行行重行行 Walking on

行行重行行

很多人，尤其是刚开始参与城市的眼睛的人，都要求我们用很简短简单的方式告诉他们，城市的眼睛到底是一个怎样的活动。我们用的字眼常常是“保留文化”、“集体回忆”、“纪录即将消失的人事物”、“用影像关怀社会”、“人文活动”等等。到底这些简短的文字能不能概括城市的眼睛活动呢？城市的眼睛到底是一个怎样的活动呢？

我很喜欢跟拍摄照片回来缴交的参与者闲聊，有些人兴高采烈分享他们和家人朋友聚会玩得很开心，然后顺便拍照，我听了故事点点头收了照片。有些人兴奋的说他们从来不知道他居住工作的环境有“这样”的人或事或物，我听了故事点点头收了照片。有些人告诉我们他们预备了一年，高兴终于拍到他们想拍的，或者可惜来不及拍到他们想拍的，我听了故事点点头收了照片。有些人偷偷告诉我们他们去了以前从来不知道不熟悉的地方拍了照，我听了故事点点头收了照片。有些人失望的告诉我们，他今年没有想到好的题材，没有拍到好的照片，我听了故事点点头收了照片。

我喜欢一部小说改编成张艺谋的电影《活着》。有朋友看了电影不明白，说电影没头没尾，我就告诉他就是一个人怎样“活着”。只要你还没有死，你就必须得走下去。走出去就有路，但是每个人因为际遇不同，走的道路就不同，虽然道路不同，毕竟是一条自己走出来的路。我想：他们行行走走，回来后，都应该对城市的眼睛到底是一个怎样的活动有些看法。

我一直觉得城市的眼睛是一个播撒种子的活动，我们要做的是把信念化成一颗种子，把它撒在大家的心里面。他什么时候开花结果，开什么花、结什么果，甚至会不会开花结果都是一个疑问。因为开花结果每个参与者自己要负责的，我们只是负责撒种子。

城市的眼睛从2002年开始主办，我们这组人自2004年接手，至2010年为止，一共九年。城市的眼睛走的也是一条不平的道路，我们几经波折，几次几乎要停办，但是都熬下来了。当我们在2011年11月初宣布要停办的时候，很多人都说可惜。我想：其实宣布停办活动，让大家更觉得珍惜，是不是也是一种获得。有时候停下来，空下来的时间和空间，反而能让大家有机会能够进行更深刻的文化心灵思考。

2011年12月，柳文斌先生和张三丰先生正式向我们提出他们想要接手主办城市的眼睛，我们很高兴。文斌和三丰参与过城市的眼睛活动，他们想从一个新的方式主办城市的眼睛，我们没有意见。

新的主办者，新的操作方式，新的内涵，一定跟从前的城市的眼睛不一样，开始的时候可能不太习惯，但是我们希望大家能够继续支持城市的眼睛活动。无论如何，我希望大家要用各自的方式，继续走下去。

走啊走啊......不停的走......走啊走啊......不停的走......

汪忠良

城市的眼睛

2004--2010

========================================

Walking on

Many people, especially those just starting out on their Eye ē City journey, had always asked us to explain in simple terms what exactly is Eye ē City? We often reply with the words “preservation of culture”, “collective memories”, “to record what that may be disappearing”, “to care for our society through images”, “a socio-cultural movement”, etc. Do these words give a complete picture of Eye ē City? What is Eye ē City?

I like to talk to participants returning to submit their images. Some will happily share that they had taken photos whilst having a wonderful time with their family and friends. I listened, nodded my head and collected the images.  Some will excitedly relate about how they had never known that such a person, event or thing existed in their neighbourhood or workplace.  I listened, nodded my head and collected the images. Some tell about how after a year’s preparation, they finally captured their desired image or express their disappointment in not being able to. Again, I listened, nodded my head and collected the images. Some will secretly reveal that they had gone to places unfamiliar to them to take photos. Still, I listened, nodded my head and collected the images.  Some dishearteningly tell us that this year they were not able to capture any good images as they could not find any good topic.  I listened, nodded my head and collected the images.

I like the movie, “To Live” which was directed by Zhang Yimou and adapted from a novel. I have a friend who commented that he did not understand what the movie is about and that it has no head or tail. I told him this is how it is “to live”. As long as you are not dead, you just have to keep walking. As long as you keep walking, there will be a road. However, everyone has their own fortunes which lead them down different paths. Despite this, it is a path chosen by oneself.  I think after returning from the journeys you have since embarked, you will have some thoughts on what Eye ē City is about.

I have always felt that Eye ē City is a movement that sows seeds. What we need to do is to sow the seeds of our beliefs in everyone’s hearts. When will it blossom? When will we taste the fruit? What kind of flower? What kind of fruit? Will it even blossom or bear fruit at all is anyone’s guess. It is the responsibility of every participant to let the seeds grow. We only sow the seeds.

Eye ē City had sustained a total of nine years since it began in 2002. We took over the reins of organizing the event from 2004 to 2010. It has been an arduous road through the years. Many a times, we had wanted to give up. But somehow, manage to pull through. When we announced in early November 2011 that Eye ē City will be discontinued, many expressed their sadness.  If by discontinuing the event has made everyone hold it dearer, it may be a gain after all. Sometimes, stopping to smell the flowers may give us the time and space to develop a more profound cultural and spiritual thinking.

When Mr Martin Liew and Mr Aaron Teo officially offered to take over the organizing of Eye ē City in December 2011, we were elated. Both of them had been participants and volunteers and had new ideas for Eye ē City which we do not object.

New organizers, new procedures, new content, it will certainly be a different Eye ē City. It may take getting used to. However, we hope that you will continue to support Eye ē City events. In any case, we hope that you will in your own way, continue walking.

Do walk on and not stop.

 

Ang Chong Leong

Eye ē City

2004 – 2010

(Translated by Tan Siang Bee) 

城市的眼睛2010年12月31日 eye e city 31 December 2010

19:23 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh 大巴窑一巷

I passed by this HDB flat at ground floor when I strolling with my wife and there was always no one at home. The corridor outside the unit often filled with paper boxes, cans, plastic bottles, and other old items.

Sometimes, there are dark stains on the ground. I presume this is the accumulation of stains which spraying out while flattening the cans.

The corridor considered clean at the day of shooting this photo. However, whenever I thought of the life of this household compared with the general households in Singapore, I was lost in reverie.

