- 1. Crosstopia
- π‘ Start: Gather ICs and INs.
- π£ Origin stories of the above
- πΈοΈ Patterns in the Origin Stories?
- 2. A Crash Course in Structural Features
- 3. Crosstopia, Redux
- Look again at the origin stories. Could you change structural features to make the INs and ICs not seem as important?
- 4. Salvage
- 5. Putting this in Context
- 6. Homework
- Old Stuff
- π₯ Tracing Expectations from Structural Features
- Structural Features generate norms
1. Crosstopia
π‘ Start: Gather ICs and INs.
Let's' gather some Ideological Commitments
In these trying times, many of us need to work to be more...
And internalized norms:
To be a good {man/human being/<other role you have>}, I must be ...
I'm a failure unless I'm ...
π£ Origin stories of the above
For each of the above, find the origin storyβthe system you were in when you realized that being this way was important.
πΈοΈ Patterns in the Origin Stories?
DISCUSS
2. A Crash Course in Structural Features
Let's think about a few situations you might have been in and name the structural features of those contexts.
Take ten minutes to think through the four situations beneath. For each situation, try to list all of the structural features you notice. Afterward, click the toggle below each photo and look at the filled-in sheet.
Some of these situations can take on many forms. We made a judgment call of what we think is right. Don't worry if some of your answers are slightly different to ours.
Remember, this list isn't comprehensive, there will likely be many specific and structural features that aren't on this list.
What structural features characterise a dinner with friends?
What structural features characterise a team meeting?
What structural features characterise a poetry reading?
What structural features characterise facebook newsfeed?
Size: Why is the size Unclear - Each time we post we are unclear of how many people will engage with my post. The oposite to this is organising a dinner and putting th cap on the number of people to 10
Loyalty: Why is loyalty Transient - Most users on facebook are only opening their app for a quick check.
Pretext: Why is the prestext Shared Topic - Usualy we are reacting to posts and orienting our discussion our that topic
3. Crosstopia, Redux
Look again at the origin stories. Could you change structural features to make the INs and ICs not seem as important?
And then we look at the structural features list. And we see what the structural features are that origin story where. And if any particular change would have made them unnecessary.
4. Salvage
Another game idea is salvage 2.0, in which we invent a minor hell around and talk about how different structural features would shift it. I think these will work well. And I think they're great. It's good material. Daniel feel good about remaining question is how to get him to learn the structural features. And I think the right approach is just to have him the right approach would be to have lots of examples to have him guess and check his work. Just. I can just have him take 10 minutes to evaluate those several different settings, in which he can ask me questions.
Let's play Salvage!
How to Play. Someone tells a story about a time when one of their values was suppressed by the situation. This could be a "minor hell realm", such as waiting in line at the grocery store, an awkward family dinner, etc. They say which value was suppressed in the hell realm. Others in the group try to name structural features which, had they been changed, would have made it possible to live by the value, and how they might have gone about changing the structural feature.
5. Putting this in Context
To understand this, look at the diagram beneath. If you look at step 2 in our redesign method, structural features interact with values in two ways:
- They make hard steps harder (or easier)
- They drive the evolution of Expectation and goals which crowd out values
You've identified structural features and traced emerging norms and expectations to them. Now we'll analyze a recent meaningless time that you had. One that felt empty, pointless, or shitty. Try this with yourself by following the instructions below. If you have time later, interview someone using
Recall a meaningless time. Try and visualise the moment. Remember who were you with. What were their roles? What were you doing? What space are you in? What emotions did you feel or do you feel now as you remember? Maybe even retell the story out loud... paraphrase the story in box below.
Tell us about your meaningless time in this box... and then add relevant structural features.
Look at the story again and list the βStructural Features in the same box.
Using β£οΈEmotions to Values, articulate the value that was being suppressed
Emotion:
Immediate Cause:
Value was/needed to be:
What's worth protecting?
What way of living is blocked?
What way of being has no space here?
Take Notes:
What's worth protecting?
What way of living is blocked?
What way of being is not safe to emerge?
Take Notes:
What's worth protecting?
What way of living is blocked?
What way of being is not safe to emerge?
Take Notes:
What's worth protecting?
What way of living is threatened?
What way of being can you not bear to give up on?
Take Notes:
What's worth protecting?
What way of living is threatened?
What way of being can you not bear to give up on?
Take Notes:
What's worth protecting?
What way of living is threatened?
Take Notes:
What's worth recovering?
What way of living is overridden?
What value did you fail to live by?
Take Notes:
What's worth recovering?
What way of living did you neglect?
