Conversare – a way of engaging with each other worth paying attention to
Hello again …
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Whoa!! Whenever someone says to me ‘Take care’ I respond ‘Take risks!’ Most say ‘I like that!!’ Likely as it’s a nice reminder that we have to do this if we are to achieve anything worthwhile. What about making a commitment with a partner – in life and in business? Risky matters indeed.
Which leads me to say that new developments are ‘on the wind’ regarding the future of Conversare. Which started in Hong Kong about a decade ago and has been held also in many other parts of Asia, the UK and the USA (See Conversare in America). Plus in several venues in Adelaide, Australia.
Previous participants and followers of the blog will appreciate that it is a novel way of enabling anyone who wishes to come along and enjoy lively conversation over a fine meal.
See for Comments on their experience. With perhaps the most insightful from a participant in an event in a ‘far off’ place – Padang in West Sumatra in Indonesia:
“Simple and deep, a spiritual adventure”
Does this capture for you an essence of engaging with others purely to explore how someone else – in this case a dinner partner – experiences life?
Developments now being considered after a substantial review of events here in Adelaide to date – and looking to the future – among my colleagues and previous participants are:
- There needs to be an opportunity to follow up for participants to choose if they wish.
. One is a short course on Conversational Skills. This is to extend the insights gained on how to engage confidently in conversation with both those who they don’t’ – and do already – know.
This course will be offered in by professional people who already do this. And will be conducted in venues in which this kind of skills training is currently done.
. Another is to have informal social gatherings of previous participants in diverse places Which happened in Hong Kong where Conversare was invented.
But has not been a feature anywhere else, yet.
This could appeal strongly to people who enjoy their Conversare experience and like the prospect of followup meeting with others who have also participated in these events.
- Looking to build on what has already been accomplished – and learned – regarding this unique and ‘wholesome’ way of socialising in public spaces
We see the need to have two ways of bringing attention to the events. Along with social media.
. One is for people who are engaged in staging the events’, viz managers of public spaces where events may be held. Among these are cafes, hotels and places set aside in shopping malls. For there could be ‘remarkable’ opportunities to extend the use of such facilities by enabling people ie members of the public, to talk to each other. Imagine that!!
And to professionals who do the hosting. I am well acquainted with people who are skilled facilitators and who enable organisations of many kinds to address complex issues. What if they adapted their skills to enable people – anyone who comes along to events in public places – to engage well with each other??
Also health care professionals such as social workers who appreciate the substantial potential value of this way of addressing loneliness. See http://conversare.net/conversare-a-new-way-to-address-loneliness-through-socialising-in-public-places/
This will likely be done through the existing blog site. www.conversare.net
. The second is for members of the public to alert them to the existence and potential personal value of this novel kind of socialising. And to outline opportunities and benefits of participation.
Possibly through a new blog site. www.conversarecafe.net currently under consideration.
For a bit of fun listen to this little song composed and sung by my great friends Lloyd and Cate:
http://www.biosong.org/The%20Conversing%20Cafe.mp3
- Student participation
What about encouraging tertiary students to participate? Of disciplines such as social work and health care. Partly to experience a way of being together which they will not have come across previously. Also to give them a sense that learning how to host the events could become integral to their future careers.
To conclude, for now …
Conversare may come to be recognised as an idea at the core of the future of our humanity. For could it be seen as a ‘wholesome’ and enjoyable way to meet and converse with each other. Simple too to set up by people – professionals and operators of public places – who appreciate that here is a wonderful way to adapt their skills and/or venues for worthwhile purposes.
And yet there are other concerns which occupy people’s attention nowadays. Among these being climate change matters.
What if we bear this in mind?
‘Technology will not save us from climate change – but imagining new forms of society will.’
Could socialising in the way described and developed in these posts over the past decade be a contribution to imagining – and practising – new ways of engaging with each other? Through having experienced, and likely greatly appreciated, an opportunity to engage with others respectfully and well – no matter who they were – for starters.
Looking forward
Al
Al (formerly Alan) Stewart, PhD
Process Artist
Facilitator of conversations that matter and participatory fun
Senior Fulbright Scholar
Blog: www.conversare.net
Member: American Society for Cybernetics
Member: National Trouble Makers Union <smile>
Residence: Adelaide, South Australia, since 1975
With time away in the USA (1981) and Hong Kong (2005-2011)
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“Whenever we treat each other well good things happen.”
Al Stewart
Be yourself. And be it well.
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