[hackerspaces] hackerspaces and depression

[Edward L Platt]

Seems like we could compile some good "do"s and "don't"s for hackerspaces
and depression.

On Mon, Dec 22, 2014 at 1:54 PM, Volatile Compound <
volatilecompound at gmail.com> wrote:

> One thing I'll add to this (and Ed and Randall's comments were spot-on):
>
> Birds of a feather flock together, and that's not necessarily a good
> thing.  The last thing that anyone suffering from depression needs is to be
> surrounded by other people with similar interests but who may be
> reinforcing - or at least not encouraging progression from - behaviours
> that may be damaging (and I use the word 'damaging' in a loose sense here;
> inclusive of but not limited to physical harm) to themselves and/or others.
>
> In my view, participation in a hackerspace *may* be a good thing. However,
> Randall nailed it with the following:
>
> > makerspaces should absolutely not be seen as solutions to depression...
> > but rather, one component in *possible* concert with more direct,
> > professional methods.
>
> By definition, these are *not* places designed to provide those
> approaches.  That doesn't mean that there cannot be therapeutic value, but
> to view them as any sort of answer to the problems an individual may be
> suffering from is, frankly, dangerous not only for that individual but also
> potentially the space as a whole.
>
> - skroo.
>
> On 12/22/14 10:42 AM, Randall Arnold wrote:
>
>> I have to second Ed's remarks, especially the governing board portion
>> and last sentence.  As therapeutic as making in good company can be,
>> makerspaces should absolutely not be seen as solutions to depression...
>> but rather, one component in *possible* concert with more direct,
>> professional methods.
>>
>>  On December 22, 2014 at 12:32 PM Edward L Platt <ed at elplatt.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> This is a complicated question.
>>>
>>> Speaking personally, hackerspaces have for me been many things:
>>> - A source of community and a place to get together with my friends
>>> and social support network.
>>> - A source of stress that I've had to step back from at times for the
>>> sake of mental health. This was mostly true when I was a board member
>>> and/or officer.
>>>
>>> Also, mentally ill or seriously stressed members who aren't seeking
>>> treatment and don't have healthy coping mechanisms can be extremely
>>> toxic for the community.
>>>
>>> -Ed
>>>
>>> On Mon, Dec 22, 2014 at 1:17 PM, Clement Quinson < clem at electrolab.fr
>>> <mailto:clem at electrolab.fr>> wrote:
>>>
>>>     Hi all,
>>>     what we've seen here, is that hackerspaces can help people with
>>>     depression in that:
>>>     - they're among similar minded people, what can be NOT the case as
>>>     an engineer/tech person working in the industry.
>>>     - the space is some sort of a social circle, in which interactions
>>>     can go much further than just sharing tools/projects.
>>>     - people can work on meaningful and/or interesting projects, not
>>>     only what you're told to work on to pay your bills.
>>>     I may forget other aspects, but these are the main that come to my
>>>     mind right now !
>>>     C.
>>>
>>>     On Mon, Dec 22, 2014 at 2:37 PM, Florencia Edwards <
>>>     floev22 at gmail.com <mailto:floev22 at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>>         More info everyone, please. Thanks
>>>
>>>         2014-12-22 1:10 GMT-03:00 Mark Janssen <
>>>         dreamingforward at gmail.com <mailto:dreamingforward at gmail.com>>:
>>>
>>>             Hackerspaces provide a space to express oneself creatively
>>>             and
>>>             productively in an otherwise destructive (semi-)economic
>>>             system that
>>>             would exploit such talent for non-creative ends. If you
>>>             need to know
>>>             more than that, you can email me personally.
>>>
>>>             marxos
>>>             _______________________________________________
>>>             Discuss mailing list
>>>             Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>>>             <mailto:Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org>
>>>             http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>         _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>     _______________________________________________
>>>     Discuss mailing list
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Edward L. Platt
>>> http://elplatt.com
>>> http://civic.mit.edu/users/elplatt
>>> http://i3detroit.com
>>> @elplatt <http://twitter.com/elplatt>
>>>
>>> This electronic mail message was sent from my desktop personal
>>> computer. Please forgive any long-winded, overly-prosaic ramblings.
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
>



-- 
Edward L. Platt
http://elplatt.com
http://civic.mit.edu/users/elplatt
http://i3detroit.com
@elplatt <http://twitter.com/elplatt>

This electronic mail message was sent from my desktop personal computer.
Please forgive any long-winded, overly-prosaic ramblings.
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