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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)

#61

Post by terrabitz »

technion wrote: post #28
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 can this work in practice? "The sky is green". How do you answer this without breaking the first rule?

> The best rule of thumb is, if you’re not sure whether something needs to be said right now, hold off and see what happens. You can always say it later if it turns out there’s no way for the conversation to move forward without your correction.

From the context, it sounds like it's not so much about "don't correct people" as much as it's about "don't uselessly correct someone to showcase your own knowledge and not advance the conversation".

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

#62

Post by TeMPOraL »

MrVandemar wrote: post #34
bigstrat2003 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

A firearm is a tool. Do you think firearm ownership and usage is free from politics? Do you think a gun club is free from politics?

> Do you think firearm ownership and usage is free from politics?

Of course not.

> Do you think a gun club is free from politics?

That depends. Is it a "let's talk everything about guns"? Is it a "let's go to a shooting range and shoot guns" club? There's a place for people to discuss things, there's a place for people to do things together, and neither might be a good place for people willing to be political in the sense of some people trying to coerce club members into specific beliefs, or trying to make the organization pursue some social cause.

Want to have a social gun club? Find or start one specifically about gun-related social causes! There's space for that too!

Really, all this "political" vs. "not political" boils down to people wanting to "talk shop", discuss technical or practical or emotional aspects of something, without feeling coerced to join causes and judged for not joining them, or otherwise have their standing as a human being questioned by some zealots.

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

#63

Post by dv35z »

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.

Hey Rick! I visited Fox.build a few years back - your maker-maker space is truly an inspiration, and I'm looking forward to visiting again soon. Thank you.

// JRO from Cambria Labs

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

#65

Post by rickcarlino »

dv35z wrote: post #63
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.

Hey Rick! I visited Fox.build a few years back - your maker-maker space is truly an inspiration, and I'm looking forward to visiting again soon. Thank you. // JRO from Cambria Labs

Looking forward to it! Speak soon. Just saw your RSVP - I do remember you! Glad to hear you are still working on your project.

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

#66

Post by Abimelex »

I am very glad that we have Chaos Computer Club in Germany. It's by far more than just a time and place where nerds meetup to do computer, they are already some kind of institution, they have a voice in politics and often requested for independent consulting. But "doing computer" is how it all started.

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

#67

Post by linsomniac »

Around Colorado we call them Hacking Society, and the easiest way we've found to get space has been at coffee shops, though over the years some businesses have opened space for us at times. Considering we've been getting together 3 times a month for nearly a quarter century, you'd think we'd have had more time to update the webpage. https://www.hackingsociety.org/
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