Do-ocracy: Difference between revisions

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Typically when someone wants to do or change something big at Noisebridge, they bring it up at a meeting and it goes through our [[Consensus Process]]. Most of the time many of us just don't want to be troubled with spending a week figuring out if everyone is ok with a small or mundane thing, and so there's Do-ocracy. Do-ocracy tends to work just as long as our only rule is followed, to be excellent to each other.
{{doocracy}}


'''Do-ocracy: If you want something done, do it, but remember to be excellent to each other when doing so.'''
{{headerbox}}<font size=5>'''Do-ocracy''' is a decentralized, [[anarchy|anarchist]] way of deciding and managing how things get changed, and is the main way that things get done at Noisebridge.</font>
 
It can be summed up as follows:
 
<blockquote>'''Do-ocracy:''' If you want something done, do it, but remember to be excellent to each other when doing so.</blockquote>
{{boxend}}
 
[[File:Do-ocracy Poster - DO IT - 2018-08-11 revision (small).png|thumb|right|Do it [[posters]]]]
[[File:Do-ocracy Poster - DO-ERs DECIDE - 2018-08-11 revision (small).png|thumb|right|Doers decide [[posters]]]]
 
Do-ocracy applies to almost everything at Noisebridge, with only a few [[consensus]] exceptions (often described as very big deep changes to Noisebridge as an organization). If you think it'd be cool to build something out of some parts in the Parts Repository, the tables should be re-arranged, or a new workshop should be built, '''you should do it'''! But remember to be excellent.
 
== How to do Do-ocracy ==
 
There are no formal rules to Do-ocracy, but here are some tips for smooth functioning Do-ocracy. Don't feel obliged to do any of them.
 
=== Be accountable ===
 
If you make a change that isn't terribly easy to undo, such as moving a projector, or which has impacts that can't be undone, such as putting a video on the projector that's potentially triggering of epilepsy, it's good to be accountable to those impacted by the change. Make sure that people know who made the change, so that they can clarify what's going on and how they're impacted. Write notes, post in Slack or on the mailing list, make announcements in person. Let people know you're responsible for your change.
 
=== Don't be afraid to do what you need to do ===
 
Sometimes you'll make a change Do-ocratically. Realize that you have to crack eggs to make an omelet and that most of the time it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.
 
=== Use little-c consensus ===
 
If you're concerned that a change may be a little too impactful to just do, and you want to make sure it's ok to do, speak to the people who are likely to be impacted. Be willing to find outcomes that everyone can live with.
 
If you dissent with a doacratic motion, start a conversation, blocking without engagement to find compromise is not excellent.
 
=== Don't use an either/or approach ===
 
If the particular thing you want to do is not supported by small-c consensus, either before or after the fact, explore other options. Try to achieve everyone's end goals, while being flexible with how you get there. It's often not the case that your only options are ''Do What You Want To Do'' vs. ''Do What They Want To Do'' look for a compromise. Usually you can find some other, third path to things which everyone can live with.
 
=== Be compassionate ===
 
Because it really sucks to have one's project trashed, or a workshop turned inside out by a project, or the like, you may find that you've Do-ocratically done something that makes someone irritated. While it's not Excellent for them to be aggressive or hostile, you should expect that they may be upset. Be patient and compassionate.
 
=== Don't be a dick ===
 
Even though it is extremely inconvenient to come back to a shop where everything is not where you left it, don't be a dick to the person who did it. Aggression and hostility should be expected; as a positive disruptor. Think first before you (re)act to the situation before you.
 
=== Do-er's Decide, Non-Do-er's Stand Aside ===
 
If you're not willing or able to put in the time or effort to hack, don't stand in the way of the people who are are. If you have opinions, be willing to hack. Offering advice is fine, but it's usually good to ask if it's wanted, and if not, don't give it.
 
== Fictionalized Examples ==


==Use Cases==
====The Short Version====
====The Short Version====
# Dick asks around if anyone would feel negative about the bike shed being pink. No one does.
# Fizz asks around if anyone would feel negative about the bike shed being pink. No one does.
# Dick paints the bike shed pink.
# Fizz paints the bike shed pink.


====The Being Excellent To Each Other Version====
====The Being Excellent To Each Other Version====
# Dick paints the bike shed pink.
# Fizz paints the bike shed pink.
# Jane becomes unhappy about the fact that the bike shed she helped build is now pink.
# Buzz becomes unhappy about the fact that the bike shed she helped build is now pink.
# Jane politely engages Dick in discussion about why he thought this was ok. Dick realized that other people he shares the space with have feelings too.
# Buzz politely engages Fizz in discussion about why they thought this was ok. Fizz realized that other people they share the space with have feelings too.
# Jane and Dick decide to repaint the bike shed blue.
# Buzz and Fizz decide to repaint the bike shed blue.
 
== Related ideas about do-ocracy==
*[https://communitywiki.org/wiki/DoOcracy Community.org Do-ocracy guide] lists many observations about how do-ocracies do and don't work.


