a very simple reason

[Harrison Owen]

Ah Raffi -- put me out to pasture, would you? Well I will go soon enough,
but in the meantime, I guess I am having too much fun to leave the party.
And when it comes to my hat, you are on very dangerous ground m'boy. Down in
Texas (where I am not from) folks (males) will tell you that there are three
things important and untouchable in life -- My hat, my truck (used to be
horse), my woman -- in that order. Texas is a little bit screwy in terms of
its priorities (on this and other matters) -- but you get the picture. But
this new paradigm?? What do you have in mind? I am almost afraid to ask, but
I figure you will tell us sooner or later anyhow.

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 Raffi
Aftandelian
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 3:47 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: a very simple reason

There's a very simple reason, I believe, why something else will
probably come to replace OST in some 5 years time.

I believe that when Harrison says that all there is is Open Space, he
is right...but only in reference to our current prevailing worldview,
our current paradigm.

I believe that a new paradigm is being born right now, it may become
clearer in the next 5 years. But we don't talk about new paradigms in
polite company. It's kinda like farting loudly. You just don't do it.

One way of framing our current paradigm is to open to p.2 of Marv
Weisbord and Sandra Janoff's 1995 book "Future Search: An Action Guide
to Finding Common Ground in Organizations and Communities."--

The Learning Curve
1900 Experts Solve problems
1950 "Everybody" solves problems
1965 Experts improve whole systems
2000 "Everybody" improves whole systems

I recall a number of years back that I wondered, well, what comes
after the last paradigm. And now I think I realize that many people
have already probably answered the question. I don't think it's
appropriate to try to answer it on the listserv, maybe for the same
reason that it may no longer be appropriate for you, Harrison, to be
on this listserv or to continue "teaching" or "doing" open space.

In Goa, if I recall correctly, you spoke about how a new generation of
folks have started doing OST, and that maybe it is time for you to
step aside. More than six months have passed and you haven't stepped
aside. Your baby, OST, is college age, the age of majority. It is
voting age, it can get married, it can have children, it can get
drafted in the military, and do all the other interesting things in life.

Might the walk of the warrior for you, Harrison, be to auction your
hat on e-bay and walk out of the circle?

Warmly,
Raffi


                          mailto:raffi at bk.ru

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