Rules Were Set, Rules Were Broken – Observation in Public Space.

A group was formed in formal manner, constituted in a school assignment. The group consists of eight people, one is our workshop leader for the week. After a day’s discussion all of us had picked two spots in Brussels that we wanted to examine with a Model of Observation, a model that is relevant to us. Some of us know the city while others don’t. We have a morning meeting where the rules of the day are established. The first person will take us to a destination and describe the observation model for this particular place. We will practice the model for 15 minutes, then the next person in line will take us to the next destination. Between destinations we will remain silent as an effort of keeping our concentration on the space and not on the social dynamic of the group. So, in silence we set off to our first destination of the fourteen on our list.

After the first exercise in a public garden in Brussels, we regroup after 15 minutes sharp. One is missing. He is late. Should we just leave? 8 minutes pass, over the decided time. some conversations went “Maybe he is lost? No, but he is from here… He is breaking the rules, perhaps we should leave him?” I thought this rose many interesting questions. We have established rules and our group has formed a way of interact with each other. We are in fact and microsociety. How do we want our society to work? What is the function of our society? Do we have rules—yes. Do we want to be a society that leaves people behind? No, not really, but we have just started to apply our rules and it is frustration that one don’t follow them. During the day all rules fall apart one by one. Our timeframe is the first to fall out, everything takes longer time than anticipated and the tasks and concentration is perhaps more demanding than we thought. We take notes, we walk. After three observation models we need to eat and the silent spell is broken for lunch, but picked up again after we regrouped. One more exercise is made, and then another following it.  

After the slow walk, people needed to use the bathroom, and some chit-chat started, no one wanted to play the group police anymore. We eased up on the rules for a bit, people have needs and want to express themselves. After using the bathroom we explored the next destination, a supermarket. The group lost their concentration, I myself stopped observing for a while and bought a botte of water and cough drops. Everybody, even the non-smokers needed a cigarette, and we all shared snacks. We are, in spite of tiredness and lack of concentration, in this together…Bon curage!  We get on the bus to the next destination. Some people talk… “We are tired, and how much is left? When is this going to end?”. What really kills the mood is that when we exit the bus heavy rain started. The exercise was outside in a roundabout and even though we were supposed to explore for fifteen minutes some people including myself gave up after five minutes. We met near the subway and cut out most things on the list that are outdoors and go to an indoors market. When we have walked through the market our group leader was still inside and one of the group members’ was too tired and leaves us. We had been through a lot today, worked, walked, shared food and smokes. Now it was my turn to get to explore, and walk them to the next destination. I am not sure I want to put my group through this; is that the society I want? Yes, we had a lot of rules, and technically it is my turn to explore. Did we not set the rules to make it easier for us? Or as a tool for us to get most of our exercise? One group member left before with concluded and does anyone really want to exercise anymore?  Our group is courageous; they nodded, (the big)yes, let’s finish!