Meaning of "Conversations the Matter"

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Permalink Reply by Beth Alexander on September 15, 2009 at 5:37pm

Originally posted by kenoli - May 19, 2008 in the Old Community Space:

Raffi -- Exciting exploration. For me it might lean in the direction of:

Conversations that engage
Conversations that feel compelling
Conversations with a quality of immediacy
Conversations that get my attention
Conversation that evoke a sense of meaningfulness

--Kenoli

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Permalink Reply by Beth Alexander on September 15, 2009 at 5:37pm

Originally posted by Amy Lenzo - May 19, 2008 in the Old Community Space:

Raffi,

I agree with Kenoli that this is a fascinating conversation. Thanks for asking this question and engaging us in exploring it!

Having a clear meaning for key terms is always crucial to new translations of the World Café work, and taking the opportunity to reflect on our understanding of them can yield useful insights at any time.

I think of conversations that matter as those conversations that really mean something to me, conversation about things that effect my life and "matter" in that deeply personal and profound sense.

I think of conversation that is compelling and capable of evoking my most thoughtful responses, conversation that has an impact on me and inspires me to go on to impact others.

Amy

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Permalink Reply by Beth Alexander on September 15, 2009 at 5:38pm

Originally posted by Tree Fitzpatrick - May 19, 2008 in the Old Community Space:

Photo of Author
[World Cafe] Re: meaning of "conversations that matter"

This is an interesting thread. . . . what, indeed, does 'conversations that matter' mean?

My curiosity peaked, I looked up the word 'matter' in a dictionary. I can see how translating the word 'matter' could be tricky because matter can refer to a physics concept this way:
"something that occupies space and can be perceived by one or more senses". . . . but I think that when the World Cafe speaks of 'matter', it is suggesting that for a conversation TO MATTER means that the conversation has some importance.

Curious and curiouser.

Does the WC aspire to facilitate conversations that have some importance?

Maybe I am feeling way egotistical today but, right here in this moment, I am thinking all conversations matter to me, at least all of the ones I am a part of.

Let us know what translation you go with, Raffi, please.

--
Love rays,
Tree Fitzpatrick

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Permalink Reply by Beth Alexander on September 15, 2009 at 5:39pm

Originally posted by Raffi Aftandelian - May 20, 2008 in the Old Community Space:

Kenoli, Amy, Tree,

Thank you much for your replies.

Tree, I think the physical definition of matter sheds new light and meaning here.

Indeed, a compelling conversation generates (opens) and takes up (holds?) space.

This brings me back to what conversation originally means, which if I'm not mistaken comes from the latin "conversare", to live with, to be in company of one another.

The Californian in me would want to translate that as "high quality hanging out with one another (and/or oneself) that leads to fun and productive work"...

in appreciative granularity, raffi

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Permalink Reply by Beth Alexander on September 15, 2009 at 5:40pm

Originally posted by Agota Ruzsa - May 20, 2008 in the Old Community Space:

I always thought 'conversare' means ' turning togehter' but now i will look it up in a latin dictionary, From Old French conversation, from Latin conversationem, from conversari ‘to converse’.

,From conversō (“‘interact with, pass time with’”)

[edit] Noun conversatio (genitive conversationis); f, third declension

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Permalink Reply by Beth Alexander on September 15, 2009 at 5:40pm

Originally posted by Amy Lenzo - May 22, 2008 in the Old Community Space:

Ruzsa,

That's fascinating - It almost sounds like conversation as particularly substanative dancing!

If you research this further, please share what you discover...

You may know of Meg Wheatley's book on conversation, called "Turning to One Another"...

Warm Wishes,

Amy

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Permalink Reply by Beth Alexander on September 15, 2009 at 5:41pm

Originally posted by Agota Ruzsa - May 22, 2008 in the Old Community Space:

Dear Amy, What do you meam by 'substanative "??? Is it substantiating, ie. creating emotional-mental substance ( kama-manasic )by generative thinking together, thus opening up a space and time dimension gate for action to be gathered and focused??? Agota

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Permalink Reply by Beth Alexander on September 15, 2009 at 5:42pm

Originally posted by Amy Lenzo - May 23, 2008 12:03 in the Old Community Space:

Hi Agota!

I was trying to tie in the two ideas of conversation (moving together) and matter - making the moving together grounded in not just the physicality of matter, but also in the profundity of thought. I guess I used a little poetic license there but I love where you took my image ...

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Permalink Reply by Beth Alexander on September 15, 2009 at 5:42pm

Originally posted by Emmett Miller - May 23, 2008 in the Old Community Space:

Conversation: (con – with + vers – turn) = turning together

Turn = change, as the tide, from ebb to flow

Emmett

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Permalink Reply by Beth Alexander on September 15, 2009 at 5:43pm

Originally posted by Helen Titchen Beeth - May 25, 2008 in the Old Community Space:

In Brussels, we have been calling them "meaningful conversations". Nothing beats simplicity!

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Permalink Reply by Beth Alexander on September 15, 2009 at 5:44pm

Originally posted by angelina - Jul 13, 2008 in the Old Community Space:

In Portugal, it´s the same as in Brussels: conversations that people consider important (meaningful). In Portuguese: "Conversas que são significativas".

Angelina

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Permalink Reply by Beth Alexander on September 15, 2009 at 5:45pm

Originally posted by Jennifer Landau - Jul 13, 2008 in the Old Community Space:

Cannot say what it would be in another language, but looking at the options between words like important, significant and meaningful, I would say: - while "essence of the matter" is a part of "conversations that matter", the sense of making a positive difference in the world (by exploring the given question) is more to my understanding of the phrase - "important" implies priority, even to the point of hierarchy. Many things are important but perhaps not meaningful or make a difference in the world - a phrase using or suggesting significant or meaningful feels closer to the mark

I remember long ago dancing around with phrases like "questions worth asking" -- so no doubt my view is shaped toward concepts like meaningful, positive change, making the world a better place. Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout.

Jen

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