和太太在家附近散步时，经过这个位于一楼，经常没有人在的组屋单位。单位前常常摆满了纸皮箱、汽水罐、塑胶瓶子，还有其他旧物。有时候，地上还有黑黑的污迹，估计是在踏扁汽水罐的时候，剩余汽水喷出来，累积堆积出来的污迹。

这天经过拍摄时，已经算是整理清理过的。但是，这户人家相对于一般新加坡人的生活，还是会引起我很多的遐想。

Ang Chong Leong 汪忠良, 41/Social Worker 社会工作者

My photos selected by organiser of eye e city 2010 was censored by exhibition partner, Singapore Discovery Centre (SDC), during the exhibition. Is the photos political incorrect ???

I always feel proud of these people who still choose to work hard and earn a living. This is an alternative view Singapore and Singaporean could have besides thinking they are poor and pitiful ones.

Luckily, it was still in the photo book published by eye e city. Hope the book will not censored and removed from NLB library. :)

这两张被2010年城市的眼睛主办者遴选的照片，在展览时被展览伙伴新加坡知新馆(SDC)剔除。这两张照片出了什么问题？是政治不正确吗?天晓得?

我常常为这些选择努力工作生活的人感到骄傲。与其觉得这些人可怜，值得同情，新加坡和新加坡人可以对这样的生活方式，有另外一种领悟。

还好城市的眼睛出版的2010年摄影集包含这两张照片，希望国家图书馆不会冷藏这本摄影集。 :)

承风启雨渡九年 A Perseverance of Nine Years

承风启雨渡九年

汪忠良

缘起与发展

我不是摄影人，也不是文化人。2003年在机缘巧合之下获知2002年开始主办的“城市的眼睛”活动，当年感怀新加坡很多值得保留的景物都被拆迁，社会也有很多的变迁，便拿起傻瓜相机参与了这项活动，希望能为我们的城市留下一些值得回忆的影像。后来知道这活动不办下去，便联合李子民先生在2004年一起接手主办策划活动，后来陆续的又增加了一些成员，并在公司机构的赞助、社会各界和义工的支持下，每年持续主办这项岁末活动。

先前参与策划活动的大多是艺文界人士，而后来我们接手后的大多是草根较强的社会人士或者是业余摄影人士，所以前后策划者关注的事物和看待事物都有些出入。大致上来说，前者关注的是保留文化记忆，后者是以关怀社会为主调。其间，我们面对了专业摄影对我们活动照片代表性的挑战，还有摄影技术与文字描述与照片内容之间重要性的拉扯。虽说风风雨雨，我们坚持了每年岁末24小时，不设立奖金奖品，没有主题，不以比赛的方式，一年年的坚持下去。

这几年的活动，我们接受很多参与者的意见，作出不少的改变和调整。为了让学生可以参与活动，我们把年龄限制调整至13岁；为了让活动容纳更多的内容，我们也接受手机拍摄的影像、增加了摄影组照 (Eye Essays) 和年度挑战 (Eye Challenge)。

城市的眼睛是一项社会人文运动

有很多人建议城市的眼睛应该设立奖金奖品、每年设立主题、或者以电邮的方式收集照片。这些建议能够更快捷方便，增加参与的人数与作品，而且也能因为有特定主题，更能够符合特定机构的捐款目的。但是我们认为城市的眼睛是一项人文活动，人和人之间的关系、沟通、了解，也是活动重要的构成。我们希望大家亲自报名、选择照片、和我们的会员交换心得，建立起人和人的关系。我们也看到很多参与者在参加活动或者参观展览的同时，也通过谈论照片的内容，加强了与家人和朋友之间的交流，甚至对于新加坡这城市的社会人文发展更加关切。

城市的眼睛也不是为了宣扬某一个文化、思想、价值观，或者是肯定或否定它们；我们强调的是社会的多元性和包容性。遴选出来的照片是代表当年参与者的共同回忆，没有被选的照片也不表示他们是不重要的，或者是没有纪念价值；而只是在活动在展览和出版数量和内容上的限制。我们相信所有的照片对于参与者都有他个人的价值，每个人因为个自的生活背景和经历，对于同样的照片也有可能也不一样的体会，而这照片带给人们的记忆或回忆不能够用数字或者金钱来衡量其价值。

从这个角度来看，城市的眼睛事实上是一个社会人文运动。我们希望借着活动的推展，从大家对于记忆与回忆的讨论，加强人与人之间的交流与沟通，并且关爱我们生活的城市。从更长远的眼光来说，我们希望成为一个相互平等尊重讨论议题的平台，让参与者能够相互分享自身拥有的信念以及拥有这些信念的理由，并且帮助他人了解自身的观点；并且能以各自的方式共同建立这城市的人文景观。

集合大家的力量，圆满今年的活动

有人说，城市的眼睛有一般活动没有的流动魅力。因为没有特定主题，很多时候，我们是在遴选过后才知道当年照片的组合与氛围，以及可能带出来的整体的内涵动力。当年的作品的内容其实是代表了参与者当年对于发生在新加坡的一个集体的记忆。但是在这个非敌既友的世代，活动有时候不能符合赞助机构商家的特定目的，而无形的人文价值和意义，对于很多人来说是没有投资回报价值的。但是吊诡的是，组织筹办活动还是要回到这有形的世界里，需要靠资金来推动的。由于缺少能为活动筹款的义工，今年我们向参与活动的朋友们筹款，并获得了$1,418.50的捐款，加上其他单位个人的捐款协助方才能圆满今天的结果。

此外，我们还要感谢以各种方式协助我们的个人、公司与单位，尤其是新加坡知新馆(Singapore Discovery Centre)协办与支持今年的展览。

今后的挑战

社会趋势和科技的发展对于主办城市的眼睛有相当大的影响。当年，数码相机没有今天普遍流行，大部分摄影都是以底片为主，如今大家只要拿起相机，都能不用迟疑的捕捉他们想纪录的影像。当年，分享资讯不像现在社会网络和电子书这样方便，所以当年出版书籍和展览相对还是主要的影像传播媒介。当年，“集体记忆”这字眼几乎是不存在的，也不像今天在商业与政治带动下，被重点地推上社会舞台。无论官方机构，或者私人机构都一把抓地把大家的集体回忆收罗起来，放在手中。

最近火车站的搬迁，更是被媒体、社会网络和政治人物炒得沸沸扬扬，成为城市的焦点。城市的眼睛如何在这新媒体蓬勃、商业介入和政治热闹的新局面下，避免集体记忆的探索流于表面，而能进入更深层文化和心灵层面的思考，将是今后我们主办人的一个挑战。

转载自《城市的眼睛--2010 岁末24小时人文影像纪录》，新加坡。城市的眼睛出版，2011年10月，pp10-11。

A Perseverance of Nine Years

Ang Chong Leong

Beginning and Development

I am neither a photographer nor an intellectual. By coincidence in 2003, I got to know “Eye é City”. The demolition of many historical and culturally-rich buildings and sites coupled with the social changes happening at that time moved me to pick up my compact camera to capture a moment of the city. In 2004, together with Mr Lee Chee Ming, I took over the reins of organising the annual year-end event which started in 2002, after the previous organisers decided not to continue. Since then, joined by more organising team members and with strong support from volunteers, corporate sponsors and the public, we managed to carry on the annual year end activity through the years.

