i quit you not

Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:22:37 +0200
From: Koen Martens <gmc@ohm2013.org>
To: orga@lists.ohm2013.org
Subject: Re: [ohm2013-orga] i quit

[-- PGP output follows (current time: do 25 apr 2013 20:22:58 CEST) --]
gpg: Signature made do 25 apr 2013 20:22:37 CEST using DSA key ID B9053E96
gpg: Good signature from "Koen Martens <kmartens@uva.nl>"
gpg:                 aka "Koen Martens (gmc) <gmc@limesco.org>"
gpg:                 aka "Koen Martens <gmc@ohm2013.org>"
gpg:                 aka "Koen Martens (Founder) <gmc@revspace.nl>"
gpg:                 aka "Koen Martens <gmc@open-search.net>"
gpg:                 aka "Koen Martens (Kernel Hacker) <gmc@metro.cx>"
gpg:                 aka "Koen Martens (Kernel Hacker) <kmartens@sonologic.nl>"
gpg:                 aka "Koen Martens (Kernel Hacker) <gmc@sonologic.nl>"
gpg:                 aka "Koen Martens <gmc@hackerspaces.org>"
gpg:                 aka "Koen Martens (gmc) <gmc@hackerspaces.nl>"
gpg:                 aka "Koen Martens (gmc) <gmc@mediastudies.nl>"
gpg:                 aka "Koen Martens (gmc) <k.f.j.martens@uva.nl>"
[-- End of PGP output --]

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On Thu, Apr 25, 2013 at 01:06:48AM +0200, Koen Martens wrote:
> On Wed, Apr 24, 2013 at 12:07:11PM +0200, Koen Martens wrote:
> > I quit.
>
> I have spoken to many people today, and apparently a number of you think
> i am essential for making this event happen. I think that is over-rating
> my role in this, but i've heard people whom I respect very much tell me
> I should not quit.
>
> It's not a decision I made lightly though. The motivation to organise this
> event (and the one in 2009) has always been that I think it is important
> that the community meets. I think these events are important, for the community
> and for society.
>
> However, over the past weeks/months (maybe years already) i've seen a face
> of the community that does not go down well with me. We (and yes, all of
> us) seem to be more content spending time stabbing eachother in the backs
> than focus our energy in positive change in the world.
>
> I've seen that within the Dutch hacker-community, i'm now seeing it within
> the large community where a significant number of people seem to be intent
> on using FUD to sabotage OHM.
>
> The hackers of this world have become a political party: too busy with
> internal strife to actually make a difference in any way, not even able
> to punch a hole in a wet newspaper.
>
> With that realization, my motivation to organize these events has
> evaporated. It's a sad realization that something I once believed in
> turns out to be an illusion.
>
> Well, I will sleep on this a night. I reject the notion that I am somehow
> irreplacable (i mean, what if i am hit by a meteorite?). Yet, I can not
> ignore the voices of those people I respect and have told me to stay on.
> Perhaps those voices will provide enough motivation to carry on and make
> OHM2013 happen. I mean, it's only 4 more months right?
>
> Thanks all, for the uplifting responses.

After a restless night, and a relaxing afternoon at work, i've come to some
conclusions.

First of all: sorry for scaring you all. I've received so many encouraging
emails, pm's, texts and rejections of my resignation that I can only conclude
that I should stay.

However, there's a condition! It's only 3 months away before we start build
up, and there is a lot still to do! I can not do this on my own, and the
board can not do it alone either. Spiders email was spot on: we need to pull
together now to make this happen!

This might very well be the last of these events ever. There are, apparently,
only a handful of people stupid enough to want to take up responsibility to
make something like OHM happen. We've had the great initiators that pulled
the cart until 2005. A new group stood up in 2009, of which I myself have
been / am a part. But I shall not be around in 2017 to organize another
edition, nor are my friends at HXX.

Not only that, the government is really tightening up with all kinds of stupid
rules making these events nearly impossible. Silly rules with a big financial
consequence. I know, Rop said this in 2005 already. We're now finally starting
to feel the brunt of the laws Rop predicted would come into force.

So, let's make this one count! If it's going to be the last, as I fear, let's
make it a blast!

Tnx,

gmc


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