Homeless hackers head to Noisebridge for shelter

[cgag]

There have been times I've wanted to read in the library at noisebridge, but all the couches are just covered in people sleeping, it's pretty frustrating. I feel for homeless people, but I don't think it should be noisebridge's problem. I know I'm more tolerant than most and it discourages me from coming, I'm sure there are many more who are driven away by it.

[j_baker]

It sounds like what you're trying to say is that this is a problem that's bigger than Noisebridge. I think that homelessness is a huge problem in San Francisco, and I think it's a shame that it's such a problem that Noisebridge has to make these decisions.

[wsargent]

Try the Mechanic's Library, off Market St near the Crocker Galleria.

[infinity0]

"not my problem" might seem like a reasonable position to take, but you can extend this argument and eventually conclude it's no-one's problem. or worse, some magical "other party's" (welfare state?) problem. this "not my problem" attitude is a big contribution to income inequality. it's "not my problem" to try to develop basic living conditions in those slums, all I give a shit is about this flashy shopping centre full of non-essentials!

not a very good long-term solution for a real problem. as the article says, a more productive approach is to ask, "how do you hack San Francisco's homelessness problem?"

[bifrost]

For the record, this is sadly one of the reasons I don't hang out there more. I can deal with bikeshedding and organizational issues, but the threat of bedbugs/violence are not things I am super interested in.

I do go there specifically to meet up with people, and I do occasionally hang out on the FreeNode IRC channel, but thats about it these days.

I still love the concept of Noisebridge and it needs to exist, but I am not really a participant there right now.

[ltcoleman]

In my opinion, all hacker spaces, co-working spaces, etc. need somebody to be the "bad cop". Building any size community requires members to participate. Tech people in particular are generally less likely to want to cause confrontation, but for the betterment of the community some policing is always needed. It really goes back to respect. Respect the community, and it will respect you back.

[mcpherrinm]

Definitely. Maybe Noisebridge is a cool place to be, but I hear stories like this often enough and it really makes me never want to go there.

I've been to plenty of other spaces and it can be a cool scene, but Noisebridge's reputation isn't good.

[narrator]

Three easy rules would solve everything:

1. No TVs allowed on premise - Gets rid of slackers, stoners and people who don't like to work.

2. No alcohol - Gets rid of endless trouble and alcoholics.

3. People must shower on a regular basis - Gets rid of the mentally ill.

[j_baker]

I'm inclined to say that hacker spaces should have showers. That way there's no excuse. Plus, it makes it easier to work out there as well.

[hmsimha]

I haven't been to noisebridge, but I think some kind of requirement of a proactive attitude towards helping out with the space in some way, whether it be creating a banner, moving equipment, solicitation for new paid members, and cleaning would go a great way towards improving the community as well.

[Matti]

"I'm about to explain to the people sleeping in the bunk beds that the bunk beds are not for sleeping.

It is hard for me to type the above statement without laughing, but I persevere."

https://www.noisebridge.net/pipermail/noisebridge-discuss/20...

[GuiA]

Some context for people who are not familiar with Noisebridge: the bunk beds are meant to provide a designated setting for napping.

https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Hacker_Stacker_Napping_Pods

[SixTwo_BlackMan]

All relevant mailing list threads are cataloged here http://shitnoisebridgesays.tumblr.com/

[misuba]

Housing strikes me as a pretty hackable problem. There's a lot of space between "residential hotels," Extended Stay America, and Airbnb, and there's a lot of potential especially in high-rent areas to come in under the cost of studio apartments by a lot, but still not be hovels.

If Soylent can find a market, surely there's a market for housing for hackers.

(It sounds like this isn't really quite the problem Noisebridge faces, but it's what it made me think of.)

[cinquemb]

This made wonder about the situation with a lot of houses that were foreclosed on over the years that are off the market ("owned" by banks and left in various conditions).

I wonder if someone could use the zillow api (or something in the open) in someway to deduce spaces/homes where people could invoke adverse possession and somehow work it into concepts of hackerspaces as far as funding and usage is concerned (maybe with some support of local communities as far as outreach and image is concerned), but with more lax requirements when it comes to allowing people to habitate.

IANAL, so all the specifics of how it would work out are hazy to me.

[SixTwo_BlackMan]

Vacancy rate in San Francisco is quite low.

[amha]

"And now they’re asking themselves a hard question: how do you hack San Francisco's homelessness problem?"

[hobs]

I like that "I am just hacking this sandwich."

[irunbackwards]

There's a pretty large discussion going on about this on the Noisebridge mailing list, just forwarded this link.

[dkuntz2]

Is it a public list? Can you post that link?

[SixTwo_BlackMan]

The article is alarmist, hardly anyone shoots up in the space anymore.

https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Meeting_Notes_2013_05_21#Di...

[yawnyawn]

this is enough of an issue that someone started a 'rooster brigade' to wake the sleepers up:

https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Rooster_Brigade

[deckar01]

If you can hack together some rent money, you can stay 2 blocks from Noisebridge at 20mission. A lot of my roommates are "hacking" life at Burning Man, but I might see if we can coordinate a Noisebridge group.

20mission.com

[varelse]

I once went there for a meeting. It's easy to miss the place because it's in a nondescript residential building in the middle of a somewhat iffy part of the Mission district.

I arrived in the middle of a confrontation that almost turned violent. I can't see how anyone could get work done in such a space but maybe I'm just an old fogie. The experience made me really appreciate what I have.

[GuiA]

Was it during a Tuesday night weekly meeting? That's when the tribal drama peaks.

[SixTwo_BlackMan]

https://twitter.com/AlSweigart/status/372432155483197440

[derleth]

> I arrived in the middle of a confrontation that almost turned violent.

Lemme guess: Lisp vs Haskell?