<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#333399">
Harrison wrote<br>
> Call it sensory overload or whatever<br>
<br>
Good point. I've only attended/spoken at lightning talks once, but yes
it's very, very stimulating. I can't imagine lasting more than 90
minutes, myself. That's 30 3-minute talks.<br>
<br>
The appeal of lightning talks may be peculiar to the high-tech space,
upon reflection. Many of us are used to (crave, even :-)
high-stimulation environments - think video games, ipods, ten browser
windows and three IM windows open at once. The workaholism inherent in
too many software environments is not solely due to management abuse -
we ourselves are susceptible to succumbing to our passions to the point
of excess. In some places this drive toward burnout is a badge of
honour, but in the Agile software development community we place high
value on "sustainable
pace," and we are trying to make "being healthy and
creative" the new badge of honour.<br>
<br>
Note that this isn't an event for an organization or business, or even
a regional association, where people have a common context and culture.
People will come from all over America and Europe for this event, and
the first evening is a chance for people to (re-) discover one another.
Many have only met online, others may be entirely new to the community.
I don't consider the lightning talks a part of the OpenSpace event -
and, in fact it's optional, as not everyone will be able to get there
for Friday evening, but all will be there Saturday morning when we Open
Space. As Aslak points out, lightning talks are the chance for anyone
to introduce themselves and their passions or questions. Think of it
soapbox speeches in Hyde Park :-)
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speakers'_Corner">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speakers'_Corner</a><br>
<br>
And, though some come for the topic, even more so they come just to be
together, knowing that good things will happen. Being a coach and
mentor can be lonely - this is a chance for
the leaders to be among peers and to build their support network. We're
thinly spread across the globe and revel in these face-to-face events. <br>
<br>
So, taking the comments in this thread into consideration: I'm going to
suggest to my partner for AgileCoachCamp that, in parallel to the
Friday night lightning talks, we provide refreshments and a lounge
where people can sit and get acquainted at a slower pace. After all,
it's the end of the week and some will just have flown across the
country. People can pick what they need - stimulation or relaxation -
and move between the two areas at will. And, I must remember to ask our
facilitator to remind people to rest! For some of us, OpenSpace is as
exhausting as LightningTalks, if we are not careful :-) and it lasts a
LOT longer!<br>
<br>
Thanks for the input, and thanks for raising the subject, Aslak.<br>
deb<br>
<br>
Harrison Owen wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:000201c84fac$62854710$6401a8c0@harrison"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Aslak -- It occurs too me that Jack's comment about his "batty" state may be
more about learning style and differences in generations than about Open
Space. Never having experienced several hours of Lightning Speeches I must
say that just the thought of it is sufficient to bring me into Jack's
corner, although I may well have been Batty long before. But I must confess
that I have much the same reaction when attending music/video productions by
my son and his friends. Call it sensory overload or whatever but the
experience of several hours of simultaneous multiple images and sounds is so
overwhelming (to me) as to be mind numbing. And yet it is quite obvious from
the reactions of everybody else that they are in a very different place --
They love it. Probably the 'ol Curmudgeon Syndrome.
Harrison
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="60">--
Deborah Hartmann
Agile Process Improvement Coach
Open Space Facilitator
Lead Editor for InfoQ.com/Agile
deborah.hartmann.net
</pre>
</body>
</html>
*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist