[H-GEN] Room Bookings Update

[Arjen Lentz]

Hi Clinton,

On 14/01/2009, at 2:09 PM, Clinton Roy wrote:
>> When I walk into a HUMBUG meeting, I see some scary people
>
> Whilst I agree there are scary people in the group, and suspect that
> we would both agree on who the scary people are, how on earth do we
> set up unambiguous rules about kicking such people out?
>
> I guess this covers most of it for me:
> * does not wear shoes
> * does not use soap
> * goes to sleep during meetings
> * tries to electrocute/burn/explode/implode oneself
> * displaying objectionable material
>
> though I'm sure there are others. Perhaps a civility code of conduct
> (similar in principle to ubuntus) could be written up.
>
> I would propose a warning system, three strikes and your out. Each
> strike should be decided on by an exec member. Three strikes means
> expulsion from the club for at least a year.

I would prefer creating an atmosphere that by itself encourages  
different behaviour...
A HUMBUG meeting *is* called a meeting, so people are not just there  
for themselves - they are there together with others, even if they  
don't chat with others very much there's still some interaction in  
terms of general presence. So yes all your basics should certainly  
apply. What amazes me is that this is even an issue that needs to be  
addressed... in short, what are people thinking! How did it get to  
this point?


>> and a few small groups of people that appear to be having mostly
>> a social gathering.
>
> I guess I tend to do my techy stuff in a social way at humbug, after
> my talk last week we went for dinner and continued to talk about
> robitics for a while.


Sounds good.


I think there are different things going on....
  - purely social gathering. Call them geek dinners/BBQs, no need to  
even go to UQ for that.
  - talks, could be done weekday evenings also, doesn't have to be at  
UQ, no dragging of lots of gear.
  - *fests (hack-, install-, help-, whatever) could be done less  
frequently, in current setting.

A meeting can't be everything to everybody. Otherwise indeed you get  
little cliques that don't interact as well as people who stay outside,  
and of course people who will never even enter the room as it's too  
confusing (apart from the potential scary factor).

Cheers,
Arjen.
-- 
Arjen Lentz, Director @ Open Query (http://openquery.com.au)
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