As the previous organisers were mainly from the arts and literary circle, the focus was on preserving history and culture. After taking over, the organising team was made up largely by people with close connection to the community as well as amateur photographers. More emphasis was placed on expressing care and concern on social issues. In the meantime, we faced much criticism from professional photographers on our photos’ representation as well as our continuous dilemma to balance between participants’ write-ups, content and technical skills of the photos. Despite these, we persevered year after year, 

persisting with photo-taking in the last 24 hours of each year not turning the movement into a competition by giving away prizes and establishing specific themes. However, for the past years, we have also accepted suggestions from participants and made many changes. These include lowering the age criteria to 13 years old to allow more student participation; accepting photos taken by mobile phones; and introducing Eye essays as well as Eye Challenge to enhance greater photo content.

Eye  é City  is a social-cultural movement

Many also suggested giving away prizes, allowing online photo submission as well as setting themes to help attract certain corporate sponsorships, in the hope to increase participants and photo images in the fastest and easiest manner. However, we feel that Eye é City is a community movement. The relationship, communication and understanding between people are important part of the movement. Participants are encouraged to be involved personally from the point of registration to selecting their final photos and in the process share their experiences and the stories behind their photos with our facilitators and volunteers.  Through such interaction and discussion, participants sometimes not only strengthen their ties with their family and friends, but also develop a greater awareness of their surroundings and society.

Eye é City does not advocate any specific culture, values and beliefs, or comment on their negativity or positivity. We emphasize both diversity and inclusion of society. Selected photos represent the participants’ collective memories for that year. Unselected photos do not mean they are unimportant or of no memory values. It is simply due to the limitations of exhibition and publication space that choices have to be made. We believe that all photos hold personal values to its owners. Due to the differences in life experience and background, different individuals may view and react differently to each photo. Yet, the memories that it evokes cannot be measured in monetary terms or numbers.

As such, Eye é City is indeed a social-cultural movement. We hope the annual activity will encourage and motivate more discussions and exchanges on our memories, we can enhance interaction and communication between people as well as show concerns for this city we live in. We envision Eye é City to be a platform for participants to share their ideas, thoughts and motivations freely based on mutual respect and equality and in their own way, contribute to Singapore’s social-cultural diversity.

 

Gathering Strength for 2010

Some say the uniqueness of Eye é City is in its fluid nature and unpredictability. As there is no specific themes, often times, we are not able to determine the dynamism of the photo collections till after the photo selection. The collection for a particular year represents the collective memory of participants for that said year. In this world of absolutes, it is unsettling for some sponsors seeking specific projects that can meet their contribution objectives and purposes. To many, there is no tangible returns in nurturing social-cultural values. However, the paradox of the situation is that funds are still required to run our activities. Due to a lack of volunteers able to solicit sponsorship, we sought donations from participants this year, who generously helped to raise $1,418.50. Together with other solicited donations in cash and kind, we managed to pull through to completion. We wish to thank all contributors, whether individuals or organisations who has helped us in their own way this year, in particular, Singapore Discovery Centre for co-organising and supporting the 2010 exhibition.

Future Challenges

Social trends and technological developments have had a huge impact on the organization of Eye é City. In the past, film cameras used to take precedence. But nowadays, digital cameras make it so easy for everyone to snap their desired image without hesitation. Back then, when e-book and the social network were not so popular, book publications and exhibitions were the main outreach medium for images. Even the term “collective memories” was virtually non-existent when the movement first started. Today, motivated by commercial and political interests, collective memories have been pushed into the social limelight. Public and private organisations alike are scrambling to gather everyone’s memories. Recently, media, cyber space and even politicians were abuzz with the moving of the railway station, making it the focus of the city. 

It is definitely challenging for Eye é City to avoid the superficial and to develop a deeper cultural and spiritual understanding of collective memories in this new landscape of vigorous new media development and increased commercial involvement and political activity.

 

Translated by Karen Kan & Tan Siang Bee

extracted from "Eye é City -- A Visual Account of the Last 24 hours of 2010", Eye é City, October 2011, pp 8-9.

Eye e City Exhibition 2010 城市的眼睛2010年展览

Date: Now till 15 Oct 2011
Time: 9am to 6pm (Closed on Mon)
Location: Singapore Discovery Centre, i WERKS Theatre Lobby
510 Upper Jurong Road Singapore 638365
* Admission for exhibition is free

日期：现在至2011年10月15日
时间：上午9时至下午6时（星期一闭馆）
地点：知新馆（Singapore Discovery Centre）i WERKS电影院大厅
510号，裕廊路上段，新加坡邮区638365
*展览入场免费

“城市的眼睛”看新加坡变迁

http://www.zaobao.com.sg/fk/fk110808_001.shtml


“城市的眼睛”看新加坡变迁

　　身为本土人，“城市的眼睛”策划人汪忠良却常有“异乡人”的感觉，仿佛自己是新加坡这城市中的旅客。

　　他说：“过去几年，我到台湾读书，每半年都会回来新加坡一趟，而我每次回来都会发现新的东西，比如说红山地铁站前的政府组屋，一下子忽然拆掉，变成了空地，然后一下子，这空地又忽然建了许多新组屋。”

　　既然城市的变化太快，个人又无力去阻止这种改变，汪忠良便决定发起“城市的眼睛”活动，通过摄影去反映城市的景观变迁，记录城市人文的发展，集合成大家共同的回忆。

　　“城市的眼睛”是源于2002年的一项摄影活动。该活动没有设定题目，也不设奖品或排名，主要让参加者在12月31日零时开始，到当天的23时59分，在新加坡任何角落，拍摄他们认为值得记录的摄影作品。

