Hacker Dojos Aren’t Factories for “Idea” People

by danielrm26 on 2/19/2012, 11:43 PM with 14 comments
  • by zackzackzack on 2/20/2012, 12:33 AM

    What I would do if I was on the receiving end of that conversation:

    Get really excited and started coding on your laptop. Code the entire thing and do a great job. Make it really shine for the guy, follow up on his comments, tell him "excellent idea, why didn't I think of that". Do it all locally. After an hour or two of this, the idea guy should be smugly confident about how awesome he is and what a good idea coming to the dojo was. When it is all finished, start to walk away or start working on something else. The idea guy will probably ask something along the lines of "Wait, can I haz it?"

    Then quote an obscene hourly rate and ride out the storm. "Oh, you mean you actually want to have this? Sorry, I thought this was just a practice exercise or something. It will cost about $300 for me to send it to you." At the very least, he won't be so assuming anymore.

  • by frisco on 2/20/2012, 1:21 AM

    PS: Hacker Dojo is a hacker space in Mountain View. "Hacker space" is the word you're looking for.

  • by jtchang on 2/20/2012, 4:43 AM

    I think hackers by nature weed out non-technical people pretty quickly. I love hackerdojo and noisebridge. I think this post is great in that it highlights what it really comes down to: a misunderstanding on the person as to what a hackerspace is.

    It's about educating those that come in that people pride themselves on getting stuff done.

    Also I don't want to discourage any non-coders visiting these hackerspaces. Please come by! But keep in mind that if you are after someone to do work for you, you'll fail pretty bad. If you are here to learn, then by all means, take a seat, I'll even help you out.

  • by mrmagooey on 2/20/2012, 2:17 AM

    I see OP imagining himself doing some LOTR style "You Shall Not Pass" to one of these evil 'idea' types at a hacker space. Situation portrayed seems unlikely and somewhat contrived, i.e. I would hope that most hackers would be independently capable of fending off someone "...from Hollywood...".

  • by kylemaxwell on 2/20/2012, 12:27 AM

    So far as I can tell, Hacker Dojo is one particular place in the Bay Area. Do others exist in other areas?

  • by on 2/20/2012, 1:49 AM

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  • by losethos on 2/20/2012, 1:46 AM

    I hate the "Simple Man" song cover by shine down. Fuck You!!

    Think about that song.