On Sat, 2013-11-30 at 18:23 +1100, Nathan Hurst wrote:
Inkscape has always been led by people willing to lead. The solution is simple - be the leader you want.
Oh I know that. I think I was being too cryptic. Sorry.
I mean to say...
Structure of authority can impart a sense of trust and legitimacy. When one's organisation has no leadership, there is not a vacuum that sucks people into useful positions but a barrier that suggests the responsible people aren't available.
The reluctance for individuals to become leaders is because leadership is required in order to foster leadership.
If say someone was to inquire about working on the inkscape website. My privileged position means that without my leadership that someone would be somewhat disadvantaged. Firstly because they wouldn't have server access and would have to route around me, and secondly because my existence is a social barrier that /I/ have to pull people up over or get out of the way (as they say). Not everyone is arrogant enough to plow right through social barriers.[1]
Thus; if leadership exists (and in inkscape, it does) then it must lead. Even if only a little bit to recruit confidence in others so /others/ can make decisions socially safely.
Best Regards, Martin Owens
[1] And do you really want a project dominated by that kind of person?