[hackerspaces] Failing/failed hackerspaces

Fri Apr 4 21:57:24 CEST 2014

Both are examples of what I'd like to hear about (especially if there's a
happy ending to the story that includes how things were turned around).

On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 2:53 PM, Sung won Lim <4phlebas at gmail.com> wrote:

> Well there could be something like a completely corrupt and abusive
> hackerspace that earns enough money to keep the doors open. You could
> always get unpaid interns make things and then sell them/offer the process
> as classes without crediting them.
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 3:50 PM, Randall G. Arnold <
> randall.arnold at texrat.net> wrote:
>
>>   Yeah, it's really easy to spawn tangents on this topic.  ;)
>>  If a space fails to appeal to visitors, yet is still successful for the
>> regulars, then I guess it loses its designation as An Official Tourist
>> Attraction.  More beer for the locals.
>>
>>  Seriously: if you're pleasing your target audience, yet irritating
>> people you didn't target (even inadvertantly), I fail to see a problem...
>> unless said outreach was part of the mission.  But even then, not a failure
>> unless the administration fails to investigate and address.  Just an
>> opportunity (sorry, old corporate habit).
>>
>>  And if pleasing visitors is ouside the mission, or is seen as obviously
>> more work than it's worth, then no real issue.  Also still more beer.
>>
>>
>> On April 4, 2014 at 2:41 PM Crawford Comeaux <crawford.comeaux at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>  What about failing to be fun/appealing to visitors from other spaces?
>> Disregard if that also leads to hair-splitting ;)
>>
>>
>>  On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 2:37 PM, Randall G. Arnold <
>> randall.arnold at texrat.net> wrote:
>>
>>   That's another question that requires context.  I doubt the locals
>> would see it as failing, even as global community might.  And not to
>> nitpick, but failing what?  I agree with Mark: if it's open it's certainly
>> not an operational failure... but I can see where some might see
>> *philosophical* failure if it didn't meet certain conventions.  And even
>> THAT starts up the usual hair-splitting...
>>
>>  It's Friday.  No hair-splitting for me.  ;)
>>
>>  Randy
>>  Tarrant Makers
>>
>>
>> On April 4, 2014 at 2:24 PM Crawford Comeaux < crawford.comeaux at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>  Would a failing space be one that may be locally successful, but viewed
>> negatively in the global hackerspace community?
>>
>>
>>  On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 2:22 PM, Mark Henderson <mhenderson683 at live.com>wrote:
>>
>>  I define a failed space as one who's no longer in business.  Doors
>> closed, memberships cancelled, 100% out of business.
>>
>>  ------------------------------
>> Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2014 12:50:39 -0400
>> From: 4phlebas at gmail.com
>> To: discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> Subject: Re: [hackerspaces] Failing/failed hackerspaces
>>
>>
>>  Define failed hackerspace- if a nasty space keeps on chugging along
>> through geographical/media clout despite severe issues, is it a successful
>> space?
>>
>>  -sung
>>
>>
>>  On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 12:45 PM, Jesse Krembs <jessekrembs at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>  Hey Matt
>>
>>  I would argue that neither the HHH or the L0pht are good examples of
>> failed spaces.
>>  The HHH was a residence first in my view and just happened to be
>> populated by hackertypes.
>>  The L0pht predates the modern hackerspaces era, was private and was a
>> unique beast, also it  didn't so much as get bought by corporate interests
>> and sold out to (or bought in).
>>
>>  3rd Ward might be better example. (makerspace).
>>
>>
>>
>>  On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 12:35 PM, matt <matt at nycresistor.com> wrote:
>>
>>   > 1.  What are some well known failed spaces to the discussion group,
>> and
>> > what caused them to fail?
>>
>>  HHH ( all the things ), L0pht ( purchased by corporate interest ),
>> Countless tiny unheard of spaces.
>>
>>   > 2.  Are there any spaces that are "too big to fail", i.e. too much
>> money is
>> > invested in the space - so much so that it has become a disservice to
>> the
>> > community instead of an asset?  What are some of the common mistakes
>> > that spaces make that keep them from growing or succeeding?
>>
>>   Noisebridge.
>>
>>  I'd ask you this.  Is growth success?  Start with what your own metric
>> for success is.  If you are just building a physical edifice to your own
>> interest, you've probably already failed.  If you are trying to start a
>> movement to support a crusade... again you've failed.  If you are just
>> trying to find a group of people you want to hack with... then all you need
>> is enough people to be happy and survive.  What keeps people from success
>> generally, is failing to identify what their metric for success is.  Or
>> trying to do too many things.  You can't be all things to all people.  The
>> other big one is believing there is a community to support your goals when
>> sometimes there just isn't.  And the last and worst... thinking you can
>> turn running a hackerspace into a career.
>>
>>  > 3.  Has anyone taken failed models and used them as sort of a "this is
>> what
>> > not to do" list?  Where could I source that info?
>>
>> http://hackerspaces.org/images/8/8e/Hacker-Space-Design-Patterns.pdf
>>
>>   > 4.  For people new to this industry, what are some of the common
>> > newcomer mistakes in starting up a makerspace/hackerspace that you
>> would
>> > have liked to been made aware of so you could have avoided them and
>> > saved yourself a massive headache?
>>  Trust every member of your space as if they had keys to your home.  If
>> you can't do that, you've already failed.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>   On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 12:13 PM, Mark Henderson <mhenderson683 at live.com
>> > wrote:
>>
>>    I have some questions about failed or failing hackerspaces and
>> makerspaces.
>>
>> 1.  What are some well known failed spaces to the discussion group, and
>> what caused them to fail?
>>
>>  2.  Are there any spaces that are "too big to fail", i.e. too much money
>> is invested in the space - so much so that it has become a disservice to
>> the community instead of an asset?  What are some of the common mistakes
>> that spaces make that keep them from growing or succeeding?
>>
>>  3.  Has anyone taken failed models and used them as sort of a "this is
>> what not to do" list?  Where could I source that info?
>>
>>  4.  For people new to this industry, what are some of the common
>> newcomer mistakes in starting up a makerspace/hackerspace that you would
>> have liked to been made aware of so you could have avoided them and saved
>> yourself a massive headache?
>>
>>  Thanks!
>>
>> Mark Henderson
>>
>>
>>    _______________________________________________
>> Discuss mailing list
>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Discuss mailing list
>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  --
>> Jesse Krembs
>> 802.233.7051
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Discuss mailing list
>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list
>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Discuss mailing list
>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Discuss mailing list
>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Discuss mailing list
> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.hackerspaces.org/pipermail/discuss/attachments/20140404/16579be8/attachment-0001.html>