====The What Normally Happens Version====
# Dick paints the bike shed pink.
# Noisebridge is now so large someone is bound to have an opinion about something (typically this ends up being someone who is either more or less living out of the space or who is almost never at the space), so Jane gets fucking pissed off at Dick and threatens his life. She's not a fan of pink and since she doesn't have a job and has been spending most of her time at Noisebridge, it's like a second home to her and she wants it run her way.
# They yell at each other for a while over the discussion mailing list, annoying hundreds of people.
# Dick makes Noisebridge a very unwelcoming place for the next week since all he wants to talk about at the space is how much of a bitch Jane is and how you should state so on the mailing list so as to tarnish her name.
# Jane gives #bantown Dick's home address and phone number.
# Dick ends up stating several times throughout the next month that he's leaving or has left Noisebridge, or any combination of the two.
# Jane, in retaliation to Dick constantly reverting changes she's made to the wiki, shits on top of the electronics bench. A statement to those (everyone) that haven't stopped talking to Dick. This is called an Austin Solder Puddle.
# Dick has dinner with Rueben and after a bit of small talk ends up back at his place. The next morning he wakes up in Rueben's bed, feeling a large pang of regret hit him. No shower will make him feel clean.
# At this point one of two things happen.
## Dick and Jane's friends overlap, they inadvertently end up at a bar drunk and make up. Crying in each other's arms about how much of a waste Noisebridge is.
## The drama continues until someone just gives up and moves on. At this point pretty much everyone's forgotten why this epic battle got started in the first place.


==Notes==
{{ManualPage}}
* Do-ocracy works most of the time. When it doesn't it sort of sucks.
* If someone nicely asks you to change something back, be nice back and just change it back.
* If someone's being a dick to you about something you've changed, be nice and just change it back. If you must cry about it only do so after you've restored things.
* If someone's being a dick for no reason, you must cut them.

Latest revision as of 18:28, 28 February 2023

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Do-ocracy | To-do-ocracy Thursdays | Edit
Do-ocracy is a decentralized, anarchist way of deciding and managing how things get changed, and is the main way that things get done at Noisebridge.

It can be summed up as follows:

Do-ocracy: If you want something done, do it, but remember to be excellent to each other when doing so.

Do it posters
Doers decide posters

Do-ocracy applies to almost everything at Noisebridge, with only a few consensus exceptions (often described as very big deep changes to Noisebridge as an organization). If you think it'd be cool to build something out of some parts in the Parts Repository, the tables should be re-arranged, or a new workshop should be built, you should do it! But remember to be excellent.

How to do Do-ocracy[edit]

There are no formal rules to Do-ocracy, but here are some tips for smooth functioning Do-ocracy. Don't feel obliged to do any of them.

Be accountable[edit]

If you make a change that isn't terribly easy to undo, such as moving a projector, or which has impacts that can't be undone, such as putting a video on the projector that's potentially triggering of epilepsy, it's good to be accountable to those impacted by the change. Make sure that people know who made the change, so that they can clarify what's going on and how they're impacted. Write notes, post in Slack or on the mailing list, make announcements in person. Let people know you're responsible for your change.

Don't be afraid to do what you need to do[edit]

Sometimes you'll make a change Do-ocratically. Realize that you have to crack eggs to make an omelet and that most of the time it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Use little-c consensus[edit]

If you're concerned that a change may be a little too impactful to just do, and you want to make sure it's ok to do, speak to the people who are likely to be impacted. Be willing to find outcomes that everyone can live with.

If you dissent with a doacratic motion, start a conversation, blocking without engagement to find compromise is not excellent.

Don't use an either/or approach[edit]

If the particular thing you want to do is not supported by small-c consensus, either before or after the fact, explore other options. Try to achieve everyone's end goals, while being flexible with how you get there. It's often not the case that your only options are Do What You Want To Do vs. Do What They Want To Do look for a compromise. Usually you can find some other, third path to things which everyone can live with.

Be compassionate[edit]

Because it really sucks to have one's project trashed, or a workshop turned inside out by a project, or the like, you may find that you've Do-ocratically done something that makes someone irritated. While it's not Excellent for them to be aggressive or hostile, you should expect that they may be upset. Be patient and compassionate.

Don't be a dick[edit]

Even though it is extremely inconvenient to come back to a shop where everything is not where you left it, don't be a dick to the person who did it. Aggression and hostility should be expected; as a positive disruptor. Think first before you (re)act to the situation before you.

Do-er's Decide, Non-Do-er's Stand Aside[edit]

If you're not willing or able to put in the time or effort to hack, don't stand in the way of the people who are are. If you have opinions, be willing to hack. Offering advice is fine, but it's usually good to ask if it's wanted, and if not, don't give it.

Fictionalized Examples[edit]

The Short Version[edit]

  1. Fizz asks around if anyone would feel negative about the bike shed being pink. No one does.
  2. Fizz paints the bike shed pink.

The Being Excellent To Each Other Version[edit]

  1. Fizz paints the bike shed pink.
  2. Buzz becomes unhappy about the fact that the bike shed she helped build is now pink.
  3. Buzz politely engages Fizz in discussion about why they thought this was ok. Fizz realized that other people they share the space with have feelings too.
  4. Buzz and Fizz decide to repaint the bike shed blue.

Related ideas about do-ocracy[edit]


Noisebridge | About | Visit | 272 | Manual | Contact | Guilds | Resources | Events | Projects | 5MoF | Meetings | Donate | (Edit)
Manual | Visitors | Participation | Excellence | Do-ocracy | Consensus | Standards | Outreach | Operations | Cleaning | (Edit) | Category