Using WE Networks to Best Advantage
OK - so it's late and my head isn't as clear as I'd like - but I've got a voice urging me to 'Just Start'. So here's a start...
I'm opening this wiki page because I want to exchange ideas with you about how best to join up the network of networks. I'm not suggesting that everything needs to connect to everything (the system would just jam up), but that we need to be a lot smarter about how, when and with whom we connect.
I understand the nature of the networks is to be fluid and mobile - so there's probably not a 'best mix' of 'best connections' to be made (they'll only change), but I'm sure there must be a way of creating better shared focus so that our efforts become more effective.
One of our challenges is that there are so many perspectives that seem almost the same, but are importantly different to the people holding them. From time to time, there's an event or an idea that proves so popular, that pretty much everybody gets involved. So how to replicate that effect to do some important stuff like (for example), agreeing to cancel colonial legacy debts owed by the very poor to the very rich (nobody can tell us that's not possible now!).
Most recently, Barak Obama fever gripped the world's imagination - and now his administration is feeling the heat from a thousand different causes, all of which feel they should top the agenda. So what can we do to help people see that it's best to pick off victories one by one, rather than fighting a battle-line that's miles long at a stalemate? With synchronised voices and action, we can massively amplify our effect.
I'd like to propose that we need to concentrate on the medium for collaboration, which is our language.
Last year, I thought I wanted to run an event for the 'key influencers' - the people who run or are very strongly influential in networks with great reach. Now I think we need a space (like this) to connect events as we go.
Personally, I've come to respect enormously those who have learned to pay close attention to the questions they ask, becuase they appreciate that the question itself sets the direction of travel. I also love being with people who think about HOW they're asking their questions, because they're generally aware of the assumptions they might hold. In my experience, these are the people it's easiest to collaborate with - so I'm interested in spreading those skills.
So - I'll stop there with a couple of questions:
What can we do together to create tidal waves of support for vital issues (starting now)?
How can we agree on what we should all shout about?
What questions has this wiki piece raised for you?
I'm really glad to be in this space with whoever is reading this - and I'm grateful for your mutual interest in getting on with some big scale change. Let's see where this takes us now.
Comments (1 - 16 of 16)
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We can network best when we know who and what is already out there, which the advanced search of the WE database tells us. It's most effective if every search were a search of the entire site. People need to know what content is already there so they can use it rather than post content and create redundant groups. Synergizing globally is core to the WE mission. Let's make use of ALL resources, not just those in the one group we already know about. A good place to keep a persistent "Advanced Search" button is on a tab next to "Sign Out." Both "Sign Out" and "Advanced Search" should be persistent options from any page. Let every user immediately know the FULL POWER of WiserEarth on every page. |
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What a lot has happened since February! The UK is now in a different space politically and financially than it was at the beginning of the year. My own focus has sharpened still further on the issue of 'quality' connections mentioned by @sicjedi and into political activism. @dameron - intrigued by what you might have said?
Re: political activism - the UK has a significant crisis of political leadership at the moment, and few can see any obvious alternative to 'the usual suspects' or the marginals and fruit loops. I believe WE broadly represents 'The Movement', and that we could probably gain a stronger electoral mandate than the political parties get through the national elections. I think it's time we collectively step into the responsibility of our ideas and form a viable political alternative. If you're in the UK and are keen to take part, please get in touch.
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@angusparker "In some ways I wonder if WiserEarth is more the enabler (helping people find connections at the organizer level) while the vehicle for mobilizing action could be elsewhere (listservs, major social networks etc)." @Janine "Need more synergy with people busy taking action in real life but who aren't inclined to spend much time posting on-line."
Network is an overused term, indeed. In the physical world, being a part of a network does not usually require a duplication of effort. Getting people to enter more "content" here is not nearly so important as making people aware of the thinking and action that is happening already... (and encouraging more) Paul H didn't create the movement, he observed it. Now we need to connect it, which is very different (and much more possible) than getting them all to join and add content. ;)
That comment pertains to the functioning of the site. I've got more to say about the original thrust of the piece above.... |
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Thanks for raising excellent questions. Personally, I think we have too many separate discussions of the same thing. Wikis and discussions linked to only one WE group are not widely read. If people were more conscientious in indexing their pages (resources, organizations, groups, etc.) people could most effectively jump in to what is most relevant. I think more geographic focus on discussion, groups, and organizations makes people's on-line discussion best line up with real "on life" actions. Really, we want to insprire action and not just postings and viewings. We can't as easily measure action unless people report back on-line. Need more synergy with people busy taking action in real life but who aren't inclined to spend much time posting on-line. |
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"What can we do together to create tidal waves of support for vital issues (starting now)?"
The word "network" is so loose that it is almost meaningless. Who aren't we networked with in one way or another? They key question is what is the quality of a network connection: it's all about strategic and meaningful connections.
