Comments on: The Public Sphere http://www.acidlabs.org/2009/06/22/the-public-sphere/ Conversation. Collaboration. Community. Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:58:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sally Rosehttp://www.acidlabs.org/2009/06/22/the-public-sphere/comment-page-1/#comment-21411 Sally Rose Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:22:11 +0000 http://www.acidlabs.org/?p=1954#comment-21411 Hi Sarah Thanks for your honesty about how difficult you found it to ask questions on the day. You should never feel like you will sound stupid asking a question. Don't forget that most of the people who are comfortable with the 2.0 don't understand the intricaies of your job. I'm sure anyone who spoke on the day would love to hear from you again to talk more. Cheers Sally 02 8303 2420 srose@openforum.com.au Hi Sarah
Thanks for your honesty about how difficult you found it to ask questions on the day.
You should never feel like you will sound stupid asking a question. Don’t forget that most of the people who are comfortable with the 2.0 don’t understand the intricaies of your job. I’m sure anyone who spoke on the day would love to hear from you again to talk more.
Cheers
Sally
02 8303 2420
srose@openforum.com.au

]]> By: Sarah Isaacsonhttp://www.acidlabs.org/2009/06/22/the-public-sphere/comment-page-1/#comment-21408 Sarah Isaacson Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:33:55 +0000 http://www.acidlabs.org/?p=1954#comment-21408 Regarding feedback: I was thinking that for some of us watching from afar, the time constraints may make it difficult to properly formulate questions (more so to do it in 125 characters or less). There was a massive amount of information presented today, and for those outside the room, no chance to bounce things off another peer to get an answer, or to test the waters, so to speak. As with speaking, it can be pretty intimidating to ask off-the-cuff in such a forum, particularly if one feels under-educated in a particular area, or that the answer may be "obvious" to those in the room. Without being there, that sense of being able to gauge room reaction is lost, so in some respects, that might be where outside participants are at a disadvantage.My own impression for most of today was that things were *very* fast-paced, which meant that although I had questions, they were of a nature that I felt some of them would be better to follow up later (maybe even after some further reading), or were forgotten in the deluge of information. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be alone in this.The pace of presentations to my mind meant that I wasn't going to ask a question unless I was *very* sure it was relevant. There were also times I was reluctant to ask something knowing that many of the people present/watching would (or may) already know the answer. While asking the question might benefit me if I get an answer straight away, I'm fairly aware that it isn't going to benefit the majority of the participants (and as well I might end up looking silly as a result, which I acknowledge is my own fear, so I have something in common with those reluctant to engage in that sense).Of course if you're not there at the event, it also makes it more difficult to focus 100% - in my case I had phone calls, a heap of stuff going on since we're moving house and a very active two year old to distract me. :o) Regarding feedback: I was thinking that for some of us watching from afar, the time constraints may make it difficult to properly formulate questions (more so to do it in 125 characters or less). There was a massive amount of information presented today, and for those outside the room, no chance to bounce things off another peer to get an answer, or to test the waters, so to speak. As with speaking, it can be pretty intimidating to ask off-the-cuff in such a forum, particularly if one feels under-educated in a particular area, or that the answer may be “obvious” to those in the room. Without being there, that sense of being able to gauge room reaction is lost, so in some respects, that might be where outside participants are at a disadvantage.

My own impression for most of today was that things were *very* fast-paced, which meant that although I had questions, they were of a nature that I felt some of them would be better to follow up later (maybe even after some further reading), or were forgotten in the deluge of information. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be alone in this.

The pace of presentations to my mind meant that I wasn’t going to ask a question unless I was *very* sure it was relevant. There were also times I was reluctant to ask something knowing that many of the people present/watching would (or may) already know the answer. While asking the question might benefit me if I get an answer straight away, I’m fairly aware that it isn’t going to benefit the majority of the participants (and as well I might end up looking silly as a result, which I acknowledge is my own fear, so I have something in common with those reluctant to engage in that sense).

Of course if you’re not there at the event, it also makes it more difficult to focus 100% – in my case I had phone calls, a heap of stuff going on since we’re moving house and a very active two year old to distract me. :o )

]]> By: Stephen Collinshttp://www.acidlabs.org/2009/06/22/the-public-sphere/comment-page-1/#comment-21404 Stephen Collins Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:19:34 +0000 http://www.acidlabs.org/?p=1954#comment-21404 Wholeheartedly agree, Sally. There is a new focus now that more of us are aware and passionate. The Taskforce risks irrelevance and giving of bad advice (as per my talk yesterday) if they don't reach out and listen online to those of us doing work in Government 2.0.And thanks for the support on the Taskforce blog. Appreciated. Wholeheartedly agree, Sally. There is a new focus now that more of us are aware and passionate. The Taskforce risks irrelevance and giving of bad advice (as per my talk yesterday) if they don’t reach out and listen online to those of us doing work in Government 2.0.

And thanks for the support on the Taskforce blog. Appreciated.

]]> By: Sally Rosehttp://www.acidlabs.org/2009/06/22/the-public-sphere/comment-page-1/#comment-21403 Sally Rose Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:15:48 +0000 http://www.acidlabs.org/?p=1954#comment-21403 It will be interesting to see what the taskforce understands by Gov 2.0. Although public consultations have been the basis of the 3 AGIMO online government trials whcih have preceeded this announcement the focus seems to have now shifted. It will be interesting to see what the taskforce understands by Gov 2.0. Although public consultations have been the basis of the 3 AGIMO online government trials whcih have preceeded this announcement the focus seems to have now shifted.

]]> By: Rae Buercknerhttp://www.acidlabs.org/2009/06/22/the-public-sphere/comment-page-1/#comment-21402 Rae Buerckner Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:16:38 +0000 http://www.acidlabs.org/?p=1954#comment-21402 Steve,Great post! I am planning on writing a post today which will include my thoughts on the lack of questions, I have had a very long think about that today. Will let you know when it's done.R Steve,

Great post! I am planning on writing a post today which will include my thoughts on the lack of questions, I have had a very long think about that today. Will let you know when it’s done.

R

]]> By: Michael Manninghttp://www.acidlabs.org/2009/06/22/the-public-sphere/comment-page-1/#comment-21399 Michael Manning Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:23:36 +0000 http://www.acidlabs.org/?p=1954#comment-21399 Steve,I agree that the day was a great success and hope that the snippets of understanding and taskforce initiative from the government into open discussion and policy development turn into real progress.On questions from the gallery...I think that some part may be attributable to the volume of information presented, but from some discussions I had with other peers in the room it appeared that most where on the same page already and facing the same community *fear*, a point which you made :) and hence had few questions, but were just happy that the tides may be finally turning at the Gov level.I will definitely be taking a lot of the view points expressed today and arguments for open discussion back to the office and using the government as a great example of how this medium of involvement has to be embraced.Looking forward to the next #publicsphere and will definitely be promoting these events to others in the future.Cheers :) Steve,

I agree that the day was a great success and hope that the snippets of understanding and taskforce initiative from the government into open discussion and policy development turn into real progress.

On questions from the gallery…I think that some part may be attributable to the volume of information presented, but from some discussions I had with other peers in the room it appeared that most where on the same page already and facing the same community *fear*, a point which you made :) and hence had few questions, but were just happy that the tides may be finally turning at the Gov level.

I will definitely be taking a lot of the view points expressed today and arguments for open discussion back to the office and using the government as a great example of how this medium of involvement has to be embraced.

Looking forward to the next #publicsphere and will definitely be promoting these events to others in the future.

Cheers :)

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