Re: [ConstellationTalk] Group moderation & C.Talk Guidelines
- From: Alison Rose Levy <LevyAR@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:39:57 -0500
Hi Chris:
I clearly recall the several occasions in the past when some moderation seemed
advisable, and where I personally was very grateful for your¹s
Given that, I would welcome it if you would care to share what you have
detected in exchanges from group members that you consider places the group at
risk, if left un-moderated.
(Note: I¹m wondering about the moderation of existing rather than new members.
I can understand a sort of ³probation² for new members. You have no way to
know who people are, and whether they are really facilitators and initial
moderation makes sense to me.)
But when it comes to longstanding members, for quite some time, as far as I¹ve
seen, there¹s been a gentle collegiality and decorum in the group so I am
wondering what prompted this change. Have there been flame throwing emails
that you¹ve had to gently escort off to one side..? Because I personally
haven¹t seen any trace of it nearly every thread seems a propos, although I
must confess, I haven¹t been reading that thoroughly of late.
The one thing that strikes me that I never noticed in the guidelines before
(though perhaps it has always been there) is the use of the word ³political.²
And the thing that I notice in retrospect about the thread initiated by Max
that preceded this change is that it also could be construed perhaps as
³political.²
To me, it would seem a bit out of keeping with the essence of the work to
preclude discussions of the politics of our community, or even local or global
politics to some minor extent.
Constellations address the human aftermaths of (among other things) politics:
Some entanglements arise from wars, conflicts, social displacement etc These
all occur prompted or shaped by political contexts and decision-making.
I really don¹t quite see how we could exclude these ³source realities² from
discussion so to me the guideline to avoid ³politics² seems vague.
Perhaps I am entirely mistaken about the core concern here so please correct
me if I am.
But I must also note that if we aim to somehow exclude ³politics,² perhaps for
some well intentioned reason, my concern is that the excluded ³politics² would
somehow come to pervade the group silently while an ensuing attitudinal
correctness stifles the safety, fluidity, and the heartfelt discussions for
which so many of us prize this group
I would much prefer (and consider it a sign of health) to allow those
political scufflings out in front for all to see and participate in or ignore
or hold the space for...
Chris, I appreciate the delicacy of maintaining the right balance: When I
resided in a meditation community in India, I was given the ³seva² (service)
of ³welcome hostess,² a sari clad purveyor of crowd control. With thousands
streaming into the temple to offer their obeisance, it was my task to expedite
their progress by deploying a sweeping gesture that hastened each seeker to
the altar, while simultaneously body blocking them from falling to the ground
in a full pranam, which would have been undesirable because it delayed the
forward progress of the multitude, while also placing pranam-ers at risk to be
trampled underfoot by other devotees.
I don¹t know exactly why this springs to mind now except that it wasn¹t that
easy a job and in retrospect, I wish I¹d just let them do their thing, rather
than buy in to the sense that something ³needed to be done...²
Alison
Hi all,
Those who have read this set of guidelines below will notice there is a new
addition at the bottom
I am instituting a moderation feature that is a standard part of many
discussion boards, but which I had previously thought CT could do without.
However I feel uncertain of this now. I have just seen another group I
belong to go under because of spammers and this group is now becoming quite
big with over 500 members. Therefore it is more vulnerable and so am putting
this into place to safeguard CT. The moderation function. will keep a watch
over the discussion threads to make certain that that the spirit of the
guidelines that have kept CT an open, pleasurable place for discussion is
not lost.
Examination of the guidelines reveals that they address process much more
than content. i.e. being respectful towards each other and not using CT to
try to organise events etc to minimize political posturing and power plays.
The moderation is there to decrease the likelihood of the discussion being
pulled into agendas outside of ConstellationTalk's mandate which is:
This group is designed to support and encourage each other in our
Constellation practice; that practice was initially developed in this form
by Bert Hellinger and continues to be developed in different ways by
practitioners around the world.
Support and encouragement come about via:
_____1. Connection with Each Other through Conversation
_____2. Deepening of a Shared Understanding through Mutual Exploration
Discussions intended to create other outcomes do not belong here on
ConstellationTalk. I am not making any judgments about the validity of the
positions anyone may have or wish to espouse. I am, though, taking a stand
on the "how" of the process and on the definition of the ConstellationTalk
process itself.
