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Start a computer club in the place that you live (2023)

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Re: Start a computer club in the place that you live (2023)

#11

Post by t_mann »

> meetups about "how to node.js apolitically" are sidelining people who want "how to node.js pro-socially."

This statement did turn me off a bit. "how to node.js apolitically" would in practice ofc just be "how to node.js", which should be perfectly fine for a computer club, just as a pro-social computing course. Maybe someone wants to use their computing skills for social good, maybe they want to use them for bioscience, smart contracts, home automation, or maybe they just want to create a website for their corner shop. I feel like all of those should have a place in a computer club.

Re: Start a computer club in the place that you live (2023)

#12

Post by easterncalculus »

t_mann wrote: post #11

> meetups about "how to node.js apolitically" are sidelining people who want "how to node.js pro-socially." This statement did turn me off a bit. "how to node.js apolitically" would in practice ofc just be "how to node.js", which should be perfectly fine for a computer club, just as a pro-social computing course. Maybe someone wants to use their computing skills for social good, maybe they want to use them for biosci…

Rent alone is expensive enough, having rules that micromanage the many ways people have reasonable conversation and give basic presentations is only going to get your space killed from people wanting to stir up drama. There are enough real problems running these, there's no point in creating more of them.

Re: Start a computer club in the place that you live (2023)

#13

Post by rickcarlino »

gnabgib wrote: post #9
rickcarlino wrote: post #3

I run a maker space in Saint Charles, Illinois. We have space to host these sort of things. If you live near here and (like me) are interested, please reach out. My contact details are easy to find.

Do maker spaces federate in any way? Examples I can think of are a bit bougie, but golf clubs or professional clubs where there are sister chapters/courses in other regions. It would be so cool to visit a maker space when in a different town (or country) with some degree of attached reputation (won't damage things, know the safety rules, history of good conduct).

Sort of. We work pretty closely with the nearest makerspace and have a thing where we will split membership fees of people who wish to join both (a common thing if you live half way between the two places).

Unfortunately, there is nothing like this at the national or global level that I am aware of.

Re: Start a computer club in the place that you live (2023)

#14

Post by bigstrat2003 »

t_mann wrote: post #11

> meetups about "how to node.js apolitically" are sidelining people who want "how to node.js pro-socially." This statement did turn me off a bit. "how to node.js apolitically" would in practice ofc just be "how to node.js", which should be perfectly fine for a computer club, just as a pro-social computing course. Maybe someone wants to use their computing skills for social good, maybe they want to use them for biosci…

For me it was the part where the author claims that "computing is political", therefore computer clubs should be too. Computing is very much not political. It's a tool. Like any tool, it can be used for various ends, both political and apolitical. If you want a computer club, have a computer club. If you want a political club, have a political club. But I think forcing the two together weakens both pursuits.

Re: Start a computer club in the place that you live (2023)

#15

Post by plantwallshoe »

t_mann wrote: post #11

> meetups about "how to node.js apolitically" are sidelining people who want "how to node.js pro-socially." This statement did turn me off a bit. "how to node.js apolitically" would in practice ofc just be "how to node.js", which should be perfectly fine for a computer club, just as a pro-social computing course. Maybe someone wants to use their computing skills for social good, maybe they want to use them for biosci…

I read that mostly to mean that the club shouldn’t be about once specific thing/topic so it has broad appeal to anyone interested in computer

Re: Start a computer club in the place that you live (2023)

#16

Post by monocasa »

bigstrat2003 wrote: post #14
t_mann wrote: post #11

> meetups about "how to node.js apolitically" are sidelining people who want "how to node.js pro-socially." This statement did turn me off a bit. "how to node.js apolitically" would in practice ofc just be "how to node.js", which should be perfectly fine for a computer club, just as a pro-social computing course. Maybe someone wants to use their computing skills for social good, maybe they want to use them for biosci…

For me it was the part where the author claims that "computing is political", therefore computer clubs should be too. Computing is very much not political. It's a tool. Like any tool, it can be used for various ends, both political and apolitical. If you want a computer club, have a computer club. If you want a political club, have a political club. But I think forcing the two together weakens both pursuits.

Tools are political. They're constructed to fulfill people's needs.

"Political" doesn't have to mean 'relating to a political party or election'.

Re: Start a computer club in the place that you live (2023)

#17

Post by plantwallshoe »

bigstrat2003 wrote: post #14
t_mann wrote: post #11

> meetups about "how to node.js apolitically" are sidelining people who want "how to node.js pro-socially." This statement did turn me off a bit. "how to node.js apolitically" would in practice ofc just be "how to node.js", which should be perfectly fine for a computer club, just as a pro-social computing course. Maybe someone wants to use their computing skills for social good, maybe they want to use them for biosci…

For me it was the part where the author claims that "computing is political", therefore computer clubs should be too. Computing is very much not political. It's a tool. Like any tool, it can be used for various ends, both political and apolitical. If you want a computer club, have a computer club. If you want a political club, have a political club. But I think forcing the two together weakens both pursuits.

I think computer is political in the way art is inherently political. Even if a piece of art isn’t explicitly about politics (an oil painting of a sunset), it’s still born of the lived experience and thoughts and emotions and politics of the artist.

Re: Start a computer club in the place that you live (2023)

#18

Post by pkdpic »

> the recurse center social rules foster collaboration and psychological safety, consider using them

> No well-actually’s > No feigned surprise > No backseat driving > No subtle -isms

There seems to be something really magical about the Recurse Center social rules. Or maybe their admissions process. Or both. I did a batch a couple years ago and I was stunned at how fun and drama-free people are there. I've heard occasional stories of negative experiences but nowhere near what Id expect for a group of passionate intelligent creatives working at vastly different levels of expertise.

Anyway glad to see the RC rules propagating and love this idea. I'm inspired to try to start a computer club at my 5yo's school! *crossed-fingers

Re: Start a computer club in the place that you live (2023)

#19

Post by treyd »

bigstrat2003 wrote: post #14
t_mann wrote: post #11

> meetups about "how to node.js apolitically" are sidelining people who want "how to node.js pro-socially." This statement did turn me off a bit. "how to node.js apolitically" would in practice ofc just be "how to node.js", which should be perfectly fine for a computer club, just as a pro-social computing course. Maybe someone wants to use their computing skills for social good, maybe they want to use them for biosci…

For me it was the part where the author claims that "computing is political", therefore computer clubs should be too. Computing is very much not political. It's a tool. Like any tool, it can be used for various ends, both political and apolitical. If you want a computer club, have a computer club. If you want a political club, have a political club. But I think forcing the two together weakens both pursuits.

> Computing is very much not political.

This is obviously false with a tiny bit of consideration.

If your definition of "computing" is narrowly constrained to the abstract mathematical reasoning then sure.

But if we consider a broader scope, then computers, the internet, and how the software we use to interact with them are designed is absolutely a political topic due to how it shapes not just interpersonal interactions, but also the kinds of business models that are possible and, downstream of that, modern society as a whole. Among other issues.

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