[ELECTRON] Is the Electron Club Becoming Too Political?

Wed May 13 22:59:01 UTC 2009

V.2   "Get Wired at the Electron Variety Show"

Regards 
Nina Baker 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Being a councillor: http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/YourCouncil/Council_Committees/Councillors/w10c2694.htm
My steampunk blog:  http://greensteampunk.blogspot.com/
Maker fair blog: http://mcmadsat.blogspot.com/

--- On Wed, 13/5/09, Simon Yuill <simon at lipparosa.org> wrote:

From: Simon Yuill <simon at lipparosa.org>
Subject: Re: [ELECTRON] Is the Electron Club Becoming Too Political?
To: "Discussion list for the Electron Club" <members at electronclub.org>
Date: Wednesday, 13 May, 2009, 11:48 PM

It's good to see some discussion on the list.

I think Nina's choice of the word 'variety' sums up the open day
better
than 'political', there's a big variety of stuff in there and, as
Ben
says, it reflects the mix of people currently using the space. The
makers are there, the social-techies are there, the activisty types are
there. There's actually nothing new in any of that, previous open days
have had a pretty similar mix of stuff and people and they all seem to
get along pretty well with each other and I don't recall anyone trying
to tell anyone else what they should or should not think. What I do
recall is some healthy discussion and whole big range of people having a
good time.

I'm guessing people's concerns are about Plane Stupid being involved,
but perhaps the fairest thing is to let one of the group running that
workshop explain what they'll be doing?

It says on our website 'green technologies' are part of our remit, and
even if not everyone agrees with their methods, green technology is
something that people in Plane Stupid are very passionate about. We've
had other stuff like this in the past. Our first open day had paintings
of nuclear power stations by Marianne Greated that were exploring issues
around nuclear technology, and one of our first public workshops was one
on alternative technologies by the artist (and activist) Beth Hamer. As
I recall it was very well attended by quite a mix of people, so there's
definitely an interest in those things out there.

Technology touches people's lives in many different ways, if an Electron
Club Open Day can reflect some of that variety then I think it's a good
thing and no harm can come of it.

In response to Jame's points about Digital Desperadoes, this is what
Nosheen said when she introduced herself to the list:

"I would also LOVE to run our
short film course for young women at the electron club and also use this
as a way of easing them into learning about the world of open source as
i have ALWAYS felt that women have been under-represented in the world
of tech, especially women of colour. They've/we've more been
relegated to the position of manufacturing technology."

I think she's making a fair point, and if people wish to criticise forms
of exclusion then tackling these issues would be good place to start.

As for people walking in uninvited during a workshop, we are an open
space so it is going to happen from time to time. Best way of dealing
with it is to say 'hello' and introduce yourself.

And that's what the Open Day is about too, saying 'hello' and
introducing ourselves in all our variety.

best wishes
Si

makerfair wrote:
> Be assured of variety of makery!!
> 
> 
> Regards 
> Nina Baker 
> 
>  
>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Being a councillor:
http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/YourCouncil/Council_Committees/Councillors/w10c2694.htm
> My steampunk blog:  http://greensteampunk.blogspot.com/
> Maker fair blog: http://mcmadsat.blogspot.com/
>  
>  
> 
> --- On Wed, 13/5/09, ben dembroski <ben at dembroski.net> wrote:
> 
> From: ben dembroski <ben at dembroski.net>
> Subject: Re: [ELECTRON] Is the Electron Club Becoming Too Political?
> To: "Discussion list for the Electron Club"
<members at electronclub.org>
> Date: Wednesday, 13 May, 2009, 10:08 PM
> 
> I've always thought of open days as being, well, open.  Bring and show
> yer stuff.   I know in the past, we've encouraged outside groups /
> people to show 'n tell too.   So if makers wanna show, by all means
> please do so.  But I'd hate to see anyone excluded because they
> weren't makery or techy enough.
> 
> There's lots of kinds of hacking...
> 
> 2009/5/13 makerfair <mcmadsat09-makerfairglasgow at yahoo.co.uk>:
>> Despite being a political animal, I find myself broadly agreeing with
> James
>> Watt's sentiments, at least in regards to the open day.
>>
>> Regards
>> Nina Baker
>>
>>
>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Being a councillor:
>>
>
http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/YourCouncil/Council_Committees/Councillors/w10c2694.htm
>> My steampunk blog:  http://greensteampunk.blogspot.com/
>> Maker fair blog: http://mcmadsat.blogspot.com/
>>
>>
>>
>> --- On Wed, 13/5/09, James G Watt <kinetic-arts at ntlworld.com>
wrote:
>>
>> From: James G Watt <kinetic-arts at ntlworld.com>
>> Subject: Re: [ELECTRON] Is the Electron Club Becoming Too Political?
>> To: "Discussion list for the Electron Club"
> <members at electronclub.org>
>> Date: Wednesday, 13 May, 2009, 9:44 PM
>>
>> James Beeley wrote:
>>> Looking at the program for the planned open day, and the web
calendar,
> I
>>> can see a lot of political activity which doesn't seem to have
>> anything
>>> to do with open-source software, hardware hacking, amateur radio,
> video
>>> editing or any of the other stated aims of the club.
>> I don't really want to get into what politics should or
shouldn't
> be on
>> display but I have to admit I find myself thinking an open day should
be
>> less
>> 'this is what we stand for here' and more 'this is the
cool
> stuff
>> what we make here'.
>>
>> If I went to an electron club open day I'd want to see hear and
touch
> lots
>> of electronic stuff doing electonic things.
>> --
>> 	\        oo
>> 	 \______|\mm
>> 	 / K-9 /\ \_\
>> 	/ ___ /  \/_/
>> 	|/___\|___|
>> 	-----------
>>   www.clockworkrobot.com
>>
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