透过照片的人文关爱

　　每年，“城市的眼睛”策划团队也会刊登及展出其中的100张照片，除反映大家关注的社会事件，也希望让大家共鸣的个人感情得到抒发，从而引起城中人对这城市的人文关爱。

　　作为“城市的眼睛”策划人，汪忠良这几年也透过活动照片，看到新加坡城市的各种变迁，包括新移民和外来客工的增加，以及城市景观的变化。

　　“过去几年，我们就有不少以客工为题材的照片，参加者主要拍摄这些客工的生活点滴如打板球、在街边喝酒等。另外，滨海湾也是参加者感兴趣的风景题材，因为这一带变化很大，从F1赛车维修楼、新加坡观景轮，到滨海浮动舞台和滨海湾金沙，几乎每年都有新的建筑和景观出现。”

　　这阵子因铁道步入历史，国人掀起了浓厚怀旧风潮，大家都积极参与各类探索火车“集体回忆”的活动。去年“城市的眼睛”活动，很多参与者也呈交了许多相关照片，使到汪忠良决定把这系列照片以专题的方式呈现。

更深层文化思考

　　但对此怀旧风潮，汪忠良却感到担忧。

　　他说：“当我们在2002年主办‘城市的眼睛’活动时，‘集体记忆’这字眼几乎是不存在的，但现在不只历史文化组织，连私人机构、联络所、基层组织都开始大谈集体记忆，鼓励各种缅怀历史的活动。到底大家是抱着怎样的心态参加这些活动呢？是缅怀、猎奇，还是一窝蜂的心态呢？”

　　汪忠良希望，国人对集体记忆的探索，最终不会只流于表面，而能进入更深层的文化思考和心灵层面。

　　他语重心长地说：“别把集体记忆活动和归属感搞成一个个配套，因为我们不能凭着参加多少个历史之旅，看了多少个保留古迹，就说明我们的国家归属感有多强。这完全是两回事。”

希望国人对集体记忆的探索，最终不会只流于表面，而能进入更深层的文化思考和心灵层面。——汪忠良


（“城市的眼睛”策划团队，左三为汪忠良）

转载自新加坡联合早报网副刊2011年8月8日

Eye é City - The Philosophy Café in Vancouver, Canada by Peter B. Raabe Ph.D. 温哥华的哲学家咖啡馆

http://eyeecity.multiply.com/links/item/112/112
The Philosophy Café in Vancouver, Canada
Peter B. Raabe Ph.D.

(This is an outdoor philosophy ‘café’ on a sandy beach on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The facilitator, Peter Raabe is the man in the white hat under the umbrella.)

If you wanted to talk with others about the meaning of life, or what it means to be a good person, or whether God exists where would you go? In our Canadian society it’s often said that, in order to avoid offence, one should not discuss politics, sex, or religion. So when people do gather together, conversation is politely focused on the latest hockey game or the weather. And yet politics, sex, and religion are the three most important topics in life!

If you’re in university these sort of conversations might take place in a class such as philosophy or perhaps psychology. But for most people in the everyday world this sort of conversation rarely if ever happens. And yet in many people there is a curiosity about these questions that is never satisfied, and a hunger for answers that must be ignored because the food for thought is just not available. How do I know that there is an interest in these sort of discussions? Because here in Vancouver you can find these discussions happening almost every week. There are twenty locations, and everyone is invited!

People are gathering in discussion groups, referred to as philosophy cafés, located in coffee shops, small restaurants, church basements, library meeting rooms, community centres, and even under a big umbrella on the beach (see the picture below)!

In 1997 I decided to start a philosophy discussion group. I found a very tiny coffee shop in a very small village not far from Vancouver called Deep Cove. I had heard about discussion groups in Europe and especially in France, called salons that were very popular. These organized salon were a natural extension of the casual get-togethers that occur on a daily basis in the sidewalk cafés and indoor restaurants where friends shared their thoughts over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. But here in North America sidewalk cafés are not popular in winter because of snow or rain, so the philosophy café is mostly an indoor activity.

The first thing I did was to make arrangements with the owner of the coffee shop in Deep Cove regarding the day of the week she would welcome a group gathering in her establishment. Then I put up a number of hand-made posters at a near by transit station to let people know about what I thought was the first philosophy café in all of Canada. A few days later I received a surprising phone call from professor Yosef Wosk at Simon Fraser University (SFU) asking me about the posters for our little café.

“Have you heard about the café I just started in downtown Vancouver?” he asked. Of course I hadn’t, and to both of our amazements we realized that we had come up with the same idea and started our respective cafés almost on the same day. Yosef invited me to join his effort in organizing the promotion of these cafés throughout our area. With the support of his university he and his staff found venues, recruited moderators or facilitators, and, as the movement grew, published a program which informed the public of the topics under discussion and locations of the various cafés. And now, 12 years, 11,000 cafés and 70,000 participants later, philosophy cafés are not only found across Metro Vancouver, they are catching on in cities all over the province, across Canada, as well as internationally, from England to Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

In 1999 the Philosophers' Café was presented with an Award of Excellence from CAUCE (The Canadian Association for University Continuing Education). In 2003 one of the foremost newspapers in Canada said the philosophy café “might be the most successful continuing education program in the country.” Diane Mar-Nicolle, is the program assistant with the Philosopher’s Café at SFU. She says, “Locally, we’ve seen a 40 per cent increase in attendance since 2007/2008.”

But what exactly is a philosophy café?

To begin with, a philosophy café is not a classroom since there is no intentional teaching by an expert and authority figure. At times the moderator or facilitator does know a lot about the topic under discussion, but at many other times there are others in the group who know far more about the topic than the moderator/facilitator. There are no formal lectures, although at times a participant may talk so long that it seems like he or she is lecturing. By the way when this happens it is up to the moderator/facilitator to step in and respectfully stop the monologue. But more about the moderator/facilitator later. While there are no academic credits for participation in a philosophy café, although there are many intellectual and emotional rewards, there are also none of the traditional worries associated with academic work, such as exam stress, fear of failure, and so on.

A philosophy café is not a reading group or book club and yet, when the topic is announced ahead of the café date, participants often come prepare by having read various sources or researched the topic on the web. As a moderator/facilitator I always prepared by researching the topics and having a few questions written down in case my thinking stalled later on in the evening. Again, the moderator/facilitator is not meant to lecture on the topic. His or her job is to introduce the topic, to keep the discussion on topic, and to prevent fist fights. Of course this last is an exaggeration, there has never been a threat of violence at any of my cafés. But sometimes verbal aggression can arise, so, just like a teacher in a classroom must remind students to be respectful of each other, so the moderator/facilitator must at times remind newcomers to be respectful.

