[hackerspaces] Do-ocracy at 140 members?

[James Carlson]

The challenge of the do-ocracy seems to center around the activities that
are necessary for the space to operate (members paying, cleaning, bills are
paid, utilities, maintenance of the space itself) vs the activities that
are creating in the space (building the electric car, painting the shed,
etc.)

We have staff who handle the former. For the latter we tell members our
space is a physical wiki they can edit, and any change is permitted as long
as it can be "reverted" in under 8 hours without prior discussion. (Ask
Permission Later.)

Our population is only half of PS1 and as we grow the speed of these edits
has slowed somewhat because members are more focused on their own projects
than on the community-affecting edits. Since our space is so huge, its
possible to just go somewhere else if you don't like what is happening
where you are.

In PS1's new space since its larger do you think this will be more or less
of a challenge?

On Thursday, July 12, 2012, wrote:

> I thought that the main idea behind do-ocracy is that people who "do",
> have the power. Protest is cheap, action is what is favored. So people
> who are ready to paint the bikeshed get to choose the color.
>
> do-ocracy != democracy. Ask for forgiveness rather than permission and
> in case of dissent, always consider forking.
>
> A place with 140 hackers is awesome, but if you feel like it is getting
> hard to get anything done, maybe it is time for a mitosis...
>
> ----- Mail original -----
> > De: "Tim Saylor" <tim.saylor at gmail.com <javascript:;>>
> > À: "Hackerspaces General Discussion List" <
> discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org <javascript:;>>
> > Envoyé: Jeudi 12 Juillet 2012 17:23:22
> > Objet: [hackerspaces] Do-ocracy at 140 members?
> >
> >
> > At Pumping Station: One we've used do-ocracy to get things done since
> > day one. However, at 140 members I wonder if the system breaks down.
> > It's not practical to "ask around" and see if anyone minds if the
> > bikeshed is painted pink. Someone's going to oppose almost anything
> > you want to do, and more people want to ask questions and bounce the
> > issue between themselves with not much productive output. And if
> > we're talking about an action that's not reversible, like getting
> > rid of "useless junk" that someone else thinks is very valuable, it
> > can really blow up.
> >
> >
> > Does anyone else have experience using do-ocracy at a large scale,
> > and how has it worked out for you?
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > @tsaylor
> > http://www.timsaylor.com/
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org <javascript:;>
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> >
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