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<b><small>On 3/3/2012 1:03 AM, t l wrote:<br>
<br>
Intolerance against the less fortunate, pushing Occupiers
around,
bullying on our forums, and increased denial of access, all make
for a
crummy social and work environment for your average NBer.
Indeed, if
someone wanted to help NB rip itself apart, these are just the
kind of
tactics they'd employ: spreading fear and denying access.
anti-Occupy
crusaders turn people off at least as much as the homeless do,
if not
more.
It isn't easy to tolerate diversity, or those whose
understanding
doesn't seem to match our own. But we must tolerate it and
projects
like Occupy. The real Occupiers aren't lazy or just out for a
handout.
They're working to make things better for themselves and
everyone else
by demanding change from the system that keeps so many down.
They want to stop the hate and increase access for the people -
exactly what NB believes in. Some people want to hate on Occupy,
others are hating on gays, and that's "doing their thing."
Tom </small></b><br>
<br>
<br>
Sorry for the text-compacting there.<br>
<br>
I have a mixed reaction to your post, Tom7879 (there sure are a lot
of Toms, I guess!) On the one hand I'm in sympathy with some of what
you've said. The recent discussions about closing the space at 11pm
from now on, and hints that the kitchen's current AWOL status could
become permanent, have put a bad taste in my mouth. As a lifelong
night owl and supporter of "Tastebridge" despite its occasional
shortcomings (I want it to be more than a glorified soup kitchen), I
feel some of the measures currently in place or being considered are
not the answers to our problems. Also I just gotta say - sorry, I
know lots of people put time & thought into this - but the
constant door buzzing drives me nuts. I'm almost always focused on
something I'm working on when at NB, and my concentration is so
easily shattered by a persistent door buzzer that I have to get up
and answer if no one else does. Then again I realize what an
insufferable hypocrite this makes me, since I'm always grateful when
someone buzzes me in lately, and I can't necessarily suggest a
better solution to the door policy at the moment. So that is what it
is. <br>
<br>
Bellyaching aside, I want to add that for the most part I think
there's been a great deal of positive change in the space lately and
it seems to me NB is on the road to recovery after dealing with what
might be called the Occupy Problem. (Now hold on - I'm an Occupy
supporter and consider myself part of the movement - keep reading.)
When I've come to NB over the past couple weeks or so it has more of
the feeling of industriousness and happy hackers at work and less
oogles, trolls, orcs, kling-ons, opportunists, what-have-you. It's
encouraging enough that I've made a decision that after the second
issue of our zine (ZiP) comes out at the beginning of April, barring
an unforeseen onslaught of suckitude at Noisebridge, I'm going to
pony up my $40/month, jump through the necessary hoops, file the
necessary papers, kiss the appropriate asses, to become a genuine,
card-carrying Noisebridge Member (unless I am denied...) At last,
commitment! And not to an insane asylum (yet). <br>
<br>
You, Tom, have drawn a correlation between the homophobic outburst
of someone in the space - someone who may well not be a legit part
of the NB community - and the recent crackdown on parasitism and
abuse of the space by people whose primary objective is not hacking.
I don't think this comparison stands up very well. Your suggestion
that hate-mongers have been drawn here because rumor has it NB is
now a hive of hatred and bigotry is kinda silly, dude. I'll wager
the majority of NB members responsible for the recent crackdown
would also have opposed the behavior of the Unidentified Gaybashing
Guy (UGG) you describe. I certainly would. Taking steps to safeguard
a hackerspace in order to ensure its resources are used for the
intended purpose is not equivalent to hate speech or prejudice! That
is straight up disinfo. <br>
<br>
I'm gonna be a pain in the ass for all the malcontents, because
you're going to have a hard time accusing me of being an Occupy
hater, or anti-homeless, or proponent of a strict closed-door,
Members-only policy. I was an active participant in OccupySF last
year (before I ever came to Noisebridge), recently spent 6 months
living more or less on the street, I'm currently a squatter (as I
continue to say, to the annoyance of many), Homes Not Jails member,
homeless advocate, and outspoken critic of the Sit/Lie i.e. Harass
the Homeless ordinance and other discriminatory legislation. I'm
going to trial in September to contest a bullshit infraction that a
Police Inspector Guy (PIG) gave me for napping on the Civic Center
lawn at 4pm (They're hoping I'll chicken out or just give up &
pay the fine - they don't know what a royal pain in the ass this
tiger can be!) But I'm also a responsible adult (part of the
time....I'm working at it), which is why I've never slept at
Noisebridge, and why I support the efforts of members to clean up
the space, which had gotten a bit out of control - let's face it.<br>
<br>
In short: thanks for your post, your heart seems to be in the right
place, but I would question some of your thinking. Btw, I'm going to
be @ NB this afternoon to partake in a new homebrewing project
(shit...wait....is the kitchen back in operation yet?) and also
tomorrow to catch part of the fascinating Ayahuasca forum before I
have to cut out for the Agency Salon at Langton Labs (which I am
also very much looking forward to). See you around I hope.<br>
<br>
<br>
Tony<br>
<br>
<br>
PS We want ongoing coverage of Occupy and related protest movements
for our Zine in Progress (<a href="http://zine.noisebridge.net">ZiP</a>)
and need someone to write it! I did a shitty job of it last time.
Contact <b><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:zipzine@riseup.net">zipzine@riseup.net</a></b><br>
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<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<b>TLongshanksLT</b></div>
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