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

startacomputer.club

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

#41

Post by goosejuice »

isoprophlex wrote: post #29
pkdpic wrote: post #18

> 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 occa…

How do they make that work, you think? Could you say a bit more? One weirdo can severely mess up group dynamics, which is deadly for a small nascent club-type thing. What if you have someone join who's ferociously intelligent, and not outright evil but just inherently socially maladjusted? You just kick em out if they can't help themselves to continuous "well actually"s, even though they mean well? That in itself mig…

Any public school teacher should have some good advice on this one. Clubs have a lot more leeway on solutions!

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

#42

Post by goosejuice »

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.

Pollyanna and graceful ordinary aren't terribly bad neighbors to have. That's some nice real estate you got there! Farmbot is one of the coolest projects around.

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

#43

Post by hermitcrab »

I would quite happily volunteer some of my time to help interested kids with computer programming. I recently looked around and none of my local school (here in the UK) seem to have after school programming clubs. I am a bit put off by all the organizational and safe guarding issues that would come with starting something.

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

#45

Post by bhasi »

pkdpic wrote: post #18

> 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 occa…

Have faced "feigned surprise" from coworkers in my career and can confirm that it is very damaging for self-esteem. Remarkable that this is so widespread that it found a place in the list as one of just four rules of behaviour to avoid.

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

#46

Post by znpy »

> computing is political, so let computer club be political too

this is an instant turn off. this phrase means that the "computer club" is really a political club that lures people through computers.

in my experiences those places are always driven by some kind of narcissistic psychopath that wants everybody to align to their view of the world.

i'd stay away from those places. the risk outweighs the benefits.

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

#48

Post by mordae »

znpy wrote: post #46

> computing is political, so let computer club be political too this is an instant turn off. this phrase means that the "computer club" is really a political club that lures people through computers. in my experiences those places are always driven by some kind of narcissistic psychopath that wants everybody to align to their view of the world. i'd stay away from those places. the risk outweighs the benefits.

Hello, possible narcissistic psychopath here!

I definitely indoctrinate young kids in our local computer club into thinking that:

1. You can DO STUFF with computers!

2. You can build your own computers!

3. It's nice that one can use this stuff called open/free software, so why not share ours with the world as well?

I even go as far as giving the kids USB keys with Live Fedora. Teaches them to -- looks around, making sure nobody is listening in on us, then continues in a hushed voice -- boot from different media to break free of our corporate overlords!

I don't really feel any shame over this. Especially since their schools push Microsoft so hard.

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

#50

Post by mordae »

kybernetyk wrote: post #22
plantwallshoe wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Not everyone revolves their life around politics.

Everybody does. Every day.

According to Wikipedia, Politics:

> is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals

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