Most importantly, I think, is that a philosophy café is not a place for debate. By debate I mean a competitive discussion where one tries to win. The problem with winning an argument is that one can win and still be wrong. A philosophy café is not about either competition or winning. It is, again, a respectful discussion among equal individuals, some of whom may now more about the topic than others, for the purpose and coming to a better understanding of the issues involved in the topic and perhaps a new perspective on what to think about it. It is a mutual sharing of beliefs and the reasons we have for those beliefs, along with an offer to help others understand one’s own perspective. In a well-run café there is a generosity among participants and a willingness to be of assistance to each other. This doesn’t mean that discussion is always quiet and genteel. In fact some of the best cafés I have facilitated were ones where discussion became very passionate.

Moderators and facilitators come is all shapes and sizes, and with varying levels of experience. Some have no formal academic experience in leading group discussions but that doesn’t really matter. All it takes is a person with a good personality: the ability to listen, to empathise, to ask open-ended questions that challenge but don’t provoke, and to keep the conversation on topic and respectful. There have been a few philosophy professors who have been moderator/facilitators, but there have also been retired military officers, one-time politicians, students, artists and others who have led the discussions..
But a good philosophy café is more than just a group discussion. Part of the pleasure in the evening is in sharing good food and drink. I always encouraged participants to purchase items from the establishment to show their appreciation to the owners for allowing us to gather there. It’s also a social gathering, a place to meet friends and to make new friends who appreciate the stimulation of good discussions. It’s not only a meeting in person, it’s a meaningful meeting of minds that goes well beyond anything possible on Twitter or Facebook. People are present to each other and real. And the discussions held at the café, the ideas raised about the good life, the concerns expressed over social injustice, and so on, have often gone out the door of the café and lead to concrete action in the community.

Besides our regular cafés, the SFU philosophy café program has developed special editions that feature various multicultural communities, as well as moderated gatherings for business, seniors, teens, and the disenfranchised. There are also cafés whose topics always centre around a specific theme such as politics, the environment, religion or spirituality, a specific languages, and mental health and mental illness issues. With the help of a printed program, that is also available on-line, people can choose a theme and a topic that interests them, and a location that is most convenient.

My cafés were always on the middle Wednesday of the month, because that’s when the little Deep Cove café was the most quiet. The café ran for two hours with a 15 minute break in the middle. I started mine by announcing the topic for those who weren’t already aware of it. All topics in my café came from suggestions by participants. I just made sure their suggestions were phrased in a philosophical style rather than as empirical questions where we could simply look the answers up in an encyclopaedia or science book. The I would ask if anyone had any personal experiences in regards to the topic. This served two purposes: first it took the topic beyond a theoretical discussion and made showed how it was relevant to real-life situations; and second, after a few personal experiences, it illustrated to everyone how differently the topic might be interpreted. This way the facilitator was not the dictator of how the topic should be approached. During these early few minutes questions were not allowed; personal experiences are to be respected not debated. I also found that the sharing of personal experiences was a wonderful way for people in the group to get to know each other better, and to appreciate some of the difficult life situations some had to endure and overcome.

When no one had any more personal experiences to offer the topic was open for general discussion. In our café the topics were incredibly varied because we weren’t committed to any specific theme. Participants came with all sort of ideas, such as What is success? Can science be trusted? When should we feel guilt and shame? What is the purpose of an economy? What is the cost of human progress? When is legal not moral? The list of topics is absolutely endless. And any one of these topics can be repeated many times because each discussion will raise different thoughts and opinions from the participants. I was the moderator/facilitator of a café for eight years and I enjoyed ever second of it. I eventually stopped because my teaching responsibilities had increased and, quite frankly I needed a break. But since then I have organized two cafés specializing in mental health and illness related issues and trained a number of senior students to be the moderator/facilitators at those café.

True to the name “philosophy café” the discussions at a philosophy café can be every bit as intellectually satisfying to the mind as a rich cup of coffee is to the tongue.

====================
Thanks to Prof Peter B. Raabe Ph.D. for granted permission to post this article in our blog.

Prof Peter Raabe is the first Canadian and one of very few people internationally to be awarded a doctorate for his work in philosophical counselling. You could read more about him from his website.

http://www.ufv.ca/faculty/philosophy/raabep/index.html

We hope eye e city could have the similar discussion session in future.

extracted from eye e city
http://eyeecity.multiply.com/links/item/112/112

温哥华的哲学家咖啡馆
Peter B. Raabe 着
林静秀 译

(这是户外的哲学家「咖啡馆」，就在太平洋岸的沙滩边。辅导员Peter Raabe是洋伞下着白帽的男子。)

如果你想要找人谈论，关于什么是生命的意义，什么是好人，上帝是否存在，你会去哪里？在加拿大，人们常说为了避免冒犯，不应该讨论政治、性、或宗教等话题。所以当人们聚在一起，谈话总是礼貌性地围绕在最近的曲棍球比赛或天气。然而，政治、性和宗教却是生活中最重要的三个课题！

如果你是在大学，这类的主题可能会出现在像是哲学或是心理学的课堂上。但是对于日常生活中的大多数人而言，这类的谈话却很罕见。然而，许多人对这类的问题是充满好奇的，他们的好奇却从来没有被满足过，他们对这类的答案是求知若渴的，可是却被忽略，他们思想的供给是非常不足够的。我是如何知道人们对这类的讨论感兴趣？因为在温哥华这里几乎每个礼拜你都可以发现有这类的讨论正在进行。我们已经有廿个据点，在向每个人招手！

人们聚集形成讨论小组就是哲学家咖啡馆，可以在咖啡馆、小餐馆、教会的地下室、图书馆的会议室、社区中心，甚至是沙滩的大洋伞下（见下图）

1997年我开始了哲学讨论小组。我在离温哥华不远处的小镇Deep Cove找到一间非常小的咖啡馆。我之前就听说欧洲有这样的讨论小组，特别在法国他们称之为沙龙相当的风行。这些有组织的沙龙是由偶然的聚集自然扩充成的，出现在人行道咖啡馆或者室内餐馆里的日常生活中，朋友们在喝咖啡或饮酒时分享彼此的想法。但是在北美这里的情况是，因为会下雪或下雨，人行道咖啡馆在冬天并不受欢迎，所以哲学家咖啡馆大部分是室内活动。

