This is the one rule at Pawprint Prototyping that supersedes all others. It's simple to state and sometimes harder to practice, but it's the foundation everything else is built on.
Being excellent means treating every person in the space — members, guests, neighbors, strangers — with basic respect and good faith. It means:
- Assume good intent. If someone does something that bothers you, start from the assumption that they didn't mean to. Talk to them directly before escalating.
- Be welcoming. Not everyone has the same background or skill level. If someone is new, help them feel comfortable. If someone asks a question you think is obvious, answer it kindly.
- Share knowledge freely. The whole point of a hackerspace is collaborative learning. If you know how to do something, teach others. If you don't know, ask.
- Clean up after yourself. Leave the space better than you found it. Put tools back. Wipe down surfaces. Vacuum up your mess. Don't leave half-finished projects on shared workbenches without a parking ticket.
- Respect boundaries. Not everyone wants to chat. Not everyone wants help. When in doubt, ask. If asked to stop, you should disengage.
- It doesn't mean avoiding all conflict. Disagreements are healthy. Handle them directly and respectfully.
- It doesn't mean tolerating harmful behavior because someone is technically skilled or has been around a long time. No one gets a pass on being excellent.
- It doesn't mean you have to be friends with everyone. You just have to be decent.
If someone's behavior is making the space unwelcoming or unsafe:
- Talk to them directly if you feel comfortable doing so. Most issues are misunderstandings.
- Ask another member for support if you'd rather not handle it alone.
- Contact the board via Telegram or email if the behavior is ongoing or poses a serious safety concern.
As a last resort, and to protect the community, the board has the authority to revoke access to the space for people who consistently fail to be excellent. Details of this process are outlined in our bylaws.
"Be excellent to each other" as a hackerspace principle was popularized by Noisebridge and has since been adopted by hackerspaces around the world. The phrase itself is, of course, from Bill & Ted.