient and effective in
executing their processes.

In social systems, I have heard it said that "memes" are viral payloads.

So, I might consider "recruiting" an organizational virus by modifying its
"payload" through invitation and conversation and reflection -- not on the
behavior of the virus, but rather on the messages (memes) that I wanted to
propagate throughout the organization.  This is similar to recruiting the
"grapevine" of an organization by involving  the opinion leaders as the
first
release point of information that you deem critical for dissemination.  The
"grapevine" is a natural human phenomena -- better to provide it with
accurate
information rather than have it make up its own "stories".  Same with
"viruses"

Perhaps our evolution is dependent upon our interactions with viruses !

Mark R. Jones
Chief Executive Officer
Sunyata Agency Incorporated
----------------------------------------------------------------------
PO Box 58788
Renton, Washington
USA 98058-1788
Phone:      425-413-6000
e-Mail:       <mailto:sunyata at att.net> sunyata at att.net
----------------------------------------------------------------------

================================================================
================================================================

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Craig
Gilliam
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 1:53 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: FW: Buzzards, Bats, and Bumblebees

Judy wrote: "I think you are right that they are already there...I have a
few buzzards that I work with...!  Uggggh....what do you do with completely
close-minded individuals who won't even consider anything but sucking the
energy out of other individuals for their own gain??"

Harrison wrote:  A few well placed shots to the tail-feathers seems to clear
the roost!

As I hear your conversation, the question it raises for me is, What do you
do with the person who functions like a virus in the organization?  How do
we regulate the virus while allowing the circle to be large enough to
include him/her?  What role does the virus play in an organization?  Where
or how does the immune system keep the virus in check?  As I understand some
medical models, the virus has at least three characteristics--1)   Cannot
replicate off of its own DNA.  It has to have a host cell,  2)  It doesn't
understand boundaries, always sticking nose where doesn't belong, and 3)
Does not learn from experience.  It is so deep in their behavior, maybe even
in their (I hope I shouldn't say "My" or "Our" and can say they and them)
natures, that they don't seem to learn from their experience.

With these comments, what role does the virus play for the organization?
Practically speaking, how can we accept even the virus--while continuing to
regulate their behavior,set the agenda, or not allowing them to create in us
anxiety or the desire to destroy?  (While I can talk about this
theoretically, in practical situations, it is not easy.)

