Underlining Michael's very important observation here. This is very important. Whenever we create any illusion of separation in a system we tread on dangerous ground. Separating the meaning making from the work is a false distinction that has serious implications for power, co-ownership and relationship in organizations.
-- CHRIS CORRIGAN Harvest Moon Consultants www.chriscorrigan.com Art of Hosting - Participatory Leadership and Social Collaboration, Bowen Island, BC November 12-15 2012 Art of Hosting in Faith Based Communities, Salt Lake City, Utah November 28th - December 1, 2012 On 2012-10-19, at 8:35 AM, Michael Herman <mich...@michaelherman.com> wrote: > this thread reminds me that i've always been a bit uncomfortable with the > 'fly' dimension of photographers, videographers, and graphic recorders in > open space... not because of what they're doing but because their gizmos or > special skills makes them seems special. of course they are special... but > not more or less than all the others. it seems to me that these recording > folk are doing in some obvious ways what everyone is really charged with... > taking in all that they can and coming away with something to show for it... > flowers that come from cross-pollinating, butterfly wings that came from > nibbling around and cooking oneself in reflection (stretching the metaphor a > bit, perhaps), making lists of immediate next steps or dot-voting for the > action-minded, or whatever other "take aways" that people might create for > themselves. so these recorders seem to me to be doing what everyone else is > doing, perhaps just in a more outwardly obvious way. so i guess my > discomfort comes when their work is suggested or perceived as being done > "for" the community rather than "in" or "as members of" the community. > > m > > > -- > > Michael Herman > Michael Herman Associates > 312-280-7838 (mobile) > > http://MichaelHerman.com > http://OpenSpaceWorld.org > > > > > On Fri, Oct 19, 2012 at 9:27 AM, Phelim McDermott <phe...@mac.com> wrote: >> Hi there Harold and Harrison, >> >> Just to let you know the origins of the fly... >> On the Devoted and Disgruntled Roadshow there were many Performers and >> Actors.. >> >> The issue of being on camera is a very specific one and I would often be >> asked "What's the deal with the camera?" >> >> So it was a humorous way to let people know they could send him away if they >> didn't want their face on camera or if they wanted to speak off record' I >> would say it was a specific requirement related to this specific group. it >> was a neat way of not having to answer a lot of questions about it. >> >> Mentioning it seems to be a thing that I felt in the moment and at WOSonOS >> gave people the opportunity to meet Ragnar which was the main thing and >> offer him as a collaborator. Which I think happened for one of the sessions. >> >> Sometimes when I think of the fly.. i think of that wonderful page in Zen >> Mind, Beginners mind. by Shunryu Suzuki which is totally white except for a >> small fly.. a thing of beauty: The fly.. the detached observer. >> >> This is also as Harrison says connected to the fact that the system is never >> closed.. the leaks are everywhere. >> >> Harold my Agent will be contacting you about that video of me introducing >> Harrison ;) >> >> Love >> Phelim x >> >> ________________________________ >> >> I generally pick up emails only at the beginning and end of the working day. >> I am currently aiming to respond the following day. If it is urgent please >> call me on 07956 187298. >> _____________________________________ >> >> www.improbable.co.uk >> @openspacer >> >> >> On 19 Oct 2012, at 14:33, Harrison Owen <hho...@verizon.net> wrote: >> >>> A thoughtful piece, Harold. Thank you. The Fly is definitely a whimsical >>> addition to the OS menagerie – pretty much what one might expect from the >>> fertile mind and puckish spirit of Phelim. And as you point out, The Fly is >>> actually not a new comer. The recorder/observer role is one that has been >>> played, in one way or another since the very first Open Space. And of >>> course it is also very much present in our everyday life. So what else is >>> new? >>> >>> >>> >>> All that said I think there are some issues here worthy of discussion. And >>> I am not really sure that the metaphor of the Fly will take us to where we >>> need to go. After all, just think about what attracts flies… or even worse, >>> what flies leave behind… >>> >>> >>> >>> The real issue for me is the role of technology in all its forms… in the >>> opening and holding of space. On the one hand technology is very much with >>> us, inescapably so. In any gathering of two or more folks in Open Space or >>> anywhere else – there you will surely find at least a cell phone in their >>> midst. As long as the technology serves life (our