Onboarding Introduction – Part 1

Because of significant growth in the last month or two, particularly in this past weekend, we are going to be, in addition to the Relational Ethics entries, also crafting Onboarding posts.

While their function is to help newcomers acclimate, they will also be profitable for anyone in the space, regardless of time spent.

So in the spirit of pushing the Reset button, over 4 months ago now, we are *all* now officially newbies.

As such, all of the information and guidelines we will be sharing apply equally to everyone, regardless of tenure, how one identifies racially/ethnically, contribution level (yes, I went there), or any other thing that one could think or assume would grant an exemption.

Nothing does. We are on equal footing here. Some of us might know more; some of us might have praxis worthy of emulation; some might be just starting out; some of us have been walking together for almost 2 years now.

It doesn’t matter.

We resisted doing a list of guidelines, because we recoiled at the autocratic, top down nature of it, and because we figured the space would more or less self regulate.

We’ve been right about that for the most part. But there are still some stubborn areas that, if allowed, will stunt, inhibit, sabatoge, and derail our walking together.

Some of you may have seen the first onboarding post about react emojis. We will run it again, as the first in the series, and will this ask you to mark ‘agreed’ to indicate that you have seen and affirm this shared ethos.

You will be asked to do the same for subsequent onboarding posts, as well as for this Intro post.

Look, Beloved Community.

We’re only going deeper as we collectively walk forward. And I need each of your help to do so.

I spent most of my time these last five days, when I wasn’t in NPHH, saying ‘no reacts’ like a mantra, and then actually having to (again) defend my position.

That meant no Entry 5. That meant no weekly Ask (which we will indeed do today.) which also meant that our Individual and Org Partners didn’t get the exposure they deserve. That is so not ok. This cannot continue.

So, then. Everybody is a Newbie! Let’s walk with each other.

With the Onboarding Posts. With Relational Ethics. (It will be convicting if those who just found us this weekend actually do the work most of you have ignored. Get on the Train. Do Reational Ethics.) With tangible praxis via the Asks.

We got this. Look for the first Offical Onboarding!

Thank you, collectively, and especially individually for continuing to walk with me.

Resolutely,

Your Lace

No reacts. Comments only. Please mark ‘agree’ or similar language if you affirm the above. Other comments are of course also welcome.

Edited to add:

This is an important point to make in this entry post.

Admins see what engagement actually looks like.

Two hours in, about 500 of you have seen it; about 200 clicked through–and only 53 bothered to respond with a comment.

We need to do better.

This is not a place for passivity; not a place to scroll and roll.

If you are reading this, and commenting ‘agreed’, you are also agreeing to this exhortation to overt engagement.

Next up:
Onboarding Introduction – Part 2