SCN: Re: your mail

[Doug Schuler]

Patrick,

Here is how I'd answer your question.

I'd just think that we'd want to keep working on these commitmentss...

Without in any way denigrating our past and current efforts
I think we could go further (*much* further) than we have so
far.


                         Seattle Community Network
                                      
                                 Principles
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
     The Seattle Community Network (SCN) is a free public-access
     computer network for exchanging and accessing information. Beyond
     that, however, it is a service conceived for community empowerment.
     Our principles are a series of commitments to help guide the
     ongoing development and management of the system for both the
     organizers and participating individuals and organizations.
     
  Commitment to Access
  
     Access to the SCN will be free to all
     * We will provide access to all groups of people particularly those
       without ready access to information technology.
     * We will provide access to people with diverse needs. This may
       include special-purpose interfaces.
     * We will make the SCN accessible from public places.
       
  Commitment to Service
  
     The SCN will offer reliable and responsive service
     * We will provide information that is timely and useful to the
       community.
     * We will provide access to databases and other services.
       
  Commitment to Democracy
  
     The SCN will promote participation in government and public
     dialogue
     * The community will be actively involved in the ongoing development
       of the SCN.
     * We will place high value in freedom of speech and expression and
       in the free exchange of ideas.
     * We will make every effort to ensure privacy of the system users.
     * We will support democratic use of electronic technology.
       
  Commitment to the World Community
  
     In addition to serving the local community, we will become part of
     the regional, national and international community
     * We will build a system that can serve as a model for other
       communities.
       
  Commitment to the Future
  
     We will continue to evolve and improve the SCN
     * We will explore the use of innovative applications such as
       electronic town halls for community governance, or electronic
       encyclopedias for enhanced access to information.
     * We will work with information providers and with groups involved
       in similar projects using other media.
     * We will solicit feedback on the technology as it is used, and make
       it as accessible and humane as possible.
       

   ******************************************************************
   *     SHAPING THE NETWORK SOCIETY                                *
   *          Patterns for Participation, Action, and Change        *
   *                  http://www.cpsr.org/conferences/diac02        *
   * Tomorrow's information and communication infrastructure        *
   *   is being shaped today.                                       *
   *                              But by whom and to what ends?     *
   * Questions: diac02-info at cpsr.org                                *
   ******************************************************************


On Sat, 30 Mar 2002, patrick fisher wrote:

> Funny, no one has clarified, or even mentioned, what specific mission SCN could
> have. Also, no one has mentioned what SCN lacks, or whatever, to reason why it may
> partner elsewhere.
> 
> I didn't intend to imply anything for SCN with mentioning other organizations.
> However, I've been pretty clear about having low-cost or free internet access
> similar to that offered by "regular" ISPs.
> 
> This would mean something similar to the freenet in Tampa Bay, Floriday. They have
> something good going. 
> 
> Patrick
> 
> --- "J. Johnson" <jj at scn.org> wrote:
> > On Thu, 28 Mar 2002, Doug Schuler wrote:
> > 
> > > "Being" SCN doesn't mean staying exactly the way we are now!
> > 
> >    For sure.  But would this experiment really be a success if it required
> > changing our purposes, fundamental values, and every key element and
> > characteristic--everything but the name plate--beyond all recognition?
> > 
> >   It seems to me that we should not be jumping onto some business model 
> > because it seems to be successful.  Rather, we should inquire into what it
> > takes to make _our_ model successful.  Other examples can be illustrative,
> > but each case is different, has different factors, and it can take a bit
> > of careful study to tease out just what the correct lesson is.  And as
> > successful organizations often have no idea what makes them successful, it
> > is necessary to also study unsuccessful organizations.
> > 
> > === JJ =============================================================
> > 
> > 
> > 
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