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f15:nomads [2015-04-07 18:32] – nikf15:nomads [2015-04-08 07:48] (current) – alkan
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 === Examples from our experience === === Examples from our experience ===
  
-Migrating birds in Lithuania: a network of Lithuanian émigrés who meet once a year in a 1 week workshop, for the rest online communication and updates, using the network as a resource to find collaborators; emails are sporadic, sometimes amn increase in volume for a few days, then nothing for months. It has a clear and simple purpose and doesn’t require much from its members +Migrating birds in Lithuania: a network of Lithuanian émigrés who meet once a year in a 1-week workshop, for the rest online communication and updates, using the network as a resource to find collaborators; emails are sporadic, sometimes amn increase in volume for a few days, then nothing for months. It has a clear and simple purpose and doesn’t require much from its members 
  
-Farmersmanual: a pan-european disturbance conglomerate (aka laptop band) After giving up their studio in Vienna and moving to other European countries, they began working from lounge rooms, performance venues and/or bars (whatever’s available). Online communication became more important. Collaboration happened based around shared interests and opportunities. working together primarily centred around performances and events (fixing logistics, designing performances, finding spaces to work and perform interspersed with ecstatic tinkering). Note that collaboration reduced as members dispersed (causation? corrolation?)+Farmersmanual: a pan-european disturbance conglomerate (aka laptop band). After giving up their studio in Vienna and moving to other European countries, they began working from lounge rooms, performance venues and/or bars (whatever’s available). Online communication became more important. Collaboration happened based around shared interests and opportunities. working together primarily centred around performances and events (fixing logistics, designing performances, finding spaces to work and perform interspersed with ecstatic tinkering). Note that collaboration reduced as members dispersed (causation? corrolation?).
  
-(a few other listserv centric networks were mentioned. primary communication online, occasional subgroup coordination IRL)+(a few other listserv-centric networks were mentioned. primary communication online, occasional subgroup coordination IRL)
  
-FoAM already functions as a nomadic meeting place for people who aren’t core team members: drop in, stay and/or work for a while, catch up with people and move on. In our case this still needs a group of people to be more or less sedentary to have a space that others can move in and out of. Would it still work if we didn’t have the studio, nor means to house people?+FoAM already functions as a nomadic meeting place for people who aren’t core team members: drop in, stay and/or work for a while, catch up with people and move on. In our case this still needs a group of people to be more or less sedentary to maintain a space that others can move in and out of. Would it still work if we didn’t have the studio, nor means to house people?
  
-Some other examples mentioned in [[:nomadic_studios]] include The Unknown Fields Division, Boat Magazine+Some other examples mentioned in [[:nomadic studios]] include The Unknown Fields Division, Boat Magazine
  
