"I love that you've brought this to attention. An extensive database of uncommon but resistant and hardy plants/foods could be developed and organized by climate. Ease of growth and processing should also be taken in to account. I will try to…"
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Conflict In My EVOKE??
Accusations, attempts to game the system, and name calling have been finding their way into my EVOKE email box via mass mailings. I really thought that my fellow EVOKE agents would be above this sort of thing. In a game designed to bring people together to solve problems I find the idea of petty clique creation repulsive. Don't we have enough factions and cliques in the real world preventing the creation of solid, sustainable solutions to critical problems? The relationships we are building here are still fragile. They need time to grow and strengthen.
EVOKE, in my humble opinion, is about cooperation, collaboration, knowledge sharing, vision,... you know the powers that we are trying to develop so that we can solve serious real world problems. Sadly, as an anthropologist, I also know that once we get past a certain number of people in a group factions will develop. I had really hoped that these factions would be groups of people that could work together on a single problem of interest - food security, energy, climate, conservation, etc. (lots of groups working together are possible) And that these factions would be able to work together fluidly at greater scales, because ultimately the problems are connected.
I'm not saying that if someone is giving you crap you should just take it. Absolutely not! But please attempt to resolve this problem with the individual in question first privately before you mass email everyone. You may find that your difference of opinion, when you sit down to work it out, can develop into a productive relationship. Sometimes when people come at something from different perspectives they can create stronger solutions and generate really cool ideas. But this takes a lot of work.
If folks feel like they are being "cheated" they should first address these concerns privately to the person that is causing the problem. Then, if nothing changes gather your evidence and bring it to someone who can right the wrong without damaging the tenuous, yet potentially highly-productive, relationships we are building here -- someone like the EVOKE game developers/runners, or perhaps a mentor who can pass along the information. As an agent in this game, I cannot address or solve YOUR personal problems WITHOUT causing further division and faction-creating among players.
Take this as you will. I can't imagine that the network I am part of is the only one having issues. What do other folks think? Are you seeing any of this? Have you any thoughts? Do we need a conflict resolution group - some sort of EVOKE council? Actually, with all the working groups getting set up conflict within groups is bound to occur. Maybe having a couple of agents who are trained specifically in conflict resolution and group dynamics, and who are willing to drop in and help where necessary, might be worthwhile. These are just random thoughts before coffee. I'd love to hear from others.
Not twenty minutes after posting this I came across a blog post that highlights the conflict that I was getting in my emails. I am not going to link the pettiness unless folks really want me to. Suffice to say, reading the responses to the blog post one can see divisiveness forming in an ugly way.
EVOKE, in my humble opinion, is about cooperation, collaboration, knowledge sharing, vision,... you know the powers that we are trying to develop so that we can solve serious real world problems. Sadly, as an anthropologist, I also know that once we get past a certain number of people in a group factions will develop. I had really hoped that these factions would be groups of people that could work together on a single problem of interest - food security, energy, climate, conservation, etc. (lots of groups working together are possible) And that these factions would be able to work together fluidly at greater scales, because ultimately the problems are connected.
I'm not saying that if someone is giving you crap you should just take it. Absolutely not! But please attempt to resolve this problem with the individual in question first privately before you mass email everyone. You may find that your difference of opinion, when you sit down to work it out, can develop into a productive relationship. Sometimes when people come at something from different perspectives they can create stronger solutions and generate really cool ideas. But this takes a lot of work.
If folks feel like they are being "cheated" they should first address these concerns privately to the person that is causing the problem. Then, if nothing changes gather your evidence and bring it to someone who can right the wrong without damaging the tenuous, yet potentially highly-productive, relationships we are building here -- someone like the EVOKE game developers/runners, or perhaps a mentor who can pass along the information. As an agent in this game, I cannot address or solve YOUR personal problems WITHOUT causing further division and faction-creating among players.
Take this as you will. I can't imagine that the network I am part of is the only one having issues. What do other folks think? Are you seeing any of this? Have you any thoughts? Do we need a conflict resolution group - some sort of EVOKE council? Actually, with all the working groups getting set up conflict within groups is bound to occur. Maybe having a couple of agents who are trained specifically in conflict resolution and group dynamics, and who are willing to drop in and help where necessary, might be worthwhile. These are just random thoughts before coffee. I'd love to hear from others.
Not twenty minutes after posting this I came across a blog post that highlights the conflict that I was getting in my emails. I am not going to link the pettiness unless folks really want me to. Suffice to say, reading the responses to the blog post one can see divisiveness forming in an ugly way.
Views: 127
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Comment by Agent H on March 21, 2010 at 3:25pm
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Thanks for you post, Jen. I posted a blog about Communication which arose from similar observations.