我做的第一件事是与Deep Cove咖啡馆的主人进行协调，她欢迎每周的一天在她的地方进行小组聚会。然后我在附近的车站张贴了几张手工海报，好让人们知道全加拿大第一家哲学家咖啡馆在做些什么。几天后，我接到一通惊喜的来电，是Simon Fraser(SFU)大学的Yosef Wosk教授打来询问我们的咖啡馆海报。

「你有听说过我刚在温哥华市区开始的哲学家咖啡馆吗？」他问道。我当然没有，这让我俩喜出望外，原来我们刚好有同样的想法，而且几乎在同一天开始我们个别的哲学家咖啡馆。Yosef邀请我加入他的工作，组织在各地推动哲学家咖啡馆。在他大学的支持下，他和他的同事寻找聚会地点，招募主持人或辅导员（facilitator），并且当这个运动日益增长，还开始出版刊物，以告知大众不同咖啡馆的讨论主题与聚会地点。现在，十二年过去了，已经有11,000家哲学家咖啡馆，有70,000个参与者，哲学家咖啡馆不只遍及大温哥华，还风行加拿大各省的城市，也在国际间从英国到苏格兰、澳洲、纽西兰和美国到处风行。

在1999年，哲学家咖啡馆获得CAUCE（The Canadian Association for University Continuing Eudcation；加拿大大学成人教育协会）颁发优良奖。在2003年，一份加拿大最重要的报纸表示哲学家咖啡馆「是国内最成功的成人教育计划。」SFU的哲学家咖啡馆计划助理Diane Mar-Nicolle说：「我们发现在某些地方从2007/2008年起出席持续有百分之四十的增长。」

但是究竟什么是哲学家咖啡馆？

首先，哲学家咖啡馆并不是课堂，没有专家或权威人士在教导。有的时候，主持人或辅导员的确会对讨论的主题了解较多，但是更多的时候是小组的其它成员对主题的了解远比主持人∕辅导员多。哲学家咖啡馆并不是正式的演讲，虽然有时候某个参与者可能滔滔不绝，像是他∕她在演讲。顺带一提，当这种状况发生，就要看主持人∕辅导员的决定，是否介入尊重地结束这种个人独白的状况。但是我们稍后还会多谈及主持人∕辅导员。虽然参与者无法在哲学家咖啡馆获得学分，但是他们会获得许多知性与感性的回馈，当然这里也没有传统上学业伴随的压力，像是考试压力、失败恐惧等。

哲学家咖啡馆也不是阅读小组或读书会，然而咖啡馆会在聚会前宣布讨论主题，参与者经常有备而来，事先阅读不同的材料，或者上网研究主题。作为一个主持人∕辅导员，我也总是会事前准备研究主题，并且写下几个问题，以免我的思路会在当晚稍后停顿。再次强调，主持人∕辅导员并不在针对主题演讲。他或她的工作是介绍主题，保持讨论围绕在主题上，并且避免拳脚相向。当然最后这一点是夸张了些，我们的咖啡馆从来没有出现过暴力威胁。但是，有时语言攻击可能会被挑起，所以，就像是在课堂上的老师必须提醒学生要彼此尊重，所以主持人∕辅导员偶而必须提醒新来的人要尊重。

我想，最重要的是哲学家咖啡馆不是个辩论的地方。我所谓的辩论指的是人们只想要赢的竞争性讨论。想要赢得争辩的问题在于，人们有可能赢了，但是仍然是错的。哲学家咖啡馆非关竞争或输赢。而是平等个体间相互尊重的讨论，有些人可能现在会对主题的掌握比别人多，为了达到对主题牵涉到的议题有更好的了解，或许我们需要从新的观点加以思考。哲学家咖啡馆在相互分享我们拥有的信念以及我们拥有这些信念的理由，所以还要帮助他人了解他们自身的观点。在运作良好的咖啡馆里，参与者是慷慨大方的，愿意彼此帮助。这当然不是意味讨论是安静温和的。事实上某些我辅导过的很好的咖啡馆，讨论是异常激烈的。

主持人∕辅导员有形形色色的人，各有不同的经验。有些人没有正式的学术背景也在带领小组讨论，但是那其实没有那么重要。重要的是这个人要有很好的性格：有聆听、同情的能力，可以提出开放性的问题挑战人却不煽动人，能够维持讨论围绕在主题上，并且对人尊重。我们曾经有几位哲学教授担任主持人∕辅导员，但是也有退休的军官、昔日的政治家、学生、艺术家在带领讨论。

但是，好的哲学家咖啡馆不会只进行小组讨论。夜晚的乐趣有部分是来自分享食物和饮料。我经常鼓励参与者买些我们所在地方的东西，好表示我们对主人让我们在这里聚集的感激。所以这里也是社交聚会，这个地方可以让我们见见朋友，可以认识能够欣赏良好讨论刺激的新朋友。这不只是本人现身的聚会，而是有意义的心灵聚会，远远超越在推特或脸书上可能发生的一切。人们彼此相互认识，是如此的真实。在咖啡馆开始的讨论，是对于美好生活的构想，是对于社会公义的关怀，经常会走出咖啡馆的大门，走向社区中的实质行动。

除了我们一般的咖啡馆活动，SFU哲学家咖啡馆的计划还发展出特殊版本，是以各式各样的多元文化社区为主，也有聚会是给商人、年长者、青少年、社会边缘人。另外也有咖啡馆的主题是围绕在特定题目上，像是政治、环境、宗教或灵性、特定语言、心理健康和心理疾病等议题。我们除了印制刊物，还提供网络服务，人们可以选择他们感兴趣的题目和主题，以及他们最方便的地点。

我的咖啡馆常在每个月中的星期三举行，因为这是Deep Cove的小咖啡馆最安静的时刻。咖啡馆为时两小时，中间有15分钟的休息。我开始时会宣布主题，以帮助那些还不太了解的人。所有我咖啡馆的讨论主题都是来自参与者的建议。我只是确保他们的建议能够以哲学方式表达，而不只是作为经验性的问题，如果只是经验性的问题我们只要在百科全书或科学书籍找答案就好。我会询问是否有人有任何关于主题的个人经验可以分享。这有两个目的：第一，可以让主题超越理论性的讨论，显示主题是如何与真实的生活情境相关；第二，一些个人经验的分享会显示每个人在诠释这个主题会有多么的不同。这样，辅导员也不会变成主题应该要如何讨论的支配者。在刚开始的几分钟，是不允许提问的；个人经验需要被尊重，而非辩论。我也发现个人经验的分享是个绝佳的方式，可以让小组成员彼此深入认识，并且认识到某些人必须忍耐和克服某些困难的生活情境。

