Self-Inflicted Participation

A modus operandi (way of doing things) whereby individuals involve themselves in a communal activity or group by offering ideas, contributing resources, or otherwise injecting influence of their own volition and by their own willful actions. It is predicated on the notion that people who choose a course of action are unlikely to complain about or be defeated by obstacles and disappointments. People who participate unsolicitedly tend also to be more capable than average, and usually provide a net positive contribution. As such S.I.P. is suited for vanguard initiatives, start-up projects, and any endeavor wherein you alone are the agent of your own good times.

With S.I.P. projects generally there will be no gestures of invitation (e.g. solicitation, electronic invitations, etc.) Oftentimes there is no central authority, governance, nor management from which for such invitations to come. This also means often participants must be so-called self-starters, i.e. be able to identify and digest the concept(s) and end goal(s) of the project and figure out logistics as needed on their own or with less than hand-holding guidance.

Self-infliction does not mean no assistance or no cooperation. By the very nature of groups and communal activities, participants should interact, support others, and ask for/accept assistance. Often it is only the desire and willingness to participate that needs to be self-inficted, with other tangible tasks being selected or assigned by others. People participating in this manner should make their availability explicitly known to others.