Space Invaders -- I guess I invented the term, and we all know the sort of people who "fit". But what to do?
First of all, Don't "demonize" them. They are people, who care, and have come. So give them space. Usually that will be so shocking (never happened before!) that they can't believe it -- and then everything is happening so fast that they are totally involved before they can think that they should not be. Should be out there "protesting!" But part of the secret is -- keep everything moving right along. Don't stop to take questions! Don't spend time (waste time) doing "inclusion" and other sorts of "feel good/better" activities. Get to the business, and get people to WORK FAST! After all this is not rocket science. And if the "protesters" came just to protest, they will find that their moment has gone. On the other hand if they came to contribute to the solution -- the opportunity is NOW. Failing everything else -- (The Space Invaders take over) -- there is always the Law of Two Feet. And you (as facilitator) are also bound/saved by the Law. If you are not doing anything useful or contributing, just put one foot ahead of the other, and keep moving. And invite anybody who feels the same way to join you. Leave the "space" to the Invaders, and they will shortly get tired of talking to themselves. Sounds a little "gutsy" I guess, and truthfully I have never had to go that far, but having sort of worked my way through all that, it set me at peace for whatever happened. And what always happened was infinitely better than I could ever have predicted. Have fun! Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Dr. Potomac, MD 20854 USA Phone 301-365-2093 www.openspaceworld.com www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Eva P Svensson Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 3:03 PM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: SV: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations? Dear Lisa and Harrison, Why am I not surprised with your answers :) Invite and breath :) And I will! The theme is already set and so is the invitation and yes we think that some of the people "against" who are organizing the demonstration will come as well - and I think that is good - and I do hope that they respect the format and don't be "space invaders" - that is my biggest worry right now - that some of them will try to invade the freedom to everybody to bring forward what is on their heart and mind. The meeting is about a proposal from a city about how to develop and build/change a part of a city - and it's a "hot potato" i.e a lot of feelings against and some pro of course. And the open space will be a step in the formal procedure that they have to have - to inform the citizens so that they have a chance to react on the proposal. So - how do you handle a Space Invader? Any tips there? Sooo grateful for you being out there!!! :o) Eva Bästa hälsningar Eva P Svensson EPS Human Invest AB Member of Beyond Performance Group "Verksamhetsutveckling genom människor skapar långsiktigt välmående företag och organisationer" Anåsbergsvägen 22, 439 34 ONSALA Besöksadress; Norra Allégatan 8, Göteborg Tfn: 0300-615 05, Mobil; 0706- 89 85 50 www.epshumaninvest.se Skype: eva.p.svensson Besök gärna min blogg; www.epshumaninvest.blogspot.com/ "Jag kan inte lära dig något. Allt jag kan göra är att ställa frågor till dig, och låta dig själv finna svaren." Sokrates -----Ursprungligt meddelande----- Från: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] För Harrison Owen Skickat: den 22 februari 2010 14:58 Till: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Ämne: Re: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations? If you really want to blow everybody's mind invite the demonstrators to join the circle. When you have conflict (which it sort of looks like you do) the solution is to keep opening the space until there is room for everybody who cares to come. Of course if the demonstrators don't care to come -- just want to stand on the outside and do whatever, that is their choice. Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Dr. Potomac, MD 20854 USA Phone 301-365-2093 www.openspaceworld.com www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Eva P Svensson Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 8:41 AM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations? Hi all! I'm on my way to hold spAce at an OST meeting where the organizers are expecting a demonstration against the proposal that is the theme for the meeting! Any of you that have any experience from that?? Would be most grateful for advice how to handle a situation like that!! Snowy greatings from Sweden :o) Eva Skickat från min iPhone * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
