[知行合一](六之四)
國安法第一審繼續就「光復香港。時代革命」八個字的意義,繼續進行討論。控方由嶺大學者劉智鵬以歷史學者身份,早前指出「光時」有分裂國家意思;而辯方的港大學者李詠怡 (Eliza)則已作供進入第三天。今天下午,和Eliza一起撰寫專家證人報告的另一位學者,中大新傳學院教授李立峯(Francis)開始作供。
由於辯方兩位專家的姓氏同為「李」,「雙李」容易引起混淆。甫坐下,高個子的李立峯教授說,他想用Eliza稱呼李詠怡教授,獲法庭接納。
李立峯解釋,Eliza專長政治學,故對政治選舉及相關理論熟悉。而Francis自己則是傳播學教授,辯方劉偉聰大狀在庭上先介紹Francis, 指出他畢業於史丹福大學,博士論文研究美國9.11事件中,比較報紙讀者來信和網上論壇的言論,專研範圍為「政治傳播學」。
Francis曾出版學術著作,有講述雨傘運動與傳播關係,將出版另一本書,談及六四紀念活動的集體港人記憶現象,「我對香港近年的大型社會運動,有現代歷史脈絡的理解」。Francis亦曾於2017年成為香港法庭歷史上第一位以「民意研究專家」,為佔中九子案擔任專家證人。以往,香港法庭專家證人多為醫生及物理學家等。
三位法官表示接納Francis的專家證人身份。今天在大狀袍下穿了條子花紋西裝褲的劉偉聰大狀,溫文向法官們道謝:「I am grateful」.
Francis花了頗長時間,解釋社會科學中,量化研究(大型民調)和質化研究(焦點小組)的方法論及兩者作為理解社會現像的用途。
由於過往香港法庭甚少傳召社會科學家作專家證人,三位法官發問了很多問題。唯一男性法官陳嘉信說:「我是laymen(普通人)有這些問題」;女法官杜麗冰亦在休庭前向主問劉偉聰說笑:「對不起我們打斷了你的發問。」
休庭前,三位法官先後向Francis多次問及社科研究法的疑問。Francis越答越興起,語速快了。控方周天行說:「教授請說慢一點。」Francis說笑:「我教書時,學生經常說我說得太快。」此時法庭響起了輕鬆的笑聲。
Francis說,他們進行了的量化研究,就是於2019年從連登討論區上,以電腦程式,抽取討論區上曾提及口號相關的帖子,抽取的口號分別為「光復香港」、「時代革命」、「香港獨立」、「港獨」、「五大訴求」。由於連登上的留言量可以數以百萬計,需要由懂寫電腦程式的學者作技術上協助,他再進行統計學分析。法官們沒有太多發問。
Francis說:「看數字,以數量計,量化研究(quantitative research)就可以處理,但要看人們怎樣建構意義,那要進行質化研究,因為做簡單問卷,是不可以看到意義建構的過程。此時要靠質化研究(qualitative research),我們做了焦點小組(focus group)。」
七個焦點小組,每個有五至八人參加,三組是包含了不同年齡性別職業的市民,四組是參與者背景相近的小組,一組是社工,一組是老師,一組是年輕人。總共有40人參加焦點小組,都是在反修例運動期間,有參與示威或同情反修例運動的人。「因為我們要看示威者在想甚麼。」
三位法官發問頗頻密,其中,陳嘉信問,焦點小組只有四十人那麼少,如何有代表性?Francis解釋,質化研究是找「意義成形的過程」,代表性則由量化研究補充:「所以我們用不同研究方法互補不足。」
法官對社會現象的理解,和社科學者明顯有差別。
陳官問道:「參加焦點小組的人,會不會心裡想一樣,答你說另一樣?好像美國選舉你問選民選誰,可能他因為尷尬告訴你一個答案,但去到票站就投另一個。」陳法官形容,這是一個「危險」(danger).