lives) it is wonderful, >>> but when the relationship is reversed (our lives governed by technology) – >>> it seems to me that we got trouble in River City. >>> >>> >>> >>> Over the years, proponents of various technologies have approached me with >>> the proposition that their technology is the absolutely perfect fit for use >>> in Open Space. More often than not, however, it seemed to me that their >>> technology was in search for an application and not in service to the >>> community. Really good technology for me is subtle and invisible. When it >>> takes over, I get really uncomfortable. Think for example of two folks >>> sitting side by side, texting each other. They might just try talking! >>> >>> >>> >>> So when it comes to things like video, etc – subtle invisibility is my >>> criterion. And our resident videographer in London totally met that >>> standard, I thought. He was a real pro, but I never thought of him a fly… >>> Rather more a participant in a different way and realm. That is high art, >>> and the product of many hours and much intention. Subtle, invisible, and >>> sensitive – and unfortunately, somewhat rare characteristics in the >>> electronic graphic arts world. But totally wonderful and contributory when >>> they appear. >>> >>> >>> >>> Harrison >>> >>> >>> >>> Harrison Owen >>> >>> 7808 River Falls Dr. >>> >>> Potomac, MD 20854 >>> >>> USA >>> >>> >>> >>> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer) >>> >>> Camden, Maine 20854 >>> >>> >>> >>> Phone 301-365-2093 >>> >>> (summer) 207-763-3261 >>> >>> >>> >>> www.openspaceworld.com >>> >>> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) >>> >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST >>> Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >>> >>> >>> >>> From: oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org >>> [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Harold Shinsato >>> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 6:16 PM >>> To: osl...@openspacetech.org >>> Subject: [OSList] New Animal from London - "The Fly" >>> >>> >>> >>> In London last week Phelim formally introduced a new animal to add to our >>> familiar butterflies and bumblebees. As noted in an earlier post, Phelim >>> called it the Fly. >>> >>> There was a sketch of the Fly on the wall - an insect with huge eyes, >>> wings, and a camera. When Phelim introduced the creature on one of the >>> morning openings, the fellow with the large high quality video camera came >>> to demonstrate an aspect of "the Fly". When the fly came close to Phelim, >>> he shooed it away. And then soon it came back. And he shooed it away again, >>> repeating several times. >>> >>> Having video taped a number of sessions and events in Open Space before - >>> not with as excellent equipment - the Fly metaphor is really resonating. >>> We're like the proverbial "Fly on the Wall" that provides access to events >>> that others wish they could have seen. But the Fly can also detract. Some >>> people get annoyed. It hampers their safety in being able to share. >>> Sometimes people want to swat the Fly so they can just be present in the >>> moment. >>> >>> It felt like we had a professional "Fly" at WOSonOS 2012, and I look >>> forward to some of the sweet stuff he captured after it gets digested. >>> >>> But it also seems like the Fly is not a new animal at Open Space Technology >>> events. In some ways, "The Fly" is part of the documentation story, not >>> just for video but even for notes, drawings, audio recordings, and photos. >>> Even written notes help those not present to be "the fly on the wall", yet >>> it can be annoying to be quoted, or even to be the notes taker. Phelim even >>> warned folks that the notes are visible to the whole world - so be >>> sensitive to what you share! >>> >>> I'm thinking of adding the Fly to our crew of insects to help remember some >>> aspects that come up especially for videographers as they record and >>> document. The metaphor empowers the participants to have a dialog with the >>> recorders, empowers them to shoo away the flies, and prepares the flies >>> that they may indeed be invited to stop recording in a light and fun way. >>> >>> Does this metaphor fit? Is there a better one? >>> >>> -- >>> Harold Shinsato >>> har...@shinsato.com >>> http://shinsato.com >>> twitter: @hajush >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> OSList mailing list >>> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org >>> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >> >> _______________________________________________ >> OSList mailing list >> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org >> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org >> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
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