[Noisebridge-discuss] why cointelpro2.0 kills community

Jacob Appelbaum jacob at appelbaum.net
Thu Mar 27 02:14:50 UTC 2014


Hi,

I didn't vote in the last election because I was told that I was no
longer a member in good standing. I was told later that this was
because I hadn't added some nonsense text to my wiki page about being
a member. The person informing me didn't bother to add the text but
they did take the same amount of effort to blame me for having not
done it myself. I didn't agree with adding that text to my wikipage,
as I don't feel it is reasonable for anyone to have to out themselves
as a member.

As a result, I was left with the understanding that I shouldn't vote.
I didn't bother - the vote counter had informed me that my ballot
wouldn't be considered valid, after all.

I didn't bother to fight this because I didn't want to give the
impression that any of this process is legitimate. It isn't.

I'm really heartbroken to see that Noisebridge has been taken over by
petty tinpot dictators who basically hijacked our little non-profit
because they were too incompetent and lazy to start their own. The
worst is that some of the best Noisebridge folks were played by some
really awful folks with awful intentions.

In a sense, I think it is sad: Many people have poured their hearts,
their wallets and their lives into Noisebridge.

In a sense, I think it is deserved: We failed to stop informants,
infiltrators and other jerks from ruining our community. We failed to
ensure that the board represented the consensus of the Membership.
Apparently, "we" have even failed to keep consensus as far as that
worthless board is concerned.

As usual, the ladder climbers ruined it and they did it from the top
down. I'm sorry that our structure wasn't able to handle them. I feel
personally responsible for not helping to build a more resistant
structure.

The community was beautiful for a time and that time has long since
passed. Like Tibetan butter sculptures: all things come to an end.

This monochrom art project has run its course,
Jake



More information about the Noisebridge-discuss mailing list