[OSList] New Animal from London - "The Fly"

Fri Oct 19 11:00:24 PDT 2012

Underlining Michael's very important observation here. This is very important. Whenever we create any illusion of separation in a system we tread on dangerous ground. Separating the meaning making from the work is a false distinction that has serious implications for power, co-ownership and relationship in organizations. 

-- 
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Harvest Moon Consultants
www.chriscorrigan.com

Art of Hosting - Participatory Leadership and Social Collaboration, Bowen Island, BC
November 12-15 2012 

Art of Hosting in Faith Based Communities, Salt Lake City, Utah
November 28th - December 1, 2012

On 2012-10-19, at 8:35 AM, Michael Herman <michael at michaelherman.com> wrote:

> this thread reminds me that i've always been a bit uncomfortable with the 'fly' dimension of photographers, videographers, and graphic recorders in open space... not because of what they're doing but because their gizmos or special skills makes them seems special.  of course they are special... but not more or less than all the others.  it seems to me that these recording folk are doing in some obvious ways what everyone is really charged with... taking in all that they can and coming away with something to show for it...  flowers that come from cross-pollinating, butterfly wings that came from nibbling around and cooking oneself in reflection (stretching the metaphor a bit, perhaps), making lists of immediate next steps or dot-voting for the action-minded, or whatever other "take aways" that people might create for themselves.  so these recorders seem to me to be doing what everyone else is doing, perhaps just in a more outwardly obvious way.  so i guess my discomfort comes when their work is suggested or perceived as being done "for" the community rather than "in" or "as members of" the community.
> 
> m
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> Michael Herman
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> On Fri, Oct 19, 2012 at 9:27 AM, Phelim McDermott <phelim at mac.com> wrote:
>> Hi there Harold and Harrison,
>> 
>> Just to let you know the origins of the fly...
>> On the Devoted and Disgruntled Roadshow there were many Performers and Actors.. 
>> 
>> The issue of being on camera is a very specific one and I would often be asked "What's the deal with the camera?"
>> 
>> So it was a humorous way to let people know they could send him away if they didn't want their face on camera or if they wanted to speak off record' I would say it was a specific requirement related to this specific group. it was a neat way of not having to answer a lot of questions about it.
>>  
>> Mentioning it seems to be a thing that I felt in the moment and at WOSonOS gave people the opportunity to meet Ragnar which was the main thing and offer him as a collaborator. Which I think happened for one of the sessions.
>> 
>> Sometimes when I think of the fly.. i think of that wonderful page in Zen Mind, Beginners mind. by Shunryu Suzuki which is totally white except for a small fly.. a thing of beauty: The fly.. the detached observer.
>> 
>> This is also as Harrison says connected to the fact that the system is never closed.. the leaks are everywhere. 
>> 
>> Harold my Agent will be contacting you about that video of me introducing Harrison ;) 
>> 
>> Love 
>> Phelim x
>> 
>> ________________________________
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>> On 19 Oct 2012, at 14:33, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> A thoughtful piece, Harold. Thank you. The Fly is definitely a whimsical addition to the OS menagerie – pretty much what one might expect from the fertile mind and puckish spirit of Phelim. And as you point out, The Fly is actually not a new comer. The recorder/observer role is one that has been played, in one way or another since the very first Open Space. And of course it is also very much present in our everyday life. So what else is new?
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> All that said I think there are some issues here worthy of discussion. And I am not really sure that the metaphor of the Fly will take us to where we need to go. After all, just think about what attracts flies… or even worse, what flies leave behind…
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> The real issue for me is the role of technology in all its forms… in the opening and holding of space. On the one hand technology is very much with us, inescapably so. In any gathering of two or more folks in Open Space or anywhere else – there you will surely find at least a cell phone in their midst. As long as the technology serves life (our lives) it is wonderful, but when the relationship is reversed (our lives governed by technology) – it seems to me that we got trouble in River City.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Over  the years, proponents of various technologies have approached me with the proposition that their technology is the absolutely perfect fit for use in Open Space. More often than not, however, it seemed to me that their technology was in search for an application and not in service to the community. Really good technology for me is subtle and invisible. When it takes over, I get really uncomfortable. Think for example of two folks sitting side by side, texting each other. They might just try talking!
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> So when it comes to things like video, etc – subtle invisibility is my criterion. And our resident videographer in London totally met that standard, I thought. He was a real pro, but I never thought of him a  fly… Rather more a participant in a different way and realm. That is high art, and the product of many hours and much intention. Subtle, invisible, and sensitive – and unfortunately, somewhat rare characteristics in the electronic graphic arts world. But totally wonderful and contributory when they appear.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Harrison
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Harrison Owen
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>>>  
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>>> From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Harold Shinsato
>>> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 6:16 PM
>>> To: oslist at openspacetech.org
>>> Subject: [OSList] New Animal from London - "The Fly"
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> In London last week Phelim formally introduced a new animal to add to our familiar butterflies and bumblebees. As noted in an earlier post, Phelim called it the Fly.
>>> 
>>> There was a sketch of the Fly on the wall - an insect with huge eyes, wings, and a camera. When Phelim introduced the creature on one of the morning openings, the fellow with the large high quality video camera came to demonstrate an aspect of "the Fly". When the fly came close to Phelim, he shooed it away. And then soon it came back. And he shooed it away again, repeating several times.
>>> 
>>> Having video taped a number of sessions and events in Open Space before - not with as excellent equipment - the Fly metaphor is really resonating. We're like the proverbial "Fly on the Wall" that provides access to events that others wish they could have seen. But the Fly can also detract. Some people get annoyed. It hampers their safety in being able to share. Sometimes people want to swat the Fly so they can just be present in the moment.
>>> 
>>> It felt like we had a professional "Fly" at WOSonOS 2012, and I look forward to some of the sweet stuff he captured after it gets digested.
>>> 
>>> But it also seems like the Fly is not a new animal at Open Space Technology events. In some ways, "The Fly" is part of the documentation story, not just for video but even for notes, drawings, audio recordings, and photos. Even written notes help those not present to be "the fly on the wall", yet it can be annoying to be quoted, or even to be the notes taker. Phelim even warned folks that the notes are visible to the whole world - so be sensitive to what you share!
>>> 
>>> I'm thinking of adding the Fly to our crew of insects to help remember some aspects that come up especially for videographers as they record and document. The metaphor empowers the participants to have a dialog with the recorders, empowers them to shoo away the flies, and prepares the flies that they may indeed be invited to stop recording in a light and fun way. 
>>> 
>>> Does this metaphor fit? Is there a better one?
>>> 
>>> -- 
>>> Harold Shinsato
>>> harold at shinsato.com
>>> http://shinsato.com
>>> twitter: @hajush
>>> 
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