Let's all Build a Hat Rack

Wound up here: "A Place to Hang Your Hat" and the #LABHR hash tag.

H/T to this post: "Building a Hat Rack."

This is a huge idea. I follow some folks from the Code For America group. The +Mark Headd  Twitter feed (@mheadd) is particularly helpful for understanding this movement. Also, follow +Kevin Curry (@kmcurry) for more insights.

Open Source contributions are often anonymous and the rewards are intangible. A little bit of tangibility is a huge thing.

My (old) open source Python books have a "donate" button. Once in a while I'll collect the comments that come in on the donate button. They're amazingly positive and encouraging. But also private. Since I have a paying gig writing about Python, I don't need any more encouragement than I already have. (Indeed, I probably need less encouragement.)

However.

There are unsung heroes at every hackathon and tech meetup who could benefit from some recognition. Perhaps they're looking for a new job or a transition in their existing job. Perhaps they're looking to break through one of the obscure social barriers that seem to appear in a community where everyone looks alike.

And. There's a tiny social plus to being the Recognizer in Chief. There's a lot to be said in praise of the talent spotters and friction eliminators.