Hi again! On the subject of my writing.. When it rains, it pours.. I didn't want to clutter the previous post with too much reflection and interpretation. [If you didn't read the previous post, you need to, or you might not know where this is coming from]
There appeared to be a polarity at play here, between order and chaos, or between imposed structure and self-organisation, something that the chaordic thinkers have probably already chanced upon. To paraphrase what some of the participants said, "Why do we need Open Space? Surely we can just decide to be free, and have whatever conversations matter, that's our decision and responsibility, and if anyone needs some help doing that, I'm here to help." This is an important point: Open Space is a structure. To my mind, though, there is an important dimension to it: it is a ritual structure. Rituals allow us to say or do things that don't normally come out in everyday conversation, they set the tone and say it's ok to express yourself now in a particular way. There are two definitions of ritual that I find quite interesting in this context: - any practice or pattern of behavior regularly performed in a set manner - a prescribed code of behavior regulating social conduct, as that exemplified by the raising of one's hat or the shaking of hands in greeting It's clear to me that OS already is the first of these. That's great, because that's the way we get results, or rather that's the way in which we as facilitators regular social conduct for a period of time. But what about that word 'prescribed'? What do you think of that? What happens if it is prescribed? By whom? If it's not by anyone in particular, then that means OS is accepted practice. But as accepted (expected?) practice.. does that limit its effectiveness? Is that no longer a structure that generates energy, but one that feels like an imposition and so acts as a dampener? OK, enough philosophising for one day. Not that I expect we can come to an answer to these questions, I'd be interested to hear what other people think about OS as ritual? Andrew * * ========================================================== [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
