As someone who is not a native of the tech industry I’m continually shocked by the sense of entitlement that plagues the culture. I continually see individuals and organizations reach a certain level of prominence only to turn their backs on the people who are working on a grass roots level.

People may get to to a certain level of subscribership on their blogs or podcasts. They get a certain amount of attention in the industry. Their companies get a nice round of funding. And sometimes it goes to their heads.

These individuals and organizations expect to be treated differently. They don’t show up at events unless they’re given a spot on the dais. They don’t show up unless their costs are covered. In short, they want the respect they feel they have earned. Everyone doesn’t play this way but there are plenty that do. So if the shoe fits then don’t blame me.

In the established conference culture this relationship seems to work well for the elites. Conference organizers are paid to put together events that pull in big sponsorships for multi-day events with keynote speakers and exhibit halls. Individuals and organizations pay hefty fees to attend. Everyone knows the deal and the stars expect to be compensated.

Then you have these new ‘camp’ style events in the world of podcasting. They appear to be (someone correct me if I’m wrong) grass roots efforts that have arisen from a grass roots movement. And when I say grass roots I mean that these things aren’t commissioned by large organizations with plenty of money to spend. People started podcasting because they wanted to. Chris Brogan and Christopher Penn, among others, started PodCamp out of a desire to build the community and educate others on podcasting.

I don’t think that PodCamp was started in order to recognize the hierarchy of influence or feed the culture of entitlement present in the world of technology. Maybe I’m wrong on that one. It’s just my perception.

Grass roots efforts such as the PodCamp gatherings should be free of the normal expectations of other conferences. Individuals are donating their time and money to create something for the community. Sponsors are kicking in money to help make that happen.

In the mindset that I come from (which many recent visitors seems to think is evil and twisted) individuals and organizations should be seeking to find ways to assist with these events in any way they can. Instead of thinking, “What should I get?”, they need to develop the attitude of, “What can I do to help?” Draining the resources of the events to put a body on the ground isn’t helping. If the event organizers are going out and soliciting selected people with offers of reimbursement then they’re failing in their duty to challenge these individuals and organizations to give something back.

I’m saying this now and I don’t care who it pisses off. In the world of podcasting there is a responsibility to try to give something back. And those who have the most should seek to support, not drain the resources of the community. So if you can’t add something to the community then for heavens sake don’t look to take what you can get.

I caught heat earlier this year for a post about podcasting and VC investment. I hoped to see attitudes changing since then vis-a-vis investment in education and respect for the community of producers. There has been improvement and some changes made. But the general attitude I’m seeing here doesn’t bode well for the community.

I’ve done what I can as an individual with limited resources to support the community. And I expect that others who want to be considered leaders do so as well.

That’s my attitude. That’s my philosophy. And as Bobby Brown says, “That’s my prerogative.”