[hackerspaces] membres hogging space and a lot of tables

dosman dosman at packetsniffers.org
Thu Nov 6 22:35:53 CET 2014


Sounds like your case is one for adding a rule and enforcing it then. It's tough, you have members getting the most out of your space but now you don't have enough space to support everybody wanting to use it at once. This can also be used to leverage a push to find a larger space if you are still growing. But that's not a quick fix of course.

Thankfully we have the "Running A Hackerspace" tumblr to express ourselves now:
http://runningahackerspace.tumblr.com/post/69395989568/when-a-member-keeps-leaving-their-project-in-the-social
http://runningahackerspace.tumblr.com/post/59882209008/when-a-member-is-upset-they-cant-leave-their-huge


On Nov 6, 2014, at 4:15 PM, Florencia Edwards wrote:

> I'm with you dosman that the best way would be asking them. But we've been asking forever, and they hog more space now. They put all of their stuff there like really messy and complicated so you can't just grab it or order it. And every day of the month they sit in the same table, so they sort of reserve the spot putting things on there
> 
> 2014-11-06 18:11 GMT-03:00 dosman <dosman at packetsniffers.org>:
> Yuk, my suggestion is to avoid passive-aggressive maneuvers like this. Rearranging your space just to fix a social problem invites further travels down this path which ends in clean desk policies and efficiency specialists assigning taped off places for each item allowed on your desk (some sarcasm there in case it wasn't detected). Seriously, just directly ask the space hogs to be more mindful about how much space they use (tactfully of course). I'm sure some times during the week are higher use than others, they should be willing to accommodate during those times at the very least. When the space is in less demand they can take up all the free space if they like, otherwise be prepared to loose tables as they are needed.
> 
> -dosman
> 
> On Nov 6, 2014, at 4:06 PM, Volatile Compound wrote:
> 
> > Assigned workbenches / tables / desks / whatever for supporting members. Don't push them together; it encourages territorial expansion. Any of their crap not on, under, or over their workspace is fair game for cannibalisation or being thrown out.
> >
> > Newcomers take their chances. If they can find somewhere to work on something, great, but they should keep it portable (read: able to be taken home except by prior arrangement).
> >
> > And enforcing all of this is key. Kind of like how a kid won't believe that you really will take the vacuum to the Legos on the floor until one of them ends up in the bag, pitching out projects that have spread to every corner of the room won't be taken seriously until it happens.
> >
> > - skroo.
> >
> > On Nov 6, 2014 12:49 PM, "Florencia Edwards" <floev22 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi everyone, we have this problem: some members tend to use a full table for themselves, and they tend to need more and more square feet for their stuff and hacks. But this means new comers have less space. Do you have a technique for administrating this better?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
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