[Noisebridge-discuss] A modest proposal

[Martin Bogomolni]

> I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't think there was a point.  Your
> question is phrased disingenuously but I'll honor its intent.

You're right.  I actually didn't mean to have that negative a tone.
The way you took it, is pretty much what I meant to say in the first
place.  I'm getting a bit more cynical lately.

> Membership is a social contract giving the member certain rights and
> obligations within the noisebridge community.  Ability to fully participate
> in the consensus process. A sense of security against witch hunts and oogle
> raids. A sense of responsibility to fulfill obligations that have been taken
> on, including but not limited to a recurring donation.  Social Contract. You
> know, the power and engine of an anarchist system??

Indeed.  However, the idea of volunteering time vs/ having a recurring
donation of time spent doing something requires some kind of feedback
mechanism.   Money is easy, because you give the money first, and then
things X, Y, and Z happen.

Volunteering instead of paying a membership due is an interesting
proposition.   My next statement does tie into it!   The IRS _does_
care about value and time given.  So, if someone is expected to
perform $80/month worth of tasks, it means assigning values to tasks,
and making sure the task is completed.   Assuming minimum wage, that's
~10 hours worth of volunteering.

> I have worked with lots of people in lots of different settings, and my
> social science data tells me that creating a structured relationship between
> a person and an organization increases the persistence of that relationship.
> The more clearly defined the terms of that relationship are (as well as
> being well-matched in terms of scale of commitment) the more likely the
> relationship is to succeed.

I'm in complete lockstep agreement.

> I know it's a popular meme to say 'membership doesn't get you anything!' but
> maybe we want to rewrite this thought.  We should use our meta-linguistic
> programming to reinforce the algorithms we prefer. If we want our social
> contract to have strength, we would do well to give it its due.

That means giving it some hysteresis/feedback mechanism.  Actions
leading to actual consequences.

[ snip ]