[OSList] Space invaders and using your two feet

paul levy paul at cats3000.net
Sun Feb 20 22:28:05 PST 2022 

That's beautiful, Michael, and I can go with it

Yet, mysteriously for me, in my deeper experience of my life, even the law
of gravity feels like a kind of invitation, one which I occasionally refuse.

Paul

On Mon, 21 Feb 2022, 04:11 Michael Herman via OSList, <
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

> for me, it actually is a kind of law:  "you and only you know when you are
> learning and contributing as much as you can."
>
> a law, as chris corrigan taught me to say, "...that's not like a speed
> limit, but more like the law of gravity.  defy it at your own risk!"
>
> having pointed this out in an opening circle, i then suggest that everyone
> in circle has the same job, the right AND the responsibility, to use their
> two feet and/or whatever else they use to get around, to go wherever they
> need to, to maximize their own learning and contribution.
>
> in the end we don't care if they move... what we want is highest learning
> and highest contribution.
>
> for me, in open space, personal passion/freedom is always bounded/informed
> by responsibility/contribution to the whole.
>
> i think our pulsation between these apparent opposites, passion and
> responsibility, learning and contributing, me and us, past and future, and
> so on... is what drives it all.  we can't get stuck.  we have to keep
> moving.  each of us, for all of us.
>
> learning and practicing this kind of pulsation, between apparent
> opposites, is for me the most important thing we invite in open space.
> it's in the going back and forth that strengthens us.
>
> michael
>
>
> --
>
> Michael Herman
> Michael Herman Associates
> 312-280-7838 (mobile)
>
> MichaelHerman.com
> OpenSpaceWorld.org
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Feb 20, 2022 at 12:49 PM paul levy via OSList <
> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
>> I haven't called it a law in years.
>>
>> That is because it isn't a law. It is an eternal invitation.
>>
>> Paul
>>
>> On Sun, 20 Feb 2022, 16:08 Bhavesh Patel via OSList, <
>> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks Michael, always appreciate the time you take to write longer
>>> emails and share stories.
>>>
>>> The way you intro the Law is pretty much exactly how I do it as well,
>>> using almost the same language. That for me still involves using my freedom
>>> to take responsibility for my learning, contribution, productivity, and
>>> where that is going to happen or not going to happen, at the same time
>>> never fully knowing and always responding to all that is happening within,
>>> between, and among... self-organisation, or as Morin says
>>> eco-self-organsation!
>>>
>>> I also have a very similar approach to space invaders, and have rarely
>>> encountered one. There was one time when a person twice the size of me, a
>>> former head of a big brand, took the mic for me and told everyone to stop
>>> putting up topics on the second morning, because he had done a full
>>> analysis of day 01 and could now tell us what we needed to do. I told him
>>> that was great and kindly asked him to write it up and stick it up, but he
>>> held on to the mic and repeated that this was not necessary and now we all
>>> needed to listen to him and... there was a stand-off with both of us
>>> holding the mic, until one of his peers asked him to let the facilitator do
>>> his job, he backed off, and guess what, not many came to his session, and...
>>>
>>> I have also used the walk out approach when nothing was happening, on
>>> reflection I think I needed to leave the room for that group to truly
>>> believe the power is in their hands to post topics!
>>>
>>> I guess what I was trying to think about was what to do when someone is
>>> clearly speaking in a way that is offensive to others... people can use
>>> their two feet, the facilitator can also walk out of the room, what else is
>>> there... I don't think OST = anything and everything is ok... so I was
>>> reflecting on that... not sure if I am making sense to anyone???
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sun, 20 Feb 2022 at 12:41, Michael M Pannwitz via OSList <
>>> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Dear Bhavesh,
>>>>
>>>> The Law of Two Feet (this is, of course, no Law but tongue of cheeck
>>>> speak of the Man with the Hat) has not felt to me as a reminder to be
>>>> responsible for where I want to be.
>>>> In my intro to the process I say in the role of facilitator: "And
>>>> here",
