Why Systems Thinking in Housing Justice?
As systems thinker Russell Ackoff said, "A bad system will beat a good person every time." Unless we change the mental models driving exploitation, those same roles will be filled by others who follow the same broken playbook.
Document Overview
Charleston County Court of Common Pleas Case number: 2025-CP-10-05095
Filing Date: December 3, 2025
Filed by: Plaintiffs McNeil and Poyer
Document : Systems Analysis of the McNeil v. SAC 181 Dispute
Document Type: Exhibit from Memorandum Regarding Probate Records, Ownership Interest, and Material Valuation Relation to Jonathan S. Altman and SAC 181, LLC
What's here: 3 Separate sections including "Why Plaintiffs are Using Systems Thinking in this Litigation, The Iceberg Model, and Table - Iceberg Model Applied to This Case.
Executive Summary
The Silence of the Studio: Why the "Wrong Person" Narrative Matters
To understand why this legal battle has transformed into a campaign for housing justice, you have to understand what was silenced when the eviction notice hit.
For years, I poured my energy into a passion project called the Thought Leadership Studio Podcast. It was the backbone of the Strategic Thought Leadership (STL) framework—a place where we explored how to shift paradigms and lead markets. We had just crossed a major milestone: 100 episodes. The engine was humming. We were gaining traction.
Then came the retaliatory eviction in July 2025.
There hasn’t been an episode since.
The studio was dismantled in the chaos of a forced move in 114° heat. About 10 recorded interviews with brilliant guests are still sitting on hard drives, waiting to be edited, silenced by the exhaustion and "burn rate" tactics of a defense team determined to crush a pro se tenant.
The "Wrong Person" Paradox
The defense made a critical calculation error. They didn't just displace a tenant; they attempted to silence a systems thinker who was actively building a framework for mass positive influence.
I was in the middle of discovering how perfectly the 9 Building Blocks of a Thought Leadership Model align with training Artificial Intelligence. By using Strategic Schema, we can train AI to propagate a social movement as effectively as a business brand.
By trying to bury this work, the defense inadvertently gave it its most powerful use case yet. I am reactivating the engine, but this time, the "product" isn't just marketing theory—it is Enlightened Housing.
Moving From Fear to Enlightenment: A Systems View
Current landlord-tenant law is stuck in a "zero-sum" game. To understand how we change it, we have to look at the Perceptual Positions—a core concept from the very framework this lawsuit tried to suppress.
1st Position (The Fighter): I see only my needs. The landlord wants rent; the tenant wants repairs. We fight. It’s a conflict.
2nd Position (The Empath): I step into your shoes. I look through your filters. I understand your pressure. This brings empathy, but we are still fighting over the same fixed pie.
3rd Position (Fear Housing): This is the detached observer. We look at the landlord and tenant from the outside, ensuring they look equal in size and volume. It brings "fairness," but it’s a cold, mechanical fairness. It’s still a zero-sum game. This is where most "good" policy stops.
We are building for the 4th Position: The Systems View.
Understanding Perceptual Positions
1st Position: See From Your Own Point of View
When you’re in the 1st position, you’re looking at the situation through your own eyes—whether you’re a tenant, landlord, or property manager. From here, your needs, concerns, and rights are front and center. The other side can seem like the problem, because you’re experiencing everything from your own perspective. It’s natural to want things your way and to feel frustrated when the other party doesn’t see things the same way.
2nd Position: See From the Other’s Point of View
Stepping into the 2nd position means imagining how the situation feels for the other person. What are their pressures, fears, and motivations? By putting yourself in their shoes, you gain empathy. You start to understand that their actions make sense from their own perspective, even if you don’t agree. This position opens the door to more compromise, because you see that both sides have valid concerns.
3rd Position: See From a Detached Observer’s Point of View
The 3rd position is like stepping outside the situation entirely. From here, you’re a neutral observer who can see both sides without being emotionally invested. You notice patterns, behaviors, and the bigger picture. It’s easier to see where balance is needed and to identify solutions that might not be obvious when you’re in the thick of things.
4th Position: See the System and Collaborate for Systemic Change
The 4th position is about seeing the bigger system at play. Instead of focusing only on your needs or even trying to compromise, you recognize that everyone - tenants, landlords, managers, attorneys - is affected by the system’s rules and incentives. From this perspective, it’s possible to collaborate to make the system better for everyone. You see how different roles interact, and how systemic changes can benefit all parties. It’s a non-zero-sum game where healing the system leads to better outcomes for everyone.
Chris McNeil, Pro Se Plaintiff
Email: Click here to email with web form
Case: 2025-CP-10-05095, Charleston County Court of Common Pleas
Document Access
Exhibit: Systems Analysis of the McNeil v. SAC 181 Dispute
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