作為社會科學學者,Francis這樣回應:「我不看成一種『危險』,因為人是複雜的動物,人的腦子裡不只有『單一的真相』,面對不同人,在不同處境,會影響人如何建構意義。從社會學及人類學角度,人們會在不同處境『管理自己的形像』,我會形容為因應處境而作出的『調整』,而不是在直白地說謊」。
Francis繼續解釋,「而建構意義是一個過程,同一個人在不同時候,他的想法也有改變。像我們現在在討論『甚麼是焦點小組』,我們(他和法官們)也在集體參與意義建構的過程。」
此時,Francis引述了焦點小組裡,其中一個焦點小組參與者,對「光時」口號的理解,隨時間而出現改變。
Francis在庭上說,其中一個支持反修例運動的焦點小組參與者說:
「最初我面對『光復香港。時代革命』這口號,我說不出口。為何呢?因為我最初認為這口號與『港獨』有關,好像要推翻政府,這不是我的目的,我不支持港獨的。但隨着反修例運動發展下,我理解這個運動是關於爭取普選,關於愛好自由,公義。漸漸我可以喊出口了。這個口號好像承載了一種精神。當我去到集會現場,我喊『光時』口號時,我會覺得和其他香港人連繫起來。」
Francis解釋:「這是一個好例子,這個人最初覺得,『嘩,光時口號好激進』,但漸漸他覺得意義改變了。即使他不支持港獨,他也會嗌這口號。」
「這例子正正示範了,口號的意義建構過程,可以如此複雜,豐富,充滿餘韻(nuances).」Francis說。
Francis還引述了華盛頓大學政治學教授Lance Bennett對政治口號的見解 “Effective political themes and slogans invite people to bring their own meaning to a situation. Thus, an image is an impression anchored partly in symbolic suggestion and partly in the feelings and assumptions that people have in response to that suggestion.”
(有效的政治口號邀請人們把他們自己的意義加諸其上。所以,一個影象像個錨,作為一個符號提示人們把自己的感受及假設投射到其中。)
Francis亦說,焦點小組中發現,只有部份人認為「光時口號」與港獨有關,所以口號是開放式的。「總的來說,光時口號就是關於一些失去的東西,而人們覺得需要改變。至於失去了甚麼又如何改變,則因人而異。」
法官們亦用法律用語詢問,焦點小組裡會否有「引導性問題」(leading question),即因為主持者主動提起「港獨」而引導被訪者去提及這個答案。這顯然是法庭常關注點。
但Francis說,焦點小組做法是開放讓大家討論,「而進行焦點小組時間正好在2019年9月,那時基本上整個社會都在討論這句口號的意思,是否和港獨有關。所以在焦點小組裡不需要提示,就會自然進行討論。」
法庭場境裡,引導性問題,會是法官關注的事。
這天早上,李詠怡(Eliza)教授,繼續接受控方盤問。Eliza早前曾說過,為甚麼「光時」口號在7月21日於社會流行起來,其中一個原因是因為人們對「元朗襲擊」感到憤怒,需要一個口號去表達其情緒。
然而代表律政司的署理刑事檢控專員周天行, 則挑戰Eliza,周專員多次指,7月21日口號最初出現於白天,當時中聯辦被示威者包圍,國徽被損毁,當時中聯辦外牆上更出現「光時」口號,周專員指,「光時」口號的意義,應該與中聯辦事件有關。
控方的周專員說:「中聯辦外示威中,清楚反映拒絕中華人民共國和政府的意思,你為何不認為這些示威活動的意義,有助我們脈絡性地理解口號的意思?」周專員亦呈上了多張中聯辦被損毁的照片叫Eliza細看。
Eliza指,她和研究伙伴,曾在7.21後,嘗試從數據了解為何當天之後,光時口號的使用明顯更普遍。於是她從兩張報紙裡,點算傳媒提及過的地區,發現「元朗」字眼出現的頻率,要比「西環」、「中聯辦」及「上環」高出很多。
「媒體注意力反映公眾注意力,而焦點小組發現,7.21大家一致是關注警察暴力,而不是關注中聯辦。故此我們認為令到7.21口號普及化,元朗事件比中聯辦事件重要得多。」Eliza說。
Eliza早前指,梁天琦在造勢晚會曾引述過美國黑人民權領袖Malcolm X說「the Ballot or the Bullet」意思,Eliza認為「子彈」只是比喻,並非像控方專家劉教授所說有「武器」的意思。控方更指控梁天琦有意推翻政權。Eliza當時更說,以她所知, Malcolm X不是「分裂國家主張者」(secessionist)。
