The Green and Pleasant Computer Computer Club is a community programme that helps people explore a slower, lighter, and more independent way of using computers. The club draws on Marshall McLuhan’s idea that the medium is the message and treats the early web and email era as a useful template. We focus on practices that predate attention harvesting feeds and AI driven filtering, while reviving the strengths of simple publishing and direct communication.
Alongside practical skills, the club supports mental health self care through calmer, more intentional digital habits and an ethical approach to technology.
Who it is for #
People interested in low impact approaches to computing, including beginners. Suitable for neurodiverse learners, with multiple ways to take part, a choice based approach, and an informal club atmosphere.
We also recognise that some people may come simply needing help with computers. In the club we aim to create a space where people can exchange advice and, where possible, direct help. Where appropriate, we will suggest ways to improve skills. However, as we are all volunteers, support may be limited at times. It’s a good idea to come with a project that you want to use to improve your computer skills. We will always try to be clear about what we can and cannot offer, if you are not sure please just ask.
Some aims in brief #
- Build practical confidence with linux computing, simple websites, email, and varied forms of communication.
- Promote ecological practices, including repair, reuse, and low energy computing.
- Support mental health self care and ethical computing habits.
- Develop critical media literacy about filtering and information overwhelm.
Some ideas of what you could do at the club #
- Hands on learning of Linux: Learn linux by playing around with it, learn to install and use programs you need.
- Fix and repurpose laptops: clean and set up refurbished laptops with lightweight Linux.
- Make simple websites: hand crafted HTML and Markdown, static pages that load fast on older equipment.
- Email basics: lists, attachments, filters, and privacy.
- Write and publish: short posts, zines as PDFs, and a shared directory of participant sites.
- Use RSS and newsletters: follow topics without addictive feeds.
- Tilde servers (for example tilde.club): get shell accounts, use SSH and SCP to publish your site and use command line email for fun.
- Hacker ethos and command line skills: learn command line workflows, text tools, and responsible, curious problem solving.
Participation, atmosphere and how we work (vibe check) #
For those of you old enough to remember, there was a sense of wonder about the computers and technology being made available to explore at home and in clubs in the 1980s and 1990s that this club tries to recreate.
In terms of how learning happens the club takes an informal and social approach that suits both the goal of building community and the needs of some learners related to neurodiversity.
Specifically this involves: choice based tasks, calm pacing, and multiple ways of participating over the course of a session. We are still trialling how to best do this. As of December 2025, sessions start off with introductions, followed by a presentation or demonstration on a topic, q and a, and the a more open / hack-lab style second part. In this second part, we welcome different communication and working styles, pair or solo work, or quiet making/computing time.