When you're having a discussion in which semantics are by far the biggest point of contention, it's a pretty good idea to simply create distinct terms for each separate part. We could say "coworking" is the act of working together in a particular way and a "coworking space" is an environment created to encourage coworking. Coworking spaces can attack that challenge in a variety of different ways as can the method of coworking to achieve the same positive end.
I think that's a reasonably fair compromise. Best, Riaz Virani Special Projects Coordinator Affinity Lab 2451 18th Street NW Second Floor Washington, DC 20009 (W) 202.518.6181 (C) 678.575.0631 [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Wed, Jun 4, 2008 at 10:19 AM, Nancy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Tara, > > I think that, indeed, you are attached to the concept and rightly > so...That's not a bad thing. I use the word "concept" intentionally > here. While folks could get overly tied up in semantics, I think the > key here is that you have grown a concept that you have consistently > been referring to as "coworking" in a new definition of the word. > After all, the word coworkers certainly doesn't refer to coworkers in > a "coworking" setting as you and your fellow visionaries have > developed the concept (I use the term develop intentionally, as well, > instead of define)... Note that I just used coworking as an > adjective, a descripive that further defines a noun... > > Think about branding for those who took marketing courses or simply > are into the history of capitalism - don't call a tissue a Kleenex, > it's a Kleenex tissue... Band-aid was originally a brand name that > lost it's exclusivity because of its generic use. The amazing thing > here is that the founders of this concept so wanted to both share the > concept while being able to put their own personal vision into it, > they didn't think of their rights to the word "coworking" as a part of > their new concept. They could have made some whole logo that would > have further protected their use of that "word" and offered its use to > folks for a fee. Instead, they chose to share their concept and use > the term coworking freely and openly, be it noun, verb or adjective, > as a generic term (in marketing terms) for the concept that several > changemakers (I like that term, too) have turned into successful > entities (don't like that word, sounds like a creature from another > planet!)... Citizen Agency, Indy Hall, Cubes and Crayons. > > It seems to me that your definition has been incredibly inclusive. In > fact, I wouldn't be including it, referring to it in my business plan, > and as I promote my new business, if your definition wasn't so > broad... > > I suggest that it can be used grammatically in different ways, noun, > verb, and indeed, my favorite the adjective - thus, ADJECTIVE: "You > haven't heard of Cubes and Crayons? It's a coworking space that is > perfect for the professional mom." OR, VERB: "I'm coworking at Citizen > Hall next week since I'm going to be in town and I hope I will meet > some of the founders!" OR NOUN: "So, coworking is this cool movement > whereby folks who are working on their own business or project can get > out of their jammies, skip the coffee shop, and head to work for the > day or everyday in a place set up to work around people of like > values, doing their own thing but working in a really creative, > supportive environment." > > One last comment, and I apologize if I've gone on too long... It is a > good thing, your solid use of the term - you've coined a new meaning > which is amazing in this world of cluttered but wonderful new > concepts. My new business is going to be a.... triple-bottom-line > enterprise, financially-self-sustaining nonprofit, social enterprise, > L3C, For Benefit... There are more terms referencing the type of > business that I plan to start than I can shake a stick at and it is a > total problem for me... Whatever you call it, my vision, mission, > objectives, they are all the same. But, my choice of terms could stop > my worthwhile concept before I can even get it off the ground. You > guys are on the right track... While the conversation is a good one in > a self-analytical way, remember that the most important concepts or > words relate right back to your intentions which relate to your > values. > > I'll stop now! Best to all who embrace the coworking concept! (I could > call it the coworking movement, but being a mom, the term "movement" > will forever refer to a bodily function and does not bring to mind a > pretty picture at all!). > > Nancy > > > Social Entrepreneur > Ipswich, MA > temp website/blog: > http://twsblog.wordpress.com/ > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
