Silicon Valley influence is significant, the concentration of power and resources among a few #dotcons raises issues about democracy, equity, and control. With this in mind, we need a strong push and for meany people a fundamental rethink and restructuring of how we approach technology, governance, and community building.
The open-source and free software communities, despite their progressive foundations, are marred by outdated governance structures that resemble medieval aristocracy and monarchy. This, compounded by the problematic mediation attempts through #neoliberal individualism, results in a stagnation of innovation and collaboration that highlights the #geekproblem within these communities.
Medieval Governance in Modern Tech: Aristocratic Hierarchies: In most open-source projects, decision-making power is concentrated in the hands of a few “maintainers” or “core developers.” These individuals hold their positions for long periods, leading to a de facto aristocracy where the same people retain control and influence.
Monarchical Leadership: projects are led by charismatic leaders whose word becomes law. This monarch-like leadership stifle dissent and discourage new contributors, as the project revolves around the vision and whims of a single individual.
Neoliberal Individualism and Its Failures
#StupidIndividualism: Neoliberalism promotes a form of individualism that emphasizes self-interest and competition over collaboration and community. This mindset infiltrates open-source communities, leading to fragmented efforts and a lack of cohesive vision.
Market-Driven Development: Many open-source projects are driven by market demands rather than community needs. This results in software that prioritizes profitability over usability or innovation.
The #techshit and #geekproblem
#techshit: The term reflects the use of #dotcons and #FOSS proliferation of poorly designed, unmaintained, or redundant software projects that clutter the open-source landscape.
#geekproblem: This refers to the insular and exclusionary culture within tech communities. It includes issues like poor communication, lack of diversity, and a focus on technical prowess over collaborative skills.
Moving Towards Modern Governance
Democratizing Decision-Making: Shifting from aristocratic and monarchical structures to more democratic governance models can help. This includes implementing transparent decision-making processes, rotating leadership roles, and ensuring that all voices are heard.
Community-Centric Approaches: Prioritizing community needs over individual ambitions or market demands leads to more sustainable and impactful projects. This involves active engagement with users and contributors to understand their needs and incorporate their feedback.
Embracing Diversity: Cultivating an inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives address the #geekproblem. This means actively working to include underrepresented groups in tech and fostering a collaborative rather than competitive environment.
Holistic thinking: Moving beyond the neoliberal framework requires a holistic approach to mediation that considers social, cultural, and economic factors. This includes spaces for dialogue, conflict resolution mechanisms, and support systems for contributors.
Conclusion, to move forward, they must shed the medieval political structures and #neoliberal individualism to make space to embracing democratic governance, community-centric approaches, diversity, and holistic mediation, communities can mediate the #techshit and #geekproblem, paving the way for a more collaborative and native #openweb.
This post is talked about here https://www.reddit.com/r/foss/comments/1e5vhif/comment/ldsuat2/?context=3 this thread is a full on example of what I talk about.