[OSList] Respect in Self-Organizing Systems

Sun Oct 19 22:00:40 PDT 2014

The mathematician / scientist in me is inclined to disagree with the first
suggestion (self org requires respect).

Self organisation (in general terms) is not a magic thing that appears or
disappears, and it is not very specific to a mode of interrelation.  Self
organisation applies to organisms and ecosystems... down to a level of
cells and enzymes and molecules... where "respect" has no meaning
whatsoever.

For a very specific human example, a group of people with mixed levels of
respect for one another is likely to self-organise into groups that (other
factors being equal) optimises the mutual respect between those in
conversation... because we will use our two feet to find other
conversations if we don't have mutual respect where we are.  (This same
phenomenon operates perfectly well at a demographic scale, though we might
not value the result - segregation.)

Perhaps something like OST will only *work well* when there is respect, but
that doesn't mean self-org is or is not operating if it is not working well.

I am more inclined to suggest something like, along the lines of Alan's
comments; genuine conversation and generative human interaction require
respect.  The productivity of self organising human beings is likely to be
proportionally affected by degrees of mutual respect.

Does that seem a reasonable alternative?

The second suggestion seems pretty reasonable to me, perhaps even to the
point of being self-evident (based on my laymans' psychology).

*John Baxter*
*CoCreate Adelaide Facilitator, Director of Realise consultancy*
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On Sat, Oct 18, 2014 at 6:41 PM, Alan Stewart via OSList <
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

