[sudo-discuss] Sudo Room's Values, Participation, etc

[Eddan Katz]

I would like to quote a wise man (// Matt) who recently clarified the meaning of do-ocracy for Sudo Room --

It is the responsibilities of all members and anyone supportive of sudo room as an Association, bound by these articles https://sudoroom.org/wiki/Articles_of_Association, to act in good faith, fairness, and transparency as individuals of a collective. We have a responsibility to each other, and I personally encourage folks to take action in accordance with our values, standards, cultural protocols, and ultimately fairness in order for the collective to function well. To me, this is the value of do-ocracy. We have to remain diligent in being responsible, but not to stagnate, if possible.

I would add (on your behalf, if I may), the Trust and Compassion you've been trying to help frame for us.
Been enjoying those walks around the lake. We should do that for meetings generally, I think.

-Eddan

On Nov 13, 2013, at 4:14 PM, Matthew Senate <mattsenate at gmail.com> wrote:

> Heh, I'm glad this prompts more questions. 
> 
> I agree about Trust and Compassion--as well as that "value add" is a relative term. I have confidence in the ability of individuals to do-ocratically assess what value means with regard to sudo room, especially since we have a matrix of values which can be applied to various circumstances, objects, processes, etc.
> 
> Perhaps needless to say, I think shit swastikas **sigh** easily fit under making an environment unsafe for other folks, especially folks for whom that is a symbol of oppression, hindering active participation in sudo (or even be merely physically present). Sudo has codified this in valuing "safe space over ideology" pointing to this definition of safe space, used on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safe-space
> 
> A place where anyone can relax and be fully self-expressed, without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or unsafe on account of biological sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural background, age, or physical or mental ability; a place where the rules guard each person's self-respect and dignity and strongly encourage everyone to respect others.[1]
> —Advocates for Youth
> 
> 
> On Wed, Nov 13, 2013 at 4:09 PM, Craig Rouskey <craigrouskey at gmail.com> wrote:
> Matt, 
> 
> Thanks for writing this. I love SudoRoom's values, they're well thought out and are amazing. 
> 
> For me personally, Do-ocracy requires elements of Trust, Compassion (especially in moments where we as a community fall short of adhering to our values), and a Shared definition of what "Added Value" means.... (for example, while shit swastikas make for a interesting conversation starter in the bathroom, do they actually "add value" --?). 
> 
> Craig
> 
> 
> On Wed, Nov 13, 2013 at 4:02 PM, Matthew Senate <mattsenate at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey all, I've been thinking about some things and wanted to share a few thoughts:
> 
> Reflecting on this: https://sudoroom.org/wiki/Articles_of_Association#Values
> 
> I'm of the disposition that sudo room as a collective values "open, public discourses over closed proprietary processes" and I believe in good faith that this is held and executed by sudoers generally. I appreciate when folks want to offer positive acknowledgements, suggestions for improvement, and support to fellow community members. I also think that sudoers generally practice "do-ocracy over bureaucracy" with an added element of "access and transparency over exclusivity" in order to help that do-ocracy remain accountable and enable us to "solve real problems over hypotheticals, while respecting visions of the future."
> 
> Ultimately, it is my perspective that sudo room's various participants are interested in acting based on "community and collaboration over isolation and competition" not the other way around. I do not think things are perfect, but I think by and large folks do a good job of these things and everyone is interested in improving. 
> 
> From this point of view, I would like to express my excitement and encouragement for folks to reach out in various ways to add value to sudo room, and also to share and communicate at appropriate times. I firmly believe that the work executed on a recent topic, a particular grant application, was appropriate, and that while a message indeed would have been fine or even nice, ultimately, it was brought to everyone's attention at the right time--just before it was due seeking help and when it was confirmed that sudo would actually be a recipient of funds. I barely even remember working on it--I believe I gave some feedback or something, or perhaps was distracted by something else, I don't know. To be honest, applying to grants can feel like a game of chance, so I didn't put emotional stock into it.
> 
> In other words, I personally don't see any problem with folks reaching out on their own in order to add value to sudo room, especially when information is brought to light when the value-add is actually feasible or even confirmed. For instance, I think it's a great efficiency that Marc found a craigslist post for a free, modern, color printer, reached out to the poster, confirmed the pickup, picked it up, dropped it off at noisebridge, returned with a car to retrieve it from noisebridge, hauled it upstairs, cleaned the walkway area adjacent to the elevator, ran an ethernet cable, installed shelves, and plugged in the printer itself. It is unnecessary for him to have said anything about this for it to be a value-consistent value-add to sudo room. It could be nice, even advantageous to post it--maybe someone could have picked it up from noisebridge on their way home?--but in the end, it doesn't matter, and now this great resources is available for us to share and use. 
> 
> This to me is do-ocracy, and the minutia of timing the communication is less important if there is nothing to lose. Applying to grants gives us absolutely nothing to lose. I say: reach out. 
> 
> // Matt
> 
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