Rhetoric, Negativity and Feelings

[SM Newstead]

Fellow HSL members: 

Indeed, negotiation is the cornerstone of compromise and therefore in decision-making between differing groups of individuals. While we have had problems with civility in the past, I think the introduction of the code of conduct (CoC) has held our membership to a higher standard and we have found even better ways to communicate with one another. 

Though our CoC is very good at explicitly forbidding such behaviors as hate speech, it is less clear about rhetoric which may be demoralizing or hurtful. This is directed at no one in particular, because we can always alter our speech to be more conscientious of our colleagues. Our CoC needs a few modifications to encompass more nonspecific behaviors that might be more ideological. 

I'd like to give my perspective as a woman who is often around other women. We don't like aggressive speech. We often don't like people's projects being called by the word "garbage." Women will often just leave instead of outwardly expressing their dismay. I am an exception, so listen! If the men at our space are having their feelings hurt, I guarantee we are not a space where most women want to be, or maybe even anyone. We need to be inclusive and even if we don't like someone's goals and projects, we can express it compassionately and respectfully. **I do not speak for all women; this is merely my perspective as one. 

Part of this is people expressing how they feel in the first place; no one is a mind reader. Two people told me that they are "totally fine" with their little passive-aggressive war against each other's stations, but I would hazard that both of their feelings are actually hurt and they don't want to look "weak" by expressing that sensitivity. But you should know I'm proud of our sensitive, intelligent membership, and I will not let anyone question anyone's masculinity or any other bullying due to them expressing their feelings. I'll also add that a board member should be more impartial and be an exemplary model of civil rhetoric. All board members, all of us, past, present and future. We are HSL members too, and sometimes we forget our first job is to expedite the dreams of those who voted for us. 

People become defensive when they feel attacked and then they attack back and the other party is defensive and then it becomes a volatile situation. Luckily, we have rules and guidelines to make these endeavors less personal. For example, if a proposal was passed by simple majority with a quorum of eight members, it requires another proposal to undo that proposal. Our system for getting rid of items is the parking permit/ticket system, which would need another proposal to eradicate. But also, the city guidelines come into play. We are not supposed to have anything upstairs. We do not want to invite extra scrutiny when we do not have a certificate of occupancy and cannot obtain one. So even though some people facilitating the clean can be gentler with their rhetoric, they also must be frustrated in this catch-22 where HSL answers to a higher power, so to speak. The city is far more formidable than any HSL member is and they outrank us; we are facilitating that requirement. 

I volunteer to facilitate any mediations between any members to resolve recent feelings. While some people could stand to be less harsh or direct, other members could be less argumentative or negative. It is a venture which goes both ways, and no one party is singly to "blame." This entire email is not to place blame at all, but to come to resolution for us all. We are at a critical juncture, here. We are quickly becoming a redundant model with two opposing schools of thought at war (coworking and making), while still in the midst of a pandemic and we rely on donations. If we don't figure this out, we will fail. I will not allow that to happen. I'm inviting private messages to initiate mediations right away, but I hope everyone, including me, will try to respect people and their projects more, be cleaner and tidier, hoard less, be flexible and make it work. 

Also know, in following weeks, I will be introducing proposals for various by-laws changes which I will compose after consulting with our community individually and collectively. I welcome and invite all input and assistance. Some of the proposals you can anticipate include an accountability process for board members, an inspection system for incoming donations, an official mediation system, mandatory agenda and parliamentary procedure for all meetings, an obsolete/unused station repurposing procedure, modifications to the existing CoC, clarification on history/future of do-ocracy, a reopening plan, an organizational plan and a layout plan. 

Please know I'm speaking down to no one. I have been conspicuously absent due to my poor health and my station was the messiest in the space and is also stagnant and underused for a while. I have progress to make and a community to which I must be accountable. We're in this together and we'll fix this together!

Shaundra Newstead

[Eric Ose]

What is any of this about? Is there any possible way to give context since it was clearly and deliberately omitted? As someone who hasn't been able to attend the lab I'm very confused.

Looking forward to may 18th when my vaccination is finally complete. Also of course hoping that enough people take precautions seriously that we see a further reduction in the pandemic.

-Eric Ose
Robot Ambassador
Southwest Maker Fest President

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[SM Newstead]

Oh, it wasn't omitted at all, and certainly not deliberately, although I didn't make it very obvious. I didn't mention it until much later in the chunk of text, sorry. Lately, it's been difficulties with cleaning up HeatSync, but it's been an ongoing issue for a long time. I'm not sure if you're on Slack at all. 

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[Eric Ose]

OK thanks for clarifying.

This reminds me that I had considered adding How to Be Nice to our new member orientation, but I never did it. In retrospect it was a better idea than I thought.

-Eric Ose

Robot Ambassador

Southwest Maker Fest President

HeatSync Labs Volunteer

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