Game Rules On ET2 (and PS)

> If you are not comfortable with them get out of your
> head and emotions and
> do the damn drills and you'll realize I was talking
> about myself not YOU.

Houston,

I've suspected this before but here it is - you're not on THAT
list.

Easy on.

Different list, different owner, different UNIVERSE.

No drills.

No arguments.

No domaninance wrangling.

No fighting.

If you wanted to, you could think of it as a girlie list. If that
would help. Or a V8 think tank, if that would.

Let me explain what we do here.

There is a problem of some kind that belongs to someone, or an
insight, idea, gift, theory etc.

The person in question brings this item into the room and puts in
the middle of the room, for all to see.

They will say, "Look at that, everyone. What do you think?"

Then everyone else, or those who are interested, will come closer
and prod the thing, take a look, pick it up and shake it, make a
comment about it.

This is known as "brain storming" - at this point, most people
will just say something that comes to mind.

What is said at this point may or may not be relevant, but it is
NOT designed to:

- be the last word on the topic;
- show everyone how clever you are;
- proove to everyone how much you know;
- close off any topics of investigation;
- beat another over the head to shut them up;
- embarrass or shame anyone else's comments;
- sell anything to anyone;
- convince anyone of anything.

It *is* designed to:

- pool the resources of *everyone* who is participating;
- spark ideas, thoughts, connections, memories etc. in *everyone*
who is participating;
- gain different insights that could NOT be had by staying in
one's own lonesome mind;
- encourage *all* members to contribute and to support their
contributions;
- develop NEW ideas, synergies, avenues of approach, questions,
and solutions.

So.

As the participants go around the object in the middle and make
comments, jokes, exclaim, "Oh my God! That reminds me of ...!" and
generally interact with the object of investigation, EACH ONE OF
THE PARTICIPANTS is enriched and their world view widens as a
result.

The one who originally brought in the object may at this point
have what they wanted - and as this is an ONGOING event in
process, all they might have wanted is some new avenues of
exploration rather than ONE SINGLE ANSWER - or they may say,
"That's all very interesting but I'm still not sure ..." to
restart the process or to send it in a different direction.

A conclusion may or may not be reached, but the point of the whole
operation is to STIMULATE new, innovative, creative movement in
everyone who plays this game.

It is not hierarchical in nature, so there is no dominance
structure. It is by definition NOT a platform to gain status or
make sales.

Everyones comments are equally valid and equally valuable; and the
interaction is group based and not one-on-one which would negate
the purpose of the process. Addresses are made to the entire
group, not to an individual, and even if someone addresses an
individual, it is still in the context of the original brief of
the item in the center and still for all to hear and learn from.

Aggression of any kind directed at another group member is
non-sensical in this set up as the focus is on the problem or item
under exploration.

These are the game rules on ET2 and also on Project Sanctuary,
which are my two groups, both expressively Think Tank groups for
me to *participate in* as a group member because I cannot place
too great a value on the personal gain I have from this
participation - it sparks me and lifts me in all ways, enriches my
work and research immeasurably and is exciting and satisfying as a
process.

These are different from MMES, Mindlist and such and I thought it
would be helpful for all concerned if I stated this clearly.

Hopefully, it will encourage people to participate who have felt
they were too new or weren't quite sure; you can participate in
this process by simply mailing in a thought to someone else's
topic or bringing your own item for the rest of us to look at.

cheers,

Silvia

Silvia Hartmann
http://Sidereus.org

           
Received on Wed May 28 2003 - 23:56:26 BST