NSW LearnScope Blog & Podcast

Years ago, in a previous life, I acted as contact point for staff and clients with complaints/ issues relating to harassment etc. It was a pretty challenging role back in the days of labour market programs in a small regional town. The issue of bullying was discussed in PD training and the key message was that what constitutes ‘bullying’ is in the eyes of the victim and any determination of an instance of bullying stops there. It has been a useful lesson when dealing with people who pass off their taunts and slangs as ‘just a bit of fun’ or who accuse their victims of being ‘soft’ or ‘weak’.

Today much of our workplace communication is conducted online and these virtual contexts add a new dimension, although issues of safety and harassment remain the same. Hidden behind keyboards we lack immediate tangible feedback on the implications of our words on others, and at a distance we can often escape the consequences.

Of course the level of abuse and flaming is far greater in public spaces such as YouTube; some people like to play with fire, after all, it’s powerful being a jerk online. As individuals we can choose whether or not to engage in those spaces – it’s that easy. Increasingly however, interaction in online spaces is a core component of our work and a requirement of projects such as LearnScope.

There have been instances in community spaces lately where there has certainly been what I, personally, would label as inappropriate, irresponsible, stupid and just plain rude behaviour including intimidation and threats. These instances certainly held the potential for individuals in the firing line to feel bullied and intimidated.

[image by Simone Merli]

I’ve been strengthened by the wisdom of many colleagues communicating in the background to both support the victims who speak of a “grey fog of fear” and to seek solutions. For me it has led to a long week of pondering about what this means for NSW LearnScope as we approach the launch of our teams for 2007.

Its uncanny how ‘helping hands’ appear at times when most needed. On Saturday a book entitled “The No Asshole Rule: building a civilised workplace and surviving one that isn’t” (Sutton; 2007) jumped into my hands in a favourite bookstore at The Rocks.

It’s a good read. These are the seven key lessons outlined in the conclusion:
1. a few demeaning creeps can overwhelm the warm feelings generated by hoards of civilised people
2. talking about the rule is nice but following up on it is what really matters
3. the rule lives – or dies – in the little moments – treat the person right in front of you, right now, in the right way
4. don’t keep a few assholes around – they breed like rabbits; their poison quickly infects others
5. enforcing the no asshole rule isn’t just management’s job
6. embarrassment and pride are powerful motivators
7. assholes are us – ‘the most powerful single step you can take is to follow ‘da Vinci’s rule’ and just stay away from nasty people and places - ‘defy the temptation to work with a swarm of assholes’ (pp 157 – 162)

In 2007 participants of NSW LearnScope will be required to share, converse and collaborate via our blog (comments), the wiki and their own connected spaces. Those spaces operate much like a virtual extension of workplaces as team members actively engage in workbased learning. As NSW LearnScope Manager and ‘facilitator’ of at least some of the spaces used I accept a level of ‘duty of care’ towards participants. Therefore, it is important for me to articulate the purpose, scope and audience for those spaces.

The NSW LearnScope spaces are designed to support and encourage inquiry and collaboration. Our members include beginners and novices who are just trying to feel their way in the online world. We value respect, compassion, insight, opinions, diversity and presence.

Our philosophy is one of community ownership and empowerment. We will not tolerate bullies. As Michael Coghlan recently said, we need to take care in the spaces: ‘take care of our words and take care of each other’. In order to achieve that I feel we need some form of, in want of a better term, ‘guiding philosophy’ and ‘code of conduct’.

It is however against our philosophy to impose this. We will therefore ask the NSW LearnScope community to not only design how this might look but to enforce it. The community will set the guidelines, decide when they have been transgressed, and decide on necessary actions. We’ll be looking for leadership here as ‘a shared or distributed practice; a dynamic and multidirectional social process’ (Sinclair 2007 - p. 31).

As Sutton (p.155) reminds us, our lives are too short and too precious to spend our days surrounded by jerks.
His message is strong but reflects what many are currently feeling…
….your enemies are silent (for now) but the list keeps growing. Your demeaning actions mean that day after day you turn more people against you, and you don’t realise it. Your enemies don’t have the power to trash you right now, but are laying in wait to drive you out. (p.154)

Alex and I look forward to many critical, constructive conversations with you in the coming months.