Doc, and other organisers,
May I add a rather philosophical contribution to your message:
Richard C. Holloway (learnshops@thresholds.com) workshop on "dialogue"
LO18605
>I would suggest, primarily, that you don't (and can't) teach a workshop
>on dialog. I encourage you to create a dialog group, explain some of the
>ground rules for the group, and then facilitate the dialog. Better yet,
>teach a workshop in listening.
This discussion deals with the flow of spoken words. If we compare this
flow of words with other flows, some remarks could be made. For a flow,
one needs something which could flow, and the source area must have a
higher potential energy than the destination(s).
Should we speak, or should we listen. Should we push, or should we pull.
Should we blow, or should we suck. If I think on the last mentioned
question, I see some analoques with removing dust or autumn leaves.
One could sweep or blow, one could use a vacuum cleaner. Which one is the
most effective? If the dust particles or leaves are compared with spoken
words, you will probably understand this metaphor. The best way to sample
in a concentrated form the dust or leaves (=words), sucking gives the best
result. Blowing or sweeping replaces the particles, but its destinations
are divers, and concentration is not established.
But sometimes the blow itself creates areas of underpressure. Look what
wind does with the leaves. In an open area the leaves are distributed
alover the place. If there are obstacles, natural sampling places of
leaves can be found.
>A good way to start a dialog group (IMO) is to use a microphone (any
>microphone prop will do fine--like an ink pen). Whoever has the
>microphone has the "power of speech" and everyone else listens.
The microphone is the blower. This blower only removes the words from
their origin out into the open space and the risk is that the particles
(=words) will find their rest at any place. Comparable with radio or TV.
Only if there are places of underpressure (=listeners), words will form
sentences and information. But this situation is not necessarily the case.
Thus I have used a lot of other words than Doc has used, but with the same
meaning: the suckers (listeners) are the most important. To concentrate
during a dialogue to this aspect is much more important than emphasize the
blowing (microphone) side. Although this is a necessary part (source) of
the flow.
dr. Leo D. Minnigh
minnigh@library.tudelft.nl
Library Technical University Delft
PO BOX 98, 2600 MG Delft, The Netherlands
Tel.: 31 15 2782226
Let your thoughts meander towards a sea of ideas.
--Leo Minnigh <L.D.Minnigh@library.tudelft.nl>
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