2012-07-11

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.

2012-07-04

New Amsterdam Exterior Portable Dining Society - Primer

The New Amsterdam Exterior Portable Dining Society (NAEPDS) is a meta-organization of picnicking enthusiasts based in and around the New York metropolitan area, and as such exists wherever people invoke its name and enact its principles and protocols. Candidly it is just a pompous-sounding name for an unspecific loose affiliation of fans of outdoor social events involving BYO food, that purports to lend an aire of refinement and significance to these activities.

Functionally the NAEPDS, with its mandate, collective knowledge base, and techniques, provides a framework for an ad-hoc assemblage of contributors, where there is no formal authority, to produce a better-than-average picnic. Recognizing that people have differing quotients of expertise, time, and resources per instance, NAEPDS protocol offers a framework for the distribution of effort in supplying the consumables.

There are 3 broad roles which participants will, for the most part, fall into automatically:

Feature.
These are people who can and will make and bring something that could be thought of as a main dish, or basis, or killer app. that will be shared by the entire group. Deviled eggs, chicken salad sandwiches, homemade cupcakes, St. Germaine cocktails, strawberry daiquiris, etc. They are usually homemade, on-site-assembled items that have been developed and vetted over many occasions of exterior portable dining. These contributors should broadcast their plans to the group so that others can plan around them. Perhaps by posting to whatever medium is used for coordination (e.g. the FB event wall or e-mail chain.)

Utility. 
These are people who will provide something that is necessary for any picnic, so that people bringing Feature items don't have to (as well.) E.g. Ice, plates, cups, flatware, napkins, paper towels, blankets, water/juice/soda, also in some cases, where necessary, the staking of territory. This role is usually assigned to people who either can not put in the time/expertise to make something, or attend at the last minute, or are uniquely suited to the particular contribution (e.g. can get to a limited-space first-come-first-serve event early.)

Ancillary. 
These are people who will make and bring something that compliments or supports one or more of the Feature items. e.g. Alcohol for cocktails, fruit, crudites, bread, crackers, spreads, and anything specifically requested. In general these are generic, versatile items that the event can survive without if one or two don't make it.

For Utility and Ancillary items a technique has been developed to aide in the optimization of provision, known as Coordinated Crowdsource Protocol (CCP).

2012-06-14

The New Amsterdam Pastiche Regatta - Primer

The New Amsterdam Pastiche Regatta is an afternoon aboard rented rowboats on Central Park Lake, with attendees dressing and acting as if at a fancy regatta (e.g. The Henley Royal Regatta)


Or preferably their exaggerated and embellished interpretations thereof.


There will be (mock) contests of rowing and diplomacy similar in concept to the Idiotarod--albeit diametrically opposite in form and style. But mostly if there is any contest worth winning it will be of aesthetics, and portable culinary arts (picnicking on the boats.) Participants should bring some manner of haute comestibles to share with others.