Omar, Thanks for the directive to "just take it" and move on with my project.
Unfortunately, that is not possible for me to do at this time. It is obvious from the contributors to this thread that there are different points of view and positions on the issue of this specific HP laptop and about other high value donated items in general. Before I would agree to accept the donated laptop, I would insist on a consensus of opinion by a majority of SH members. Perhaps the situation can be resolved in my favor at the next SH meeting on Tuesday evening. If the laptop does wind up in my possession, I definitely will seek out your guidance and opinion as I proceed with my project. Your knowledge and experience in computer repair and maintenance was previously highlighted by several SH members, all of whom recommended that I ask for your help in dealing with my non-functioning machine as a project. Until another day, Philip On Sat, Dec 7, 2013 at 9:27 PM, Omar Rassi <[email protected]> wrote: > Regarding the particular notebook in question: > > Philip, just take it. This drama is just too much for me, I see an > opportunity for synhak to be able to shorten a funding gap with the recent > massive donation of high value computers and instead I get a rain of guilt > and have to justify trying to prioritize the needs of the community as a > whole. Philip, I am still willing to help you with your personal HP laptop > in the troubleshooting process, I'm just tired of this thread. I'm not > going through all that equipment anymore, hack away! > > > > On Sat, Dec 7, 2013 at 12:16 PM, Philip P. Patnode <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Justin, >> >> No need to identify the first SH member who first assured me that I could >> claim and make use of the HP laptop since it was in the clearly marked Junk >> Pile. >> >> No need to identify the second SH member who suddenly took possession of >> the laptop from me in the name of SYNHAK, since it will not serve a useful >> purpose. >> >> The issue is about procedures or policies at SH, not individuals. >> >> The whole process of donations and the junk pile should be discussed by >> the SH membership. Solutions to the obvious problems are needed. >> >> Just to be clear about my intentions, the damaged/broken/messed >> up/non-working laptop I own was intended to be my first project at SH. It >> was to be the source for a learning experience for me about laptop >> diagnostics, disassembly, repair or replacement of internal parts, >> reassembly, configuration and settings, directed online research for >> techniques and parts, plus full documentation of the project with video or >> still images and/or written notes. I claimed the HP laptop from the Junk >> Pile as a source for much needed spare parts. >> >> The finished project would have been a working laptop that was built at >> SH using parts from both HP g7 series machines, with a little help from >> some of the knowledgeable and experienced people who congregate at SH. For >> those who may wonder about the end result, the finished project would have >> been a working laptop for my personal use, not an item I would sell online. >> >> If anyone has questions or comments or suggestions about this issue of >> donated hardware, I suggest they bring up their concerns at the next SH >> meeting. >> >> Philip >> >> >> On Sat, Dec 7, 2013 at 11:49 AM, Justin Herman <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> What person in question? >>> >>> >>> On Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 7:46 PM, Torrie Fischer <[email protected] >>> > wrote: >>> >>>> On Friday, December 06, 2013 14:54:16 Philip P. Patnode wrote: >>>> > *Suggestions for consideration by SYNHAK members -* >>>> > >>>> > *To avoid confusion, disappointment, and wasting time on projects >>>> that will >>>> > never happen, I suggest that the JUNK PILE (clearly marked with a >>>> sign, >>>> > usage policy established) be separated from the RECENT DONATIONS PILE >>>> (not >>>> > marked, no policy) and I suggest **a formal SH policy be established >>>> for >>>> > donations.* >>>> > >>>> > *In my opinion, two things need to happen at SYNHAK regarding future >>>> > donations.* >>>> > >>>> > *One*, *the SH policy* on all donations - from any source, of any >>>> kind - >>>> > needs to be clearly stated and communicated to all members and >>>> non-members, >>>> > in print or by email or as added text on the SH webpage or all three. >>>> >>>> Yeah, totes. We need to figure out something we can all agree on as a >>>> protocol >>>> for receiving donations at the space. >>>> >>>> > >>>> > *Two*,* the physical location* at SH for recent hardware donations >>>> needs to >>>> > be clearly marked with a sign/appropriate comments. For example, >>>> "Don't >>>> > Take" or "Not Available" or "Death by Laser" or "To Be Evaluated" >>>> might be >>>> > used to convey the message. >>>> >>>> Huh? Thats a bit restricting. Given time, I think the recent donations >>>> pile >>>> would quickly become a second junk pile, but with people staying away >>>> from it >>>> because hacking is not allowed. I know that I don't usually sort >>>> through new >>>> donations that show up because I'm not really sure where things would >>>> fit in >>>> the space. >>>> >>>> See also: my mail earlier this week to encourage more funds for a >>>> bigger space >>>> >>>> > >>>> > >>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> > >>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> > -------------- >>>> > >>>> > Here is the back story behind the suggestions. My apologies for the >>>> length >>>> > and details necessary to tell the story. >>>> > >>>> > At about 7.15pm last night, because of the delay over the turkey >>>> cooking >>>> > experiment, I spent some time taking a casual look at the contents of >>>> the >>>> > hardware junk pile near the entrance to the main room. Looked at and >>>> dug >>>> > through lots of boxes and shelves full of stuff, all under a sign >>>> > indicating that all of it was in the correct place - the Junk Pile. >>>> > >>>> > Much to my surprise, I found a HP g7 series laptop that was very >>>> similar to >>>> > the HP g7-1019wm that I had brought with me to SH last night, in the >>>> hope >>>> > of finding someone to help me diagnose/identify the problems and >>>> guide me >>>> > through the repair process. The HP I brought is a personal laptop >>>> and not >>>> > an item I plan to sell on eBay or Craigslist. It has a bad cooling >>>> fan >>>> > (does not rotate - ever), a glitchy on/off switch, and two keys >>>> damaged - >>>> > the K and the L, and maybe other problems. >>>> > >>>> > A long-time full member of SH (not to be named) stopped by to chat and >>>> > discuss the situation with me. During the conversation, he made it >>>> very >>>> > clear that I could "claim" the donated item I found in the junk pile >>>> and >>>> > use parts from it to fix my laptop. He was aware that I am not a >>>> sponsored >>>> > member of SH, only a recent interested person who likes the concept >>>> of SH >>>> > and has made an effort to swim with the rolling tide. As the turkey >>>> frying >>>> > situation was still developing out on the loading deck, I spent the >>>> next 45 >>>> > minutes doing some online research about the specs for both HP >>>> laptops and >>>> > going through the HP support forums to read the comments about similar >>>> > problems. I was on page two of my notes when a dark cloud appeared on >>>> the >>>> > horizon. >>>> > >>>> > My joy of finding a possible solution to my laptop problem turned to >>>> > serious disappointment and frustration when another long-time full >>>> member >>>> > of SH (again, not to be named) approached and summarily declared that >>>> the >>>> > donated item was not available to me or anyone else, but would be >>>> retained >>>> > by SH to be diagnosed and possibly repaired and used by SH or sold for >>>> > cash. There was no room allowed for any further discussion about the >>>> > donated laptop. Do'ocracy in action? >>>> >>>> Wowzers. That is highly unexcellent. Whoever did that should've heard >>>> your >>>> claim to it and understood that they can't just take things from >>>> others. The >>>> junk pile isn't the exclusive property of SYNHAK members. It never has >>>> been. >>>> >>>> > >>>> > As a non-member, with no power, no influence, no ace-in-the-hole, and >>>> > definitely no say about anything regarding anything at SH, I tried to >>>> > minimize my comments and watched as the member picked up the laptop >>>> off the >>>> > work area where I had it and proceeded to disassemble it on another >>>> bench, >>>> > check out a few items, and put it back together again. He then moved >>>> to a >>>> > back room, out of sight and out of reach, as if he was concerned that >>>> it >>>> > would find a way back to the junk pile, or worse, out to someone's >>>> car and >>>> > disappear forever. The series of actions by the member almost >>>> appeared as >>>> > if he was worried I would run off with the donated HP moment he >>>> turned his >>>> > back on it, although I might be entirely in error about his thoughts >>>> on the >>>> > matter. >>>> >>>> Nah, the back room is our member storage closet. If someone finds a >>>> donation >>>> to be useful, they'll pick it up and start hacking on it. If they've >>>> got plans >>>> for it, it goes into the storage room or gets a Do Not Hack sticker. >>>> Still >>>> though, they have no right to take it away from someone who has laid >>>> claim to >>>> it, regardless of membership status. >>>> >>>> There are only four benefits to SYNHAK membership: >>>> >>>> 1. You can participate in our self governance >>>> 2. You get to use the member storage room >>>> 3. An option to have a lock on a member bin in the storage room >>>> 4. Apply for a key >>>> >>>> I'm still a bit shocked that the laptop was just taken without any >>>> discussion, >>>> *especially* for an impromptu donation that nobody else knew about >>>> unless they >>>> happened to be in the space in the last two days or were particularly >>>> observant. I would appreciate it if the person in question contacted >>>> Philip >>>> and discussed a solution. >>>> >>>> > >>>> > The names of the SH members who were involved are not essential to the >>>> > issue and are not the basis for the suggestions. Personalities play >>>> no >>>> > part in my suggestion to take action on the matter of donations to SH. >>>> > Only turkey feathers should be ruffled, as I am not making this an >>>> issue >>>> > about any particular member. >>>> > >>>> > On a final note, I would consider buying the donated HP g7 series >>>> laptop >>>> > from SH at a reasonable price to use for parts or repair, if it is >>>> > available now or becomes available in the near future. >>>> > >>>> > In the meantime, I will avoid even looking at anything within 10ft of >>>> the >>>> > combo donations/junk pile. I don't want to get my hope up and then >>>> have it >>>> > dashed again. >>>> > >>>> > Philip >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Discuss mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> https://synhak.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >>>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Discuss mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> https://synhak.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Discuss mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://synhak.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > [email protected] > https://synhak.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss >
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