Take Notes:
What's worth recovering?
What way of living did you neglect?
What did you fail to prioritise?
Take Notes:
What's worth recovering?
What way of living did you give up on?
What do you no longer trust yourself with?
Take Notes:
What's worth honoring?
What way of living is lost for now?
What way of living has become impossible?
Take Notes:
What is worth protecting?
What way of living is violated?
Take Notes:
What's worth recovering?
What way of living is estranged?
Take Notes:
What is worth protecting?
What way of living is violated?
Take Notes:
What is worth protecting?
What way of living is violated?
Take Notes:
What's worth honoring?
What way of living is lost for now?
What way of living has become impossible?
Take Notes:
What's worth honoring?
What way of living is lost for now?
What way of living has become impossible?
Take Notes:
What's worth honoring?
What way of living is lost for now?
What way of living has become impossible?
Take Notes:
What's worth recentering around?
What way of living is out of focus?
What way of living do you not know how to bring to this?
What ways of living seem to be in conflict with each other?
Take Notes:
What's worth recentering around?
What way of living is out of focus?
What way of living do you not know how to bring to this?
What ways of living seem to be in conflict with each other?
Take Notes:
What's worth nurturing?
What way of living is unsafe to emerge?
What's worth identifying?
What way of living would allow the above emerge?
Take Notes:
What's worth nurturing?
What way of living is unsafe to emerge?
What's worth identifying?
What way of living would allow the above emerge?
Take Notes:
What's worth nurturing?
What way of living is unsafe to emerge?
What's worth identifying?
What way of living would allow the above emerge?
Take Notes:
What's worth nurturing?
What way of living is unsafe to emerge?
What's worth identifying?
What way of living would allow the above emerge?
Take Notes:
What's worth demoting?
What way of living doesn't make sense anymore?
What's worth embracing?
What way of living will save the above?
Take Notes:
What's worth nurturing?
What way of living seems impossible?
Take Notes:
What's worth nurturing?
What way of living seems impossible?
Take Notes:
What's worth nurturing?
What way of living seems impossible?
Take Notes:
What's worth nurturing?
What way of living seems impossible?
Take Notes:
Take Notes:
What's worth nurturing?
What way of living seems impossible?
Take Notes:
Change the Story, Get More Stories, Take a New Perspective:
Values can get crowded out by internalized expectations. If you notice a negative self-image, perform a Self-Image Flip by asking them what the positive reversal of that would be.
Example: I just felt so weak in that moment...
What is your strong self like? How does that self (approach things/treat people/act/keep things/live life)?
Example: I'm completely incompetent...
What would it look like for you to be capable? How would you be able to (approach things/treat people/act/keep things/live life)?
Values can also get crowded out by external factors. In that case, find a question by performing a System Fix β getting rid of the problem.
Example: I was scared to say anything because I might lose my job.
How would you have been able to (approach things/treat people/act/keep things/live life) if you knew that you couldn't lose your job?
Example: The deadline was coming up, and I was just getting more and more frustrated...
How would you have been able to (approach things/treat people/act/keep things/live life) if you knew that you had all the time you needed?
Sometimes people have trouble seeing that their values aren't tied to the specifics of one story. In that case, find a question that invites them to think about similar Bad Times or Better Times.
Example (Bad Times): I just got so frustrated by the whole thing.
Are there other times that you have been frustrated like that? What way of (approaching things/treating people/acting/ keeping things/living life) seems blocked in those moments?
Example (Better Times): I felt like it didn't even matter if I was there.
Can you think of a time when it seemed like it mattered that you were there? What was different? How were you able to (approach things/act/treat people/keep things)?
You want to make sure that you don't only see your own personal value in another person's story. But saying what that value means for you can give them something to push against.
Example (Self-Reference): I guess it's a kind of authenticity.
When I'm being authentic, it's about sharing my feelings in a way that immediately resonates in my body. Is it like that for you too, or is it something else?
Sometimes people haven't reflected on their story before (or maybe they aren't very self-reflected in general). In that case, ask them for some Advice they would give themselves.
Example: It was all just so hopeless...
What advice would you give to yourself in that situation if you could go back? What way of (approaching things/treating people/acting/ keeping things/living life) would be important to remember?
Sometimes people's more easily recognize values they Admire or Appreciate in others.
Example: ...and then I just felt horrible about the whole thing...
Can you think of a person who would have handled that situation really well? How would they have (approached things/acted/treated people/kept things)? [CAREFUL: you might get an image they are pressuring themselves with here. If so, bring it back to a value or use another move.]
