[OSList] Why I Actually Like Calling it "The Law of Two Feet"

[Michael M Pannwitz]

On 23.10.2011 17:03, Michael M Pannwitz wrote:
> Dear Phelim,
> mulling over your wise words I remember the way I introduce the LAW
> "You honor a group with your absence when you neither learn nor
> contribute. If you learn, stay. If you can contribute, stay. But when
> neither / nor, look for a more productive place for yourself".
> In the future I might add something like this
> "With your first step away from the group you honor the group and with
> your second step toward a nap or another issue or something similarily
> productive for yourself you honor yourself".
> Scheisse, got to rewrite my book!
> cheers
> mmp
>
> On 21.10.2011 23:19, Phelim wrote:
>>
>> In open space technology there is only one law. It’s know as “The Law of
>> Two Feet” Some people don’t like calling it this and it is objected to
>> on the grounds of diversity/disability issues. So it gets re-christened
>> “The law of mobility”. However, I think it’s a very useful metaphor and
>> as such think all should have access to it. However that’s not what I
>> want to talk about today.
>>
>> Sometimes people concentrate on “The law of two feet.” as being about
>> leaving somewhere: it might be a session, a person who is dominating a
>> conversation, a topic that goes off somewhere you are no longer
>> interested in, all these are things one might want to move away from.
>>
>> However it’s good to remember it’s a law of TWO feet. Let’s say the
>> first foot or step is away from. Then the second step in terms of our
>> metaphor could be what we are moving towards. If the emphasis is just on
>> the first step the potential energy or even an awareness of the second
>> step can get overwhelmed. Veiled in issues of possibility or social
>> politeness.
>>
>> So remember both aspects of the Law: “away from” but also “towards”.
>> Where have you already taken yourself or your mind? Where inside
>> yourself have you already taken your next step somewhere else?
>>
>> This is a useful thing to remember not least because it might support
>> you over the threshold of your imagined impoliteness or arrogance when
>> you find yourself worrying about the fact that you are leaving somewhere
>> and being rude.
>>
>> Maybe if you focus on where you are going to or where your presence has
>> gone.. Then you could realise it might be rude to have already left a
>> less than present self amongst the group. Or perhaps it’s even arrogant
>> to assume people will even notice that you left.
>>
>> So whether you are attending to “The Law of Two Feet” or “The Law of
>> Mobility: Focus on the TWO feet of the dynamic and as Hal and Sidra
>> Stone say “Sweat the choice”.
>>
>>
>>
>> Love Phelim
>>
>> http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/clusterform
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
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>> please call me on 07956 187298.
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>>
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>>
>>
>>
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-- 
Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
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