周專員今日呈上Malcolm X的1964年的演講,讀出部份內容,又追問Eliza知否Malcolm X被指為 “separatist”和知否Malcolm X曾經加入激進伊斯蘭組織。
Eliza語氣有點難以置信地反問:「我們是否要進入複雜的美國種族歷史?美國黑人民族主義(black nationalist)和非洲裔美國人那時的分離主義(separatism), 尤其是於種族隔離(apartheid)的過去有多複雜?要研讀多少歷史脈絡?」
周堅持追問:「那Malcolm X是不是分離主義者?」
Eliza沒好氣答: 「若是說建立一個有主權的國家這個理解下,我認為不是。」
周專員仍在要求Eliza看Malcolm X說話節錄。此時,彭官要求暫停提問,三位法官退後座椅商議一會,然後彭寶琴說,Malcolm X是否分離主義者,與本案案情「拉扯得太遠」(far far removed), 彭官提醒周專員,Eliza一直不反對梁天琦在選舉演說中對港獨持正面看法。
周專員另一處的追問,把梁天琦與Eliza拉得更近,問答更有火花。周專員引述去年夏天來自《眾新聞》的報導,報導中訪問了三位學者,表達學者們對泛民立法會議員在政府表示因疫情把選舉延期一年後,是否應該總辭。
報導中,Eliza認為議員應該留任,訪問中提到議會是重要「抗爭陣地」「在威權政治下,策略上考慮比民主原則更重要……」周專員反問,梁天琦進入議會,會否也像她所說的一樣,「具策略意義,目的是去推翻政權」?
Eliza罕見地光火起來:「你在引述我?你是否在說我和梁天琦是一伙?說我和他是同黨?(You suggest I am part of his cohort?)……好了,現在我被審訊,我要回答吧? (I am the person on trial, I have to answer this……)」辯方劉大狀立即站起來抗議,指Eliza是來做證人的。
此時彭寶琴語氣溫和地望着Eliza說:「不是的,妳是來作供,提供專家意見給法庭。請不要覺得來被審判,這不是原來的意思。」彭官打圓場道:「我想周先生要想問妳,會不會梁天琦進入立法會,覺得策略上可以作出改變,而不是留在結構以外。」
Eliza鬆了一口氣,望着彭官說了幾聲:「感謝妳的澄清,感謝。」然後Eliza詳細解釋,她在泛民總辭上的看法,已經算是「溫和派」,因為當時社會上較激進的想法,是主張泛民議員一起總辭以表示對選舉延期的不滿。而Eliza說,我主張泛民留任,是希望有議員監察政府,希望加強政府問責性。
現在仍身陷囹圄的梁天琦,始終成為庭上反覆被斟酌的客體。
Eliza今日完成作供前,有機會詳細解釋,她作為政治學者,如何理解梁天琦為何要使用「光時」口號。Eliza解釋,2016年梁天琦參加的是新界東補選,和以往立法會選舉不同,選舉制度是「單議席單票制」,並非「比例代表制」。
「比例代表制」之下,勝選者需要的票數不需很多,只拿取選票一成也可以拿到席位。然而補選的規則,則是誰多選票誰便勝出,故要爭取選票數量。
Eliza說,回看2016新東補選中,參選者多達6人,當中梁天琦的對手,有知名度高的政黨領袖,梁天琦當時相比之下,是一個無人認識的小伙子,只有大學宿生會經驗,或參加過一些小型社會運動,但知名度不高。「他需要設計一個非常搶耳的口號,以拿得最多的票數。」
Eliza指,一個知名度不夠的參選者,設計口號會有「不成比例地戲劇化」的情況(dramatizing out of proportion),故此梁天琦即使說「選票就是子彈」是一種誇張的說法而已。
Eliza進一步指出:「很多提倡港獨的政治組織,大部份沒有具體的行動計劃,只是口說『香港獨立』」。法官彭寶琴補充:「妳所說的沒有具體行動計劃,是在公眾知道的情況下沒有而已。」
Eliza再補充:「究竟(這些組織主張的)是和平遊說,還是使用暴力或武裝力量?沒有看到這些(資訊)。」
今次被告唐英傑的電單車上,插着旗幟的版本,除了有「光時」這個八字中文口號,亦有七字英文“Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our Times”,中英文版本均在法庭反覆被檢驗。辯方學者卻說,原來口號的出現,並非有明確的設計時刻,或單一設計者。
彭官曾詢問,英語口號如何出現, “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our Times”那裡來?彭官留意到梁天琦2016年造勢晚的佈景板已出現這七個英文字。
但Eliza指出,她曾經從梁天琦遞交給選管會的個人簡介中,找到「光時」的英文版,卻是被譯成「Ignite Revolution to Reclaim Our Age.」對於造勢晚會和選管會的文宣為何有差異,Eliza說她不知道。
