The most essential discussion about barcamp

[Tushar Neupaney]

Though, the content given below developed by my friend "Lawang Tshering Bhutia".
I too support and adhere for this one. Group, please provide a more positive and rational opinion regarding this view.

An Ideological Conflict

On the eve of this year’s Barcamp, we have come face to face with the inevitable. Yes, such a thing was bound to happen, sooner or later, given the independent and DIY nature of the event. Preparations are underway and all commitments have been made, irrevocably. The event is slated for this weekend and everyone is busy with trying to plan the program in the best possible way, just like they did in the previous two editions, except for one little glitch that almost no one seems to be bothered with. Again, if you think hard, it is the same openness of the event that has let this thing go unnoticed. The ‘thing’ in question is the decision of this year’s Barcamp organizers to introduce a new kind of session, namely the panel of ‘prominent’ speakers who will be educating and inspiring, and above all sharing experiences as well as expert advice with the participants. And, in fact, it is also a very good thing to have such people in the event because of the value attached with them. Without a doubt, their presence will largely influence the size and nature of the crowd on the day of the event, maybe even adding to its popularity. However, this new ritual leaves us wondering at the philosophical side of the program and what that means to us as organizers. Of course, this might seem to many as a cynical viewpoint as it tries to undermine the value a well-known speaker can bring to the event and the obvious benefits to all participants. But, have we stopped to spare a thought at the broader consequences of such a decision? Doesn’t it compromise the essence of Barcamp in a way? For two years, Barcamp has been giving us the opportunity to bring together people from all walks of life with the pure intention of sharing their ideas in a completely open and free environment. So, unlike other similar programs, most notably TEDex, Barcamp is distinctly known for its openness to all people and its non-hierarchical structure where the participants ARE the presenters. And for good reason too. Because, if the event has a set group of speakers responding to queries from the audience, first off, the flow of audience between the speaker sessions and the participant sessions will be highly inconsistent resulting in confusion over the whole structure of the program and, secondly, since Barcamp is an open event, the ‘prominence’ of the main speakers will always remain disputed. Let’s not also forget our motive behind holding such a program in a country like ours, where social disparities are so evident that introducing even the slightest hierarchy could mean alienating a large group of presenters, because essentially we are not just seeking an audience, we want to bring as many people on to the stage and let them have their say. Most importantly, the presence of a ‘panel’ makes the event complicated when it is anything but. Who can decide the members of the panel? Or Why do we even need a panel for speakers when it is clear enough that anyone can register sessions and have a discussion on the day of the event? Why all this attention for a handful of people? Questions like these will very likely arise among many of the participants. Or, maybe, they won’t. But, shouldn’t those of us who care about Barcamp and its importance to the people start to think more rationally about where we are taking it?

~ tushar

[Bibek Paudel]

Thanks for posting this Tushar, and thanks to Lawang.

- I am not aware of the discussions or preparations about this year's
BarCamp but it is a great thing that BarCamp Kathmandu is in it's
third year and is alive and kicking. The people involved in it deserve
appreciation, and I give them all. Best wishes !

- on a side note: I have personal objection for all the discussion
being done on facebook, which I rarely use, and I think not all people
use it (or should use Facebook) as opposed to email. But again, it
depends on how the people involved want to carry it forward, and I
assume that maybe I am getting older and that Facebook is better than
email for people younger than me ;)

-----------------

As a distant observer, here are my views on the points raised in this
email. Please note that these views are my personal ones:

- there were ample opportunities in the previous years (especially
during the first Barcamp) for the people who took the lead in it to
monopolize the event or impose their personal ideas.

- To the best of my information, the openness of the event was always
maintained and it has always been the aim to engage newer people each
year. I think this aim has largely been successful.

- The same set of people doing things each year only causes stagnation
and slows down the process of open and free engagement. For this
reason, things were kept as open as possible- and no such thing as
"guidelines" were also introduced, no such thing as a permanent
organizing committee or organization was associated with it. As much
as it was possible, the event was promoted as a "common event" of all
enthusiastic, open-minded and innovative youths that we could meet. By
allowing each participant to take the lead, it was hoped this process
of freshness and openness would continue. I hope this continues.