  
 === What could it be like? === === What could it be like? ===
 +
   * A **Network for Speculative Culture**: A (fluid) collection of people who want to work on something together, not imposed externally with the primacy of a shared set of interests.   * A **Network for Speculative Culture**: A (fluid) collection of people who want to work on something together, not imposed externally with the primacy of a shared set of interests.
-  * A **Temporary Autonomous Zone** It emerges and dissolves when needed (e.g. like a [[:TAZ]]). Periods of intensive collective work (e.g. on a ship, mountian retreat or in the wilderness) are interspersed with periods where we only meet online. The feeling in a TAZ is that nothing happens from obligation but rather from interest and connections and collaborations will naturally emerge. Most of the time people work wherever and whenever they want, with whomever makes sense, yet having periodic meeting moments and places where the benefit of a network keeps being refreshed and reaffirmed. +  * A **Temporary Autonomous Zone** It emerges and dissolves when needed (e.g. like a [[:TAZ]]). Periods of intensive collective work (e.g. on a ship, mountain retreat or in the wilderness) are interspersed with periods where we only meet online. The feeling in a TAZ is that nothing happens from obligation but rather from interest and connections and collaborations will naturally emerge. Most of the time people work wherever and whenever they want, with whomever makes sense, yet having periodic meeting moments and places where the benefit of a network is continuously refreshed and reaffirmed. 
-  * **Sedentary & Migratory nodes**: Several places around the world act as stable nodes (e.g. studios or houses run by FoAM people or others who’d welcome our temporary 'occupation’), while some members function as migratory connectors between the nodes. These people would function connective tissue between interesting people and places - think itinerant storytellers/journeyers connecting interests, places and people with each other. The itinerants adapt to local communities, absorb their stories, move on, meet other communities, share and collect stories - acting as 'pollinators' in 'open space technology' terminology.+  * **Sedentary & Migratory nodes**: Several places around the world act as stable nodes (e.g. studios or houses run by FoAM people or others who’d welcome our temporary 'occupation'), while some members function as migratory connectors between the nodes. These people would function connective tissue between interesting people and places - think itinerant storytellers/journeyers connecting interests, places and people with each other. The itinerants adapt to local communities, absorb their stories, move on, meet other communities, share and collect stories - acting as 'pollinators' in 'open space technology' terminology.
   * ** Stamtisch / stamkroeg / estaminet **: Working individually or in small project-centric groups, meeting regularly but informally, perhaps keeping a quiet place where we could meet and have our library. A quiet cafe for example where we could sit and work, eat and drink, knowing that other foamies might be there as well. We could partner with a cafe who could benefit from having FoAM present and have a way to share profits (that we could invest in our yearly retreats)   * ** Stamtisch / stamkroeg / estaminet **: Working individually or in small project-centric groups, meeting regularly but informally, perhaps keeping a quiet place where we could meet and have our library. A quiet cafe for example where we could sit and work, eat and drink, knowing that other foamies might be there as well. We could partner with a cafe who could benefit from having FoAM present and have a way to share profits (that we could invest in our yearly retreats)
-  * **A secret society**: e.g. a "Foundation of Federated Futurists Republics" - as opposed to the [[:resilients/bohemian_salon]], rather than a collective, a group of people who share the same principles, have occasional private meetings, support each other professionally etc. (note: expand the diff. w. bohemian salon)+  * **A secret society**: e.g. a 'Foundation of Federated Futurist Republics' - not a [[:resilients/Bohemian Salon]] of self-centred individuals, but not a 'collective' either: a group of people who share the same principles, have occasional private meetings, support each other professionally etc. (note: expand the diff. w. bohemian salon. does this FFFR sound like a 'cooperative'? a 'baseline communist' regime?)
   * FoAM network as a project itself: a project for distributed prototyping of alternate realities/worlds (including social, cultural, professional, scientific, technological (…) aspects);    * FoAM network as a project itself: a project for distributed prototyping of alternate realities/worlds (including social, cultural, professional, scientific, technological (…) aspects); 
  
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   * It’s a more flexible and potentially more resilient structure (if it doesn’t dissipate)   * It’s a more flexible and potentially more resilient structure (if it doesn’t dissipate)
   * Opportunity to travel and work around the world   * Opportunity to travel and work around the world
-  * It’s a good filter to find people who have a mutually beneficial relationship to the network; Connections are based on shared interests and affinity rather than obligation; Working with a changing group of people (based on their skills and interests rather than just because they’re around); Commitments are more fluid and project based+  * It’s a good filter to find people who have a mutually beneficial relationship to the network; connections are based on shared interests and affinity rather than obligation; Working with a changing group of people (based on their skills and interests rather than just because they’re around); commitments are more fluid and project-based
  
  
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 === What are the dangers? === === What are the dangers? ===
 +
   * It can be unclear what the benefits are of having a nomadic FoAM network   * It can be unclear what the benefits are of having a nomadic FoAM network
-  * Financial independence of the members isn’t a given and the moment and willingness to invest in the network is uncertain+  * Financial independence of the members isn’t a given at the moment and willingness to invest in the network is uncertain
   * The network might dissipate    * The network might dissipate 
   * The effort to keep the network together might fall back on the same people and become too heavy again   * The effort to keep the network together might fall back on the same people and become too heavy again
-  * The mental overhead of having to search for places to meet and work might be quite high.  +  * The mental overhead of having to search for places to meet and work might be quite high
   * Building things would become more difficult   * Building things would become more difficult
   * What would happen to the library? The various valuable collections might have to be taken apart and distributed, which would be a pity   * What would happen to the library? The various valuable collections might have to be taken apart and distributed, which would be a pity
  
 === Where do we go from here? === === Where do we go from here? ===
 +
   * We agree that we see a potential in having a migratory or nomadic structure, but there are still quite a few question marks and doubts. We’re planning to:   * We agree that we see a potential in having a migratory or nomadic structure, but there are still quite a few question marks and doubts. We’re planning to:
     * Do a full scenario exercise (including external drivers etc.) to get a clearer picture of what the nomadic network structure could look like. Particularly focusing on critical uncertainties like financial means and (temporary) space (working, accommodation..)     * Do a full scenario exercise (including external drivers etc.) to get a clearer picture of what the nomadic network structure could look like. Particularly focusing on critical uncertainties like financial means and (temporary) space (working, accommodation..)
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