On indifference

[Harrison Owen]

I am with Peggy. And it may be that the American understanding of
"indifference" is rather different than the literal meaning of the word. For
us (US) "indifference" means not to care, no difference. It is not about
tolerance, lack of attachment -- just means I don't care. That to me is just
the opposite of what happens in OS. People do care, and there is passion and
often conflict as the objects of caring get in the way of each other. But
when the space is sufficient, conflict works out in useful ways. Sometimes
it isn't pretty, but it always seems to work, and is surely better than any
alternative I have come across.

ho 

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
Potomac, MD 20854
USA
Phone 301-365-2093
www.openspaceworld.com
www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Peggy
Holman
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 5:44 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: On indifference

To me indifference signals someone has checked-out.  I think people often
let go, are more willing to be unattached, when they experience the
abundance of possibility that exists when space opens.

This may be a situation where, from the outside, something looks the same --
indifference, nonattachment -- but the internal experience is radically
different.

Peggy



On Jan 28, 2010, at 6:20 PM, Ralph Copleman wrote:

> I have just re-read the little poem I sent to the list earlier today, and
I sort of tripped over my use of the word "indifference".
> 
> Open space, I have often told myself, succeeds in part because we bring
our passion, infused with the energy of commitment or responsibility.  But
as I stumble over that one word, I find myself asking if OS succeeds also
because participants can relax and let go of something; we can settle into
some form of indifference characterized by a kind of less-certainty or
non-knowing.  Maybe it's just relaxation.  Perhaps so much good stuff
happens because tension levels rarely run high, replaced by play and
buoyancy.
> 
> Ralph Copleman
> 
> P.S.  To those who are generously inviting me to be a friend on Face book,
Open Space World, or any other social networking program: I appreciate the
interest, but I cannot keep up with everyone so I am limiting my "confirm"
responses these days to a very few.  A no-response does not mean I am
"indifferent" to you.  Thanks for understanding.
> 
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