Today Scott Bellware released the informational website for the upcoming Open Space in Austin, which is specifically focused on Continuous Improvement in .NET Software Development.

Quickly following the site going live, twitter was raging harder than Tropical Storm Fay about kaizenconf, and why it isn't alt.net.

Now I understand that people assumed that because Scott was doing an Open Space in Austin that it would be "alt.net Austin 2.0", and colloquially people have been referring to it as an alt.net event, but as of June 9, when he posted information in the alt.net mailing list, he was clear that the theme of this conference is Continuous Improvement, not strictly alt.net.

There is absolutely no reason for the alt.net community to feel slighted in any way.  To hear many in the community, the undercurrent of alt.net is, or should be, continuous improvement.  What is happening with kaizenconf is that the question is being posed at a higher level, but alt.net practices and values should find no problem fitting in under the umbrella.

I would ask you to take this as an opportunity to step back from the pure "alt.net" association for a bit and ponder the possibilities that a wider context can bring. I have heard more times than I can count "alt.net is great, but there is an echo chamber effect" and "the values of alt.net are awesome, but people are put off by the name and negativity that has been associated with it".  This is what I hear from people both within and on the outside looking in.  So now that we have an opportunity to talk about our values in a broader scope, why are we so quick to anger?

I am all for having an identity for a community.  It's a focal point from which the community can expand. But if you can't step outside of that identity, or find a way to broaden your context once in a while, then you have to ask yourself which is more important - the community, or that you be identified with it?

Alt.net remains alive and well. Since the beginning of the "movement" the mandate has been to take the larger message and find ways to apply it locally, with your own meetings or gatherings, in your user groups, and so on. I am more than happy to be in alt.net, but I see no reason why we can't flourish in this broader opportunity that the Continuous Improvement conference is presenting.