Hello, dear Agnetta -- You wrote: < One of the students asked me a question I really couldn't answer - yes, I answered, but I am not satisfied. She asked: what if one made an OS on a workplace where they had sexual harassments, and somebody wanted to post the issue but didn't dare. Could that person post it anonymously? If not, why? I tried to answer her, I talked about passion and responsibility and possible problems.and I told her that it was a very tricky question. What would you answer?>
I have had people not be able to stand in front of the group to post, but they have had the courage to write a topic and to appear at the designated discussion area when it is time. So they had the passion and took the responsibility but just couldn't feel comfortable standing in front of the crowd and naming it. So in these instances I have announced the issue for them and then given the paper back to them to post wherever on the agenda wall. This is a bit similar but of course the person had to show up ultimately for the session to begin it. We all know how people have to find a way to name things and be there for the conversation, otherwise people would just name sessions and never take responsibility to engage - they would just say 'people should talk about x' and not be there to help it happen. And/but here you have a delicate situation IF the person feels vulnerable saying the topic or being in the group or anything, perhaps. The next best thing I can think of is to recommend the person find someone they know who is not uncomfortable with hosting the subject, and to ask that person if they'd like to post/host it. The other part of my thinking is that I would try to do the same thorough pre-work as for every OS event to see what is the best theme, sense what the elephant / moose / skeleton (hidden) issues are, and to be informed as much as possible in that way when choosing words to open the space. Other than that, I would tell the person how proud I am that they think of bringing this issue into conversation and I support them in doing so wherever and in whatever way they can where they might feel safe or courageous - even if that safety and courage means they do not post it. Oftentimes something really important gets talked about all the way through an Open Space even if it is not posted - it just comes up in many sessions throughout the day...because the intention is there to talk about it. Great question. What do others think? Lisa ___________________________ L i s a H e f t Consultant, Facilitator, Educator O p e n i n g S p a c e 2325 Oregon Berkeley, California 94705-1106 USA +01 510 548-8449 [email protected] www.openingspace.net * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
