Proposing a Move and Making a Move.

Guidelines for the HipBone Game in a DreamEvent

What follows is typical of the sort of email that is part of the early stages of the events.

== Proposing a Move and Making a Move. ==

In the DreamEvents we play a non-competitive version of the HipBone games. The approach could be described as cooperative.  It is delightful is someone simply makes a well thought out move, and moves the game along.  No permission is required to Move, anyone can do it.  It is understandable that sometimes we feel hesitancy in making a move! It may be to do with having only a germ of an idea or not being able to see how to fit the move on the board.  This is where the cooperation comes in. 

In a lively discussion often many moves are proposed, mooted.  It is an informal process, a brainstorming. It can become unclear then if someone is actually making amove, and has claimed the floor.  For example states that they would like to make a move... how do we take that?  The answer:  Ask, clarify, get involved.

It is useful to have it stated:  "Mary is working on a Move", such a statement can come from Mary, or be posted by anyone once it is clear that this is what is happening.  At this point it would not be cooperative to jump in and make a move ahead of Mary. 

The person "Working on a Move" is centre stage for a while, the chief actor, and the rest of us can play a useful part: encouragement, suggestions and observations on the game will help.  If there is someone who is "Working on a move" and has the next move reserved for them, it is best if there is only one, not two at once!  It can't be done really as #2 does not know what #1 will post.

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There can be complications.  We are in asynchronous time in an email discussion.  Yet the Moves are made in sequence.  Linear. We impose linearity on our different world times, logging-on times.  We do not know who has "slipped" while we are writing our posts.  We could make a bold Move only to find it has bumped into another person's move.  What then?  Discussion, co-operation, observations from others.  Perhaps the move could go in another spot.  Perhaps one person removes their Move.

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All of the above seems to be part of the dynamics of the group, we do it through the process of discussion.  There is one way to avoid unnecessary confusion.  Please use the exact form described below.  Use the exact punctuation in the heading:

== Three Essential Elements of a Move ==

1.  The subject line of the email stating:
  
    MOVE <x>: <Title>, to Position <y>.

2.  The Content. 

     A dream, although it could be anything, a poem, a piece of music, a photo etc.

3.  Connections.

     To each of the other moves it links to.

(An optional element is Comment: after the Content: )

 

== An Example of a Move ==

Subject :

MOVE 5: Lone Diver, to Position 3.

Content:

Diving deep into the sea, I am alone and surrounded by the blue.

Comment:

I loved the feeling of this dream and I learnt that I need to trust free time and solitude.

Connections:

To Big Feet, Position 9:  Both dreams mention the colour blue.

To Man in the Moon, Position 7:  Both dreams have a single solitary figure in a vast space.

~~~

 

Go well,

Walter