[OSList] The Tyranny of Structurelessness

[Harrison Owen via OSList]

And just to churn the pot a bit.... open some space??? An off thought which
has pestered me recently. Goes like this. "Structure is only a figment of
our imagination. It is our "take" of reality, a flash frame of the passing
scene. In our minds it looks solid, even unchanging. But actually it is just
a momentary view of the ongoing flow." Or something.

 

Harrison

 

From: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of
Daniel Mezick via OSList
Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2015 9:26 AM
To: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
Subject: [OSList] The Tyranny of Structurelessness

 

THE TYRANNY of STRUCTURELESSNESS
by Jo Freeman aka Joreen

I find this essay extremely interesting. I hope you do, too. 



Here is a pertinent quote, from the essay:
"...the idea of "structurelessness" does not prevent the formation of
informal structures, only formal ones."


Circa 1970. Context: the women's movement. Quick summary of the main points:
from the essay...

*	During the years in which the women's liberation movement has been
taking shape, a great emphasis has been placed on what are called
leaderless, structureless groups as the main -- if not sole --
organizational form of the movement. 

*	The idea of "structurelessness," however, has moved from a healthy
counter to those tendencies, to becoming a goddess in its own right.

*	Contrary to what we would like to believe, there is no such thing as
a structureless group. 

*	This means that to strive for a structureless group is as useful,
and as deceptive, as to aim at an "objective" news story, "value-free"
social science, or a "free" economy. A "laissez faire" group is about as
realistic as a "laissez faire" society; the idea becomes a smokescreen for
the strong or the lucky to establish unquestioned hegemony over others. 

*	This hegemony can be so easily established because the idea of
"structurelessness" does not prevent the formation of informal structures,
only formal ones. 

*	For everyone to have the opportunity to be involved in a given group
and to participate in its activities, the structure must be explicit, not
implicit. 

*	It is this informal structure, particularly in Unstructured groups,
which forms the basis for elites.



Just in case you have not yet encountered the full text of this essay, here
it is: 

THE TYRANNY of STRUCTURELESSNESS
by Jo Freeman aka Joreen
http://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/tyranny.htm



Regards,
Daniel 
http://www.OpenSpaceAgility.com/about
http://www.DanielMezick.com
203 915 7248

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