I see it somewhat differently, and think the Workshop Weekend letter was thoughtful and appropriate, given the circumstances.I think the letter was most effective in almost completely narrowing a public debate that quickly spun ridiculously out of proportion and corrected the gross misrepresentation of the first stories covering it. It makes a lot of sense in terms of being sensitive to the particular climate in Oakland right now, and I didn't get the impression that it was apologetic about actually holding the workshop. In fact, they(we)'re going forward with holding it even after the Police Chief himself came out publicly saying it was wrong in no uncertain terms and the Mayor officially disassociating herself from the initiative. To stand stubbornly firm in the context of a fatal shooting at the last Art Murmur over rhetorical leeway would likely be seen as insensitive and provocative.All the sincere stuff about building skills and teaching a way of thinking would get totally lost in the mainstream media cloud. The editors are unsurprisingly having fun with the headlines. See SF Weekly - "Mayor Jean Quan Promotes Lock-Picking Classes, Gives Young Burglars a Chance to Succeed" [http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2013/02/mayor_jean_quan_offers_lock-pi.php]It was smart to leave the core explanation of why this is important to a block-quote by T.O.O.O.L., who teach the class. I also think it was a smart move to pull back from selling the kits this time around - no use getting the education meme sullied by claims of commercial opportunism. It would be cynical not to concede that selling lock-picking paraphernalia alongside lock-picking lessons could reasonably be seen as inappropriate encouragement. It's not about being right - our ultimate goal is to actually engage with the community meaningfully, right?All that having been said, I have not hidden my opinion that Sudo Room should also publish a statement, as the community hosting the event in our common space. I'm interested to find out if that sense is shared by others and even more importantly, legitimately opposed.On Fri, Mar 1, 2013 at 11:43 AM, Michael Scroggins <michaeljscroggins@gmail.com> wrote:
In my opinion, the letter is overly apologetic. Neither Workshop Weekend nor SudoRoom has done anything that needs to be apologized for. Apologizing for the way the workshop was advertised implies there is something wrong with the holding a public lock picking workshop, which there is not. I wouldn't cede the rhetorical high ground on this point.
I love the TOOL statement. I think it strikes exactly the right note. If there is to be a SudoRoom statement (does there need to be?) I think it should be in line with the TOOL statement.
Michael
J.D. Zamfirescu wrote:For those interested, Workshop Weekend (that is, my brother and I) prepared the following statement on the lockpicking issue. We fully support Sudo Room having its own statement on the issue too.===========Over the past two days, Workshop Weekend has received complaints from concerned citizens of Oakland about the upcoming "Introduction to Lockpicking" workshop being offered as part of Workshop Weekend on March 2, 2013. The workshop will run as scheduled, but in response to community concerns, lock-picking tools will no longer be offered for sale at the event.
As Oakland residents ourselves, we have felt Oakland's crime problem, and we appreciate the community's concerns that offering a lock-picking workshop appears to encourage crime and sends the wrong message. We recognize now that it was insensitive to have the workshop listed and broadcast in the way that it was, and we regret doing so.
To provide some background, Workshop Weekend invited The Open Organization of Lockpickers (TOOOL) to run a workshop about lock-picking and lock mechanisms this weekend.
Exploring lock-picking and understanding the limitations of locks is valuable for everyone who relies on locks for physical security, and in kids it can spark an interest in mechanical engineering and complex systems.
We would also like to share the following note from TOOOL, the group offering the session: "We in TOOOL are of course sensitive to the concern that occasionally surrounds our lock-themed workshops. We can only hope that the atmosphere of openness, information sharing, and strong ethical standards which is a part of all TOOOL meetings can assuage some concerns. Knowing about the weaknesses in certain locks protects the public; it does not aid criminals. Please visit our website -- toool.us -- for more information."
We hope this note makes things clear to everyone; our goal is provide an educational and inclusive experience for everyone in Oakland who would like to be involved with our events.