One critically important strategic connection, for grassroots empowerment, is to know about the events of the groups that you are interested in. I'm not interested in neocon events in Santa Barbara, but I am in anti-war events there. I'd love WE to have a custom community calendar to where you can add the groups/organizations that you are interested in into your own, single calendar. For more information about that, check out the Implementation and Future Possibilities section in this suggestion.
Another strategic connection I think is to be able to post information to people who might be interested in it. This is a more difficult task to conceptualize a solution for. Here's one take on it that WE could do:
Provide an individually filtered bulletin board system on WE. Allow users to easily post content, such as videos, books, articles, notices, links, images, quotes, and ideas. This content will then be democratically organized by a simple voting system: The percent of positive votes will set the prominence of the content. Users may also organize the content by category, date, total votes, total comments, and keywords. Content is thus defined and organized by the individuals using the system. What would also be cool is to have the content filterable by map location/area.
Historically, one of the biggest weaknesses of grassroots groups has been the lack of awareness and organization of their efforts. Without the capability to strategically share resources and easily create informative coalitions, many grassroots groups and projects simply get blown over by centralized institutions, unconscious social dynamics, and divide-and-conquer tactics.
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In your first question you ask... "What can we do together to create tidal waves of support for vital issues (starting now)?"
Have a look at the movement underway at SaveNaturefree this is local action having a global effect. And it's set to expand exponentially as news leaks out by people who love networking with a passion. And could do with the economic stimulus deal thats great for the hip pocket.. The groups slowly popping up all over have a list of concerns to lobby the local government
Concerns Link = http://savetheworldfree.ning.com/forum/topics/1656007:Topic:8212 Here they are...
Animal welfare - Biodiversity - Endangered ecosystems - Habitat Conservation - Solar Power subsidies - Atmospheric warming - Greenhouse Gases - Ozone layer - Health care costs - Fundamentalism - Ocean Dumping - Food distribution - Genetic Engineering - Marine Pollution - Heavy Metals - Natural Diversity Protection - Substance Abuse Education - Justice for abused children - Equal justice access - User pays taxation - Hazardous wastes - Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) - Education Cost - Tree clearing - Organ Harvesting - Phthalates - Globalisation - Global Trade injustice - W.T.O. - Endangered species - Ocean Dumping - G M O's - Perchloroethylene - Amazon Forests - New world order - Genetically Modified food crops - Precautionary Principle - Nuclear testing - Incineration hazards - Pesticides - Higher education cost - Arms Proliferation - Stamp duty's - Plutonium - North American Forests - Nuclear Accidents - unsafe Nuclear Reactors - Commercial Fishing - Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) - Ocean environment - Food labeling - Radioactive Waste - Corporate mismanagement
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Love your summary Bowo :-)
Thanks also for the tutorial link. I've just posted something about blogging in the suggestions stream about joining stuff up - so I guess I should follow your advice and try to knit these two conversations together...
Great to read about the blog space coming up next month Angus - I'm not clear if Wiserearth.org.blog is for Wiserearth users to blog about Wiserearth, or about their own stuff?
William - great to hear your voice, and thanks both for the rating and the comments. I'll now try to share this conversation stream with more people and hopefully the learning/practical progress will keep coming.
Best wishes Mike |
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Hi Mike,
All good points there.
Now I see where you're coming from regarding language. Can't agree more. I don't think we're ever really taught about the art of conversing in school (I'm sure there are things like how to do "a good debate", but less on how to reach a consensus in an open and civil manner).
Think big, start small, act now (and local). That would sum up your second point I guess?
Good points on questioning questions. The art of questioning is also something not very much encouraged in schools (or even in homes and workplaces for that matter).
On networking wikipages, actually... we have the tool already, though not obvious enough for wikipages. See this tutorial. Every community member can and should do it when sharing their knowledge here.
Bowo |
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I appreciate this page because of the insight I have gained from the dialogue herein. I too am of the mind to broaden our Common Voice Base, regarding our concern issues. I just created [www.lelandcewns.ning.com] in an attempt to draw WiserEarth.com, PickensPlan.com, Ning.com, LinkedIn.com, Facebook and MySpace.com into a common open forum regarding "Sustainable Clean Energy and American Energy Independence" issues. I am a member of all of these sites and I call myself a Freelance Clean Energy Web Networker. All I can do is follow your lead as you are acting as my instructors, and for that I am Very Thankful. William Leland Luster/Las Vegas,Nev./03/07-2009
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@Mike: No one specifically working on linking up wikipages - the real linking comes from their presence in Wiserearth groups. With the new record page design (for all content on WE) the connections between content will become more evident - at least between people, groups and orgs and content.
As for blogging. We don't have a blogging platform implemented for members although there has been a lot of talk about it on the suggestions group. So for now - the wikipages and comments are the best way to muse on WiserEarth itself. Alternatively you can syndicate an extenal blog into the new News module for groups which will be available within a couple of weeks.
There will also be a WiserEarth.org blog launching in the next month or so. |
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Thanks for those comments guys - I really appreciate their thoughtfulness.
