[Swansea Hackspace] One day our space will be as wild as this

[Graham Owens]

I agree with a lot of this, so my only 'hating' would be re the rfid, every hackspace I have seen collect data about the spaces and who use them, following the philosophy of, if you CAN measure it, then measure it, the upload it on the internet, then add lasers..., 

The space is waaay to small, and I'm not allowed to bring in any of my big tools, but from what I have heard and seen this is what space we can afford that is located centrally (which is an absolute PITA fir me because I travel in with the car, a light industrial unit on the outskirts would suit me much better, but this is what we have, and I enjoy using the space and meeting people there).

Like you I also stayed away for a long time while it was based in the uni, because it felt like a uni-side project but at least we now have a space, even if its not great.  Other things I want to see is art on the walls, such as a 4' Swansea hackspace light up, led covered, kinetic logo.  A laser grid security system would also look amazing, but these things take time and effort to build, impliment, and most likely not what other members want - that's why conversations like this are good, as it helps to carve out a direction.

G

-----Original Message-----
From: "Ian Bullfrog" <sevendev.tk at gmail.com>
Sent: ‎21/‎11/‎2014 13:03
To: "Swansea Hackspace" <hackspace at swansea.hackspace.org.uk>
Subject: Re: [Swansea Hackspace] One day our space will be as wild as this

ummm .... feedback?

formal?
yes.

one of the reasons Im not there much.

tea in a draw...a specific draw.....
key fob access....alarms with £40 fines if they go off, balconies which 
were open, I was then told I wanst allowed to sit on, even though I 
couldnt get into the space I was allowed in, was paying for access to, 
but...

if I did miraculously get let in by the people downstairs, just as I was 
getting into hte flow of something, I suddenly had to come a cropper and 
run off to find one of them to lock up the room after me or I couldnt 
leave! or would have to leave the room unlocked. Im sure that would have 
been popular.

set dates and times, for workshops , which are quite often cancelled,
which is good when on, excellent in fact, but sad when cancelled.
so that just left the *informal* drop in 24 hr access thing....which 
didnt happen for myself.
could never get in, so back to formal tiny space events..which were 
often cancalled.
So I was left wondering what I was paying for?

talk of RFID tags for logging in and logging out of fridges, tools, 
cutters, printers.... wtf?
no thanks!

Procedures are one thing, especially when running a tight ship in a 
small space,
but it is somewhat claustrophobic being there.

tiny space, and all basically having to do what one particular person 
thinks they should all be doing on a particular day and time as there is 
no room for anyone else to do their own thing.

even the social nights.
you either all ordered food together....or didnt...and sat there 
awkwardly....

bummer.
especially if skint.

so!
being positive, thats my input. you can tell me to go whistle as I no 
longer pay subscriptions etc, but its a great idea you got there,
but, I think you may find that the nature of the space iteself dictates 
the need for a dictatorial control regime.
just for it to work with 24 members or whatever in a postage stamp size 
room.
with limited access.... behind big metal gates....up umpteen 
floors......via a lift........

its the nature of the beast.
that place was never meant to be free flowing.

before you even got in there.

just my feedback :)

let the hating commence........

ps. good luck with it.
I still find it inspiring.

Im just waiting to see what comes next.
and i really should bother my arse to get to the socials a bit more maybe.
...maybe next monday.....ooooh you lucky lucky people
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