Geek Feminism: "The biggest enemy of hackerspaces"

[terriko]

New post to Geek Feminism, in which I try to get people talking based upon this link that radhardened pointed out:

"The biggest enemy of hackerspaces"

I think commenter Meg nailed the more interesting problem on the head by saying that the real question is how to adapt the hackerspace model so that it's useful to a wider range of people, including those who may have not as much time. It seems like dreamwidth has done a pretty interesting job of making the open source model more attractive to more folk, and I'd love to see this done for other geek pursuits...

I'm trying to imagine drop-in fees for hackerspaces. Perhaps do it like the yoga studio I used to attend, where rather than paying for x months, you pay for x classes (or x days at the hacklab). Or playgroups for adults with kids (although I suppose some of the things around hackerspaces are dangerous, it might be possible to make a play area and have parents take turns watching the kids). Or... Hm. I'm curious as to what people already do. Perhaps another post will have to follow later.

Comments

[robbat2.livejournal.com]

For the Vancouver hackspace, we DO have an option for drop-in fees:

$50/month - keyholder member, if several other members will vouch for you.
$25/month - non-keyholder member.
Suggested donation of $5/visit - drop in on tues/thursday nights.

[terriko]

Yet another reason to want to visit vancouver. :) (Although I shouldn't gripe -- hacklab.to let me visit no problem.)

Hey, did you want a dreamwidth account? I've got a couple codes left, and lj's being stupid lately, rewriting affiliate links, which might not affect you but still seems evil enough that you might want to leave.

[terriko]

Link for LJ rewriting links, in case anyone's curious: http://vichan.livejournal.com/392527.html

[robbat2.livejournal.com]

I just tested with a second browser (both konq and firefox) that was logged out, and it doesn't seem to be the case.

I would happen to like a code, but I'm mainly on LJ for the existing communities that aren't moving.

[terriko]

Hopefully that means they've fixed things -- they did promise that they would once the complaints started, I think.

Anyhow, here's a code, all linkified for your ease of use:

https://www.dreamwidth.org/create?from=terriko&code=73GN3EXCJE6RWAAAFTEU

[robbat2.livejournal.com]

I have a couple of concerns about the Vancouver hackspace lately:
- the space is not accessible in the slightest. There are lots of stairs (some quite steep), and no elevator.
- First time attending females have noted that the only way in via the back alley is quite dodgy at many hours of the day, due to our location in the Downtown Eastside (poorest postal code in Canada...). You WILL pass people doing hard drugs. Short of moving where the rent is way higher and the location is much less accessible, there's not much we can do about the actual alley. We do offer and strongly encourage safewalks (even for many of the males) as a mitigation factor, but you need to know about them ahead of time (like the phone number to call and ask).

[terriko]

Sadly, even "nice" neighbourhoods can be surprisingly unsafe (I know a couple of people who were mugged in one of the most affluent neighbourhoods of Ottawa), but that does sound worse than most.

Safe walks are a good idea, though, if moving isn't an option. I wonder if it would be possible to somehow light up the alley (e.g. huge floodlights from your door? maybe cameras too?) to make it less attractive to the people you don't want to attract? Universities have to do this sort of stuff, since no matter how nice the university it's going to attract people who like to prey on attractive young women. :P