Re; the language thing Bowo - there are some REALLY simple things we can do to make a big difference. Appreciative Inquiry is a great way forward - you can be very academic about it if you choose (there's LOTS written about it), or you can apply it very simply. I like things like the 'And/But' challenge - just invite people to replace all their 'But's' with 'And's' - the difference is that you've left space for the other person's perspective rather than opposing it - and by acknowledging the both/and way of the world (there's always a shadow side), you make it easier for people to challenge each other without raising the emotional stakes and heading toward conflict. As to the questions thing - I think the best way of improving our ability to ask great questions is to test each other's questions regularly - and in my experience, that's mainly about the assumptoins that our questions imply. If we're all acutely aware that the questions we ask set the direction of the conversation, we'll see that we often settle the outcomes (to a degree) right at the beginning. Journalists are forever assuming the worst of human behaviour and so ask provocative questions - unless the questions are countered with other questions about the assumptoins being made, we're destined to follow them into the darkness.
Angus - not sure what you meant by your last sentence - will have a look at the link in a moment.
Couple more questions from me: Is there anybody on the team whose role is to insert links between related wiki pages etc. and so clear the pathways to coherent conversations? Since this wiki is about best connections, it would be ironic if we made no clear effort to join it up!!
Also - I've assumed that these wiki pages are effectively my 'blog' space on Wiserearth. Is that an assumptoin that is widely held? Is there a protocol I've missed about where to just upload whatever I'm thinking/experiencing?
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Speaking of languages I think we will have WE up in French and Spanish by year end. As for Bowo's comments I agree just getting people to talk is the start - in a respectful manner - according to WE community guidelines. I see the new EarthCharter Key Principle Groups - that we are going to start piloting next month as the start of that effort. Mike, could you pick off on of those to be heavily involved in. See here.
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Hi Mike,
Thanks for writing this. I resonate with your following words: "my experience is that we need to learn the best ways of communicating with people who are different from us - so my interest in the language thing isn't so much about Wiserearth's internal community (though it may well be quite helpful), but about how we talk to the people who don't see or agree. The better we're able to deal with criticism, the better enabled we are to make change...." While the language we use in our talk, and the talk itself, is important to change people's mind. I find this next insight particularly useful: "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." --- R. Buckminster Fuller I see WiserEarth with it's tools can be a place to showcase elements of such "new model". In one hand, we have permaculturists, non-violence activists, school reformers, biodiversity conservers, new economics theoretists and practitioners etc. in the community, while in the other hand, we also have people who either have just awakened to the real reality of the world, and even complete skeptics here. While the conversations is only just beginning, I see that people living the "new model" and talk about it with sincere joy (amidst the hardship of implementation process), will be key. And the language should no longer be "you're all wrong, we're right", but "we're all part of the wrong, this is something that might help right my part of wrong". Or, it could be something like "we know that the old ways no longer work, what is emerging from the debris of the old that we can embrace?". Or to do it the hard way, "prove to me that your old ways can work indefitely!" I was also intrigued by your following question: "what can we do to help people see that it's best to pick off victories one by one, rather than fighting a battle-line that's miles long at a stalemate? With synchronised voices and action, we can massively amplify our effect." Is it really best to pick off victories one by one? Does fighting miles-long battle line always a stalemate, a losing cause? I personally think both approaches are needed, and we can do better at both! We need also remember that despite all the possibilies, we are confined to what is layed out in front of each of us. To have success at the challenges most relevant, near and dear to us is a victory no less in both the bigger decisive struggle, and the miles-long one. Again, within and beyond WiserEarth, you raised points that really are worth further elaboration. A friend of mind taught me once that asking the right question is half the solution. So let's keep asking the right ones! Bowo |
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Hi Angus,
Yeah - I see (and promote) Wiser's raison d'etre as being the best chance we have of creating a 'World Index', which for me has two main benefits - 1) making the scale of the movement visible to those with power to make big decisions (although this function is rapidly becoming less important as it's becoming more obvious anyway) and 2) to enable the connections to be made. AND - my experience is that we need to learn the best ways of communicating with people who are different from us - so my interest in the language thing isn't so much about Wiserearth's internal community (though it may well be quite helpful), but about how we talk to the people who don't see or agree. The better we're able to deal with criticism, the better enabled we are to make change.... |
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@Superconnector: Thank you for creating this wiki. This is a very topical concern for WiserEarth. The emerging new tagline for WiserEarth is 'Connecting you to Communities of Action' and our organization pages (in fact all pages) will be getting a significant redesign over the coming month to emphasize connections. In some ways I wonder if WiserEarth is more the enabler (helping people find connections at the organizer level) while the vehicle for mobilizing action could be elsewhere (listservs, major social networks etc).
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Yes I agree Janine. Something easy to grok so that anyone visiting any page can see at a glance what the platform offers......So maybe Advanced Search - but with a few more words to really make it clear that you want to use this function! Some suggestions:
Expand your connections on this topic - Use Advanced Search...
Use the FULL Power of Wiserearth - Use Advanced Search