When the time is right, the universe makes things happen. I did the project featured in this article back in early 2022 (a couple of months before I learned about Nostr). The first draft of the article was written over the course of about 10 days I spent in Melbourne (AU) in July 2023. It took time to find the right journal and editor—plus revisions along the way—but it’s finally out in the world. The Tl;dr (a/k/a Abstract) Amidst the rise of Web3, a technology transforming user interactions and challenging corporate control, this study uses a hybrid model of appreciative inquiry that matches the remote and decentralized nature of Web3 communities, to investigate the formation of a blockchain startup and its emergent culture and values. Despite limited resources, the company has built a diverse, global community via digital platforms, exceeding stakeholder expectations. This appreciative inquiry uncovers a community manifesting five core values: excellence, sustainable innovation, inclusivity, continuous learning, and creativity, challenging stereotypes often associated with the Web3 industry. This work advances participative research by introducing a hybrid model of appreciative inquiry tailored for remote and decentralized Web3 communities. By adapting appreciative inquiry to the unique dynamics of blockchain-dependent organizations, this study extends the methodology’s applicability and demonstrates its effectiveness in uncovering and fostering core communal values within cutting-edge technological contexts.
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THANK YOU to the open source contributors who are offering detailed and thoughtful updates to the @And Other Stuff process documentation related to how And Other Stuff onboards ideas and projects into our freedom tech ecosystem! This work is a labor of love that we make free and available to the world so others can benefit from adopting, adapting, or remixing it into their own initiatives. Learn more, contribute, and provide feedback here:
If you feel like you don’t belong in this world, it might be because you’re here to build a new one.
Yesterday, doing Thanksgiving dinner prep in our kitchen, my daughters are discussing who is making what. Elder daughter notes that their Uncle Paul is making the pumpkin pie using frozen pie shells. Younger daughter responds, “Yeah, he’s vibe coding the crust.” 💀💀💀
WTF is happening with Williams Sonoma??? “Reversible” in what way??? #SoManyQuestions #NSFW image
If you’re celebrating, Happy Thanksgiving #NostrFam! 🦃
Happy (half) Birthday, @And Other Stuff! In the last 6 months, here’s some of what AOS has accomplished… • Marmot protocol • Shakespeare, a Nostr-based AI coding agent • diVine showing mainstream breakthrough potential • Bitchat (iOS + Android) supporting people in freedom movement • Major upgrades to Cashu libraries • Flotilla as the Foundry’s first external project partnership • A real innovation lab with traction + PMF • The first Nostr Builder Experience Survey • The core team is connected, engaged, and actively collaborating together TL;DR: The kids are alright. Learn more and get involved at