Sharing and building Solution Focused practice in organisations
Protesting or demanding? Tony Benn in Cheltenham
This Saturday the guest director was Ian Rankin (author of the Rebus series of detective novels set in Scotland), who was fascinated by the events of 1968 (when he, like me, was only 8 years of age). He presented a discussion with veteran socialist, campaigner and Cabinet Minister Tony Benn and activist Tariq Ali. Ali couldn't make it on the day and his place was taken by philosopher and all-round smart person AC Grayling.
Benn made a very interesting point during thius discussion which seems to me to have some SF relevance. He was asked about the impact of the protests at the time. "The thing about protests, I now see, is that once you are protesting you have already lost the arguement. What you have to do is DEMAND." He went on to say that demanding something meant that you were still in the fight, and hoped to have an influence. Protesting, on the other hand, implied that you dislike something that is happening - but have no other idea.
This was very striking for me. It seems quite in tune with SF ideas: the platform is 'what do you want?' and that's very different to 'what do you NOT want'. To hear Benn, a veteran protester over the years, come to this conclusion was very remarkable. Maybe there is hope yet. So, what are WE demanding? ;-)
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Comment by Mark McKergow on November 1, 2008 at 9:12
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Up for a fight - yes, I guess that's Tony Benn's way! ;-) Demand is rather strong - perhaps the idea is about being 'for' something rather than being 'against' something - particularly if the being against is tacitly accepting that the thing you don't want is happening anyway.
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Comment by Carole Waskett on October 27, 2008 at 17:48
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Oh yes, I see how the idea fits with SF. Though I wouldn't use the word 'demand' unless I was absolutely sure I was going to get what I wanted. I might 'request' or (perhaps better) state what I wanted. 'Demand' sounds like such a vigorous, harassing word, like being up for a fight, don't you think?
Interesting bloke, that Tony Benn.
All the best,
Carole
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Hi Carole
Not at all... I was making two points really. One was that there is an interesting difference between protesting and demanding, which seems analagous to the problem/solution focus difference. The other, quite separate, one was to wonder out loud what we are in favour of... No great significance really.
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Well, thank you Mark, that seems to make good sense. I don't feel as if I need to demand anything. I have been well taught first by BRIEF and then dozens of other practitioners I've been trained by or have worked with. I feel quite comfortable using the SFA - and experimenting with it too. I'm thankful and pleased to be able to use this great approach in many things that I do. I don't feel the need to either protest or demand anything to do with the approach.
or am I missing the point??
All the best,
Carole
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