[OSList] The Tyranny of Structurelessness

Daniel Mezick via OSList oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
Sat Oct 3 19:36:16 PDT 2015 

Michael,

I'm sorry. I have absolutely no context to understand this story. And it 
sounds so interesting. So of course I want to understand it.

I wonder if you might be willing to provide some context. For example: 
when this story takes place, where this place actually is, who else is 
there besides you and Harrison and Ralph Copleman, what the actual event 
is all about, etc.

I'm utterly clueless: I have no idea who Ralph Copleman is.

Daniel

On 10/3/15 6:31 PM, Michael Herman wrote:
> you remind me, harrison, of one morning news session years ago, 
> somewhere, probably OT... where ralph copleman walked to the center of 
> the circle and announced, all serious and mischievous at the same 
> time, "it's all moving!"
>
> then put the stick down and went back to his seat.
>
>
> --
>
> Michael Herman
> Michael Herman Associates
> http://MichaelHerman.com
> http://OpenSpaceWorld.org
>
>
> On Sat, Oct 3, 2015 at 1:47 PM, JL Walker via OSList 
> <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org 
> <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>> wrote:
>
>     I was thinking that maybe the antidote to the eventual tyranny of
>     structurelessness is to open space, again and again, until true
>     democracy can emerge.
>
>     Juan Luis
>
>     *De:*OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
>     <mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org>] *En nombre de
>     *Rosa Zubizarreta via OSList
>     *Enviado el:* sábado, 03 de octubre de 2015 12:19
>     *Para:* Daniel Mezick; World wide Open Space Technology email list
>     *Asunto:* Re: [OSList] The Tyranny of Structurelessness
>
>     Hi Daniel,
>
>     Yes, this is a key piece... I see it as very similar in some ways
>     to what Ken Wilber wrote later,
>
>     about the "shadow side of the green meme". (Each meme has its own
>     shadow, as well as its own gift...)
>
>     So, I love "green". I love circles, I love non-hierarchy, etc.
>     And, part of the "shadow side of the green meme" is how
>     ideologically anti-structure it can become...
>
>     to the point where some people may not even agree that OST does,
>     in fact, offer a very simple and effective structure.
>
>     By way contrast, think of a situation where group of people (who
>     don't know about OST, and/or, who are having a power struggle
>     around "which process to use", and/or....  ) might easily spending
>     a whole weekend arguing /about /"how to self-organize
>     ourselves"... with a great deal more pain and frustration and a
>     great deal less value.
>
>     whereas, instead, IF someone knows about OST, and, a clear
>     invitation has been extended, and, there is enough
>     trust/suspension of disbelief so that participants are willing to
>     enter into that format,
>
>     then, we end up with a very simple and elegant structure that
>     allows people to self-organize beautifully....
>
>     at least that's how i see it! :-)
>
>     with all best wishes,
>
>     Rosa
>
>
>
>
>     */Rosa Zubizarreta/*
>
>     /Developing Participatory and Co-intelligent Leadership
>     Author of *From Conflict to Creative Collaboration*
>     <http://www.conflict2creativity.com>/
>
>     /For more resources and learning opportunities, visit
>     *www.DiaPraxis.com <http://www.DiaPraxis.com>*/
>
>     On Sat, Oct 3, 2015 at 9:26 AM, Daniel Mezick via OSList
>     <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
>     <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>> wrote:
>
>     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 <tel:203%20915%207248>
>
>
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-- 

Daniel Mezick, President

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