没有人要再提供自己的个人经验后，主题就开放一般性的讨论。在我们咖啡馆里，讨论主题不可思议的多样，因为我们并不局限在任何特定的题目上。参与者会带来各式各样的问题，像是什么是成功？科学能否信任？什么时候我们应该感到罪恶感和羞耻感？什么是经济的目的？什么是人类进步的代价？什么时候合法却不道德？主题绝对可以无止尽的列举下去。并且任何的主题都可以重复许多次，因为每一次的讨论都可以从参与者引发不同的想法与意见。我担任哲学家咖啡馆的主持人∕辅导员有八年之久，我享受当中的每一分每一秒。我最终还是暂停了，因为我的教学责任日益沉重，而且老实说我需要休息了。但是因为我之前组织过两个咖啡馆专门探讨心理健康与疾病等相关议题，所以训练了一批资深的学生成为咖啡馆的主持人∕辅导员。

就像「哲学家咖啡馆」的名字一样，哲学家咖啡馆的讨论能够在知性上满足我们的心灵，就像一杯浓郁的咖啡每一口都能满足我们的味蕾。

中文翻译取自慈济大学人文临床与疗愈计划电子报
第14期2011年1月10日出刊
========================
Peter Raabe 教授是以哲学辅导（咨商）研究获得博士学位的第一个加拿大人，在国际上也是少数者。有关Peter Raabe 教授的资料可以参考他的网站。
http://www.ufv.ca/faculty/philosophy/raabep/index.html

我们希望城市的眼睛在将来能够参考这个模式举办座谈会。

Eye é City - 2010 eyes é city selection/ 2010年城市的眼睛遴选

http://eyeecity.multiply.com/journal/item/94/94


2010年城市的眼睛遴选

2011年2月19日，城市的眼睛进行遴选。出席的五位遴选成员包括了摄影记者、平面设计师、退休商人、社区工作者及社会工作者。此外，城市的眼睛成员及义工也出席了遴选。

遴选除了以分数计算外，遴选成员和眼睛成员及义工也通过讨论和分享的方式进行。城市的眼睛活动的主要目的，不只是通过照片纪录，来加强大家对于社会的关爱，人和人之间的关系、沟通、了解，也是活动重要的构成。城市的眼睛不是为了宣扬某一个文化、思想、价值观，或者是肯定或否定它们；我们强调的是社会的多元性和包容性。遴选出来的照片是代表当年参与者的共同回忆，没有被选的照片也不表示他们是不重要的，或者是没有纪念价值；而只是在活动在展览和出版数量和内容上的限制。我们相信所有的照片对于参与者都有他个人的价值，每个人因为个自的生活背景和经历，对于同样的照片也有可能也不一样的体会，而这照片带给人们的记忆或回忆不能够用数字或者金钱来衡量其价值。城市的眼睛是从这样的角度和态度来主办和策划这个活动的，所以虽然我们以分数计算的方式进行遴选，我们还是花了相当的时间进行讨论与分享。我们也希望大家是以这样多元以及包容的角度来参与活动和观赏这些照片。

去年5月24日新马两国已同意在2011年7月1日前，将坐落丹戎巴葛的火车终站迁移至兀兰。
http://www.zaobao.com.sg/special/singapore/pages4/sg_my100525.shtml


这个话题引起很多参与者的兴趣，参与者也呈交了很多相关的照片。由于这系列有很多优秀的照片，有些题材角度有重叠，我们很难割爱，我们当场决定把这系列照片以专题的方式呈现，把不同参与者的照片交替排列，尝试组织成一个较为完整的系列。但是这工作涉及到不同的参与者的意愿及排版编辑的问题，我们会在较后时间拍板定案。

遴选大概挑选了大约60张单张照片、照片故事系列大约10组、挑战系列数组，详情在城市的眼睛成员讨论和与和火车终站迁移系列照片定案之后，将会电邮通知照片被选的参与者。

祝大家平安喜乐。


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2010 eyes é city selection

2010 eyes é city selection was held on February 19, 2011. The five members in the election panel include photographic journalist, graphic designers, retired businessman, community workers and social workers. In addition, volunteers and members of eyes é city also attended the session.

Besides using computation of scores, the selection panel together with the volunteers and members of eyes é city also discuss and share their views and feelings for the submitted photographs. The main purpose of eyes é city not only to raise awareness and concern for the society at large through record using photographs, it also hopes to encourage communication and understanding and foster the relationship between people of the community. eye é city does not focus and advocate certain cultures, ideas, values, or to comment on the positive or negative of these cultures, ideas, values. We emphasize both diversity and inclusion of the society. The selected photos from the participants represented the common memories of the year. However, we do not think that those unselected photos are unimportant or are not memorable. These happen because of the limitation of resource in the exhibition and publication. We believe that all of the photos of the participants have his own values and different people see the photos differently because of their own background and life experience. We should not use monetary term to measure or quantified the value of these memories of people reflected by the photos. Bearing these in minds, although we still score each photos with marks, we spent a considerable time for discussion and sharing. We also hope that public and participants could view these photos and participate in our activities with these perspective.

May 24 last year, Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to relocate Tanjong Pagar train station to Woodlands in July 1, 2011.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanjong_Pagar_railway_station
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1058645/1/.html

The topic catches the interest of participants and submitted a number of related photos. There are many excellent photos in which some overlap in angle and content. We decided to arrange all these photos of different participants into a series and to organize them into a more complete layout. We will seek opinion and permissions from the participants and plan for the layout and editing. We will finalize the outcome at a later date.

We have selected about 60 single photos, about 10 photo essays and a couple sets of photo challenge. We will finalise the details after meeting and confirmation of the relocation of train station series and e-mail to the participants whom photos have been selected.

Till then, take care and be happy.

Eye é City - Eye é City 2010 is coming ... 2010年城市的眼睛即将开跑！

http://eyeecity.multiply.com/journal/item/91/91


Eye é City 2010 is coming! We are pleased to announce that we will be moving our registration to more locations - Bishan and Bukit Timah. Details are as follow:

Registration: 30 December 2010
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Location 1:
9 Bishan Place #10-02
Junction 8 Office Tower
Singapore 579837
Directions :
http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_820/travel_site_106649/

Location 2:
Comet Education
19 Lorong Kilat, (off Jurong Kechil)
#01-03
Singapore 598120
Directions:
http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_4657/travel_site_109585/5/

Submission: 1 January 2011
Time: 11am - 2pm
Venue :
9 Bishan Place #10-12
Junction 8 Office Tower
Singapore 579837

Please access our multiply page, ttp://eyeecity.multiply.com/photos/album/62/62
to download our Terms and Conditions and http://eyeecity.multiply.com/photos/album/57/Eye_e_City_2010_Registration_Kit Registration Kit. If you have any queries, please contact us at eyeecity@yahoo.com.