>>>> pointing to the large poster on the wall of the space or on a large
>>>> pinboard on the edge of the outer circle or floating above the crowd of
>>>> 2108 supported by large balloons, have a look here
>>>> >
>>>> https://openspaceworldscape.org/events/165-jetzt-meine-leidenschaft-meine-verantwortung-ueber-die-tagung-hinaus-now-my-passion-my-responsibility-beyond-the-conference
>>>>
>>>> "is the Law of Two Feet which has to be utterly adhered to as it is a
>>>> LAW:
>>>> I honor a group with my absence if I neither learn nor contribute
>>>> something. If I am learning something I stay, if I am contributindg
>>>> something I also stay.
>>>> But if neither, then I'll do the group and especially myself the favor
>>>> of taking my feet... ", and here I imitate the Man by looking at my
>>>> feet
>>>> for 3 seconds lift them and run a short distance in front of the
>>>> assembled crowd... continuing:"... and move to a space which is more
>>>> productive for me... or to take a nap." (At this point folks usually
>>>> laugh out loud, incited by my awkward running style)
>>>>
>>>> Now all this has nothing to do with taking responsibility for where I
>>>> want to be. I am focusing on this because I as facilitator am not in
>>>> any
>>>> way responsible for what anyone does, under the assumption that
>>>> everyone
>>>> is naturally "responsible"... and I adress it in the systemic context
>>>> we
>>>> are in when in an os event, and that it is selforganisation all the
>>>> time.
>>>>
>>>> Regarding space invaders -  which I rarely have encountered probably
>>>> because I am such an awsome event myself, especially when totally
>>>> present and at the same time invisible - I do intervene.
>>>>
>>>> My first intervention is to do nothing and wait (at this point I
>>>> understand why I am being paid for this job). If the crowd is kind of
>>>> struck and silent, also waiting, I still wait. Usually, this
>>>> intervention does get addressed by a participant, which causes another
>>>> participant to react... and results in a short exchange in which
>>>> usually
>>>> someone then gets the space invader to see that the group does not oust
>>>> him.
>>>>
>>>> If no participant intervenes and I have counted to 10, I ask: "Who else
>>>> feels like Charlie?" This always works, one or several other
>>>> participants will say something. The main advantage of participants
>>>> participating in this is that the space invader immidiately sees that
>>>> he/she is still part of the group, not an outsider.
>>>>
>>>> Another observation I have made is that some space invasions are
>>>> aggressive while others are certainly productive but not executed
>>>> completely.
>>>>
>>>> At one event, one participant got up to introduce his issue (others had
>>>> posted issues before him) and said: "I have the most important 5 issues
>>>> that need to be worked on!" and deposited his 5 issue sheets in the
>>>> center.
>>>> Here I intervened right away and reminded him that the issues have to
>>>> be
>>>> announced and posted on the Bulletin Board and that he shoulc say his
>>>> name. Somewhat nervous he picke up his 5 issues, spoke to them and then
>>>> posted them on the Bulletin Board.
>>>> Later in the day he approached me and said: "Michael, nobody signed in
>>>> for my issues! This was an important lesson for me."
>>>>
>>>> So, its not about what is allowed or not. Its about how space and time
>>>> for selforganisation are expanded right then and here. Thats what I
>>>> recommend facilitators to focus on.
>>>>
>>>> The utmost the facilitator can do in case stuff gets out of control and
>>>> nothing works is to leave the space.
>>>> I have experienced this twice in os events.
>>>> First event was the gathering of 300 Imams and Rabbis in Sevilla where
>>>> HO facilitated and I was his assistant. The participants kept posting
>>>> isssues without end and even after allocating 15 minutes more they kept
>>>> going. When the time was over, HO turned to me and spoke into the
>>>> mikrophone "Michael, please take over!" and left the room. It took only
>>>> minutes that the participants stopped posting issues and moved into the
>>>> phase to walk up to the Bulletin Board to sign up for issues they
>>>> wanted
>>>> to work on.
>>>>
>>>> The second example was an os with facilitators from different
>>>> approaches
>>>> in which I was participant.
>>>> In the closing circle of the first day, one participant insisted on a
>>>> discussion of a particularly critical aspect. He ignored the
>>>> facilitators suggestion to post his issue for a session after dinner or
>>>> the next day. No, he wanted to continue. The facilitator pointed to the