Workshop Weekend is a two-day celebration of hands-on learning taking place in the heart of downtown Oakland, bringing together kids and adults from Oakland as well as the rest of the Bay Area. The event encourages exploration of new interests and passions by offering over 40 workshops in subjects not typically taught in schools, including aeroponics, electronics, and 3D printing. For more information, visit workshopweekend.net
We welcome your thoughts and comments at feedback@workshopweekend.net
===========
On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 6:44 PM, J.D. Zamfirescu <zamfire@gmail.com> wrote:
Michael, you're not missing anything -- we haven't finished drafting the workshop weekend statement yet. :)On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 6:43 PM, Michael Scroggins <michaeljscroggins@gmail.com> wrote:
I must have missed something in the email chain as I am unaware of the Workshop Weekend letter. Of course, you are right that the two letters should match, especially in front of the media. I can't help to think, though, that this is an opportunity to drive home the broader point that neither curiosity nor association is a crime.
Eddan Katz wrote:Seems to me like sticking to correcting the misuse of the word unconscionable can be respectful to the police chief and informative about the difference between skills and criminal intent.If Sudo Room does a separate statement, it should follow on Workshop Weekend's letter and support its posture and position.There'll be TV cameras there this weekend - we can feel pretty confident about that. It would be very useful to share a common understanding in order not to have our purpose misrepresented.I think a statement is well and proper. I also think arguing the right to disinterest inquiry is the proper line.
To the earlier back and forth about "known gang members" ... one of the differences between the people at SudoRoom and "known gang members" is simply that to be classified as "known" is to be stripped of your right to disinterested inquiry. All of your actions having been prejudged as interested and malicious.
If the letter is worded right we can make a statement about the lock picking class and about the direction policing in Oakland has taken.
Michael
Eddan Katz wrote:J.D. - do you think there should be an additional statement from Sudo Room?Before we proceed any further - does anyone have objections to writing such a letter or signing on to it? What the statement says is another matter for which Sudo member objections should also feel empowered to raise. Comments can be made anonymously on the etherpad or on IRC, if someone isn't comfortable doing it on the list.
sent from eddan.comYeah, we were hoping to publish it tonight. Let me try to draft something and send it on?Part of me is concerned about editing a public statement on a public list...On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 5:14 PM, Eddan <eddan@clear.net> wrote:J.D. - where were you thinking of publishing this letter?I think it would make for a stronger and more thoughtful response if there was a collective voice signing on to it either as a group or listed as individuals.With the help of the collective editorial prowess of the Sudo list, do you think you would be ready to publish it before tomorrow morning?On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 5:09 PM, Eddan <eddan@clear.net> wrote:I think the question is, rather - Can you get hired by a locksmith company without knowing how to pick a lock?On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 5:01 PM, <thadwooster@gmail.com> wrote:
I could be totally wrong on this, but I believe locksmiths are required to be bonded, fingerprinted and licensed.On Feb 28, 2013, at 4:59 PM, rusty lindgren wrote:WTF #@*)DKLJI sent an email to that newb at the newspaper... UM, where do they think locksmiths learn stuff? Should they have to pay to become a locksmith???So stupid.On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 4:56 PM, Marina Kukso <marina.kukso@gmail.com> wrote:ftfy!: THIS is unconscionable.On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 4:50 PM, Eddan <eddan@clear.net> wrote:
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Quan-s-wrong-note-on-lock-picking-class-4318130.phpNow, this requires a response. Has anybody started drafting something? If not, I will....Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan was not pleased."I'm in shock that people would provide a class to teach people a skill to violate the law," Jordan said. "It's unconscionable."Lock-pick instructor Michael Fitzhugh is a member of TOOOL (The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers), a Netherlands-based outfit that teaches and holds national and international lock-picking events annually. In their world, lock picking is done for sport and bragging rights. But, he says, it's also a useful tool if you lock yourself out of your home.Jordan has a more conventional solution to that problem: "Call a locksmith!"
Even worse than Quan, this guy's so desperate to change the subject about the incompetence of the OPD in news story after news story.Unconscionable!?! This coming from a police department that was about to go into an unprecedented federal receivership for its failure to reform; not to mention a police department seared with a global reputation for brutality, racism, and excessive means; and whose fundamental miscalculations and mismanagement of the response to Occupy cost the city millions of dollars._______________________________________________
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