Reggie Luedtke came up with this. I'm not exactly sure why it works, but it's got a pretty solid track record. What wasn't being loved/is worth loving in this situation?
Example: ...and then I just felt horrible about the whole thing...
What would it look like if love would have been guiding your choices? How would you have been (approaching things/ treating people / acting / keeping things)? Alternately: What's worth loving in this situation?
Outline the story again, but from the outside... as if it were about someone else. How is that person having trouble (treating people/acting/approaching things/keeping things)?
Go through the Values Gauntlet and make sure it is a π³ Pure, Articulated Personal Value
...treat people with ...act ...approach things ...keep things
Begin by
Find a word or short phrase that captures your value (a way of being). Write it down:
Using the word above, answer these questions one at a time. (slowly works best)
1) To seem this way to others, I've been:
2) But on my own terms, being this way means being:
3) And people I admire for being this way inspire me because they are:
How would you name your value now?
Use your answers to 2) and/or 3). Write it here:
approaching things ___, treating people ___, acting ___, keeping things ___, living life __
Then continue by
asking these questions to make sure you have a "pure value".
Note: your value might already be spot on. If so, you don't need to answer the questions.
- Would it still be worth doing independent of the outcome? If so, continue to the next bullet point. If not, it's a goal or fear! Take notes below.
- Would it still be worth doing if no one knew you did it? If so, continue to the next question. If not, it's a social norm. Take notes below.
- Do you believe you could still be a good person even if you failed to be this way? If so, continue to the next question. If not, it's an internalized social norm. Take notes below.
- Would it still be worth being this way if no one else ever joined in? If so, (after all the questions above) it's probably a value! If not, itβs an ideological commitment. Take notes below.
"How would I want to approach things/treat people/etc. if I couldn't affect the outcome?"
"How would I want to approach things/treat people/etc. if no one noticed?"
"How would I want to approach things/treat people/etc. if there were no rules?"
"How would I want to approach things/treat people/etc. if I couldn't influence anyone?
Use any relevant answers to write out your value below.
Note: your value might already be spot on. If so, you don't need to answer the questions.
Personal Value:
Is your value "clear"? If not, answer these questions:
When you manage to live by your personal value, what are you noticing? What specific aspects of the situation should your personal value phrase bring into the foreground?
Use that information to rephrase your value in non-poetic terms that anyone could understand:
approach things _____, treat people _____, act (with) _____, keep things _____, live life ______
Better Formulation of a value around "how to be while criticizing people"
When you manage to live by your value, what are you noticing? What specific aspects of the situation should your value phrase bring into the foreground?
What I notice, and need to foreground: That we're both human beings, and that I make mistakes all the time, and that I often don't handle things the way I would have wanted to
How would you tell an actor to be in a scene where they make choices based on that?
Personal Value: approach other people's faults with humility and compassion, relate to them in a way that is deeply mindful of your own imperfections
Is your value "awareness-guiding"? If not, ask these questions:
Where should you direct your attention in order to live by this personal value?
Use that information to rephrase your personal value and make those things stand out:
approach things _____, treat people _____, act (with) _____, keep things _____, live life ______
Better Formulation of a value around "how to be while receiving criticism"
I need to figure out where to direct my attention. Not what to do, but how is it important to be when people are criticizing me.
Where should you direct your attention in order to live by this personal value?: Stay open to connection. Trust the person behind the mirror that they are holding up to me.
Rephrase the personal value to make those things stand out:
Personal Value: connect fearlessly, don't lose touch with the person and the relationship, even when you don't want to see what they are showing you.
Is your value an "improvisational directive"? If not, ask these questions:
How would you tell an actor to approach a scene in which she lives by your personal value?
Use that information to rephrase your personal value to be more about how to proceed:
approach things _____, treat people _____, act (with) _____, keep things _____, live life ______
Better Formulation of a value around "how I want to treat my friends in tough times"
How would you tell an actor to approach a scene in which she lives by your personal value?: Think outside the box, and find solutions that could arise from collective efforts that wouldn't have been available to any one of you alone
Rephrase your personal value to be more about how to proceed:
Personal Value: keep things creative when friends are facing hardships, address problems collectively, draw on the wealth of your communal talents
You articulated your value and thought through relevant aspects of the environment. Now is the time to figure out why it was difficult to live by your value. Ask yourself if the value was crowded out β whether it was difficult to live by because considerations of strategy or social pressure became paramount. And then think through the structural features responsible β and come up with ways to fix what was wrong.
Step 1
For each non-value (goal, expectation) you find, generate a new template by clicking on the + grey button beneath.
