User:Mcint/TendingTheCommons: Difference between revisions

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If you're demanding of a meal—actually, you will often find someone who can help you out—give you the benefit of the doubt that we can engage with you well, and that you have other ways of engaging with the world than just demanding things. Hunger makes us so.
If you're demanding of a meal—actually, you will often find someone who can help you out—give you the benefit of the doubt that we can engage with you well, and that you have other ways of engaging with the world than just demanding things. Hunger makes us so.


it's tough, you think, only rich people can do this, i've heard this thought expressed. but people who come to noisebridge are not rich in what they earn — other people who earn the same or more can live paycheck to paycheck, always in fear of what they're soon to lose.
"It's tough," you think, "only rich people can do this," I've heard this thought expressed. But people who come to noisebridge are not rich in what they earn — other people who earn the same or more can live paycheck to paycheck, always in fear of what they're soon to lose.
So, being rich then, is not about earning a lot (that can helpfully contribute), but moreso about choosing to live within your means.
So, being rich then, is not about earning a lot (that can helpfully contribute), but moreso about choosing to live within your means.



Revision as of 21:56, 28 April 2023

Noisebridge has famously few or minimal rules.

It's not true that there are no rules, but instead true that we ask for, and rely on, good intent, good enough intent, to engage in good faith, especially when requested, or to leave the space.


Context

or My Intent, and How to Read This Post.

This is intended as a statement about my own beliefs about noisebridge, my gathered observations and inferred rules about how the collection—of individuals who chose to keep returning and participating—functions, and suggestion, or selection from observed possibilities, of norms to help the space operate well—i.e. to help as many individuals as possible, to use the space as much and as well as possible, in ways that don't unduly interfere with or inhibit others from using the space.

This starts from ethnography, I want to build from the stories that people tell themselves about their participation in and use of the space, but weave a

If you would like to add more, add your own story, or to give other feedback, please use this page's Talk page (labelled Discussion in page's header).

Inferred Agreements

Or Schelling points.

Contra-indication: Privatizing the commons

In a classic case of a bright red line rule, or maybe I should call it a guideline is: there's no sleeping at noisebridge.

The issue with sleeping in the space, is not: sleeping in the space. The issue with sleeping in the space is that it's an easy bright red line, a clear behavior, common knowledge observable fact, of someone privatizing the commons, someone meeting their needs using the common space of Noisebridge.

We want to be kind, to be giving —— that is one of the natures of the place, of a hacker spirit, giving maybe more of knowledge, tricks, and fun, but giving.

Needs-Taking versus Getting By and Giving

(If noisebridge is where you come to give, you're going to have a better time. If it's where you come to take what you need, people aren't going to be able to give very much, and after a while aren't going to want to. And might have grown tired of dealing with you.)

There's a funny balance. People who need help (in whatever way, there are many ways that people can need help, from psychological to a meal to fixing a stitch or an engaging conversation). If you can meet your needs without unduly, or say excessively, affecting others, then you're welcome to use the space as others make it available.

If you're demanding of a meal—actually, you will often find someone who can help you out—give you the benefit of the doubt that we can engage with you well, and that you have other ways of engaging with the world than just demanding things. Hunger makes us so.

"It's tough," you think, "only rich people can do this," I've heard this thought expressed. But people who come to noisebridge are not rich in what they earn — other people who earn the same or more can live paycheck to paycheck, always in fear of what they're soon to lose. So, being rich then, is not about earning a lot (that can helpfully contribute), but moreso about choosing to live within your means.


You can decide who you are by deciding your reaction:

  1. Oh, Noisebridge is a great big pile of money, I'm going to take some for me.
  2. Oh, Noisebridge is a flickering candle, I need to pour in some more wax.

We are faced with this choice every time we visit. Every person who sees you, understands something about what your choosing.

Recognition

If you give, widely, and consistently, even if you don't give much, people will know you as someone who gives. This convinces many people to try interacting with you, trusting that it could go well. Some will try to scam you, but many, many more will try to engage productively.


A peace can be formed, but mum must be the word, each visitor's invited, to use, share, give; and shepherd in their turn.

Contributing

You don't have to be rich to contribute. You do not need to contribute monetarily. You don't have to be a member or an associate member ("philanthropist").

The most valuable thing, valuable for each of us, to ourselves, is our time. However, what's most valuable to you may not be what's most valuable to the community or other individuals in it.

Time, work. Money, as possible, as convenient.

Some people have used noisebridge as a way to accelerate their life. They found access to tools, and to a community, and so a place to find joy and hone a craft as a jumping off point, a starting point, for a career, a job building a unique cool thing for the world (e.g. 3D printing companies, hardware, or software) that they first learned at noisebridge, honed and improved upon with the network they met through here, and eventually built it up to a point that they were ready to show the results to the broader world, and sell them, no less!

Generally, unique skills are good ways to contribute. Things you do (would do) anyway, things you find joy in. Teaching is an especially powerful example of this, but also maintaining public or guild-managed areas of the space, or of the resources of the community. Not to mention introducing others to the space and gentle and unobtrusively checking if they're ready to participate in the ways that the space and members can support.

Credit (Recognition)

My desire to write this point came out of a number of discussions with active and sometimes visitors to noisebridge. Cloud wished to be acknowledged for our discussion inspiring, or specifically asking me enough for me to realize I should write about this.