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Comment by Lizo Tyali on March 21, 2010 at 3:30pm
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good work
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Comment by Claire Moylan on March 21, 2010 at 3:45pm
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The problem is structural, Jen. You just can't mix heterarchy and hierarchy together because hierarchy is competitive and heterarcy is cooperative. What you have is constant cheating, manipulation, and bullying to get the "cooperatives" to fall in line behind some great leader! The final structure of Evoke is a point system - hierarchy. If you're playing to that model, in my mind, you've already lost the game. You've pretty much shown everyone you are competitive, not cooperative. The two models just don't mix. The problem is also social conditioning, whereby most people here are students who have been graded all their lives on who has the best grade. Therefore, until you can beat that mindset in your own mind, you will always inadvertently support hierarchal systems, even when you are protesting against them. The problem is within everyone, in their own inability to look past the box they've been placed in and refuse to play that game. That's why when you build your own social groups, keep out those that are hierarchal in nature and you will have a better chance of succeeding with your group. It may not be the fuzzy feel-good vision of "being all-inclusive" but I find all-inclusiveness does not work in actual practice. You can accept everyone for who they are, but you don't necessarily have to work with or network with them or allow them to cause havoc in other people's lives.
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Comment by Bongumusa on March 21, 2010 at 4:03pm
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Thank. I like the facts that have been mentioned by Claire. Different between heterarchy and hierarchy. After they removed all my photos and they bring down my points, I was thinking they are trying fairness. But I noticed now. There is something going on here. People like Panamerican who can insult other ordinary citizens as Pigs, they are not suppose to play with us. Insult plus cheating, is something else. I am so confuse why they remove my points because they are many people who are doing the same. Guyz, don't ever speak about Ethics here, most of you, you are doing the same while at the same time you are acting as Honest and perfect members. What is the problem if I invite one member to join and vote for me? Unfairness and transparency is ruling our network game. They judge and listen according to who you are? what is your nationality? Your skin can speak a lot. All I am saying is true. If you can visit my profile, I have only 3 blogpost after such hardwork to prepare my work. I am sorry guyz, look at what is happening. It is not about points only, it is about my work that have been destroyed.
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Comment by Jen Shaffer on March 21, 2010 at 6:00pm
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@Claire - You've made a number of really good points. Heterarchy vs. hierarchy, social conditioning. I am not a gamer by nature, I am more interested in collaboration. This is why I see a lot of really neat networking potential in EVOKE. When I first started playing, I recognized the problems of the point system (which you articulated well). But once I started interacting with others I saw that many in the group were drawn to EVOKE not for the gaming aspect - they were actually interested in doing real work. And they are why I keep coming back to EVOKE. I have removed a couple of individuals from my friend list, and will continue to look for interesting folks that are interested in working with the group.
@Bogumusa - I would suggest that you take your concerns to the Help discussion. They will be able to best help you.
http://www.urgentevoke.com/forum/topics/official-help-forum-evoke
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Comment by Nick Heyming on March 21, 2010 at 7:43pm
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Thanks for the post Jen. People need to realize that the points are just for a game who's sole purpose is to inspire us to create. Everything I've seen of the grants and scholarships indicate that they're contingent on our successful Evokation.
The surest way to blow THAT is to alienate people on here. If we're going to Evoke something truly wonderful, we need to all be on the same team. Sure, we will use competitiveness and "market forces" to spur our horses and drive us to new heights, but that doesn't mean getting petty and whining to authority figures.
WE are the authority figures. What we create because of or outside of this 10 week exercise and the people we meet here is far more important that how many points we earn...
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Comment by Karen L. on March 21, 2010 at 7:57pm
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Well said Nick. Thank you for you post Jen.
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Comment by Calida DeBello on March 21, 2010 at 11:47pm
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Excellent post, Jen, and insightful analysis by Claire. I would quibble with Claire a tiny bit, however: it is certainly possible to mix heterarchy and hierarchy; I think it's successfully done all the time in human endeavors (business and academic structures?) Humans are naturally a blend of cooperation and competition – Nick summarized that situation quite well. It is a trick to get the mix right, however, I'll give you that.
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Comment by Patricio Buenrostro-Gilhuys on March 22, 2010 at 5:52am
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Jen I totally agree with you in "a couple of agents who are trained specifically in conflict resolution and group dynamics"
Claire is also so right- What mechanisms can we have to enhance more collaboration instead of competition? My guess is that at the end of this game collaboration will become more important.
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Comment by Jane McGonigal on March 22, 2010 at 6:04am
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I gave you +1 spark for this post and the discussion, which is really great and helpful. Without a doubt, points are just a small of the process, a way to congratulate others on their good work. The relationships, collaborations, the learning are key... and the Evokations will indeed be the real demonstration of what you have achieved in this game!
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