Hackerspace etiquette
Here is a small orientation to shared space etiquette.
General
- Less chat, more hacking!
- If you ask for help, don't expect people to come to you, take it to them.
- Talking, if you're going to be talking... a lot. Please, try to avoid the other members.
- Service staff.. there is none. Clean up after yourself.
- Want to visit? Please attend the Wednesday Open House from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Other visits are by appointment only. Send an email to info@xinchejian.com, unless you already know a member that will show you around.
Just do it! - Attitude
If you want to make a change, then just do it! if it doesn't get changed back, well.. thanks, it was a good thing!
Tools
If you are like me and pickup tools when you need them then put them down all over the place, at the end of your day in the hackerspace please take the next 10 minutes to go around picking up tools that you find all over the place and return them to the rack, also clean up any rubbish you might see and vacuum your nearby work area if you were: soldering, drilling, cutting, sanding, crawling in the dust, playing with water.
Think about it like this, someone will put them away, but then it will come to a point where that person will put the tools away permenatly behind a locked door.
Breakage
If you borrow a tool and break it, don't be afraid to admit it. Just help us replace the part. If it is a large expensive tool, please contact the owner for how to repair it. You might also learn something.
Cleaning
Need something to do? Bored in the space? We need help sweeping, tidying, vacuuming, maintaining, emptying the trash... Cleaning is not a low job. In fact, it's appreciated by everyone at the space, and relieves the pressure on the other members that do clean. Imagine if everyone cleaned their own mess, we would not need to clean for others.
If you think the space is dirty -- don't complain. Pick up a broom and clean. If you do complain, expect someone to give you a broom.
Chatting
Most members have a full time job, a family, or other commitments. Sometimes they wish to come to the space to work on a particular project. If they have their head down, and ignore you, don't take this as being rude. Understand that their time is limited.
(Imagine if you sat down to read a book and someone comes lurking over your shoulder and asks you questions about the back of the book.
Making a Recommendation / Suggestion
Usually people will be exploring and researching a particular topic. If they don't ask for your suggestions then don't provide one. You might think it will change the world, but keep it to yourself. If you want to make a suggestion, then fork their project, and demonstrate your solution. Don't talk about it.
2 types of people
There are 2 types of people - those that build and those that think. While those that think are great, exploring and 'doing' will achieve more. Success and failure are the same thing -- you learn something.
Positive attitude
Stay positive. If you're having a negative day, then stay home.
Hunger
The worst time to come to any hackerspace is on an empty stomach. Eat before you come. There are snacks for sale in the space.
Politics / Religion
People have opinions but most have strong opinions, starting a conversation about politics, religion, war, country will only get out of control, if you don't like what people have to say, and are intolerant about other people's beliefs then don't bring it up.
Property
- If it's not yours then don't touch. Quite possibly it's work in progress/delicate/expensive prototype / a trap.
- If it's not yours, and you want to touch, at least seek permission first. If you get hurt it was probably a trap.
- Don't complain to management.
Smoking / spitting / pornography
There is a zero tolerance for this in the space, go outside.
Thoughts to live by
Stare. It's the way to educate your eyes. Pry, Listen, Eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long. - Walker Evans
- (Just try not to piss off people why doing it.)
Experience is a difficult teacher, it gives the test first, and gives the lesson later. - Vernon Law
- (Try not to die in the space or kill someone.)
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. - George Bernard Shaw
- (unreasonable but polite please)
