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, < [email protected]> 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 < > [email protected]> 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, < >> [email protected]> 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 < >>> [email protected]> 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 >>>> > <[email protected] <mailto: >>>> [email protected]>> >>>> > 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 [email protected] >>>> > <mailto:[email protected]> >>>> > To unsubscribe send an email to >>>> [email protected] >>>> > <mailto:[email protected]> >>>> > 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/[email protected] >>>> > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > _______________________________________________ >>>> > OSList mailing list >>>> > To post send emails to [email protected] >>>> > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>> > 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/[email protected] >>>> -- >>>> Michael M Pannwitz >>>> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin >>>> +49 30 7728000 [email protected] >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> OSList mailing list >>>> To post send emails to [email protected] >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>> 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/[email protected] >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> OSList mailing list >>> To post send emails to [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>> 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/[email protected] >> >> _______________________________________________ >> OSList mailing list >> To post send emails to [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >> 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/[email protected] > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > 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/[email protected]
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