[OSList] Intro and inquiry: Open Space with some off-limits topics

Wed Jul 13 06:16:51 PDT 2011

Hi Dan,

My experience is that off-limit subjects are "in" as soon as you put them explicitly "off-limits". And that's in Open Space as well as in numerous other contexts.

What does your mind dwell on, if I ask you to NOT think of a pink elephant... It would appear that our sub-consciousness simply does not recognize negatives.

Best regards   +   Chris

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Le 13 juil. 2011 à 15:08, Harrison Owen a écrit :

> Welcome Dan!
> 
> Restricting conversation is something that some people have tried. And I
> guess they think it works. But that has never been my experience. Of course,
> every Open Space needs a theme to define the general area of discourse.
> That, after all, is why people come -- or don't. Your Agile community would
> scarcely show up for a gathering focused on "The Future of American
> Dentistry." And I doubt that the dentists would be too intrigued with the
> "Agile Passions." 
> 
> But once the general theme has been determined, everything else is "fair
> game" in my book. The reasons are several. First, when you limit the areas
> of exploration you also limit the possibility of innovation and renewal,
> which in my book is the major objective. And if it isn't -- why get together
> anyhow?
> 
> A second reason, which is the clincher for me... is that even if you tell
> everybody that "certain areas" are off limits -- there is not much chance
> that they will actually pay attention. Especially if the areas are
> interesting. As a matter of fact, I suspect that by proscribing certain
> discussion, you actually insure that it will come up. I guess you could call
> that the "forbidden fruit" syndrome. Or maybe "beans in the nose" (Never
> tell a child not to put beans in their nose, because they will surely do
> it.)
> 
> So the "forbidden fruit" will be discussed, but perhaps not publically. And
> that just creates more problems. I think that is the way you grow elephants,
> and other nasty creatures that lurk in the shadows.
> 
> So I have never found any reason or profit in limiting the conversation.
> 
> Harrison 
> 
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
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> 
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> 
> www.openspaceworld.com
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Dan Mezick
> Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 11:30 AM
> To: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
> Subject: [OSList] Intro and inquiry: Open Space with some off-limits topics
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I am a respectful lurker who now has an inquiry, so it is time to 
> introduce myself.
> 
> Hi! I am Dan Mezick, coach to Agile teams, their sponsors, and executive 
> management. I live in CT. I am friendly, curious and playful. I enjoy 
> conducting frequent experiments. I like to be surprised and learn.  I 
> have a history of software development. I receive a software patent in 
> 1999.  In 2003, I run an elaborate search engine optimization experiment 
> that results in over 120,000 unsolicited, incoming web links from all 
> around the world, in 20 days. Those 120,00++ links-in result in a #1 
> Google rank for over 7 years.
> 
> Now I am curious about Open Space. I play with it. I read all the books 
> from Harrison. I experience many surprises as I read these books.  I 
> convene five OST events in Boston since 2009. The largest is the Agile 
> Boston Open Space in Sept 2010 where 275 people participate. I have 
> experience directly facilitating some smaller OST meetings for clients 
> recently.
> 
> I am currently quite fascinated with Open Space and OST dynamics.
> 
> This list is very awesome and awe-inspiring. I am very happy to be here.
> 
> If you like to be surprised, you may enjoy this:
> http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/esp.html
> 
> 
> Here is my inquiry:
> 
> 
> My Inquiry
> =========
> 
> "Let' s not go there."
> 
> This is a common utterance used in conversation, one that clearly 
> signals that the space is closed to that topic.
> 
> Open Space, limited by only a broad Theme, is not very limiting. 
> Authority often is concerned with this wide-ranging freedom to explore 
> "just about anything" when considering OST, and what might result from 
> that afterward.
> 
> I wonder if any of us have experience with doing OST with some sections 
> in the discussion-space explicitly closed.
> 
> I wonder how these limits are expressed-in-fact; for example inside the 
> Invite or in the composition of the Theme.
> 
> I wonder how the "explicitly stated as closed" space is then 
> successfully maintained in an OST setting. I then wonder how much fun 
> the event is, when some space is closed.
> 
> I wonder also, if this is an oxymoron, that just does not work very 
> well, ever.
> 
> I think have read here somewhere here, in a passing comment, that 
> sometimes, certain topics are closed in OS meeting.
> 
> I wonder if anyone has experience trying this, and if any specific 
> knowledge about this is documented explicitly anywhere.
> 
> Thank you for your help ! I am preparing to be surprised.
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