Thanks, Craig

<br><br><br>----Original Message Follows----<br>From: Harrison Owen
<hhowen at comcast.net><br>Reply-To: OSLIST
<OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU><br>To:
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>Subject: Re: FW: Buzzards, Bats, and
Bumblebees<br>Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 17:40:55 -0400<br><br>Judy wrote:
"I think you are right that they are already there...I have a<br>few
buzzards that I work with...!  Uggggh....what do you do with
completely<br>close-minded individuals who won't even consider anything but
sucking the<br>energy out of other individuals for their own
gain??"<br><br>**************************<br><br>Well -- how about a
story? We have a roosting colony of Black Buzzards that<br>inhabit our
neighborhood in the fall (prior to migration, mating and other<br>pleasures
of buzzardly life). Roosting means that they come in and sit in<br>our
trees/roofs/out buildings. Not just a few -- but a 100 or so. These
are<br>not small birds! Jet black with 6' wing span. Sinister to put it
mildly. And<br>as they say in another connection -- garbage in -- garbage
out. Does not<br>improve the neighborhood!!!<br><br>Solution: (Might work in
Open Space???) Small rockets at dusk (when they are<br>nestling in for the
night). Nothing lethal -- but definitely attention<br>getting. BB Guns -- A
few well placed shots to the tail-feathers seems to<br>clear the
roost!<br><br>Harrison<br><br>Harrison Owen<br>7808 River Falls
Drive<br>Potomac, Maryland   20845<br>Phone 301-365-2093<br><br>Open Space
Training www.openspaceworld.com<br>Open Space Institute
www.openspaceworld.org<br>Personal website
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm<br>OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE
.EDU<br>To
subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives
Visit:<br>http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html<br><br><br><br
>-----Original
Message-----<br>From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On
Behalf Of Spady's<br>Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 5:08 PM<br>To:
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>Subject: Re: FW: Buzzards, Bats, and
Bumblebees<br><br>I think you are right that they are already there...I have
a few buzzards<br>that I work with...!  Uggggh....what do you do with
completely close-minded<br>individuals who won't even consider anything but
sucking the energy out of<br>other individuals for their own
gain??<br><br>Judy Spady<br><br>----- Original Message -----<br>From:
"Harrison Owen" <hhowen at comcast.net><br>To:
<OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU><br>Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 1:36
PM<br>Subject: Re: FW: Buzzards, Bats, and Bumblebees<br><br><br> > No
offence -- but are you suggesting that we add buzzards and bats? Or<br> >
maybe<br> > they are already there? Interesting possibilities :-)<br>
><br> > ho<br> ><br> > Harrison Owen<br> > 7808 River Falls
Drive<br> > Potomac, Maryland   20845<br> > Phone 301-365-2093<br>
><br> > Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com<br> > Open Space
Institute www.openspaceworld.org<br> > Personal website
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm<br> >
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br> > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change
your options, view the archives Visit:<br> >
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html<br> ><br> ><br>
><br> > -----Original Message-----<br> > From: OSLIST
[mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Spady's<br> > Sent:
Monday, June 06, 2005 12:30 PM<br> > To:
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br> > Subject: Fw: FW: Buzzards, Bats, and
Bumblebees<br> ><br> > Sort of an interesting perspective about space
that "seems" open, but<br> > really<br> > isn't.  Sorry if
this offends anyone in regards to the religious<br> > connotation.<br>
> Judy Spady<br> ><br> > ----- Original Message -----<br> >
From: "Huntmac" <huntmac at chase3000.com><br> > To:
"Janet Rammage" <janetr at gpcom.net>; "Teresa
Newman" <later at gpcom.net>;<br> > <NLGAUD48 at aol.com>;
"Robert Malesich" <rmalesich at pctelcom.coop>;
"Marla"<br> > <JSSMITH at MEGAVISION.COM>; "Judy"
<ejespady at mydurango.net>;<br> > <BLGODD1 at aol.com>; "Aron
Earl" <aronearl at aol.com>;<br> >
<danbev_1 at charterinternet.com>; <Jean11207 at comcast.net><br> >
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 8:44 AM<br> > Subject: Fw: FW: Buzzards,
Bats, and Bumblebees<br> ><br> ><br> >><br> >> -----
Original Message -----<br> >> From: "Rich Meyer"
<rygram at chase3000.com><br> >> Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2005 9:37
PM<br> >> Subject: Fwd: FW: Buzzards, Bats, and Bumblebees<br>
>><br> >><br> >>><br> >>><br>
>>>><br> >>>><br> >>>> > This is very
interesting information... we can all gain<br> >>>> > a new
perspective or two....<br> >>>> ><br> >>>> >
BUZZARD<br> >>>> ><br> >>>> > If you put a
buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is<br> >>>> >
entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to<br>
>>>> > fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that
a buzzard<br> >>>> > always begins a flight from the ground
with a run of 10 to 12<br> >>>> > feet. Without space to run,
as is its habit, it will not even<br> >>>> > attempt to fly,
but will remain a prisoner for life in a small<br> >>>> >
jail with no top.<br> >>>> ><br> >>>> >
BAT<br> >>>> ><br> >>>> > The ordinary bat
that flies around at night, a remarkably<br> >>>> > nimble
creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place.<br>
>>>> > If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it
can do is shuffle<br> >>>> > about helplessly and, no doubt,
painfully, until it reaches some<br> >>>> > slight elevation
from which it can throw itself into the air. Then,<br> >>>> >
at once, it takes off like a flash.<br> >>>> ><br>
>>>> > BUMBLEBEE<br> >>>> ><br>
>>>> > A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be
there<br> >>>> > until it dies, unless it is taken out. It
never sees the means of<br> >>>> > escape at the top, but
persists in trying to find some way out<br> >>>> > through
the sides near the bottom.  It will seek a way where<br> >>>>
> none exists, until it completely destroys itself.<br> >>>>
><br> >>>> > PEOPLE<br> >>>> ><br>
>>>> > In many ways, there are lots of people like the
buzzard, the bat,<br> >>>> > and the bumblebee. They are
struggling about with all their<br> >>>> > problems and
frustrations, not ever realizing that the answer is<br> >>>>
> right there "Above" them.<br> >>>> ><br>
>>>> ><br> >>><br> >>><br> >><br>
>><br> ><br> > *<br> > *<br> >
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