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Constitutional principle
Presence
To honor that showing up — attentively, honestly, and in relationship — is the first act of stewardship.
Canonical definition
Presence is the disciplined act of being here, with attention, before acting, contributing, or deciding.
Why it exists
Because nothing worth preserving can be understood in absence, and every contribution begins with someone who was there.
What it is not
- — Attendance without attention.
- — Broadcasting one's presence for recognition.
- — A performance metric.
Examples
- — An elder listening before speaking.
- — A photographer sitting with a place before raising the camera.
- — A steward reading a contribution fully before reviewing it.
Steward responsibilities
- — Model unhurried attention.
- — Refuse workflows that reward speed over presence.
- — Protect time for participants to arrive before contributing.
Future considerations
- — How presence is honored in asynchronous and distributed communities.
- — How to protect presence from optimization pressure.