EDIT: The consensus on the proposed rule change seems to be to remove the rule, and to re-investigate it if it ever becomes an issue. Let’s see how it goes!
Heyo everyone, hope you’re doing well!
For the past week or so, I’ve been thinking about tweaking the rules slightly. Specifically, the requirement that a suggestion/recommendation must still be in production.
In previous community chats, a consistent complaint about the reddit BIFL was that it was inundated with random vintage items, some of which could be hard to track down.
However, there have been a couple times that I’ve held back recommending an item because its no longer in production, even though it’s fairly commonly available second hand. In addition, buying used is very much in-line with Solarpunk ideals, as it reduces waste, carbon emissions from increased production, and if purchased locally or from an individual, helps keep money out of the hands of corporations.
With that in mind, I think it may be wise to remove that rule, but wanted to get the community’s opinion first. Yay, Nay, or do you have a different idea?
As for the secret project…
Thanks to @poVoq@slrpnk.net’s efforts, BIFL now has access to its very own wiki page! (The wiki itself will receive an official announcement at the start of next month with more details, so keep it on the down low 🤫).
Today I’ve been puttering around with it, and put up an experimental wiki-page for the BIFL Community.
So far, my plan with it is to slowly add in all the various things that the community recommends, taken from posts and comments, along with price information and any little tidbits the commenter mentions about the item (You can see how I’m formatting that in the Rain Gear catagory). But I’m open to any other suggestions you may have on how else we can utilize this new wiki! :D
Lastly, if you have any other general recommendations, ideas, or thoughts for the community, don’t hesitate to throw 'em down in the comments!
Why not have a rule where you must put [used] I’m the title for used/vintage items, and everything else must still be in production?
Also love the website idea. If you need any help finding/ researching items for different categories, I’d be glad to help. The internet could use a database of products still in production that aren’t harmful to the environment and last a lifetime. I already have some ideas in mind that I’ve purchased that can certainly last a long time. You should probably set up an alt email address that people can also send you direct recommendations in (although maybe open any links in something sandboxed just in case - never know).
Lastly I think the site should maybe add software as well, considering how rare single purchase lifetime licenses are becoming (or recommendations for open source software that has a long time being updated or an alternative revenue model, like how Home Assistant does).
I wouldn’t mind the help! I think the best thing for that would be to create posts of your recommendations here. That would not only help add new content, but also act as a repository that I can slowly get through to add to the wiki.
A software section would be interesting, brings to mind The Whole Earth Software Catalog.