The guidelines are:
1. Maintain Client Confidentiality
2. Communicate Respectfully
3. When speaking to the group actually speak to the group
Please don't include the group in Bulk mailout lists.
It is more respectful if attachments and flyers are accompanied with an
explanation as to how they are relevant to the group.
4. To maintain our integrity especially when talking about ourselves
Self promotion, including promotion of associates and friends, should be
both honest and modest in both amount and style.
5. Do not try to use forum to organise or promote events or activities.
Although it is reasonable to refer to them in the course of conversation.
This rule supports ConstellationTalk as a conversational forum. It protects
the group from too many irrelevant emails as well as from political
posturing and power plays.
6. You can send an email requesting info re practitioners, workshops or
trainings. You must however include your own email at the end of your
message and a request to answer privately.
Guideline 2 and Guideline 5 have been particularly in preserving a safe
environment for conversation over the last 5 years
The practicalities of this process of moderation are:
All new members will go on moderation for a period of 3 months. Others will
be put on moderation when they are having trouble following the guidelines.
This will be kept confidential unless the person in question requests the
group be notified. When a moderated member sends an email to the group it
goes into quarantine waiting for me to review it. If the message falls
within the guidelines I will post it unaltered. Otherwise I will let the
moderated person know what has happened with their email .
What I am hoping to protect with this measure is the possibility of this
place, ConstellationTalk, being one where the hopeful, the poignant, the
educational, and the innovative all have a home. A home in which they do not
need to be concerned about being bruised by the disrespectful, the
political, and so on. I hope the addition of moderation does not lessen your
presence and if you would like to let me know about your response to this
action, please do so. If the responses meet the Guidelines, please use CT,
if not email me privately.
hasta la vista
Chris Walsh
Melbourne, Australia
webpage: <http://www.cwalsh.com.au> www.cwalsh.com.au
From: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of Chris Walsh
Sent: Thursday, 11 December 2008 5:38 PM
To: CTalk
Subject: [ConstellationTalk] C.Talk Guidelines
This group is designed to support and encourage each other in the
Constellation Practice which was initially developed by Bert Hellinger and
continues to be developed by practitioners around the world.
via:
_____1. Connection through Conversation
_____2. Deepening of Understanding through Mutual Exploration
So Kick back, relax and have a nice chat!
We aim to do this with:
__________- respect for others
__________- respect for the group
__________- respect for our own integrity
COMMUNICATION GUIDELINES
These principles are designed to create a safe friendly environment in which
we can mutually support each other
Subscribing to this group implies an acceptance of these principles.
1. Maintain Client Confidentiality
2. Communicate Respectfully
3. When speaking to the group actually speak to the group
Please don't include the group in Bulk mailout lists.
It is more respectful if attachments and flyers are accompanied with an
explanation as to how they are relevant to the group.
4. To maintain our integrity especially when talking about ourselves
Self promotion, including promotion of associates and friends, should be
both honest and modest in both amount and style.
5. Do not try to use forum to organise or promote events or activities.
Although it is reasonable to refer to them in the course of conversation.
This rule supports ConstellationTalk as a conversational forum. It protects
the group from too many irrelevant emails as well as from political
posturing and power plays.
6. You can send an email requesting info re practitioners, workshops or
trainings. You must however include your own email at the end of your
message and a request to answer privately.
So relax enjoy yourself don't be shy to contribute!
The moderator deals with most innappropriate posts behind the scenes
discretely with private emails. Public ones are only sent when it is clear
that the whole
group needs to know. If you are concerned that a procedural issue is not
being adddressed you can email Chris Walsh(the moderator) privately at
info@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:info%40cwalsh.com.au>
<mailto:info%40cwalsh.com.au>
New members' emails will be reviewed by the moderator before posting. For
the protection of the group older members can also be placed on moderation
if necessary.
Start your day with Yahoo!7 and win a Sony Bravia TV. Enter now
http://au.docs.yahoo.com/homepageset/?p1=other
<http://au.docs.yahoo.com/homepageset/?p1=other&p2=au&p3=tagline
<http://au.docs.yahoo.com/homepageset/?p1=other&p2=au&p3=tagline>
<http://au.docs.yahoo.com/homepageset/?p1=other&p2=au&p3=tagline ;> >
&p2=au&p3=tagline
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Other related posts:
