This is so exciting! I don’t know quite why is should be so exciting but it is for me. I am with you Michael on all your points. I might even be tempted to drop the ‘free speech’ part and just go with ‘free listening’ although I like the 'two way street’.
Thanks for the note about Fran Peavey - I will look her up and the bits on your web site. warm wishes Amanda > On 26 Mar 2015, at 16:25, Michael Herman <mich...@michaelherman.com> wrote: > > AWESOME! > > and a few thoughts to mix in... > > 1. if you haven't seen or heard of her, lucas, you might have a look for fran > peavey. the gist of her story is that at a higher point of cold war tension > and nuclear worries, she sold her house and stuff, bought a plane ticket, and > packed a bit of old sheet with "American willing to listen" written on it in > marker. I think she went first to Japan, and started a practice of sitting > on benches and other public places with her sign laid out next to her. And > then just waiting. This developed into something she called "strategic > questioning." It seems her old website has disappeared, but a while back i > captured some favorite bits of it at > http://www.michaelherman.com/cgi/wiki.cgi?StrategicQuestions > <http://www.michaelherman.com/cgi/wiki.cgi?StrategicQuestions> > > 2. i'm sure there are any number of ways to add rules and guidance and > structure to what you've done, as you've wondered here. i'd say resist the > temptation. years ago i was sitting in a circle in racine wisconsin, one big > circle of 40 folks, talking about the future of their city and how to > organize things in support. things got a little tense, scraped the wall in > spots, shall we say, but i sat and did nothing, witnessing, holding, > trusting, i suppose. when i shared the story with harrison, he said > something like, "well, you've earned your stripes and your pay." this seems > like one of those moments to be fully present and do as little, signal as > little as possible. > > 3. that said, you already have made signs, so i'm going to say that's part > of the practice, already. you already used the words "free speech." i said > don't add anything and now i want to suggest adding just a very little bit to > that and wonder if that won't be enough guidance on the micro > as-its-happening level AND the macro social change level. my thought is that > the signs might say "free speech / free listening" make it look like a > street/traffic sign, play with making the free listening part in a font style > that is an outline of the letters. add a verb if you must. whatever and as > little as you can. but i think the combination of free speech/free listening > might turn out to be some very robust and portable guidance. > > thank you! m > > > > -- > > Michael Herman > Michael Herman Associates > 312-280-7838 (mobile) > > http://MichaelHerman.com <http://michaelherman.com/> > http://OpenSpaceWorld.org <http://openspaceworld.org/> > > > On Thu, Mar 26, 2015 at 11:02 AM, Amanda Bucklow via OSList > <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>> > wrote: > This is just bloomin' fantastic and open space! > > Outrageously wonderful! Well done and do keep us posted on the developments. > > Warm wishes > Amanda > > Amanda Bucklow > Independent Commercial Mediator > http://www.amandabucklow.co.uk <http://www.amandabucklow.co.uk/> > > On 26 Mar 2015, at 14:29, Lucas Cioffi via OSList > <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>> > wrote: > >> Hi All, >> >> This is cross-posted on the NCDD listserv, and I'm sharing it with the OS >> List, because-- even though it's not about OST-- it's about opening space, >> and I welcome your thoughts! >> >> I was partially inspired by Michael Herman's quote from four days ago: >> "the other thing i do is never set out big circles in the breakout spaces. >> i set three chairs to mark each breakout space, with more chairs piled to >> the sides. the three chairs are pushed right together close, their front >> edges forming a closed triangle. set this way, they are impossible to use. >> the first person has to move them to whatever distance feels right to them. >> after three people come, everyone needs to move them to make room for >> others. in this way, i dictate nothing. they literally open the space at >> the center of each breakout group. i've done it this way every time since >> my first time, when i set big chairs and watched some small groups squirm in >> spaces that were too big for them." >> >> I happen to live in Charlottesville, Virginia where a recent violent arrest >> of a student and race-related protests have gotten some national media >> attention. Over the past two days I tried an experiment in creating pop-up >> civic space for dialogue. >> >> This is designed as an alternative to how Starbucks conducted its Race >> Together initiative last week which has had mixed reviews. I wrote up my >> thoughts below and attached some photos so you can get a feel for the >> experience. >> >> My goals were to "bring dialogue to people" and to create a simple, >> repeatable process that others might improve or replicate, even without >> resources. >> >> This is not to detract from formal and well-resourced dialogue programs. I >> believe there is also a vital need for public dialogue in the margins like >> this when no resources are available. >> >> I'm wondering what your thoughts and suggestions are for improvement. >> -- >> Lucas Cioffi >> Co-Founder, QiqoChat >> Charlottesville, VA >> 917-528-1831 <tel:917-528-1831> >> >> >> >> >> Note: The article and full size photos are here: >> http://americantownhalls.org <http://americantownhalls.org/> >> >> The American Townhall on Anything >> Over the past few years, I've worked with a few volunteers to experiment >> with different methods for having productive discussions on difficult topics >> like politics. >> Our current effort is The American Townhall on Anything, a playful yet >> important opportunity to connect with fellow Americans for meaningful >> conversation. >> >> The goal for this experiment is to create "pop-up civic space" where people >> can have productive political discussions. This effort is similar to open >> source software; no one owns it, and anyone can build on it and modify it to >> make it work for their community. >> >> There is no official organization making this happen. These are just ideas >> that we hope will catch on, evolve, and adapt as they grow to have greater >> impact. >> >> You are invited to take these ideas, improve them, and build on them. >> Here's what we've learned so far: >> >> Day 1, March 24th >> >> With my dad visiting from out of town, I wanted to have some fun, meet some >> people, and help him get the feel for the community. I've been thinking >> about doing something like this for a few weeks now, and (finally!) I had >> someone who would sit there with me so I don't look so alone. Thanks, Pops! >> >> We took my four dining room chairs and walked them over to Charlottesville's >> charming Downtown Pedestrian Mall. With some paper and tape I put some >> signs on the back of the chairs such as the one you can read above. >> >> Using indoor dining room chairs wasn't intentional (I didn't have any other >> chairs), however they probably helped to catch people's attention because >> they were both unusual and inviting. >> >> My father and I just started talking about topics that were important to us. >> We had two open seats and people would read the signs and drop in to join >> us for some conversation from time to time. >> >> Over the course of two hours, we met all types of great folks with >> interesting stories to share. We talked about the weather. We talked about >> race, religion, politics, and power. We connected in some surprising and >> rewarding ways. >> >> One person walking by asked an intriguing question with a warm smile: "Is >> this performance art?" My answer: "I don't know." Perhaps it is, or >> perhaps it should be. I have to think about that. >> >> Day 2, March 25th >> >> On Day 2, I wanted to kick it up a notch. I wanted to bring our traveling >> road show to the grounds of the University of Virginia where there has been >> significant racial tension over the past week due to an arrest outside a bar. >> >> We didn't go there to talk about any specific topic. We wanted to just >> "open some space" and see what people wanted to talk about. This was an >> experiment to test how students and university staff would react to an >> opportunity to exercise their right to free speech. >> >> I was anxious, because I didn't know how this would be received. After all, >> these are strangers sitting down to have some potentially difficult >> conversations. I didn't want to create a space where someone would feel >> uncomfortable, misunderstood, or disrespected. Fortunately everyone felt >> comfortable, and we had some great conversations. >> >> We didn't state any ground rules. People simply defaulted to being humane. >> Perhaps there should be ground rules. I don't know. >> >> On this second day, we were more effective in communicating what was >> happening; we posted small paper signs 50 feet out in both directions along >> the main walking path so that people had more time to understand what was >> going on and that that they were absolutely invited to join the >> conversation. Our simple handwritten signs were in color and said "FREE >> SPEECH - Talk about anything." >> >> >> Sometimes when people would walk by, we would ask them jokingly, "Are you >> here for the free speech?" People got a laugh out of that. >> >> Students were curious. The chairs filled up quickly. Several other >> students took photographs and we heard some very positive comments as people >> were passing by: "Great idea!" and "I'm headed to class, but how long are >> you hear today?" and "Are you going to be here tomorrow too?" >> >> After 30 minutes, it started raining, so we packed up and went home. All in >> all, we were able to quickly validate our hypothesis that people would be >> receptive to this type of experiment on a college campus. >> >> I wanted to see whether the students would move the discussion to some >> difficult topics on their own, but the rain cut us short. Given what I saw >> today and given my experience participating in a formal >> student-faculty-community dialogue programs at UVA last year, I expect all >> participants would have dealt with difficult topics in a respectful and >> productive way if they came up. >> >> Next Steps >> >> This was energizing and fun, and I'm not quite sure what happens next. >> >> I'm active in some online communities of dialogue facilitators, so I'm going >> to share this story with some friends in the National Coalition for Dialogue >> and Deliberation and elsewhere to see what they think. >> >> Given that the new Starbucks "Race Together" dialogue initiative has had >> mixed results (many people did not want dialogue forced upon them), I'd also >> like to (delicately) try a modified version of this inside experiment a >> Starbucks. >> >> If I try something in a Starbucks over the next few days, it will be very >> different-- it would be just a sign-- a silent invitation-- and people can >> choose to sit down and join the conversation if they'd like. >> >> What do you think? >> >> Where do we go from here? Well, if I/you/we can create a simple, repeatable >> process for opening "pop-up civic space" like this, then others might do the >> same, and we might all surprise ourselves with what is possible. There is >> certainly a need for more productive dialogue in our country. >> >> Please do get in touch: he...@americantownhalls.org >> <mailto:he...@americantownhalls.org> >> <Screen Shot 2015-03-26 at 12.50.09 AM.png> >> <Screen Shot 2015-03-26 at 12.50.34 AM.png> >> <Screen Shot 2015-03-26 at 12.50.41 AM.png> >> <Screen Shot 2015-03-26 at 12.50.51 AM.png> >> _______________________________________________ >> OSList mailing list >> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org >> <mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org> >> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org >> <mailto:oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org> >> 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/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > <mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org> > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > <mailto:oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org> > 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/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org > <http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.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 Past archives can be viewed here: http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