Eye é City 2009 book will also be distributed on 30 December 2010. Participants from 2009, please come by to collect your free copy of the book.

Eye é City is going into our 9th year in 2010. We would also like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to all participants who have taken part and supported our event all these years. This year may be our last year as we are finding difficult to carry on financially. However, we are still in talks with a potential sponsor to at least help us pull through to 2011, our 10th Anniversary.

So please continue to support us and mark the dates in your calendars. We look forward to your participation as always in making the last 24 hours of 2010 a memorable time for everyone.


Yours truly
Eye e City



2010年城市的眼睛即将开跑！今年的报名在碧山和武吉知马两个地点，以方便更多的参与者。报名详情如下：

活动报名：
日期：2010年12月30日
时间：7pm to 9pm
收费：$15 (公众)；$12 (学生及乐龄人士)
地点：地点一
碧山第八站办公大楼#10-02
9 Bishan Place #10-02
Junction 8 Office Tower
Singapore 579837
http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_820/travel_site_106649/

地点二
Comet Education
19 Lorong Kilat, #01-03
(Off Jalan Jurong Kechil
near Beauty World Plaza)
Singapore 598120
http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_4657/travel_site_109585/5/

照片呈交：
日期：2011年1月1日
时间11am to 2pm
地点：碧山第八站办公大楼#10-02
9 Bishan Place #10-02
Junction 8 Office Tower
Singapore 579837

活动简章和报名表格可以在我们的网站下载， http://eyeecity.multiply.com/photos/album/62/62 和 http://eyeecity.multiply.com/photos/album/57/Eye_e_City_2010_Registration_Kit ，询问可电邮eyeecity@yahoo.com。2009年参与者可在报名当天免费领取2009年的书籍。

今年是城市的眼睛第9年的活动，我们要在此感谢大家这些年的参与。今年或许是活动的最后一年，因为我们还在积极地寻找能够继续支持我们2011年十周年活动赞助经费。

希望大家继续支持我们的活动，前来报名参与，渡过一个不一样岁末24小时。


城市的眼睛主办者

古城遗书。关爱城市

 

乘着国庆日周末长假，和太太到马六甲、麻坡。我觉得虽然马六甲古城有很多地方很商业化，但是间中有一两间还是依稀住着当地人，或者是以传统工业／商店的形式存在着。比较新加坡的牛车水，刻意以旅游为目的的经营痕迹比较少，虽然如此当地人还是有话说。刚在马六甲买的一本《古城遗书——写给马六甲，记一城的美丽与哀愁》的书，是马来西亚星洲日报记者欧阳珊专栏摘录，记录她在在驻马六甲时候收集的资料整理和杂感。她是马六甲人，在书中她写到：“今天的马六甲人在普遍缺乏古迹认知的情况下，以‘发展’的之名装修、拆建、铲平；旅店、咖啡馆乃至采养燕窝的‘鸟屋’以渐渐蚕食的方式，‘消化’着老街的古屋群，消蚀着‘古城’”．．．．“一个古迹可能是几百年岁月的累积，消失却可以在一瞬间，而且将永远失去、无法重来”。

对于传统古迹文化的关心保留，其实除了写书之外，摄影也是另外一种方式。《城市的眼睛》展览从现在到 30 日，假裕廊图书馆举行。《城市的眼睛》活动１９９９年于槟城发起，后来发展到太平、怡保、吉隆坡、马六甲和新山；２００２年在新加坡由一群文化人开展。《城眼》希望从一般社会人士的角度，以摄影的方式记录社会的变迁，并集合共同的新加坡回忆。同时也希望大家在探索与观望岛国各层面的时刻，能够用心关怀社会，用眼睛记载时代的变迁。我在２００３年接触参与《城眼》活动后，不久便从主办人的口中知道这活动可能结束，这时候又听到：“新加坡人没有回忆”和“身在故乡为异客”各种声音，便决定和子民兄一起扛下这个活动。我总觉事情说不如做，我们一直在讨论古迹文化的流失，如果不能够保留实体，保留收集现在可以拍摄到的影像，何尝不也是一个方式。我倒是觉得《城眼》的做法是一个比较前瞻性的做法，而且大家应该用各自的方式力量去做，不分彼此。

 

这几年办下来，碰到一些义务性质的团体组织常常碰到的问题，如赞助资金的问题、义工的去留问题、还有资料收集储存的问题，常常是王小二过年——一年不如一年；加上很多团体组织，都以更高的奖金和更大型的宣传来主办类似的活动，使到活动参与人数和赞助的经费都被分散了。这些条件不是我们没有奖金、没有宣传目、没有主题的活动所能够竞争的。其实如果有其它更有组织性和资金的团体活动，能取代《城眼》的活动，我个人是乐于见到的。但是这些活动很多是为了配合一些周年庆典或者产品宣传而主办的，通常没有持续性，而且影像的收集有特定的范围目的。所以我暂时还是觉得《城眼》还是有主办下去的必要。

 

开始接手办这活动后，我常常在思考一个问题，就是《城眼》的定位问题。主办《城眼》常常被问到的问题就是：我们要的是什么照片，我们的选照片准则是什么？这就让我想到小学的时候，当老师作文的时候出“无题”的时候，大家你我对看得景象。我常常觉得《城眼》因当是一个“城市人为自己的城市” (For the city, by the city dwellers) 主办的一个活动，我们提供的只是一个平台给大家，至于大家想为城市留下什么，则是大家共同的决定。但是基于展览和出版书籍的经费问题，我们不得不以一百张照片为一个准则。至于那些想要有一些提示的人，我的个人意见是尽量不要选择热门的题材，或者重复性太高的地点。

 

回到一开始提到，我在国庆日到邻国旅游的事情，看起来像是有点不爱国。最近蔡依林就回应媒体报道她不孝顺的事情说：孝顺不需要别人定义，每个家庭都有自己相处模式套。所以呢？爱国的方式不需要别人定义，如果还是想不到什么方式，就来看看展览，用眼睛来爱这个城市，爱这个国家。

 

注：《城市的眼睛》展览从现在到８月 30 日，假裕廊区域图书馆举行。开放时间是早上１０点到晚上９点，入场免费。

(摄于2010年8月8日，马来西亚马六甲古城)