- No speaker was ever formally requested or invited to give a talk.
There had been talks of "inviting" people like Gagan Thapa etc to give
a talk, but all such ideas were rejected later because BarCamp
Kathmandu was meant to be a audience led un-conference and not
speaker-led. Essential campaigning, on of social media and internet
and word of mouth advertisement was done, but it was considered that
people should be interested themselves in attending or presenting a
session in it- and should not be persuaded/invited to hard do so.

- So much that, too-much advertisement of the event was sometimes
considered harmful as unnecessary crowd would increase the noise and
reduce the signal.

- There were also possibilities for the events to be associated with
some sponsor/organizer. I remember from the first BarCamp that one
sponsor had asked the event to be named along with the company's name-
like ABC BarCamp. The consensus at that time was to avoid such
situations. But again, no rules or regulations was thought necessary.

- These are only my personal opinions and I only wanted to share some
experiences from previous years. I don't imply that things should be
done the way they were done last year or the year before that-
otherwise the claim of "openness" is only shallow- it is upto the
people involved to discuss and decide things, each time, for each
year.

- Let's keep discussions going in this mailing list. It is always good
to have them :)

Regards,
-b

[rabi...@gmail.com]

Hi Tussar and Lawang,

Thanks for raising the issue that would only help us to use our critical lenses to analyse our steps and learn from ourself. As saying goes, learning never ends and especially in regards to us, we are in stage of learning by doing. 

You have raised some very valid point and agreeing to your point, I also think time has come for BarCamp to have retrospect and use those learning so that instead of us busying ourself on such issues, we have pressing issues in hands, such as  how to make BarCamp - more action orientated. Of course this also needs intense discussion and understanding among us.

I wholeheartedly agree to your view that BarCamp stands out in front of TED or any other event because we give focus to participants not hierarchy. And this is a founding principle of BarCamp which should always be protected and promoted. There have been few shortcomings and most of us are also partly to be blamed. We didn't participate in the meetings at first place or didn't hear the minority voices. But still we have time to rectify shortcomings and make the event a successful one.

In my view, following things could be done.

• OPTION 1: BarCamp is open to all irrespective of age, personality, ideas or hierarchy. All the people are welcomed. Since most of the people have already been approached for Panel Discussion, I assume correct me if i am wrong, and letting them know that we have decided to kill the Panel Discussion would only bring focus on our creative differences. So instead of doing so, what we can do is treat this session as another session. It will have exactly the same time as other session (presuming 30 mns) and the hall would be provided as per the picks/interest of participants. This session will not be different than other session and treatment would be done as equal to others.
• Who selects the members and why? This is not BarCamp sponsored panel discussion but a speaker's another session. Likein  any other session where speaker selects the topic and necessary contents, selection of panellists should be left solely on speaker's judgement. But speaker needs to clearly articulate this in his/her session plan and to BarCamp committee.

• OPTION 2: Kill the whole concept of panel discussion (on consensus of BarCampers) and instead request them (approached panellists to register session and be speaker if they wish on the issue they wish as any other speakers.
• In addition to these, idea of having food stall should also be killed. Basic catering service that provide lunch and tea/cookies (if possible free, if not at nominal cost) is enough as last years.

Also i think though we do not believe in rules and regulations but time has come to come up with something like guidelines that just stipulates basic norms and ideas behind BarCamp so that tomororw when new batches of people come in and organize they keep the essence of barcamp and such confusion do not exist.

But the time has come for all of us to rally behind and make this event more successful. 

P.S. if any of us is missing from the msg, can someone volunteer to forward it.

Rabindra

--
-----------------------------------------
http://barcampktm.wikispot.org
-----------------------------------------
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "BarCamp Kathmandu" group.
To post to this group, send email to: barca...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: barcamp-ktm...@googlegroups.com
Group Page: http://groups.google.com/group/barcamp-ktm

[Bibek Paudel]

On Tue, Aug 2, 2011 at 10:24 AM, rabi...@gmail.com <rabi...@gmail.com> wrote:

> promoted. There have been few shortcomings and most of us are also partly to
> be blamed. We didn't participate in the meetings at first place or didn't
> hear the minority voices. But still we have time to rectify shortcomings and
> make the event a successful one.