> Greetings to you Dan, Harrison and All
>
>
>
> Dan: I concur with the verity of your two ‘outlandish assertions’ and go
> further in indicating - from inspirations and observations beyond measure –
> that
>
>
>                "Whenever we treat each other well good things happen."
>
>
> And suggest that this be noted in a context as specified by late lamented
> RD Laing:
>
> "The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice.
> And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice there is little we can
> do to change until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and
> deeds."
>
> Our main 'failure to notice' as a species, in my opinion, is the
> *implications* of practising the Golden Rule. *“Treat others as you would
> want to be treated” in every situation.* For now acting in the moment
> (similar to ethical action) with an underpinning of the Golden Rule sets
> in train possibilities for 'positive' outcomes, with no notion or
> consideration of what these may be.
>
>
> My friend Pille Bunnell in Vancouver was prompted to say, in response to
> my bringing this to her notice:
>
>
> “… when nice things happen, we can always find good human relations behind
> them, and so we are once again encouraged by the quality of humanness, and
> how we love to be this species, *Homo sapiens-amans*. [amans is Latin for
> ‘loving’].”
> See also my blog post Conversare – an experience of treating anyone we
> meet with respect <http://conversare.net/?p=1590> I would add that
> implicit in the formal agreement between a facilitator and a sponsor about
> the facilitation of an OST event is that it be a context in which ‘all
> voices are heard.’ Dan: Does that satisfy your second assertion? And
> Harrison, could it be that all participants feeling secure in this knowing
> be the ‘trigger’ for self organising to emerge? Bearing in mind that people
> can detect bs to the nanogram degree! <smile>
>
>
> *In our globalized world, everybody is fast becoming our neighbour. To be
> treated well. Forever.* Looking forward Go well Alan
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *Alan Stewart, PhD Social Artist Facilitator of conversations that matter
> and participatory fun Based in Adelaide and operating throughout
> Austral-Asia Em: **alan at multimindsolutions.com*
> <alan at multimindsolutions.com>
> * Web: **www.multimindsolutions.com* <http://www.multimindsolutions.com/>
> * Mob: **+61413848680* <0413848680>
> * Blog: **Conversare* <http://conversare.net/>
>  <http://www.takeoutcomedy.com/site/comedians/>
>
>
>
> "If there's dancing count me in"
>
> On 18 October 2014 05:08, Harrison Owen via OSList <
> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
>> Dan said: *“... in human systems, there is no such thing as
>> self-organization, whatsoever, unless and until "respect" is successfully
>> sent, and successfully received, by and between the members.”*
>>
>>
>>
>> Interesting idea... There is no question in my mind that respect is
>> critical to effective human interactions. But I am not so sure about it
>> being causative for self organization. As a matter of fact I rather suspect
>> that the flow of causation goes the other way. Or said a little differently
>> -- Respect is a byproduct, effect of effective, well working self
>> organization.
>>
>>
>>
>> I am not sure how one might prove this, but over the years I have been
>> blown away by massively hostile groups of human beings, who have spent
>> major effort at being dis-respectful to each other, showing real respect
>> for each other in the gathering, and that the level of respect seemed to
>> grow as the hours and day passed. There are multiple examples, but the
>> earliest one was a gathering of some 250 Native Americans, Feds and State
>> and local bureaucrats. These folks had been given the task of working out
>> the guidelines for the expenditure of something in excess of a billion
>> dollars in Highway Trust funds for the purposes of building roads on tribal
>> lands. They had spent 2 years fighting and the time was running out... the
>> money was heading back to the US Treasury. As a last  ditch effort they
>> tried a little Open Space. When they entered the room it was crystal clear
>> that mutual respect was not a common currency. By word, deed, and body
>> language they demonstrated how little they thought of their fellows. 48
>> hours later, they had their guidelines, but most remarkable to me was the
>> level of mutual respect demonstrated in all sorts of ways, and verbalized
>> by one Navaho Chief. In the closing circle he said something like, “I have
>> known most of you for some time. And it has not been pleasant. But I have
>> to tell you that I have rarely felt so listened to and respected as I have
>> felt here. Thank you.”
>>
>>
>>
>> Needless to say the word respect, or admonitions for respectful
>> conversation had never been uttered by anybody, and certainly not me. It
>> just happened, apparently all by itself.
>>
>>
>>
>> Harrison
>>
>>
>>
>> Winter Address
>>
>> 7808 River Falls Drive
>>
>> Potomac, MD 20854
>>
>> 301-365-2093
>>
>>
>>
>> Summer Address
>>
>> 189 Beaucaire Ave.
>>
>> Camden, ME 04843
>>
>> 207-763-3261
>>
>>
>>
>> Websites
>>
>> www.openspaceworld.com <http://%20www.openspaceworld.com>
>>
>> www.ho-image.com
>>
>> OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives
>> of OSLIST Go to:
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>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On
>> Behalf Of *Daniel Mezick via OSList
>> *Sent:* Thursday, October 16, 2014 5:44 PM
>> *To:* oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
>> *Subject:* [OSList] Respect in Self-Organizing Systems
>>
>>
>>
>> Greeting All,
>>
>> Here I respectfully offer two (2) completely outlandish assertions, for
>> your kind consideration:
>>
>>
>>
>> *1. I hereby posit and proffer that, in human systems, there is no such
>> thing as self-organization, whatsoever, unless and until "respect" is
>> successfully sent, and successfully received, by and between the members.*
>>
>> In other words, in human systems, self-organization is all about respect.
>> Specifically, the *sending* and *receiving* of it.
>>
>> In real time, *all* the time. Moment by moment.
>>
>>
>>
>> *2. I further posit and proffer that, for human systems, the concepts of
>> [respect] and [informal authorization] are very closely related, and are
>> often identical.*
>>
>> Ideally, *formally* authorized leaders also have *informal*
>> authorization; that is, genuine respect. Respect is a medium of exchange,
>> and a store of value. Respect is something that can be extended to another,
>> and also something that can drawn back by the sender at any time, after it
>> is extended.
>>
>> Likewise, respect can be withheld entirely. And it often is.
>>
>>
>> *"I have used the word 'leadership' instead of 'leader' to emphasize a
>> basic point. In the world of Spirit, leadership is the capacity to focus
>> Spirit, and is not automatically linked to a title or position. Thus,
>> anyone who exercises that capacity is, by definition, a leader. Hopefully,
>> titular leaders will also possess the capacity of leadership, but that is
>> not necessarily the case."*
>>
>> *-Harrison Owen, SPIRIT, page 102, footnote 54.*
>> Link: http://www.openspaceworld.com/spirit.pdf
>>
>>
>> au·thor·i·za·tion
>> ˌôTHərəˈzāSH(ə)n/
>> noun: authorization
>>
>>      1.
>>     *the right to do work.*
>> *    "the group authorized her to proceed with making the plans"*
>>
>>
>>
>> re·spect
>> rəˈspekt/
>> noun
>> noun: respect
>>
>>     1.
>>     *a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by
>> their abilities, qualities, or achievements.*
>> *    "the director had a lot of respect for Douglas as an actor"*
>> *    synonyms: esteem, regard, high opinion, admiration, reverence,
>> deference, honor*
>> *    "the respect due to a great artist"*
>> *    antonyms: contempt*
>> *        the state of being admired or respected.*
>> *        "his first chance in over fifteen years to regain respect in the
>> business"*
>> *        due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of
>> others.*
>> *        plural noun: respects*
>> *        "respect for human rights"*
>> *        synonyms: due regard, politeness, courtesy, civility, deference*
>> *        "he spoke to her with respect"*
>> *        antonyms: disrespect*
>> *        a person's polite greetings.*
>> *        plural noun: respects*
>> *        "give my respects to your parents"*
>> *    2.*
>> *    a particular aspect, point, or detail.*
>> *    "the government's record in this respect is a mixed one"*
>> *    synonyms: aspect, regard, facet, feature, way, sense, particular,
>> point, detail*
>> *    "the report was accurate in every respect"*
>>
>> *verb*
>> *verb: respect; 3rd person present: respects; past tense: respected; past
>> participle: respected; gerund or present participle: respecting*
>>
>> *    1.*
>> *    admire (someone or something) deeply, as a result of their
>> abilities, qualities, or achievements.*
>> *    "she was respected by everyone she worked with"*
>> *    synonyms: esteem, admire, think highly of, have a high opinion of,
>> hold in high regard, hold in (high) esteem, look up to, revere, reverence,
>> honor*
>> *    "she is highly respected in the book industry"*
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> For example, I respect Harrison. And so: Harrison, if you are willing to
>> lead, I am willing to follow.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Daniel Mezick, President
>>
>> New Technology Solutions Inc.
>>
>> (203) 915 7248 (cell)
>>
>> Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog
>> <http://newtechusa.net/blog/>. Twitter
>> <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>.
>>
>> Examine my new book:  The Culture Game
>> <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the
>> Agile Manager.
>>
>> Explore Agile Team Training
>> <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/> and Coaching.
>> <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/>
>>
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>> Community.
>>
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