而Eliza亦曾找遍不同資料,去嘗試看看梁天琦當初創作「光時」口號的原意,但發現他除了在晚會說過,口號不想專注「世代」差別,除此之外,她沒找到更多解釋。不過Eliza說,原來梁天琦最初創作了另一個八字口號,但她認為,梁天琦最初的口號不搶耳,不令人留下深刻印像。
「選舉口號要搶耳,要令人容易記起這個參選人,而原來梁天琦最初設計的口號很悶蛋,孩子氣得像大學活動口號一樣。」
原來,於社會掀起沸沸揚揚的談論,在2019年反修例運動中被廣泛流傳過,今天被法庭研究是否違反國安法的八個字口號,並不是梁天琦最初的構思。
此時,Eliza翻查文件找到了紀錄,並以廣東話在高等法院朗讀出,梁天琦最初曾經構思,但最後放棄了的意念。這個被埋葬了的口號,原來一樣是八個大字:「知行合一,世代革新」。
如果歷史有如果,假若「光時」沒有出現過,今日香港的光景又會如何?
***
國安法首審專家證人系列(六之一):[Regime & Redeem]
7月2日控方專家劉智鵬作供
https://www.facebook.com/wwviviantam/photos/a.1435553239866430/4210137115741348/
國安法首審專家證人系列(六之二):[Just Do it]
7月9日辯方專家李詠怡作供
https://www.facebook.com/wwviviantam/photos/a.1435553239866430/4229321820489544/
國安法首審專家證人系列(六之三):[過去與未來]
7月12日辯方專家李詠怡作供
https://www.facebook.com/wwviviantam/photos/a.1435553239866430/4237523026336090/
國安法首審專家證人系列(六之四):[知行合一]
7月13日辯方專家李詠怡及李立峯作供
https://www.facebook.com/wwviviantam/photos/a.1435553239866430/4240215429400183/
國安法首審專家證人系列(六之五):[沒有誰比誰高貴]
7月14日辯方專家李立峯作供
https://www.facebook.com/wwviviantam/photos/a.1435553239866430/4243328702422189/
國安法首審專家證人系列(六之六):[選櫻桃的人]
7月15日辯方專家李立峯作供
https://www.facebook.com/wwviviantam/photos/a.1435553239866430/4245860505502342/
(圖為辯方第二位專家證人,中大新傳學院教授李立峯離開高院,明天他會繼續作供)
cohort meaning 在 AppWorks Facebook 的精選貼文
[Is There Such a Thing As Founder Syndrome?: Testing a New Idea for Entrepreneurship]
As a lover of language, I often will obsess and delight in a phrase or a word that I think offers unique insight into humanity or experience.
Language can sometimes open up doors into understanding, not simply because a definition is precise, or taken literally. Used in an inventive way, you can see the world differently and perhaps understand something for its unique traits.
I find this to be the case with understanding and learning about founders. Founders tend to break the mold, as we say, but we tend to see them -- I say "we" meaning the general VC and startups ecosystem -- through a really traditional business lens, contrary to how unique they are.
