[Noisebridge-discuss] Does NB want a combo washer dryer?

[Scotty Allen]

Sorry Rubin - I'm struggling to understand how someone who comes to
noisebridge to cook mac and cheese, wash clothes, hang out and surf
facebook on the public terminal, and sit on the couch and play
nintendo, with no other interest or interaction with the space, is
something that's beneficial to the space and worth encouraging. I
fully agree that providing hot meals, clothing, warm beds, and
internet to the local homeless population is a noble goal, but it
seems like there are other more appropriate organizations to provide
those things than Noisebridge.

And from lurking on the mailing list and the majority of the
interactions I've had in person, it doesn't seem to be what of others
think Noisebridge is about either.  But I also realize I'm relatively
new to the space and admittedly come from a relatively privileged
background, so maybe there's something I'm really missing here.

I don't think adding a washing machine to the mix would be a net win
for Noisebridge, for similar reasons I don't think adding bunk beds
would be a good decision.  (Though I'm worried that someone is going
to be a dedicated enough troll that both will be in the space by the
next time I make it up to the city).

Respectfully,

Scotty

On Tue, Apr 3, 2012 at 4:12 PM, Rubin Abdi <rubin at starset.net> wrote:
> Scotty Allen wrote, On 2012-04-03 15:22:
>> Ugh.  I think adding a washer/dryer to the space would significantly
>> encourage those not interested in hacking to visit the space.
>
> I really hate it when people try to define what hacking is. Let people
> do what they want to in the space if it isn't directly a problem for
> you. If the existence of objects/tools/classes annoys you because you
> feel it doesn't fit your cookie cutter notion of hacking, I would really
> suggest you talk with the people who think they do and learn why.
>
> The biggest reason why I feel like Noisebridge is still a successful
> space is that it doesn't directly segregate others on what they want to
> do. Pointing a finger and saying, "Ugh, this thing sucks and would make
> things horrible, and it'll bring people that aren't of our kind to be in
> the space space as us." is sort of how racialism and general hate happens.
>
> "Noisebridge is a hackerspace. An attendee of a hacker space is a
> hacker. A hacker is someone who hacks... This may be axiomatic, but it's
> also true." --Zephyr https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Quotes
>
> Seriously try to be a bit more open minded about ways people can use the
> space and a bit more open minded about others.
>
> And if you're annoyed by people using the _public_ terminals to use our
> _free internet_ might I suggest going to a shared co-working space where
> you have to pay for net usage.