>>>> schedule and the amount of time left. At the end of the agreed upon
>>>> time
>>>> he stood up and left the room.
>>>> Two minutes later, the entire group left, too.
>>>>
>>>> What about other stories on The Law and Space Invadors?
>>>>
>>>> Right now I am returning to the breakfast table where we are talking
>>>> about the urgent recommendation of the German Government to all German
>>>> citizens presently in the Ukraine to leave the Ukraine and return home
>>>> immediately.
>>>>
>>>> War?
>>>>
>>>> Greetings from Berlin
>>>> mmp
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Am 20.02.2022 um 08:18 schrieb Bhavesh Patel via OSList:
>>>> > It's an interesting one because:
>>>> >
>>>> >   * The Law of Two Feet - is about us choosing to take responsibility
>>>> >     for where we want to be.
>>>> >
>>>> >   * Space Invaders - is the idea that NOT everything is allowed, and
>>>> if
>>>> >     it feels like someone is controlling the space for another, then
>>>> the
>>>> >     facilitator does something about it.
>>>> >
>>>> > So it's an interesting grey area between when it is more about the
>>>> Law
>>>> > and when it is more about Space Invaders and stepping in... and who
>>>> is
>>>> > the facilitator when it comes to this loop anyway?
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > On Sun, 20 Feb 2022 at 03:58, Harold Shinsato via OSList
>>>> > <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:
>>>> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>>
>>>> > wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >     The OSList is intended to truly be "whoever comes is the right
>>>> people".
>>>> >
>>>> >     The "Law of Two Feet" is hopefully something we take seriously
>>>> here.
>>>> >
>>>> >     I wish there was a feature in the OSList where you could "walk
>>>> away"
>>>> >     from a conversation without having to leave the OSList. Well, you
>>>> could
>>>> >     just ignore the conversations where you are neither learning nor
>>>> >     contributing.
>>>> >
>>>> >     Another option most email systems have ways are message filters
>>>> that
>>>> >     could automatically delete what you don't want. That is an
>>>> option. With
>>>> >     a little effort that would be a way to employ "The Law of Two
>>>> Feet" or
>>>> >     the "Law of Mobility".
>>>> >
>>>> >           Best wishes to all!
>>>> >           Harold
>>>> >     _______________________________________________
>>>> >     OSList mailing list
>>>> >     To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>>>> >     <mailto:OSList at lists.openspacetech.org>
>>>> >     To unsubscribe send an email to
>>>> OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>>>> >     <mailto:OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org>
>>>> >     To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>>>> >
>>>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>>> >     <
>>>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org>
>>>> >     Past archives can be viewed here:
>>>> >     http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
>>>> >     <http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>> > OSList mailing list
>>>> > To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>>>> > To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>>>> > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>>>> > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>>> > Past archives can be viewed here:
>>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
>>>> --
>>>> Michael M Pannwitz
>>>> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin
>>>> +49 30 7728000     mmpannwitz at gmail.com
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> OSList mailing list
>>>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>>>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>>>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>>> Past archives can be viewed here:
>>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> OSList mailing list
>>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>> Past archives can be viewed here:
>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OSList mailing list
>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>> Past archives can be viewed here:
>> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> OSList mailing list
> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
> Past archives can be viewed here:
> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/pipermail/oslist-openspacetech.org/attachments/20220221/9d4d9725/attachment.html>

More information about the OSList mailing list