In fact, I am not so sure you can see a founder's traits through a business lens, because what founders do is much different than simply running a business. I think you have to creatively see them in a new way.
This idea struck me deeply while I was in Japan, where I was relaxing with a memoir about the late neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks, while my colleagues skied and snowboarded on a cloud-covered mountain in the snow. Sacks died in 2015, but spent a career curing neurological diseases by taking a unique approach.
I came across the word "syndrome."
It has a nice ring to it, but first, the context.
First of all, Sacks is famous for a medical experiment that "unlocked" patients who were frozen in a kind of living coma situation. You may have seen this in a movie called "Awakenings."
These patients would be frozen in a state of hibernation, awake, but not able to move. Sacks came up with the idea of dosing them with a chemical called L-DOPA, and the results were extraordinary. Almost overnight, these "vegetables," as he empathetically described him in his memoir, awakened. In one case, Sacks took a red ball he kept in his pocket and threw it at a seemingly unmovable patient, who immediately snapped to and caught the ball, threw it back, and then resumed his catatonic state.
Sacks was also something of an eccentric, who was notorious for doing things that probably a normal sane person would never do.
For example, as a medical intern in California, he once drank a vial of blood, washing it down with a glass of milk, simply because he felt compelled to understand what it tasted like. A lover of motorcycles, he quite recklessly "stepped off," as he put it, his bike traveling at 80mph, just to see what would happen. What happened? A few bruises and a torn leather jacket and pants. But nothing horrible.
In certain circles, he is still considered to be notorious and misunderstood. But his view of diagnoses centered on finding the "syndrome," and treating the syndrome as a kind of identity.
And here is our word of the day!
I am not suggesting that founders are sick people. I am saying that they are different, because they present a type of syndrome that other humans do not possess.
Syndrome, in the Greek etymology, means "a running together."
Often we look at disease as this kind of failure of the system. Something has invaded. Something has harmed the corpus of the human. But Sacks looked at syndrome issues quite literally as a grouping of things that made the patient unique.
Instead of instantly diagnosing and medicating neurological patients, he would sit and talk to them for hours, trying to understand the unique syndrome of their identity.
In one instance, he talked for four hours to a raving manic dementia patient, later concluding that there was something "inherently human about that identity in there."
Can the same be done with founders? Do they present a syndrome of entrepreneurship?
What are the characteristics of this founder syndrome?
I won't spend this whole post describing my idea, but I think a central and core attribute of a Founder Syndrome is that the discomfort that founders experience with reality is also the impetus and the catalyst that moves them to "solve" reality with their own attributes.
This syndrome manifests itself in an overarching belief that they can change the world. They are somewhat delusional and even maniacal in their approach to reality solutions. The world doesn't work for them, and rather than mire themselves in depression and disappointment in it, their syndrome rather creatively enables them to, in an expansive way, impact the lives of other people, and create things that shift reality.
Steve Jobs once said that you can only understand your journey by looking backwards, and connecting the dots after you have completed them. This is quite symptomatic of a founder syndrome.
There are no dots to connect, until you make them. A consciousness that sees the world for what it can be can seem to some like crazy talk. Just look at Elon Musk. For how long has he heard that his ideas are stupid, crazy, not worth the paper they are printed on?
Or Nikola Tesla, who died in poverty, not being believed?
Or Marie Curie, who obsessively hunted down invisible radioactivity, which killed her, but without whom we would not be able to treat cancer, or plausibly have nuclear energy?
All of these people have something of the Founder Syndrome, an ability to see what is not seen by others, and to manifest it into reality, creating incredulity until the new reality is undeniable.
Are you suffering from a syndrome, friend? If you would like to be part of our accelerator and invent what has not existed before, and if you would like to be around other unique people like you, track our application process at https://appworks.tw/accelerator
Our next cohort will start in the summer.
We would be glad to take your application when they launch later in the year. We will be accepting founders working in AI and Blockchain.
Doug Crets
Communications Master, AppWorks
Photo by Franck V. on Unsplash
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