On this, and on the possible options, I present my opinion further
down in this mail :)

> In my view, following things could be done.
>
> OPTION 1: BarCamp is open to all irrespective of age, personality, ideas

<snip>

> OPTION 2: Kill the whole concept of panel discussion (on consensus of

<snip>

SUGGESTION 1: To avoid such situations in the future, keep the
discussions open. An event cannot be open with the discussions being
closed. I think open discussions always include things like emails
(mailing list), wiki etc. Attending meetings (for people not involved
in the groundwork) is very un-BarCamp ;)

-b

[Tushar Neupaney]

I personally appreciate your view rabindra.

I guess the discussion about the guideline should continue and people in and around must not confuse about the essence of barcamp.

The flaw i guess is that, we did not provide any guidelines and we were not available during the decision days of the event. The whole problem began there.

But is this still that late? I guess we still can solve the issues and move on.

Guys, there are always disagreements, discomforts and diverse opinions in a democratic and free program like barcamp. 

I guess we must have broad minds to incorporate and act for the mass even at the day of barcamp, we have still days ahead of it.

~ tushar

[Prashant Shrestha]

Hi Guys,

I appreciate everyone's views and opinions but I am more worried about other things right now like sponsors and sessions and logistics. We must try to come to common grounds and not let this issue jeopardize the event because I see it going in that direction. We all have put in a lot of time and energy and I would really hate it if it goes to waste and I might loose faith in the whole philosophy of the event. So please everyone try to come to terms and lets focus on other pressing issues. It's sad to say but we still don't have confirmed sponsors except one. So please use your resources to pull in as many sponsors as u can.

[Sangita]

Sorry for caps..mistake

On Tue, Aug 2, 2011 at 2:42 PM, Sangita <sangit...@gmail.com> wrote:

Dudes,

NOW ITS NO TIME TO DISCUSS ANYTHING HERE..ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RAISED BEFORE..WE ARE 3 DAYS FAR FROM EVENT AND NOW WE ARE FACING THIS..WATEVER THIS TIME..LETS LEAVE THIS EVENT AS IT IS FOR THIS YEAR..AFTER THE EVENT , WE WILL DECIDE WHAT SHOULD WE DO OR NOT IN COMING YEAR...BUT FOR THIS YEAR CONCENTRATE IN EVENT...PLEASE...SPONSERS WE NEED SPONSERS..

--
-----------------------------------------
http://barcampktm.wikispot.org
-----------------------------------------
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "BarCamp Kathmandu" group.
To post to this group, send email to: barca...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: barcamp-ktm...@googlegroups.com
Group Page: http://groups.google.com/group/barcamp-ktm

--
Sangita

Young Innovations Pvt. Ltd,
in...@yipl.com.np
http://www.yipl.com.np
P.O.B: GPO 8976 EPC 241
Pulchowk, Patan

--
Sangita

Young Innovations Pvt. Ltd,
in...@yipl.com.np
http://www.yipl.com.np
P.O.B: GPO 8976 EPC 241
Pulchowk, Patan

[Sangita]

Dudes,

NOW ITS NO TIME TO DISCUSS ANYTHING HERE..ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RAISED BEFORE..WE ARE 3 DAYS FAR FROM EVENT AND NOW WE ARE FACING THIS..WATEVER THIS TIME..LETS LEAVE THIS EVENT AS IT IS FOR THIS YEAR..AFTER THE EVENT , WE WILL DECIDE WHAT SHOULD WE DO OR NOT IN COMING YEAR...BUT FOR THIS YEAR CONCENTRATE IN EVENT...PLEASE...SPONSERS WE NEED SPONSERS..

On Tue, Aug 2, 2011 at 2:23 PM, Bibek Paudel <eterna...@gmail.com> wrote:

--
-----------------------------------------
http://barcampktm.wikispot.org
-----------------------------------------
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "BarCamp Kathmandu" group.
To post to this group, send email to: barca...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: barcamp-ktm...@googlegroups.com
Group Page: http://groups.google.com/group/barcamp-ktm

[Manish Shrestha]

THANK YOU SANGITA!!!

Lets focus on more important details right now.

Manish