Write the non-value in the first grey box. List the structural features that generate that goal or expectation in the second grey box. Do this again for all the major goals and expectations that crowd out your value.
What norm / expectation / goal / ideological commitment do you notice here?
Many ideologies; 'Flaming' with a tendency to defend or support others in your own "tribe"
From what structural features does this non-value emerge?
Stakes - Low Timing - Off the cuff Connectivity - In pairs Feedback - Like follow, wow, Sadface e.t.c
Which structural features can you change to make it possible to live by the value, and how they might you go about changing the structural feature.
Feedback - Remove Feedback / Change Feedback from simple 'Like' to 'This changed my mind' or 'This challenged my initial opinion' Perhaps a Timing - Contemplative - People can only update their posts once every week and are guided through a series of guiding questions questions
Structural Feature
Audience β Size: Large
Structural Feature (salvaged)
Make it an intimate group setting
What norm / expectation / goal / ideological commitment do you notice here?
Be professional! It's hard to dress creatively when you are worried about fitting in at work.
From what structural features does this non-value emerge?
Status - Ranked Relational Depth - Acquaintances Stakes - Medium
Salvage: How can you change this Structural Feature to change the non-value to support the value.
What norm / expectation / goal / ideological commitment do you notice here?
Closing a deal seems more important than being honest.
From what structural features does this non-value emerge?
Time Together - Brief Pretext - Many goals Pace - Reactive Loyalty - transient
Salvage: How can you change this Structural Feature to change the non-value to support the value.
Step 2
When you have done this for all the goals and expectations, open the toggle which says 'β Click here on your second pass'
Find a salvage that supports the value you are designing for, and then write out how the meaningless time would be different. Check out the examples above if you're stuck
Your turn!
π₯ Example: Political debate on Facebook
Mark Zuckerberg recently promoted that Facebook is a place for free expression. A place where we can come together to engage in political debate. A place to get clear on why we go to war, campaign for equality, and debate about our human rights e.t.c.
Nathan and Serge both found this difficult to agree with as they both have had negative emotions come up when they've tried to engage in political debate on Facebook newsfeed.
Have you ever experienced ad-hominem attacks, flame wars, racial discrimination or un-supported claims when engaging in the big conversations on Facebook?
We had to look into this further...
We did some emotions to values using our and came up with this value which was being blocked.
π³ Personal Value that was suppressed (way you couldn't be/approach things/treat people):
Open-mindedness - approaching conversation as an ongoing exploration, seeking out viewpoints that challenge my own, and deeply reflecting on how my view is evolving.
We then listed all the structural features of the Facebook news feed comments
And made a note of some of the expectation and goals that crowded out that our value.
ππ Expectations that suppressed the value (following social norms or promoting ideologies):
1) I need to come off as smart and informed (and think of myself as such)
Time Together - None
Audience - Unknown
Depth - Mixed/Aquaintances
2) Many ideologies; 'Flaming' with a tendency to defend or support others in your own "tribe"
Stakes - Low
Timing - Off the cuff
Connectivity - In pairs
Gestures - like, love, haha, wow, sad, angry β follow, don't show, block
Time Together - None
Depth - Mixed
π Goals and Fears that suppressed the value (strategies to get certain outcomes):
3) Running up points on the like button to like myself and be liked be others
Feedback - like, love, haha, wow, sad, angry β follow, don't show, block
Loyalty - Transient
We asked ourselves, do those overriding norms evolve because of some structural features?
And made a list of the top structural features that the norms evolve from
Click the grey toggle under each expectation and goal
Now it's your turn!
6. Homework
οΏΌοΏΌYour homework is as you walk around Maple to know itβs the structural features of environments and see what kinds womenβs norms other expectations the structural features are likely to give rise toοΏΌ
Old Stuff
π₯ Tracing Expectations from Structural Features
Structural Features generate norms
Let's look at the Social System of the Ted X Stage. Here, two Structural Features create the Expectation of Polished work:
- Audience Size: Big
- Durability: Permanent
- Stakes: High
Not many Ted X presenters walk up to the stage and 'wing it'. They know that their lecture will be permanently listed on Youtube and in podcasts. They also have to present in front of a large audience of people who are expecting a certain kind of delivery and quality in the presentation. The stakes are pretty high at larger Ted events. The audience has probably paid money to be there and don't want to be let down. The lecture will probably also have a lasting impact on the career of the presenter. They better not mess it up!
Social System:
Ted X Stage
Structural Feature:
Audience Size: Big Durability: Permanent Stakes: High
Expectation Generated:
Polished work
Social System:
Expectation Generated: